Will Pokemon Gen 9 be better than Gen 8?
Since the release of Sword and Shield, people have been debating how much of this is Game Freak's fault. The Pokémon Company responded to the controversy, saying the series just accumulated too many Pokémon to properly implement each one, especially given the short turnaround time for new games in the series. Sword and Shield have been accused of deprioritizing the competitive scene due to its many changes to the metadata, lacking content due to its simple storyline and few post-match options, and perhaps most notoriously, it did not include More than half of the franchise's 905 Pokémon.
The general atmosphere of Galar, the background area of Sword and Shield, revolves primarily around sports, and the story itself mirrors the tournament arc in sports anime. That seems fitting given how competitive Pokémon is by nature, and it's promising, even a little exciting, in the game's early stages, a much-needed shake-up of the predictable gameplay the series is known for. Unfortunately, these matches fell into the old trap that the series has always had, in the form of a gymnasium of repeated flushes that culminated in a battle with a champion. Although it tries to echo shows like Haikyuu or Captain Winglets, with their high-spirited and enthusiastic cast, the game feels more shallow than ever, with so many untapped ideas like open-world areas and Dynamaxing mired in the predicament.
The biggest tragedy of Sword and Shield is that all of its potentials is wasted. It has some better games in its DNA. Boss battles are truly exciting and climax given the engrossed audience reacting to the changing battle dynamics and savage boss themes. But it tries not to stray too far from typical "Pokémon," and it falls short of the rhythm that sports anime should have.
Game Freak seems to have landed in a school setting, which isn't such a bad idea. The academic setting has been popular in youth media for decades, especially since the pandemic began, perfectly encapsulating the years between Sword and Shield and Scarlet and Violet. Despite my suspicions, the most recent trailer must have sold a lot of the elements I'd expect from a setting like this: a cast of bad opponents, school traditions and events, and a colorful cast of seniors and staff. Although the game relies on a gym progression system, the trailer hints that players must complete new nonviolent missions to challenge each gym. Much of Scarlet and Violet's appeal lies in its true open world, which is a major improvement over the wild areas of Sword and Shield.
If Game Freak were smart, they'd take some inspiration from Fire Emblem and Persona's calendar system, simulating a school year that would address several of Sword and Shield's complaints, namely the lack of content and short stories. Extending the game over a calendar year runs the risk of making the game feel artificially extended, but allows for several unique, dynamic events to occur throughout the game's playtime, and can keep players in Scarlet and Violet long enough to make the game feel artificially long. Game Freak rolls out updates and DLC that don't feel awkward when released after the game's natural life cycle. If Scarlet and Violet is truly as open-world as Game Freak advertises, it will also allow events to spread around the world in a logical way, preventing the world from feeling empty or lackluster. The cycle of day and night can also help with this, making encounters determined by the time of day and making them feel accidental or unique.
Based on the trailers for the next installment so far, Game Freak appears to be landing in a school setting, which isn't such a bad idea. The academic setting has been popular in youth media for decades, especially since the pandemic began, perfectly encapsulating the years between Sword and Shield and Scarlet and Violet. Despite my suspicions, the most recent trailer must have sold a lot of the elements I'd expect from a setting like this: a cast of bad opponents, school traditions and events, and a colorful cast of seniors and staff. Although the game relies on a gym progression system, the trailer hints that players must complete new nonviolent missions to challenge each gym. Much of Scarlet and Violet's appeal lies in its true open world, which is a major improvement over the wild areas of Sword and Shield.
Pokémon suddenly went from a series some players bought at launch to one he might consider buying if a few friends recommended it. This IP is still very popular at present, but Pokemon game fans still hope that the Pokemon Company will carefully create the game, not only the graphics, but more importantly, the exciting storyline and the freedom and novelty of the gameplay. Scarlet and Violet is set to release on November 18th, and judging from previous videos and some leaks, it's worth looking forward to. If you want to get Pokemon for Scarlet and Violet, you can check at pkmbuy, buy you need to wait.
You can Buy Pokemon and check out the news at pkmbuy.com, and more info on Twitter (PKMBuy). If players want to buy Gen VIII Pokemon, they can now. A lot of players like to buy Arceus Pokemon. Happy gaming!
