With a release scheduled for November 18 on Nintendo Switch, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet is a little more specific and finally shows us how different it is from previous games.
In this article, we will not discuss all the announcements made during Pokémon Presents, such as Teracrystallization for example or regional forms, but only those that we believe will go entirely change the way Pokémon games are designed in the future. This change has of course already started with Pokémon Legends Arceus, but 9G seems even more capable of taking us on an extraordinary adventure.
1. A real open world
Elden Ring better watch out: the Scarlet and Violet versions will finally offer a real open world, without borders and without loading times with a Hub as was the case in Arceus. And if we start from the principle that everything is explorable in its smallest corners, then the map of Paldea, shown below, looks gigantic. It is true that the open world is nothing new in the gaming sphere, but for Pokémon, which got us used to linear adventures, this is a real turning point for the license. We have seen that it is gradually moving towards this, first with XY on the 3DS, where you could freely explore entire cities, or with the Wilderness, more recently, on Sword and Shield. It was of course in Arceus Legends that the first real step was taken with entire areas freely explorable.
So imagine the biomes of Arceus twice as large and many more different creatures to capture. Lakes, arid lands, perilous mountain ranges, forests, port or agricultural towns… Paldea offers many different biomes in which it will probably be difficult to get bored. To guide you in this immense region, your Motismart will accompany you with its useful applications such as the Pokédex and the Map.
The region also seems so large that Pokemon Centers were built in the middle of nature to save you from having to return to a city to enjoy them.
2. Absolute freedom and three different stories
For the first time in the history of Pokémon games, it will be possible tointertwine three different narrative frames in the same opus. As explained on the official website, you will have to take part in a classic main scenario quest: to become master of the League by fighting the different arenas of Paldea. A scenario that we know well and which will therefore remain intact on Scarlet and Violet. However, you can complete the arenas in any order you want! Alongside this conquest of the League, you can enjoy two other narrative frames and switch between the 3 whenever you want. To summarize :
- A main scenario : you must become League Master and conquer the arenas in the order of your choice (goodbye linearity),
- two more stories are available and you can switch between plots freely to develop your adventure as you see fit
Thus, it will be really possible to play with your own way of doing things without being forced to beat arenas to continue on other scenarios.
3. A more advanced multiplayer mode?
At the moment, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet’s multiplayer mode is still a bit unclear, although we got some new information about it during Presents. However, it seems clear that the cooperation and the online mode will be much more abundant than in any other opus of the license. Here is what it will be possible to do:
- Local mode or online mode,
- Make exchanges with a specific trainer or miracle exchanges,
- Make fights of several formats,
- Invite up to 3 other players to their own world to:
- Explore Paldea together,
- Be cheered on by the 3 friends while you capture Wild Pokémon and fight them,
- Participate in Teracrystal Raids together,
- Take pictures together while the other 3 players also take their Pokémon out of their Balls.
To conclude, from what we understand: it will probably not be possible to experience the scenario of Scarlet and Violet in co-op (unless the players remain spectators). The multiplayer will be mainly devoted to trading, combat and free exploration of Paldea. Players in our world will not logically be able to capture wild Pokémon, but they will still be able to participate and capture those from Teracrystal Raids as in Sword and Shield.
We hope for a little more detailed information on this subject before the release. In the meantime, Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Purple really seem to confirm the renewal of the license that Legends Arceus had initiated.
Many Pokémon are at the heart of more or less incredible memes and thanks to the ninth generation which will be introduced by Pokémon Scarlet and Purple, we will have new ones like the pre-evolution of Patachiot at only 19 cents!