Pokémon Scarlet and Violet are expected to release later this year and continue the series' evolution toward open-world gameplay, but something seems off with the games' character design in the most recent trailer. Since the Pokémon games started releasing on the Nintendo Switch with the capability of higher resolutions, their graphics have received a lot of criticism, yet maintained a consistent art style that carried over from the most recent 3DS entries. Scarlet and Violet don't generally appear much different, but early looks reveal character models with significantly more depth.
There was plenty that could have been missed in Scarlet and Violet's second trailer, but it did give a pointed view of the odd-looking characters that occupy the still-unnamed region. The Pokémon Let's Go games were the first in the series to release on the Switch, and cemented the art style that's been inherited by its successors, excluding the Diamond and Pearl remakes. Characters in particular are stylized to appear rather flat in the face, with large, usually oval eyes and other features represented by little more than a line.
Defined facial features seem to be the culprits in Scarlet and Violet's subtle change. Artwork for the games typically has the classic, anime-like style, but the in-game faces appear more realistic. Some characters' noses especially have more definition than those that seem drawn on in preceding games, which may be the largest factor in Scarlet and Violet looking slightly strange. This is easily seen on the faces of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet's new professors, who also have more unique eye shapes, and lips that stand out. The art style hasn't necessarily changed since Arceus, but enough minor changes have given the characters a refreshed look.
Pokémon Scarlet & Violet's Characters Change The Series' Presentation
With Pokémon Scarlet and Violet yet to release, it's impossible to see how the graphical fidelity will compare to Pokémon Legends: Arceus or Sword and Shield, but the changes made to character design are worth considering. On one hand, the added depth really brings the characters to life. There isn't as much detail as other AAA games' character models, but the more complex facial features tend to make Scarlet and Violet's characters more interesting to look at.
It could also be argued, however, that the under-baked facial features were a part of Pokémon's distinct art style. Fans tend to debate the design choices of each generation of pocket monsters, and Scarlet and Violet's all-new Pokémon won't avoid such a fate, but it will be interesting to see if the human characters continue to change. Gym leaders and other prominent characters have always been prone to unique looks, but Pokémon Scarlet and Violent appear to have much more variety in general when it comes to character model faces.