June 2022 has been a huge month for video game news, and there’s more to come. Sony’s latest PlayStation State of Play showcased numerous titles including aResident Evil 4remake andFinal Fantasy 16, with some of its contents likely to reappear during Geoff Keighley’s Summer Game Fest. Then there have been individual game showcases, likeIGN’s early access toSonic Frontiersand a brand-new trailer forPokemon ScarletandVioletthat aired on June 1.
Though thePokemontrailer came first this month, it left an indelible mark.New NPCs like the dual professors Sada and Turohave generated plenty of buzz (even if little is still known about Generation 9’s Iberian Peninsula-inspired region), meanwhile monsters like Lechonk and Smoliv have captured the hearts of fans. However, one of the most interesting points of discussion coming offScarletandViolet’s trailer is its box art Legendaries: Koraidon and Miraidon. Speculation about how this duo fit into the Pokemon world could point to new mechanics, such as a minigame akin toUltra SunandUltra Moon’s Ultra Warp Ride.
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Pokemon Scarlet and Violet’s Koraidon and Miraidon Represent the Past and Future
Generation 9’s region may still be shrouded in mystery, but theJune 2022 trailer forPokemon ScarletandViolet(and concurrently released information by Game Freak) paint an interesting picture for the future of this franchise. The games' reveal trailer already established thatScarletandVioletwould have a completely open-world region, but now fans know exploring the region is not restricted to a particular narrative direction. Even more exciting is the opportunity to play with up to three friends in active multiplayer.
All of these features build upon previous titles, from the open segments of Hisui inPokemon Legends: Arceusto encountering other users inPokemon SwordandShield’s Wild Areas. The fact that Game Freak seems to be pulling so much from the past to craft a new direction fits the apparent theme ofScarletandViolet.Scarletversion focuses on history, with Professor Sada’s prehistoric outfit and name (a reference to the Spanish word “pasado”) matching Koraidon’s Japanese prefix “kirai.” Likewise,Violetversion’s Professor Turo has a futuristic outfit and name (a reference to the Spanish word “futuro”) matching Miraidon’s Japanese prefix “mirai.”
The Legendary Pokemon designs similarly fit this theme, but with a twist: both appear to be motorcycles. Koraidon is more of a classic chopper with high-rise handlebars and a spiked wheel on its chest; Miraidon is instead a hoverbike with a glossy design, legs folded into rocket thrusters, and pixilated eyes. Based on brief glimpses at these Legendaries in the latest trailer and key art, they seem to have seats on their lower backs where the player character could sit as the lizards race acrossPokemon ScarletandViolet’s region.
Ride Pokemon in Scarlet and Violet
For most ofPokemon’s history, players have increased their mobility using bikes - though bodies of water have traditionally been crossed by riding a Pokemon. However, recent titles have leaned into the idea of using the bond between humans and Pokemon to replace other items.Pokemon XandYstarted the trend with specific obstacles requiring a monster for traversal, like riding a Mamoswine through snow. ThenSunandMoontook things a step further with Pokemon such as Tauros acting as a bike, Stoutland acting as an Itemfinder, and Machamp replacing the HM for Strength.
Pokemon SwordandShieldwere a step back in this regard, as Generation 8 introduced a more advanced bicycle outfitted with Rotom technology to cross bodies of water. YetPokemon Legends: Arceusbrought Ride Pokemon back into the forefrontas a means of navigating Hisui’s open areas. Specially designated monsters like Wyrdeer, Basculegion, and Hisuian Braviary could cross the land, sea, and air; each under the protection of Wardens from the Diamond and Pearl Clans.
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How Ultra Warp Ride Could be Replicated in Scarlet and Violet
Given new Pokemon are introduced in each Generation, there are nearly 1,000 monsters to collect.SwordandShieldintroduced a limited National Pokedex to mitigate the issues with catching ‘em all, but every modern title has offered players the chance to catch most Legendary Pokemon from previous titles if nothing else. For example,SwordandShield’s Crown Tundra DLC implemented Dynamax Adventures. Prior titles have tied Legendaries to this idea, such asOmega RubyandAlpha Sapphire’s Soaring in the Sky on Latios or Latias that opened access to Hoopa portals.
Ultra Warp Ride was the Legendary catching feature exclusive toPokemon Ultra SunandUltra Moon. With theAlola region characterized by monsters called Ultra Beastsinvading from different dimensions, their main story saw players ride Solgaleo or Lunala through wormholes in Ultra Space that led to Ultra Megalopolis where Necrozma was restoring its power. After the story ended, players could initiate the same Ultra Warp Ride minigame whenever they wanted to reach pockets of Ultra Space where Legendaries like Mewtwo or Ultra Beasts like Nihilego could be caught.
IfScarlet’s Koraidon andViolet’s Miraidon are rideable, players could potentially ride them in a feature similar to Soaring and Ultra Warp Ride. Atime-travel gimmick forScarletandVioletwould play into this idea further, perhaps going so far as to let trainers explore areas based on pastPokemongames.Omega RubyandAlpha Sapphireinfamously tied Groudon and Kyogre encounters into the idea of them being remakes using “Primal Reversion” forms which played snippets of the original Game Boy Advance songs during battle. It would be interesting to see Game Freak attempt a similar feature with updated technology, expandingScarletandVioletinto some of the most comprehensive titles yet.
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