Nintendo is releasing its newest generation of Pokémon games, Pokémon: Scarlet and Violet. Normally, Nintendo has been generous with information in the months leading up to the newest game’s release. This generation has been different, however. With only a few days left until release, here’s what you need to know to get ready to catch ‘em all!
The Paldea Region
As with Pokémon: Sword and Shield and Pokémon: Legends Arceus, this will be an open-world game. The only time you will see loading screens is when you enter a town. Exploring the vast region will be exciting because you get Cyclizar, a riding Pokémon, right at the start. Run, glide, swim, and climb with this Pokémon while traversing the land in search of new Pokémon.
A new feature they are adding to this game is to send out a Pokémon and have it battle on its own. As it battles and defeats Pokémon, you will receive items and crafting materials to create new TMs. So if you want that new attack, you need to grind those items for it.
New Pokémon, New Gimmick
With new games comes new Pokémon, and this game isn’t any different. The new legendaries you can now ride on are called Miraidon and Koraidon. The starters are the water type Quaxly, the fire type Fuecoco, and the grass type Sprigatito. With only twenty-two new Pokémon announced, many more are yet to be discovered.
The new gimmick for this generation is called Terastallizing. Your Pokémon can now surround itself in crystals that reflect a certain typing. The typing can be your Pokémon’s regular type or something completely new, like a Pikachu with the Tera type flying. There is no limit on what Tera type a Pokémon can have.
With the new Tera type, your Pokémon gets a new attack bonus for that typing. So expect crazy variations when battling friends. To catch these new Tera types, you must Raid battle them with three other trainers. Different colored crystals are scattered throughout the Paldea region. Each color reflects the Tera type that you will find in the raid.
The battle system differs slightly from the Max Raid battles from Sword and Shield. From what has been shown, it is not turn-based so much as you must wait for your speed stat to allow you to attack. Once the Tera Pokémon is defeated, you have a chance of catching it.
Play with Friends
Unlike Sword and Shield, the multiplayer in Scarlet and Violet seems to be more interactive. Up to three trainers can join your world, and they can catch and battle whatever Pokémon they can find. If you want a Pokémon that isn’t in your game, you no longer have to trade for it. Just join the world of someone with the opposite game version, and you can catch that Pokémon yourself.
If you and your friends need a break, why not have a picnic? During the picnic, you can wash and play with your Pokémon or even make sandwiches! Some sandwiches may even boost certain stats or even help certain types appear. After the picnic, you may even find an egg. How that egg showed up hasn’t been revealed yet, but I’m sure it will in due time.
Three Stories!?
Instead of one linear story with some evil group thrown in, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet have three stories you can tackle at any time. If you want to be traditional, why not just try the Gym battles? From what has been shown, you must complete a task before the Gym Leader will allow you to challenge them. The example in the trailers showed you rounding up a bunch of Sunflora.
Maybe you are tired of the traditional route and want a new experience. Why not partake in the Treasure Hunt? From what has been revealed, the Treasure Hunt quest involved giant Pokémon that you must battle. Why and what you battle at the end game is still a mystery.
For those that want to fight the new evil group Team Star, there’s a quest for that. Attack their outposts and defeat their leader. The example shown was a fire outpost full of twenty Pokémon. You must throw out three of your own to battle. The battles are automatic so prepare your chosen attackers wisely. After you defeat the grunt Pokémon, it’s time to take on the leader in a traditional turn-based battle.
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet will release for Nintendo Switch on November 18th. Both pre-orders and pre-loading are available now on the Nintendo Shop.
With several welcome additions, this generation of Pokémon games is shaping up to be a hit. Make sure to follow our Twitter for more gaming news, like everything you need to know about the Resident Evil Showcase.
