PhantomZ2 shares their thoughts on their journey through the Paldea region, but does this newest generation of Pokémon start with the best foot forward? Thank you to Nintendo for providing us with a review copy of Pokémon Violet.
I would say another year’s about to be over if this was my original script, but we’re now within the new year! Surely there’s no better, more proper way to ring in 2023 than by reviewing a game from 2022, right? Jokes aside, last year’s announcement of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet left me weary. Not just because of the trailer but out of fear that Game Freak was wearing themselves out, alternating teams developing the games or not.
Putting aside my concerns regarding the games’ development cycles, let’s get to the obvious: Pokémon Violet is the newest entry in the mainline Pokémon video game series. In fact, Scarlet and Violet mark the beginning of the multimedia juggernaut’s ninth “generation,” and with them comes a blend of familiar franchise aspects with new ones. Battle and train your Pokémon against wild Pokémon that roam the world, either by engaging in a battle or with the new Let’s Go mechanic, allowing you to send your leading Pokemon forth as it attempts to knock out what’s in its path on its own. Other Pokémon Trainers are always eager for a battle, but now you can choose which ones to challenge by talking with them first; locking eyes with strangers no longer instigates a fight. Most importantly, you’ll experience the newly discovered Pokémon of the Paldea region along with classics from prior generations! If you want to complete the PokéDex, you’ll have plenty to do.
Scarlet and Violet’s biggest shakeup comes from how you progress across the region. Rather than travel from Gym to Gym or wherever the story forces you to go, you get to choose which way your story plays out. Pokémon Violet features three storylines to focus on: taking on the Gym Challenge & Pokémon League as ushered by your battle-crazed rival Nemona, taking on the Titan Pokémon within the region to uncover powerful herbs with your rude but passionate classmate Arven, or taking on the delinquent Team Star and their bosses while led by a mysterious hacker.
To specify, you’re playing out the ORDER in which you complete the story. In order to beat the game, you need to complete all three of these threads. But this freedom in how you approach them is really where Pokémon Violet shines. If you want to focus on the League, go ahead. If your interest lies with exploring, then you should seek out those powerful herbs with Arven. That’s how I went about playing the game; I didn’t care for grinding along through another typical Pokémon experience. I wanted to enjoy my time exploring the new region and coming across any new Pokémon that I encountered as I ride on the back of Miraidon, one of Paldea’s deities. However, once I decided to challenge the Gyms and fight Team Star, I was severely under-leveled and in control of Pokémon that no longer sought to listen. But that is what I like about Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, the opportunity for vastly different experiences; this isn’t yet another linear trek where the only meaningful variance amongst players are which Pokémon we stick on our teams. I do think this could go further, borrowing aspects from the anime and how each companion of Ash’s had their own objectives. Perhaps mastering Contests could lead to its own ending? But that’s something to focus on in a separate video, not this review.
There’s plenty more to enjoy in Pokémon Violet thanks to its numerous additions and quality of life improvements. Instead of digging into your bag for Potions and Berries, the new auto-healing feature will heal the selected Pokemon based on what’s in your bag. Know where you want to go next, and set a destination marker on the map. Dynamaxing is gone as the new battle mechanic, Terastallize, is present – allowing you to change the typing of any Pokemon based upon what its current Tera type is. Then there’s the vastly improved online functionality, which allows you to play the entire game with friends.
Regrettably, there are unfortunate drawbacks due to the other Pokémon game that was released within the same year, Pokémon Legends: Arceus. It’s very strange that this new title features elements that were introduced in Arceus, but don’t carry the torch without stumbling. Shiny Pokémon are visible within the overworld, but as Pokémon can despawn, there isn’t that heartstopping sound effect that informs the player when one is in the vicinity. The “Masuda Method” for hatching eggs has been known for a long time now, and while Legends: Arceus didn’t include eggs, it did feature the ability to release multiple Pokémon at a time – that’s also gone. The massive amount of engagement between the world and the player in both games is spectacular, but the step back that Violet takes is by removing the ability for catching Pokémon outside of battle. This is a really strange omission given the addition of taking out Pokémon, without necessarily battling them.
Moving forward with the downsides, it’s been about two months since Scarlet and Violet’s release, and both the fans and Nintendo are aware of their unpolished, buggy state. Whether you’ve experienced it for yourself or through the many other players on social media, Scarlet and Violet are full of issues. Models freak out, wild Pokémon are stuck in the walls or floor, and the camera is jarringly inconsistent during wild encounters or dispositions itself within the overworld in tight spots. Occasionally, the camera lets you see UNDERNEATH the world, and some unlucky players have fallen THROUGH the world. Oh, and Pokémon pop in and out of existence, Tera Pokémon disappear without reason if you come too close, you can walk right through your rivals’ home, people discovered duplication glitches, the Elite Four music loops the first few seconds, and there’s so much more that I can’t remember or just haven’t encountered myself.
Out of all the Nintendo published games that I’ve seen and experienced, I’ve never seen a game released in this state. I’d imagine that the people that haven’t faced at least five glitches are part of the minority, as I thought it wouldn’t happen to me, but it did – several times. The glitches can be from a minor UI piece being stuck on the screen to the game hard crashing from playing together with friends, which, again, is a big, new feature for this title.
And it’s truly a shame since Game Freak’s passion for these games is palpable. So many of the new Pokémon designs are great, the bigger cutscenes feature a lot more movement and character, and being able to emote and play together with your friends is a treat. There is so much fun to be had with this game and the more I play it, the more I like it. However, my job as a critic is to not just analyze different games as they work within their medium and as a work of art. My job is to also evaluate whether these games are products that are worth your time and money, and even though two months have passed, I don’t think Pokémon Scarlet and Violet are worthy of the spectacular sales numbers that it has achieved.
When a duplication glitch was found, Game Freak and Nintendo rushed to address that issue. But aside from fixing that and the Elite Four music glitch, what else has been addressed? We have no idea. There weren’t any other patch notes on what bugs were fixed, and while Nintendo stated they’re aware of the game’s issues, nothing else has come about since December 1st. Are we sure there will be another patch that will fix the game? Maybe there will be. Pokémon Day is also on the horizon, and with it MIGHT come the expected announcement of downloadable content. Will that DLC – which, going off Sword and Shield’s precedent, we’ll likely have to pay for – also be full of issues? People shouldn’t have to worry about whether the game they’ve been looking forward to for several months is actually a functioning product or not.
I’m enjoying Pokémon Violet, I truly am! But this lack of polish is inexcusable, and for those that haven’t purchased Scarlet or Violet yet, I suggest waiting until a patch addresses their issues. For those still looking to purchase one of them, wait for a discount. And regardless of how much fun there is to be found within Violet, I believe purchasing it or Scarlet sends the message to Nintendo that releasing games in such an unfinished state is acceptable. It is not.
