Pokemon Scarlet & Violetis now out on Nintendo Switch and thePokemonworld is once again open for gamers to explore, this time in the region of Paldea. The game has received mixed reviews from fans and critics; they are some of thelowest-rated Pokemon gamesever.
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However, despite its flaws,Pokemon Scarlet & Violethas many improvements over its mainline series predecessor,Pokemon Sword & Shield. These range from the new features added in the new game to improvements on elements thatSword & Shieldintroduced.
10Raid Battles
Raid battles were introduced inSword & Shieldand were mainly found in the wild area in those games. InScarlet & Violetthey are much more commonly found throughout Paldea; included on the map is also the type of raid that it is. The rewards for completing the raids are much better, featuring the new crafting materials for TM’s, for example.
Tera forms are a new feature found in these raids and if players are lucky they will find aPokemonwith aunique tera typein one of these many raids in the latest games. Terastallizing is the latest gimmick in the franchise, replacing the gigantamaxing ofSword & Shieldand also z-types and mega-evolving of prior entries.
9More Quests
Pokemonhas come a long way. Back in the early editions of the game, fans only had the gym leaders to fight with the goal to complete the game. InScarlet & Violet,players have the gym leaders, team star, and the titanPokemonto defeat on the path tobeing the ultimate Pokemontrainer.
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UnlikeSword & Shield,these latest games are an RPG-style adventures and the player can pick and choose what to do in the game and the quests can be viewed from the map. There is much more to do in Paldea, and it will surely keep gamers busy for a while.
8Auto Heal
A new feature inScarlet & Violetis auto heal. This allows the players to click a button on the switch controller and willautomatically heal up thePokemonselectedas long as there are potions in the bag.
This streamlines the healing process and saves time in finding the potions in the bag.Sword & Shieldof course did not have this feature, so this is very much something thatScarlet & Violetdoes better. Heal thePokemonquickly and get back to catching and battling.
7The “Let’s Go” Feature
Apart from theIsle of ArmorDLC inSword & Shield, Pokemon cannot roam free outside the Pokeball.Scarlet & Violetchanges this state of affairs. Players can click the ZR button to summon the lead Pokemon and have them follow the player in the game.
Along with this is a new feature: auto-battle. This nifty little addition means that the Pokemon roaming free willautomatically battle wild Pokemonand that battle is over instantly. This is great for collecting crafting materials fromPokemon but not ideal for XP.
6Choose How To Play The Game
Pokemon Scarlet & Violetgives the player a choice to choose exactly how to play the game. For example, there is the traditional route of battling the gym leaders and taking on the elite four, completing the Pokedex before engaging in a single battle, or taking on the new titan Pokemon and battling the region’s evil team, Team Star.
The choice lay entirely with the player and there is no set path to complete the game. Fans are free to choose the best-suited path and adventure in the manner they see fit. This is a massive improvement onSword & Shield, which has very much a linear story.
5Multiplayer
Pokemongames have always had a form of multiplayer in them, harking back to the union rooms of entries prior. ButScarlet & Violettakes this to the next level. Gamers can actuallyadventure through Paldea with fellow trainers, riding together on Koraidon or Miraidon.
Despite the game’s flaws, this is a great addition and gives it the edge over its previous incarnation. It’s great for players to link up with their friends to trade and battle and complete the Pokedex.
4Improvement On Camping
Camping was introduced inSword & Shield.Players could set up a camp to heal and play with their Pokemon and also cook curries with ingredients collected in the game.
The feature returns to Paldea but with some improvements. Cooking returns but this time with sandwiches, which provide the player with some in-game boosts. Players can wash their Pokemon,making them more friendly, and can also customize the crafting set. Customization is always something sought after by fans, and It’s good to see more implemented in the game.
3New Versions Of Pokemon
With every new entry into thePokemonfranchise comes new variations of Pokemon. For example, shiny, regional variants, mega-evolutions, and gigantamax were all new variations that have been added over the years.
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Sword & Shieldhad gigantamax Pokemon, giant versions of the pocket monsters that changed their appearance as well as their size. InScarlet & Violet,there are new variations added: Terastal Pokemon and alsoParadox Pokemon, which come with ancient and future forms. Variation is always nice to have, and it is amazing to see more types of Pokemon that are available to collect.
2TM Crafting
A massive new addition to 2022’sPokemongames is TM crafting. TMs are moves that can be learned in the game. They are used once and originally gamers only had one to use in the full game. Now the player can create their own using league points andcrafting materials found from catching and battling Pokemon.
Sword & Shielddid not have this and there was no way to make TMs, so it is an amazing addition to the game. Players can better develop their Pokemon’s move sets in their quest to defeat the gyms and take on the elite four.
1Improvement On Ride Pokemon
Ride Pokemon were removed inSword & Shieldand replaced with a bike that can also be used in the water. A Pokemon that can be ridden returns through the legendary Pokemon Koraidon inScarletand Miraidon inViolet.
The big difference to previous incarnations is that this Pokemon can jump high, making travel throughout the map much easier and more streamlined. Furthermore, Koraidon and Miraidon can also glide, surf, and climb once the gamer defeats all the titan Pokemon across Paldea. Climbing and flying are things not capable of withSword & Shield’s bike.
Pokemon Scarlet & Violetis currently available on Nintendo Switch.
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