The long wait for Generation IX's debut games is over, and Pokémon players are discovering what Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet have to offer in gameplay and story. The new games' open world offers gamers plenty of reasons to go out and explore Paldea.
A big part of what makes exploration fun in Pokémon games is the hidden details and secrets for the player to find. Scarlet and Violet do a good job providing them. Already, fans on Reddit have begun sharing the Easter eggs they've found while playing the new titles.
The Nintendo Switch In The Player's Room Changes Color
Featuring a Nintendo console in the main character's room has been a staple of the series and definitely couldn't be considered an Easter egg on its own at this point. What makes the example in Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet different is that, if the player is playing handheld or with detached Joy-Cons, the Joy-Cons on the main character's Nintendo Switch change color to match the player's.
Redditor hxnnabis noticed this and commented that their "joy cons were white and orange, I switched the white one out for purple, restarted the game, and the left joy con had changed!" Though it seems to default to the white OLED model if the player is using a controller, for example, it's a detail that personalizes the game in a cool way.
Diamond Dust Snow Appears In Pokémon Scarlet And Violet
A rare Easter egg but one that has featured throughout several of the Pokémon games ever since Generation IV is "Diamond Dust," an effect that makes the snow appear to sparkle in waves and only appears in certain areas and at certain times such as in Snowpoint City during Junichi Masuda's birthday in Pokémon Diamond and Pokémon Pearl.
Though it wasn't found in Sword and Shield, Dark-Anmut thinks they witnessed its return in Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet as they were "just literally chilling in the pause menu when this Easter Egg happened." Given that it occurred out of nowhere for them, it's still unclear what actually triggered the effect, and it's something players will have to investigate when exploring Glaseado Mountain.
Pokéfan Trainers' Shirts Have The Pokéstars Studios Logo
Players may be debating which new Generation IX Pokémon has the best design, but fewer are talking about the character designs making the Paldea region distinctive already. Redditor Gabe2200 did notice one character design with a hidden detail for eagle-eyed Pokémon fans, however.
They comment that "The Pokefan trainer class’ shirt has the Pokéstar Studios logo on it." Those who played during Generation V might well remember Pokéstar studios as the place in southwest Unova where the player can create movies. Like the studio, the logo is also a reference to a real-life movie studio, giving the Easter egg a couple of layers.
The Ruinous Pokémon Correspond To The Forces Of Nature
Legendary Pokémon can be underwhelming, but the Ruinous Pokémon in Paldea have made for a great addition to the line-up thanks to their distinctive designs and intriguing origins. Redditor crimsonindo thinks there's also a "secret symbolism" behind their designs.
They explain that the seals of "the Ruinious four in Scarlet and Violet closely match the colors of the forces of nature." With the introduction of Enamorus in Pokémon Legends: Arceus, the Forces of Nature are still very much relevant, so it wouldn't be surprising if they chose to include a nod to them. The colors aren't exactly the same, but with Wo-Chien's seal being purple instead of Enamorus's pink and Chien-Pao's seal being yellow instead of orange, it's close enough that it might be a lot more than a coincidence.
Larry Has Dual Specialties
Thanks to being both a Gym Leader and a member of the Elite Four, Larry is unique in having two distinctive specializations that he uses in the two different battles the player has with him. In the first battle as the Medali Gym Leader, he uses Normal Type Pokémon, but in the Elite Four battle, he uses Flying types instead.
Redditor DrWarioMiracleCure thinks this is "likely a reference to how the Normal/Flying type combination is the most abundant type combination for the Normal type." Since his signature Pokémon is also a Dual Type with this exact combination, it does make sense that his character is centered around this staple of the games.
Professor Laventon Appears In The Game
Arceus is another game full of interesting hidden details and Easter eggs, so it's only appropriate that Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet contains some references to this year's spinoff title. Redditor Jeremithiandiah noticed that in the history class, "you can see on the board theres images of the professor from arceus as well as the early pokeballs."
Arceus made Laventon a key figure in the history of Pokémon, so it makes sense that he would get a mention in Ms. Raifort's history class thanks to his contributions to the development of Poké Balls. It's a small touch that makes the series feel more cohesive as a whole.
Generation I Pokémon Portraits Appear In Alfornada
Though not as obscure as the really hidden details in Scarlet and Violet, the Pokémon pixel art portraits that can be found on the walls of the Alfornada Gym are a great Easter egg as a subtle nod to the early titles that will satisfy old-school Pokémon players.
Redditor Altair1208 considers such as player, and when they saw the portraits, which contain sprites of classic Pokémon from Generation I in a mosaic style, they instantly "got hit by nostalgia." With the 25th anniversary of Pokémon still fairly recent, it's fitting that the game pays tribute to the games and Pokémon that started it all.
The Player Can Read Sonia's Book On Galar's History
It didn't take long for Sonia to become a fan-favorite character. For anyone that has been curious about what her book actually contains, Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet might help. Redditor InvisibleChell pointed out that in the academy, the player "can actually find Sonia's book - 'Galar: A History' - and read a bit of it."
It discusses Bede's role in the destruction of the mural in Stow-On-Side, making it a must-find detail for fans of Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield. The game couldn't possibly have contained all of her extensive research on the region, but the small part that is readable is interesting in itself.
There Are Mysterious Symbols In The Hidden Cave
For players extremely deep into the game, this intriguing Easter egg is worth looking out for. Once the player has completed all the game's campaigns, they can return to Area Zero of the Great Crator and find hidden cave that contains one of the game's rarest Pokémon.
Redditor chilosss thinks that's not it's only secret, however, suggesting the "strange signs" within the cave are the key to another secret, though they don't know "what they could mean." Although some have speculated that it may be related to the Ruinous Quartet, a clear answer has yet to be found.
Palafin Has Some Subtle Superman Nods
No one would think that Palafin was inspired by Superman based on its Zero form alone, but it's the Pokémon's ability to switch to its bold Hero form that makes it one of the best Pokémon in Generation IX. It's not just it's muscled physique, color scheme and chest logo that links it to the Man of Steel, however.
Redditor Gabe2200 points out that it "evolves at lvl 38" and "the first issue of the original Superman comic released in 1938." In any other Pokémon, this would be dismissed as a coincidence, but since it's already clear that they had superheroes in mind when designing Palafin, the reference seems clear, and it's one of the coolest Easter eggs in the game.