Pokemon Scarlet and Violet’s open-world gameplay revitalizes the long-standing franchise. Following the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2, these titles received a performance enhancement with a free update offering 4K visuals when docked, and stable 60 frames per second across both docked and handheld modes. This update significantly improves gameplay, especially in previously challenging areas like Casseroya Lake, where loading times and performance were major issues on the original Switch.
Despite these enhancements, the visuals of Scarlet and Violet remain less impressive than other games in the series. The world can feel lackluster, with some character models appearing simplistic and numerous low-quality textures persisting. While the 4K resolution is an improvement, visual bugs do occur during battles, failing to reach the standards set by titles like Pokemon Let’s Go! Pikachu and Eevee.
One positive change is the increase in the number of Pokemon visible on screen, which enhances the vibrancy of Paldea, making it easier for players to engage in activities like shiny hunting. The Switch 2’s capabilities also streamlined menu navigation, a welcome improvement for organizing Pokemon and building battle teams.
Scarlet and Violet offer a unique non-linear gameplay experience. Players are encouraged to shape their paths through three distinct storylines: The Path of Legends, where players hunt large Pokemon; Operation Starfall, involving encounters with villainous teams; and the classic Victory Road, where gym challenges await. Unlike previous titles, there are no fixed routes—players can choose which objectives to pursue, allowing for exploration at their own pace.
The introduction of the Terastallization mechanic enriches competitive play by altering Pokemon types during battles. This adds a new layer of strategy, as players must adapt their moves to counter the Tera types of opposing trainers, enhancing battle depth considerably.
Even with the option to approach challenges at one’s own level, grinding remains less tedious thanks to the "Let’s Go" feature, enabling the first Pokemon in your party to auto-battle wild encounters. This allows for efficient experience gain while freeing up time for exploration and crafting TMs, which now can be crafted at Pokemon Centers from materials dropped by defeated foes.
However, the absence of a Battle Tower makes competitive strategy testing more challenging. While the game features online cooperative play, which allows friends to join in the exploration of Paldea, the method of initiating interactions and trades feels cumbersome. Additionally, despite a stable performance overall, frequent visual issues continue to detract from the experience.
Ultimately, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are praised for building on the open-ended design introduced in Pokemon Legends: Arceus, presenting one of the most engaging and flexible adventures in the mainline series to date. However, their technical shortcomings, including visual fidelity and the lack of certain competitive features, highlight areas where the games could still improve.
