June 2022 has been a huge month for video game news, and there's more to come. Sony's latest PlayStation State of Play showcased numerous titles including a Resident Evil 4 remake and Final Fantasy 16, with some of its contents likely to reappear during Geoff Keighley's Summer Game Fest. Then there have been individual game showcases, like IGN's early access to Sonic Frontiers and a brand-new trailer for Pokemon Scarlet and Violet that aired on June 1.
Though the Pokemon trailer came first this month, it left an indelible mark. New NPCs like the dual professors Sada and Turo have generated plenty of buzz (even if little is still known about Generation 9's Iberian Peninsula-inspired region), meanwhile monsters like Lechonk and Smoliv have captured the hearts of fans. However, one of the most interesting points of discussion coming off Scarlet and Violet's trailer is its box art Legendaries: Koraidon and Miraidon. Speculation about how this duo fit into the Pokemon world could point to new mechanics, such as a minigame akin to Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon's Ultra Warp Ride.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's Koraidon and Miraidon Represent the Past and Future
Generation 9's region may still be shrouded in mystery, but the June 2022 trailer for Pokemon Scarlet and Violet (and concurrently released information by Game Freak) paint an interesting picture for the future of this franchise. The games' reveal trailer already established that Scarlet and Violet would have a completely open-world region, but now fans know exploring the region is not restricted to a particular narrative direction. Even more exciting is the opportunity to play with up to three friends in active multiplayer.
All of these features build upon previous titles, from the open segments of Hisui in Pokemon Legends: Arceus to encountering other users in Pokemon Sword and Shield's Wild Areas. The fact that Game Freak seems to be pulling so much from the past to craft a new direction fits the apparent theme of Scarlet and Violet. Scarlet version focuses on history, with Professor Sada's prehistoric outfit and name (a reference to the Spanish word "pasado") matching Koraidon's Japanese prefix "kirai." Likewise, Violet version's Professor Turo has a futuristic outfit and name (a reference to the Spanish word "futuro") matching Miraidon's Japanese prefix "mirai."
The Legendary Pokemon designs similarly fit this theme, but with a twist: both appear to be motorcycles. Koraidon is more of a classic chopper with high-rise handlebars and a spiked wheel on its chest; Miraidon is instead a hoverbike with a glossy design, legs folded into rocket thrusters, and pixilated eyes. Based on brief glimpses at these Legendaries in the latest trailer and key art, they seem to have seats on their lower backs where the player character could sit as the lizards race across Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's region.
Ride Pokemon in Scarlet and Violet
For most of Pokemon's history, players have increased their mobility using bikes - though bodies of water have traditionally been crossed by riding a Pokemon. However, recent titles have leaned into the idea of using the bond between humans and Pokemon to replace other items. Pokemon X and Y started the trend with specific obstacles requiring a monster for traversal, like riding a Mamoswine through snow. Then Sun and Moon took things a step further with Pokemon such as Tauros acting as a bike, Stoutland acting as an Itemfinder, and Machamp replacing the HM for Strength.
Pokemon Sword and Shield were a step back in this regard, as Generation 8 introduced a more advanced bicycle outfitted with Rotom technology to cross bodies of water. Yet Pokemon Legends: Arceus brought Ride Pokemon back into the forefront as a means of navigating Hisui's open areas. Specially designated monsters like Wyrdeer, Basculegion, and Hisuian Braviary could cross the land, sea, and air; each under the protection of Wardens from the Diamond and Pearl Clans.
With an open-world region and the freedom to tackle its story in any order, Scarlet and Violet can easily adapt the approach used by Legends: Arceus. Generation 9's unnamed region has specific design quirks such as (what may be) Pokemon Centers shaped like gas stations that display digital advertisements. Prior to the reveal of Koraidon and Miraidon this week, known leaker Riddler Khu suggested the mascot Legendaries could be ridden, and their designs line up with this rumor. This wouldn't be the first time players have ridden Legendary Pokemon, so Koraidon and Miraidon may be useful for more than basic traversal.
How Ultra Warp Ride Could be Replicated in Scarlet and Violet
Given new Pokemon are introduced in each Generation, there are nearly 1,000 monsters to collect. Sword and Shield introduced a limited National Pokedex to mitigate the issues with catching 'em all, but every modern title has offered players the chance to catch most Legendary Pokemon from previous titles if nothing else. For example, Sword and Shield's Crown Tundra DLC implemented Dynamax Adventures. Prior titles have tied Legendaries to this idea, such as Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire's Soaring in the Sky on Latios or Latias that opened access to Hoopa portals.
Ultra Warp Ride was the Legendary catching feature exclusive to Pokemon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon. With the Alola region characterized by monsters called Ultra Beasts invading from different dimensions, their main story saw players ride Solgaleo or Lunala through wormholes in Ultra Space that led to Ultra Megalopolis where Necrozma was restoring its power. After the story ended, players could initiate the same Ultra Warp Ride minigame whenever they wanted to reach pockets of Ultra Space where Legendaries like Mewtwo or Ultra Beasts like Nihilego could be caught.
If Scarlet's Koraidon and Violet's Miraidon are rideable, players could potentially ride them in a feature similar to Soaring and Ultra Warp Ride. A time-travel gimmick for Scarlet and Violet would play into this idea further, perhaps going so far as to let trainers explore areas based on past Pokemon games. Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire infamously tied Groudon and Kyogre encounters into the idea of them being remakes using "Primal Reversion" forms which played snippets of the original Game Boy Advance songs during battle. It would be interesting to see Game Freak attempt a similar feature with updated technology, expanding Scarlet and Violet into some of the most comprehensive titles yet.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet release on November 18 for Nintendo Switch.