Pokemon game graphics have come a very long way over the years. After getting its start on the 8-bit Nintendo Game Boy, the upcoming Pokemon Scarlet and Violet will launch on the Switch, delivering a three-dimensional open world to explore.
While Pokemon's graphics have changed tremendously, the games themselves still have a lot in common with their predecessors. Perhaps that's part of what keeps fans looking back to the older games, even when inspired by the newest entry to the franchise.
Pokemon Black and White was released over 10 years ago for the Nintendo DS, and it became the subject of a sprite makeover. Reddit user CoffeeRacoon shared a compilation image of custom sprite work, converting the fifth-generation Pokemon sprites into the latest's starters, and Gen 4 sprites into trainers from Pokemon Scarlet and Violet. The results are impressive and quite convincing.
Sprigatito, Quaxly, and Fuecoco come to life by modifying the sprites for Purrloin, Ducklett, and Totodile, respectively. The sprites are impressive, with Fuecoco and Quaxly in particular looking like they could have originated way back in Pokemon Black and White. Due to the design differences between Purrloin and Sprigatito, the Sprigatito sprite ends up looking a bit more mature and elegant than its actual appearance, perhaps making it a good candidate to be a sprite replacement for Sprigatito's evolved form, though only time will tell at this point.
Meanwhile, the NPC sprites of Pokemon Campers and Pokemon Picnickers, from Generation 4, have been utilized to remake the basic trainer design from Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's early trailer. They also look fantastic, and it's easy to imagine running into one of them in one of the older games and being challenged to a fight.
For many fans, older Pokemon games still have their charm. While some were thrilled to see Pokemon move on to three-dimensional graphics in a mainline entry, others openly voiced missing the art from the older Pokemon games. Unfortunately for those players, this is likely the closest they'll get to seeing the newest games in an older style.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet looks like it will be bringing a lot to the table, including some innovations new to the mainline series entries, like the ability to explore the Pokemon world with multiple friends. While an official Pokemon demake is highly unlikely, fans can rely on talented artists like CoffeeRacoon to show what Pokemon Scarlet and Violet could have looked like if the series had never made the technological leap to newer systems.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet is set to release on November 18 for the Nintendo Switch.