This past weekend, Nintendo officially announced the next titles inPokemon’s main series.Pokemon ScarletandPokemon Violetwill introduce a new setting based on Spain, new Pokemon, and perhaps most interestingly, an open world to explore. The confirmation ofPokemon ScarletandViolet’s open-world has led manyPokemonfans to question whether the new games will adopt more ofPokemon Legends: Arceus' gameplay. A new official description for Scarlet and Violet, however, hints otherwise.
The official description forPokemon ScarletandVioletstarts by acknowledging some key changes the new games will be making compared to prior games. For example, like inPokemon Legends: Arceus,Pokemon will appear within the open world. They’ll be seen “in the skies, in the seas, in the forests, on the streets – all over!” However, that’s where Game Freak has apparently drawn the line. With regard to Pokemon battling and capture,Pokemon ScarletandVioletwill be returning to the franchise’s traditional style.
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The key line in the description explains thatPokemon ScarletandVioletplayers will be “battling against wild Pokemon to catch them.” AsPokemon Legends: Arceusplayers know, battling Pokemon isn’t always necessary to capture them. Players can throw a PokeBall and potentiallycatch Pokemon without any battlewhatsoever. In fact, that’s the best and most successful way of catching Pokemon. It’s also a dramatic deviation from standardPokemongameplay, which explains whyPokemon ScarletandVioletwon’t include that feature.
While the description is unspecific, leaving room for eccentricities in the game design, it can likely be explained rather easily. Like inPokemon SwordandShield, players will see Pokemon in the open world. If the player wants to catch them, or if the Pokemon sees the player, an interaction will lead to the initiation of a traditional turn-basedPokemonbattle. Players will then need to lower the Pokemon’s health or control them with status effects before throwing a PokeBall and potentially catching the Pokemon.
There’s always the possibility that Game Freak will keepPokemon Legends: Arceus' unique method of catching Pokemon. Perhaps it will be dialed back so it isn’t as easy to catch Pokemon. Perhaps not, considering how popularPokemon Legends: Arceus' gameplaywas and how much it encouraged players to catch and play with different Pokemon.
Whatever Game Freak decides to do, there will be disappointedPokemonfans who wished that a different decision was made. That’s just what happens when a spin-off game likePokemon Legends: Arceusinnovates and proves to be popular. As popular asPokemon Legends: Arceusis, however, the traditionalPokemonexperience’s resilience is well-proven as one of the three most successful franchises ever made.Pokemon ScarletandVioletwill be just fine, even with traditional methods of capturing and battling Pokemon.
Pokemon ScarletandPokemon Violetrelease later this year for Nintendo Switch.
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