As Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's releases draw closer, gamers have gotten a glimpse of some of the new Pokemon that they will discover in Paldea. This includes the starters, Quaxly, Fuecoco, and Sprigatito, who have already garnered themselves legions of fans. The upcoming legendaries have also been revealed, and it appears that they will be unlike any legendary Pokemon that have come before. Players will be able to ride the legendary Pokemon, making exploration convenient while avoiding other mechanics that may have broken immersion.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's shake-up of its usual formula is welcome, and it is something that other games should pay attention to, especially The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild's upcoming sequel. With the upcoming game's map including the skies, it would be nice for Link to have an all-terrain vehicle that lets him zip across the land, water, and sky with ease. Perhaps the best way to do this would be to improve the Master Cycle Zero, giving it more abilities.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Introduce Koraidon and Miraidon
With every new Pokemon generation, gamers discover new legendary Pokemon. These are usually extremely powerful Pokemon, which has led to them being banned from many competitive tournaments. Typically, there will be a legendary pair that shows up on the covers of the games, and there will also be an additional legendary Pokemon trio or quartet for gamers to find and catch. Pokemon Scarlet and Violet have revealed their two main legendaries, and they are named Koraidon and Miraidon. However, the usual legendary formula has been switched up.
Unlike prior games, players will discover the legendary Pokemon quite early in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, and this is because they will be used as a form of transport for exploring Paldea. This is useful for players to have, as Paldea is huge, and players will be adventuring the land, sea, and skies in their search for new Pokemon. With a legendary Pokemon to aid, traveling around the vast map should be a fun and easy experience.
The legendary pair can traverse in varied ways thanks to their ability to transform: Koraidon has a Swimming Build, Sprinting Build, and Gliding Build, while Miraidon has a Drive Mode, Aquatic Mode, and Glide Mode. It is not yet known whether gamers will be able to use the legendaries in battles early in the games, but this will likely not be the case, as Pokemon Trainers typically need to gain experience before they can command powerful Pokemon. It has been theorized that the legendaries are linked to the time travel plot that Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are rumored to have. This belief has been fuelled by the fact that "korai" is a Japanese word that means ancient, while "mirai" means future.
Getting Around Hyrule in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
In The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Hyrule is a breathtakingly large place with varied environments and discoveries always awaiting players beyond the horizon. Much of the game's fun comes from exploration and interacting with the environment by experimenting to see how it reacts to one's actions. Though Calamity Ganon's threat always looms in the distance, there is no real reason to rush to Hyrule Castle when there are still Shrines to complete, settlements to discover, and Sheikah Towers to climb.
As players explore Hyrule, they will discover that the map size makes it a joy to explore, but Link's tiny legs make it difficult to get to distant places. Running does not help much, as his stamina drains quickly. There are a few ways to overcome this problem, but they come with their drawbacks. Horses in Breath of the Wild make travel easier but it can be tricky to mount a wild horse, and they need to be tamed before they listen to Link. Players can also fast travel to Shrines they have completed, but this can break immersion, and it requires enduring a loading screen.
The Master Cycle Zero is a blast to ride around on, but it has its limitations, and Link has to hop off when it's time to deal with water. This problem may be worsened in Breath of the Wild's sequel, judging by the little information that has been revealed about the upcoming game. Breath of the Wild's sequel will expand the setting by including the skies above Hyrule.
What Breath of the Wild 2 Can Learn From Pokemon Scarlet and Violet
Breath of the Wild's sequel would benefit from giving Link a convenient means of getting around, especially if it's an ATV that can handle the skies, seas, and lands like the legendary Pokemon of Scarlet and Violet. The best way to implement this would be to improve the Master Cycle Zero, allowing it to traverse water and take to the heavens. Of course, it would likely not be an item that gamers acquire early on, and it could be hidden behind a challenge that makes players work for the convenient vehicle, but the benefits it would provide would be worth it. Like Scarlet and Violet's legendary Pokemon, the new Master Cycle could also transform for its different uses.
Breath of the Wild is an impressive take on the open-world genre, and it illustrates the way having an interactive environment can greatly enhance gameplay. The sequel will likely improve on many aspects of its predecessors, and hopefully, the Master Cycle Zero is one element that is made better. Developers could take notes from Scarlet and Violet which, through their legendaries, illustrate how useful having an ATV is.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are scheduled to release on November 18 for the Nintendo Switch.
