The Pokémon Company has announced yet another title from Game Freak in their expansive world of monsters, gyms, and battles. The Nintendo Switch has become a fantastic platform to launch these franchise entries on, with Sword & Shield, and Legends Arceus all proving to be largely successful installments.
With the upcoming Scarlet & Violet set to release in 2022 at some point, there are a lot of lessons to take from those predecessors, specifically what should and shouldn't be done within Pokémon. The hotly anticipated duo of titles will surely move the series in a new direction while paying homage to what's come before.
Sword & Shield
Pushing The Pokédex
Every single Pokémon game has to push the Pokédex further and create a range of new installments and evolutions that impress fans while delivering on expectations. Sword & Shield was a mixed bag in this regard, although there were certainly improvements on previous entries.
There are some unique Pokémon throughout Sword & Shield that really helps to bring the world to life, including the imaginatively designed trio of Starters and other additional characters such as Nickit and Yamper. Scarlet & Violet should ensure that there are new additions to the Pokédex that are still original but don't push the title into concepts that are too bizarre.
Graphic Upgrades
Sword & Shield managed to take full advantage of what the Nintendo Switch had to offer. It therefore made a number of graphical upgrades, which Legends Arceus has since improved upon. It was a massive step forward for the franchise thanks to the technology available.
There are surely lessons that Game Freak has learned here based on the visual elements of the title, which can be carried over to the upcoming entry on the same console. The series has truly never looked better, but it feels like they are just scratching the surface of the device's full capabilities.
Dynamax And Gigantamax
Most Pokémon titles now try to bring in a new mechanic that completely changes how gameplay functions. For Sword & Shield, it was Dynamax and Gigantamax modes, which saw Pokémon grow to massive proportions and sometimes even shift in their appearance.
The concept was a novel one, and there's definitely room within the new series to incorporate an idea such as this. But it also can't be game-breaking or become an annoying feature that players want to avoid. The three-turn limits on this mode for Sword & Shield was a perfect way to bring it in.
The Overworld
The Overworld was a genius idea to bring the Pokémon to the player. In the past, encounters used to occur in surprise instances where players would run through long grass and potentially bump into a creature lurking out of sight. Sword & Shield have done away with that idea.
The system allows the Pokémon to roam around in the Overworld and the player can interact with them or avoid them as they see fit. There are even specific areas to meet more powerful Pokémon, perhaps even in their Dynamax form. It's been carried over to Legends Arceus, and Scarlet & Violet could push it further.
Artificial Barriers
The interface for previous titles in the series meant that were a number of artificial barriers that stopped players from being able to have ease of access to various gameplay options. From limits on the Pokédex to needing certain moves to travel through areas, there were a lot of unnecessary limits.
However, with the likes of the Pokémon Go trading system or the removal of needing moves to travel, these types of barriers were removed. This improves the quality of life of the game and allows players to keep coming back without the burdens that previously made the titles tiresome.
Legends Arceus
Replacing Gyms
Gyms have been an integral part of the franchise for years. But the idea has become a little tired. Sure, they have their place and Scarlet & Violet may wish to utilize this combat method over some of the newer concepts that have come out of the series.
However, Legends Arceus put in a different system that worked within the context of the story. Not only were there elders to meet and learn from, but there are also Noble Pokémon that act a lot like boss battles. This replacement really was unique and might be the preferred option moving forward.
Furthering The Lore
The lore of this fictional landscape is developed upon in most entries of the game. While that's pretty much a given at this stage, Legends Arceus might just be the best entry because of how much it actually pushes that lore and the story of the universe itself.
It really takes players to the earliest days of Pokémon, looking at how society used to function and how humans developed around these amazing creatures. It's a stunning idea and any future entries will have to try to match that same level of world-building and narrative complexity.
Shinies And Alphas
Shinies and Alphas are variations of Pokémon, the latter of which is a newcomer to Legends Arceus. Both manage to make the traditional design a little more vibrant or powerful, with players tricking out their roster of creatures with these rare finds.
Shinies in particular have perhaps become a little overused with Legends Arceus, and Scarlet & Violet can learn from that. The balance needs to be found, and right now the lack of rarity with these beasts makes them a little less special. They are a fun component to gameplay and exploration though.
Battle System
Amongst all the new features in Legends Arceus, the revolutionary combat system is perhaps amongst the best. Players are seamlessly brought into battle immediately and the famous turn-based gameplay has been shifted completely to something unique.
Now Pokémon may attack at any time and are unpredictable in their moves. There's a more realistic edge to the battles and in the context of a Gym, this could be a really interesting change to make for Scarlet & Violet. There's no telling where this base system can be taken.
Immersion
Legends Arceus is about as immersive as a game can actually be. Having the Overworld in the form it currently exists in is a big help, but all of the characters are now to scale as well, allowing the player to feel as if they are really stepping into this fictional landscape.
Even something as simple as throwing a Poké Ball has changed so that it reflects a more realistic approach. The controls that have lasted for so long might be upgraded and different, but the result is something that demonstrates why this is the next phase of Pokémon gaming.