Summary
ThePokemonfranchise has a long list of spin-off games, each with a diverse identity. Despite their uniqueness, they maintain strong ties to the mainline games.Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team and Blue Rescue Team, for example, keep level-up movesets fromFireRed and LeafGreenbut completely shake up the core gameplay. There’s another series ofPokemonspin-offs that The Pokemon Company seems to have put to rest, though.
Pokemon Stadiumand its sequel were released on the Nintendo 64 and breathed life into the franchise. Due to the graphical limitations of the first and second generations of games, battling was not very immersive as the Game Boy couldn’t provide fluid, detailed animations. TheStadiumgames allowed players to link Nintendo 64s to Game Boys and battle with their very own Pokemon in 3D on a television screen. This is a significant visual component for the franchise and continued on the GameCube and Wii withPokemon Colosseum,XD: Gale of Darkness, andBattle Revolution, respectively. Nintendo’s next console would greatly benefit from anotherPokemonbattle simulator, despite the series’ jump to 3D over 10 years ago.
Pokemon’s 3D Sprites Over The Years
3D sprites have existed in thePokemonseries sinceStadiumandSnap, but the mainline games didn’t introduce them untilX and Yon the Nintendo 3DS. Yet, there seems to be a glaring difference between the animations of the spin-off games and the mainline ones.
Pokemon ColosseumandXD: Gale of Darknesswere one-of-a-kind entries in the franchise in that they managed to combine RPG elements of the original games with the battle simulation of theStadiumseries. Players could still connect their Game Boy Advance copies ofPokemonRuby and Sapphireto the GameCube and battle on the big screen, butColosseumandXD: Gale of Darknessalso provided full-fledged story modes.
Pokemon Battle Revolutionon the Nintendo Wiireturned toStadium’s style of gameplay, with essentially no story mode and a heavy focus on mere battling. The game’s emphasis on battling, however, filled it with tons of personality. Each Pokemon had such vibrant idle animations, and was an impressive graphical showcase of the Wii’s capabilities, compared to previous Nintendo consoles.
Why Battle Simulators Should Make A Return
Pokemon’s jump from 2D sprites and overworlds to 3D has been somewhat controversial. Generation 6 on the 3DS was a smooth transition from the DS era of games, yet the issue primarily exists with future releases in the series. Generations 7 and 8’s Pokemon sprites look similar to the ones used inX and Y, a questionable choice as the latter was released on the Switch, Nintendo’s most recent console.Scarlet and Violetcertainly improved and reworked the way tons of Pokemon look, yet a sizable number still looks comparable to how they did on the 3DS in 2013.
The battle animations in the mainline series have seen improvements since the handheld games, but still feel limited. Seeing as there areover 1,000 Pokemon in the National Pokedexat the moment, Game Freak may be prioritizing other elements of gameplay. This is where the franchise’s battle simulators of the past could come back to life.
The battling spin-off games were by no means necessary additions to a fan’s collection, but they gave so many Pokemon rich personalities and charm. It could be interesting to seePokemon’s official video game competition take place in new titles that solely focus on battling, as they have done in the past.
Online ladders, like those that currently exist inScarlet and Violet, could also be implemented. A story mode would be a nice addition, but where the franchise would truly benefit is in its personality.New Pokemon Snapdemonstrates how the series benefits from strong visuals, andNintendo’s anticipated Switch 2could be the perfect platform to elevate that further.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet
WHERE TO PLAY
The school that you’ve enrolled in as you playPokémon ScarletandPokémon Violethosts a special independent study project. The theme of this assignment is “A Treasure Hunt.” Explore the world and seek out your very own treasure!Three stories will be woven into your adventure while traversing the sprawling Paldea region. Along Victory Road, you will go to Gyms in different locations in order to to achieve Champion Rank. On the Path of Legends, you can join Arven in search of rare ingredients. And in ★ Starfall Street ★, you’ll challenge Team Star, a group of delinquents causing trouble for the school.These stories are set in an open world, so where you go is all up to you. A world teeming with Pokémon and people to meet is waiting for you—traverse the Paldea region wherever you heart desires.
