Operation Backlog Completion 2026

Let’s Talk About Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet

 Video games  6 Responses »  Tagged with: , ,
Mar 142022
 

There’s one more big announcement from the end of February that we should discuss, and that’s the reveal of the next Pokémon generation, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.

Scarlet and Violet were announced at the end of the Pokémon Day live stream, which otherwise didn’t show too much of note.

The announcement trailer started out with a live action scene that made me think it might be the Detective Pikachu sequel. However, even though that was recently confirmed to still be in development, the stream came and went without a trace of Detective Pikachu.

No, it shifted into the reveal of Pokémon Gen 9, with gameplay environments, the player characters, and the starters being revealed.

My first takeaway from this trailer was that it looks beautiful. I might be in the minority there, but the trailer left me excited to see this new Pokémon world.

However, my excitement did diminish upon learning that it’s an open world game.

There’s no room for doubt this time; the Pokémon Scarlet/Violet website clearly describes it as “a richly expressed open world” where “various towns blend seamlessly into the wilderness with no borders.”

Some players have dismissively said the same claim was made about Pokémon Legends: Arceus, but Legends was never officially described as open world. People looked at the trailer and started describing it that way themselves.

(Speaking of which, I’ve been playing Legends: Arceus and enjoying it!)

Open world doesn’t have to be a deal-breaker for me. I’ve been enjoying my time with Elden Ring so far, and you know I never miss a chance to praise Xenoblade Chronicles X. However, it does have to be pretty compelling to convince me. Since I skipped Pokémon Sword/Shield and BDSP, Scarlet and Violet will need to look fantastic to get me to go for an open world Pokémon game.

What are your thoughts on Pokémon Scarlet/Violet? Are you excited for open world Pokémon and Gen 9, or do you have doubts?

(Most Of) Our Pokémon Questions Answered in Today’s Pokémon Presents

 Video games  3 Responses »  Tagged with: , , ,
Aug 182021
 

Today was the Pokémon Presents presentation, which I had certain hopes for going into it.

To start with, no, there was no Detective Pikachu news. The additional games shown beyond the two being highlighted were Pokémon Unite’s mobile release and the relaunch of Pokémon Café Mix as Pokémon Café Remix.

But let’s get into the main features, starting with Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl.

There’s still no sign of the Pokémon Platinum storyline returning in Pokémon BDSP; some ominous lines in the trailer could hint at that but are also part of Cyrus’s Diamond/Pearl plans. However, I was also worried that they might cut the Underground mini-games from the remakes… but the Underground content is in!

These remakes actually look great to me (and I didn’t even mind the trailer’s zoom-ins on the dialogue).

The Underground’s mining mini-game is one of my favorite Pokémon mini-games, so I’m thrilled to see it return. It looks like there’s even more to do in the new “Grand Underground” now, too. Secret Bases are also back, which is great.

They also showed off Super Contest Shows, using Stickers for special Poké Ball visual effects, character customization, and Pokémon walking behind you. Overall, this trailer made me pretty excited for Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl.

Then they moved on to Pokémon Legends: Arceus. Combat is turn-based, but with some new twists. Your speed stat determines how often you can attack, so it sounds like it’s more of an ATB system. You also have two different combat styles to switch between.

As for it being open world, it looks as though you’ll unlock new regions as you progress through the game and then enter a region to explore it. I think. Some people still think it’s a full open world.

You’ll accept missions at Jubilife Village, a hub area where you work as part of the Galaxy Expedition Team. Okay, the connections to Team Galactic speculated about shortly after the announcement trailer are definitely not a coincidence. Commander Kamado is confirmed to be an ancestor of Professor Rowan, so it feels like a safe bet that Captain Cyllene is Cyrus’s ancestor (although that seems weird to me considering what we know of Cyrus’s backstory, so maybe not).

Interestingly, catching a Pokémon isn’t enough to complete its Pokédex entry. Completing the Pokédex is a major goal, and you need to study the Pokémon through additional research tasks to complete its entry. Catching Pokémon also seems to have more of a puzzle element, since you approach Pokémon on the field, and large Pokémon appear capable of attacking the player directly, too.

Legends: Arceus sounds like it could be a lot of fun, so I’m definitely interested in seeing more.

What are your thoughts on the new details shown about Pokémon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl and Pokémon Legends: Arceus?

Hopes for Wednesday’s Pokémon Presents

 Video games  3 Responses »  Tagged with: , , ,
Aug 162021
 

This Wednesday, August 18, there will be a Pokémon Presents presentation at 6 AM PT / 9 AM ET.

The presentation is confirmed to feature the Diamond/Pearl remakes as well as Pokémon Legends: Arceus.

Like I mentioned back when they were first announced, I’m part of the minority that doesn’t mind the graphics of Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, but I would prefer to see the Pokémon Platinum storyline be included.

Maybe this presentation will give a better idea of whether the remakes are strictly focused on Diamond/Pearl content, or if they will follow Platinum’s plot.

(Since the games are due out this November, we should get a good look at them.)

As for Pokémon Legends: Arceus, the main thing I want to learn is if it’s truly an open world game or not. It appears to have turn-based combat, but the nature of the world and exploration is still ambiguous enough that I hope they clear it up.

But while those are the Pokémon games being featured, do we have a chance at seeing anything else? Unlike a lot of people, I don’t think there’s any chance of them announcing the next generation of Pokémon games, but I do hope they’ll finally reveal the Detective Pikachu game that was announced for a Switch a couple years ago.

(I still need to play the first one, but I might hold off if the Switch Detective Pikachu game turns out to be another expanded port… although I hope it’s a full sequel instead.)

What are you hoping for from this Wednesday’s Pokémon Presents?

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