In a series ruled by traditions,Pokemon ScarletandViolethave broken away from the normal formula of their franchise. This move was a long time coming, but fans were becoming unsure whether it would ever happen. But afterPokemon Legends: Arceuslaid the groundwork,Pokemon ScarletandVioletwere finally able to make a fundamentally different kind ofPokemongame. While there is still a clear level-based route through their open world, the lack of restrictions in single-player and the expanded multiplayer have resulted in one of the most acclaimed mainlinePokemonlaunches in a long time.
However,Pokemon ScarletandVioletare in an awkward situation despite all that they got right. The games were clearly rushed to meet their launch date, with technical issues plaguing almost everyone who tries them. With one camp proclaiming that these are thebestPokemongames sinceBlackandWhiteand another asking Nintendo for refunds, it’s clear that this is a genuine step forward marred by technical issues. Those will subside with time and patches, but for now, it feels like some ofScarletandViolet’s potential is still being suppressed. To break away from their issues and make a Paldean open-world experience the best it can be, Game Freak may want to revive an abandoned series tradition.
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Pokemon’s Third Versions Were Once A Beloved Aspect
Pokemonhas revolved around releasing multiple versions of each main entry since the very beginning. The first generation sawPokemon RedandGreenhit Japan, followed byBluereplacingGreenfor the worldwide launch, andPokemon Yellowcoming later as a special edition based on the growing anime. Subsequent generations would scale back to two versions at launch, followed by an upgraded and generally definitive version released a little while later. No single take on eachPokemongame had all of that generation’s Pokemon assembled, but this encouraged friend groups to buy complementary versions.
Some of the greatest extra features were added by these new versions, including follower Pokemon and the Battle Frontier. As they began developing a reputation of excellence thanks toPokemon EmeraldandPlatinum, the Generation 5 gamesBlack 2andWhite 2changed things up. These were still akin to past special editions, but they took the alternate approach of occurring after the originalBlackandWhite. These were still well received, if particularly poor-selling, and fans didn’t think too much of them at the time. The legacy of tertiaryPokemonversions had ended, however.Pokemon XandYnever gotthe commonly rumoredPokemon Z, and it’s often theorized that its Zygarde-related content was rolled intoPokemon SunandMoon’s post-game.
Ever since the series stopped releasing third mainline titles for each generation,Pokemonhas been fumbling to replace its old vessels for extra content and polish.Pokemon SunandMoonwere better received thanXandY, but when they attempted to tell alternate universe stories withPokemon Ultra SunandUltra Moon, fans couldn’t help but notice that the revised story was weaker. Most recently,Pokemon SwordandShieldcut out the middlemanand just added their major post-game additions as DLC, forcing players to complete the main quest to get at them. With foreshadowing of content not in the games yet,Pokemon ScarletandVioletmay be headed down the same route. However, doing things the old-fashioned way might yield better results.
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What A Hypothetical Pokemon Amber Could Add
Some people will chafe at the idea of returning to threePokemoneditions. Nintendo is notorious for launching games at full price and rarely giving discounts, so paying half that amount for some expansions that almost double the play time and Pokemon count sounds preferable. UnlikeSwordandShield,ScarletandVioletalready have a strong main quest andan endgame set up for DLC, so the transition won’t be as painful. Accurate as that is, however, there are a host of benefits that a full new title could provide. A theoreticalPokemon Ambercould become as well regarded as the tertiary releases of the past, if not more so.
Immediately,Pokemon Amberwould complementScarletandVioletin a number of ways. The title would reference both Spanish flags and the substance that ancient insects have been preserved in. An association with thenewly introduced Paradox Pokemonwould be obvious, and this sequel or prequel to the original games could be about them breaking containment and spreading throughout Paldea.ScarletandVioletare uniquely prepared for chronological installments due to both the Champion Rank system and the central Pokemon Academy accepting new classes of students and potentially staff each year.
Considering that a mass teacher exodus occurred alongside the rise of Team Star, a prequel would work as well as a sequel. Among other benefits, a new Paldean installment could potentially feature new developments inProfessor Sada and/or Professor Turo’s subplot. A prequel would also permit an unusually tragic ending forPokemon, as while the Paradox Pokemon would be repelled, the various deaths, absences, and injuries leading toScarletandViolet’s events would need to occur.
On a gameplay front,Pokemon Amberwould benefit from both the patches that are rolling out forScarletandVioletas well as some additional time to implement content and revisions. Entire new areas could be added to Paldea’s underground and central crater, and the aforementioned Pokemon roster growth would be able to occur. Most importantly, a new third version would need to bring arepeatable battle facility like the Battle Frontier back.Pokemon Ambercould be the idealized version of what Game Freak was trying to make all the way back inSwordandShield’s Wild Area, and letting such an achievement breathe with no major technical faults could put it in the running for the bestPokemongame yet.
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