Some early impressions for Pokemon Scarlet and Violet have been revealed, and it seems that the games' performance in its pre-release build is causing some concern. As the ninth mainline games in the series, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet mark plenty of new things coming to the franchise. There will be the usual new Pokemon to catch as well as another region to explore, but Pokemon Scarlet and Violet also seem to be incredibly ambitious titles for the series, as they add a lot of brand-new features.
The Paldea region will be an open world in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, allowing players to explore as they wish. Also, gamers will be able to roam through the Paldea region with their friends, as Pokemon Scarlet and Violet introduce co-op gameplay throughout the main narratives. These additional features show how ambitious Game Freak is looking to be with its latest pair of Pokemon games, building on games like Pokemon Legends: Arceus, the open zones of which can now be seen as tests for the fully open Paldea region.
However, even as Pokemon Scarlet and Violet look to be incredibly ambitious titles, there are concerns among some that the games might not be able to handle their own scale. Early impressions of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are making their way around the internet, and while many are praising the latest entries for their achievements, some are worried as it seems the current build of the titles isn't quite ready for release.
Eurogamer specifically remarks that there are problems with "laggy" menus and animations, noting that characters "flicker" around rather than walking with natural movements. While Pokemon Scarlet and Violet may be a little rough around the edges for some, others who've played the game early are cautiously hopeful about what it could mean for the franchise. Serebii.net's Joe Merrick stated that should the potential hold, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet could mean a "new peak" for the series. There are other details which mark a step in a new direction for Pokemon as well, such as the removal of iconic trainer battles in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet. While these features were somewhat controversial when first revealed, the reception from the early impressions indicates they could be a positive move.
There have been a few comparisons from the early impressions of Scarlet and Violet with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, another ambitious, open-world title that did run into some issues in its performance. While Breath of the Wild had the Blood Moon mechanic to increase performance, the frame rate would still drop at times. However, even with a choppy performance in some regards, Breath of the Wild is still a game that received great critical acclaim, showing that worries about Pokemon Scarlet and Violet could be misplaced.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are set to release on November 18 for Nintendo Switch.
Source: Eurogamer, Serebii.net, NintendoLife