Pokemon Scarlet and Violet featured some of the most important version exclusives of any game in the series, but they only got a small amount of attention in-game. The Paldea region's version-exclusive professors were a twist that the series had yet to try, and they managed to be a significant driver of interest for Pokemon Scarlet and Violet. Although the two are undeniably popular, it's hard to shake the feeling that a lot more could have been done with them. They had a moment to shine, but they had potential that the game didn't fulfill.
Version exclusives have been a part of the Pokemon series since its inception. Although the version-exclusive content in Pokemon games originally began with some Pokemon being restricted to one version or the other, the gimmick quickly expanded. Gold and Silver started the tradition of different versions featuring different legendaries, while Ruby and Sapphire even featured different villain teams in each version. Scarlet and Violet had the most differences overall, with the color scheme of the school uniforms as well as the school name itself changing depending on the version. The biggest exclusive of all was the new professors, with Sada in Scarlet and Turo in Violet.
Scarlet And Violet's Professors Could Have Been More Than A Boss Battle
Sada and Turo both have a major role in their respective games as the final bosses of Scarlet and Violet respectively. Although Scarlet and Violet's professors memorably broke tradition, that battle ended up being more or less their only truly relevant section of the game. After their introduction via video chat, they only contact the player a couple of times, usually regarding Koraidon or Miraidon gaining new abilities, until the postgame where the player enters Area Zero. The player never even gets to meet them in person. While the boss fight against the AI professor is a dramatic highlight, it's disappointing that they don't play a more active role otherwise.
Since Sada and Turo have the best designs of any Pokemon professors in the franchise, their lack of an active role for most of the game is among Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's biggest flaws. Giving them more of a presence in the game would have been a good way to help the player feel more of an attachment to their characters. They could have assumed the role of the player's mentor, directing and praising them during their adventure. That would have given the eventual battle with them an even greater impact. Instead, the mentor role is spread between several characters, diminishing the professor's overall presence in the game.
The most disappointing thing about Sada and Turo is the fact that the chosen professor turns out to have been dead before the game even began. Since Scarlet and Violet's professors were revealed so early, many players likely based their decision at least partially on which game had which professor, this can be quite a letdown. This twist makes it virtually impossible for the professors to be used again, either in a later game or as an expansion to Pokemon Masters unless it ignores the story of Scarlet and Violet. While it worked as an effective surprise, it limits the potential for the characters in the long run.
As the first version-exclusive Professors in Pokemon, Sada and Turo are both fascinating. Their unique designs and fields of research make them stand out. The problem comes with how little time Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's story gave them to stand out aside from their boss battle at the end of the postgame. They have the potential to be two of the best characters in the series, but they weren't given enough development or screentime to solidify themselves as such. Unless a spinoff comes along to spotlight them, Sada and Turo may end up as Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's biggest missed opportunities.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are available now for the Nintendo Switch.
