Sharing my thoughts a whole year later, but with the DLC out this is still pretty relevant to… whoever cares. Haha
Much was made about the graphics in this game (much) and… I have to agree. The clipping and frame rate drops are a lot. It doesn’t affect gameplay per se, but after experiencing the joy of Nintendo Switch graphics on a Pokémon game, I was just a little disappointed. I didn’t like the camera at the beginning of the game, and I still don’t like it. I find it difficult to find items in the overworld because those glimmers and coins are just way too small. Apparently Arceus did this open world experiment much better, and I’m looking forward to trying it out at some point.
✨ I wonder if Masuda Junichi’s 2014 trip to Spain was part of the inspiration for Pokemon Scarlet/Violet. https://www.gamefreak.co.jp/blog/dir_english/ (No. 243)
I’m not the biggest fan of the controls due to the above reasons. If I accidentally hit the left arrow, it takes forever just to exit that screen again due to some randomly long loading times. I wish I could access the Pokedéx and the map just as I’m now easily able to access my Boxes. Speaking of Boxes, the fact that you can now get to them on your phone… amazing QOL improvement!!
Unlike Dynamax Raids, I’m enjoying that Tera Raids scale. With just two gym and titan badges apiece (I’ve yet to begin the Team Star adventure), I think I’m at a decently sufficient level to beat the iced up Pokemon encountered in the wild. The typings are very unique too, and I can already see their value in some crucial matchups.
While I find the Terastal Pokemon underwhelming, the character designs are, for lack of a better word, wow! I did really love the simplicity of earlier major NPCs, but I like where this generation is headed. Major kudos to the character designers for the life they injected through their art.
I mentioned earlier that Hop was a good improvement from earlier generations of rivals, and Scarlet/Violet only continues in that trend. Nemona is a dweeb, but a dweeb who is somehow already a Pokemon Champion. Not only that, she’s willingly enrolled herself in academy despite her pedigree? Couldn’t be me.
(This YOASOBI MV though? I cannot be the only one picking up what they’re putting down. 😏)
And Arven… wow. WOW! My sweet sandwich prince! I cried! So much! But little did I know this was only the beginning of the emotional journey I was about to endure.
I don’t mind wading into spoilery waters since it doesn’t usually impact whether I enjoy something or not, but I’m glad I didn’t this time because the last hour of this game was SENSATIONAL. For the first time that I can recall, a Pokémon game was giving us a goddamn good story, OK!
(Me explaining to anyone who will listen to my thesis about WHY Area Zero is actually THEE paradox)
But in all seriousness, Area Zero was a MOMENT. From the jump, the music really sets the the tone for something. It’s creepy, and it’s an all-timer. The eerily bright surroundings, descending into something that couldn’t quite be explained, and finally uncovering horrible truths — dramatic, but you have to remember this is Pokémon!
The ChatGPTuro reveal was bonkers. I played through the ending (which was a nice challenge!) and rewatched it again on YouTube for more critical emotional damage. “AI Turo has no intention of fighting anymore”… ugh! Even the “glitch” in the text! I could not and still cannot believe we got all of this from Pokémon. It’s not exactly known for emotional depth, but Arven’s story and this final piece of the story had me so unexpectedly choked up. 10/10, no notes.
(Well, maybe a 9 due to the Ed Sheeran song I didn’t ask for…)
