Pokemon Scarlet and Violet face a lot of new challenges as the series' first fully open-world game, but one feature it should pull to ease this transition is a diverse and dynamic radio broadcast. Pokemon has an opportunity to learn from the successes and failures of Legends: Arceus to create an immersive world that is believable and engaging by having lived-in towns and cities, wild areas teeming with Pokemon, and NPCs roaming across the region.
Radio broadcasts could make the vast open world of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet feel less empty and full of real characters living their own lives. Many open-world games utilize something similar to create a better sense of character and lore for the world players are in, including Grand Theft Auto, Saints Row, and Cyberpunk 2077. This mechanic could also help guide the player, provide useful tips, or slip them hints about secret areas, rare Pokemon, and special events.
Radios in Previous Pokemon Games
Given Pokemon has an extensive history of games to pull from, fans might already be familiar with the entries that have included radio broadcasts. Early games like Pokemon Gold and Silver prominently featured a radio thanks to its PokeGear, while Pokemon Diamond and Pearl had Jubilife City and its TV station. Using the PokeGear, players could tune into various broadcasts like the Pokedex Show for details about certain monsters, or the Pokemon Music Channel that could play unique music as they continued on their adventure.
These radio broadcasts were also dynamic, varying with the time of day and location where players tuned in. They similarly reflected plot developments like Team Rocket's takeover of the Goldenrod City Radio Tower. While most Pokemon games typically guide the player along a linear route, acknowledging important narrative events via the radio could be a subtle but effective way to inform players of things they can do in an open world.
Moreover, the radio could be used to serve in-game functions. For example, in the remakes Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver, new radio channels were introduced that allowed players to encounter and catch Pokemon from Gen 3 and 4. It was also used in place of the Poke Flute to awaken fan-favorite Snorlax, and in areas like the Ruins of Alph, Lake of Rage, or Mahogany Town, unique transmissions can be picked up owing to in-game events or lore. There's real potential in using features like a radio for effective world-building.
Introducing Radio in Scarlet and Violet
Introducing radio into the world of Pokemon could capitalize on the mechanics of Hi-tech Earbuds from Pokemon Sword and Shield as well as the Rotom Phone confirmed to be returning in Scarlet and Violet. Not only would the player have the freedom to turn on or off the broadcasts at will, they would be able to choose what they'd prefer to listen to, be it informational channels or music stations.
Another hurdle that Scarlet and Violet needs to overcome for in-game radio to really succeed is introducing voice acting to Pokemon. Game Freak has yet to take active steps in this direction, though it wouldn't stop the game from using text in place of voices. Doing so in a way that won't disrupt gameplay might be challenging. If it can overcome this, Scarlet and Violet can tap into radio's world-building possibilities.
How Using Radio Would Benefit Scarlet and Violet
Provided Scarlet and Violet can work out the kinks, radio broadcasts would need to be divided into various categories. Some would need to serve very basic functions such as explaining tutorial-level gameplay features of the Pokemon series ala FireRed and LeafGreen's Teachy TV, while others would be standard music stations. Since Pokemon has an extensive library of music it can pull from, creating channels or daily broadcasts that showcase music from each generation would be an unobtrusive way of delivering nostalgia to fans.
Broadcasts can then vary between different regions of Paldea, airing at different times of the day. For example, a morning show might provide players with weather updates and possible Pokemon sightings, while late-night shows could instead provide tips on where to find fellow trainers or Team Star members across the open world. Broadcasts could also vary between locations, acknowledging local town or city names, becoming scrambled in caves, or even adding lore with mysterious transmissions in certain areas.
Lastly, the radio can be used to provide the player with important details about developing plot points. Following confirmation that Scarlet and Violet will have multiple storylines, using the radio to provide updates on each could help players keep tabs on where they are upon resuming play after a break. Broadcasts could break news stories on in-game events such as which Gym Leader was last defeated, what Team Star is up to, or areas where special events are happening. Radio can not only build up a world and make it feel alive, it can also help players navigate Pokemon's new open world.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are set to release on November 18, exclusively for Nintendo Switch.
