Is Pokémon Scarlet Violet worth getting? A complete, helpful guide
As an enthusiastic Pokémon expert and fan for over 20 years, the highly anticipated release of the first open-world RPGs in the series – Pokémon Scarlet and Violet – intrigued me. I‘ve sunk over 200 hours into past Pokémon journeys across multiple generations. Would Scarlet and Violet live up to the nostalgia and high expectations?
Despite a rocky launch marred by technical problems, I‘m pleased to report these newest Switch exclusives provide the most enjoyable and addicting Pokémon experience I‘ve had in a long time. In this helpful guide, I‘ll give an honest, in-depth assessment of Scarlet and Violet to help you decide if they are worth purchasing and joining the Paldea region adventure.
Record-breaking yet divisive 9th generation titles
Within three days of launch on November 18, 2022, Scarlet and Violet achieved record-shattering sales of over 10 million copies worldwide. For context, that exceeds the lifetime sales of Pokémon Sun and Moon on the 3DS. After one month, Scarlet/Violet reached an astounding 20 million copies sold according to Famitsu, making the titles the second highest selling Pokémon games ever behind only the original Red/Green/Blue.
However, professional reviews painted a mixed reception at launch. While critics praised the new open world freedom, technical problems hampered enjoyment for many players. Frequent framerate drops, visual bugs, and glitches resulting from pushing the Switch hardware led to Metacritic review scores hovering in the low 70s, making Scarlet/Violet among the lowest critically rated mainline Pokémon RPGs.
Fortunately, post-launch updates have improved stability and performance considerably. The development team continues working to polish these ambitious titles. Now with a smoother adventure, I can wholeheartedly recommend Scarlet and Violet as must-have additions to any Switch library.
Key enhancements overhaul the traditional formula
As a longtime Pokémon veteran, I find Scarlet and Violet breathe new life into the classic monster collecting formula in some brilliant ways:
True open world environment
The vast open fields of the Paldea region finally deliver on the promise of a real living, breathing Pokémon world. Wild Pokémon visibly roam the landscapes. You can traverse without restrictive pathways, discovering new sights organically. The map design takes cues from Breath of the Wild‘s Hyrule to encourage exploration and emergent gameplay.
Three branching story paths
For the first time in the series, you can challenge the gyms in any order by following Victory Road, while also taking on the villainous Team Star through Starfall Street, plus seeking out the towering Titans dotting the land through the Path of Legends. This freedom finally breaks the linearity previous entries suffered from. I loved the ability to forge my own adventure.
Revamped multiplayer and competitive integration
Scarlet and Violet emphasize playing together. The Max Raid-style Tera Raid Battles reward cooperation. You can seamlessly connect online or locally for co-op. The story itself even adapts to respond to the number of players. Competitive battling also sheds tedious EV training and simplify team building, helping make rankings more approachable.
| Feature | Benefit |
|---|---|
| Open world | Freedom to explore, discover gameplay opportunities |
| Three story paths | Customize your journey‘s progression |
| Multiplayer focus | Co-op raids and battles enhance social experience |
| Streamlined competitive | Lets you jump into ranked sooner than before |
Quality of life improvements
Numerous tweaks reduce the busywork of past entries in smart ways. The new TM system means you no longer have to juggle limited TMs. Picnics give bonuses anywhere without a camp. Pokémon Boxes are accessible from anywhere via the Poké Portal. Auto-battling streamlines level grinding. Revamped battle mechanics like Let‘s Go! provide smoother, more dynamic combat. All these small touches really modernize the experience.
Short main story but extensive side content
A common criticism of Scarlet and Violet I agree with is the brevity of the core story compared to previous generations. Here are approximate playtime lengths:
- Main story: 25-30 hours
- Completionist run: Over 80 hours
- Postgame content: 8-10 hours
The three branching paths wrap up more quickly than prolonged stories like Black and White. However, the expanded side content counterbalances the shorter critical path length. Catching all the new and returning Pokémon to fill out the Pokédex kept me busy for hours. Endgame competitive becoming Champion Cup champion also adds replay value after crowning yourself champion.
New Pokémon designs: more hits than misses
As a Pokémon professor would say, with each new generation comes a wave of new Pokémon species to discover! Scarlet and Violet introduce 156 never before seen Pokémon, including the fascinating regional variants known as Paradox Pokémon.
Popular standouts like Sprigatito, Fuecoco, Lechonk, and Smoliv oozed personality and creativity. More controversial ones like Tandemaus, Grafaiai, and Finizen felt gimmicky or low-effort to some critics.
I found the designs fresh and inspired overall, with plenty I can‘t wait to add to my teams. The internet will inevitably meme the peculiar ones. The new Paradox forms also allow for creative type changes like a past electric Azumarill or future grass Salamence!
Historic leap to first mainline home console RPGs
As a longtime handheld Pokémon player stretching back to the Game Boy era, Scarlet and Violet signify a monumental evolution by bringing the core RPG gameplay to a home console for the first time. Seeing Pokémon fully realized in glorious HD on my TV or handheld remains a technological marvel and testament to the Switch hardware.
The visuals shine in docked mode but retain the portable magic when played handheld. Small touches like clothing physics and Pokémon fur/feathers blowing in the wind help build immersion. Of course as discussed, technical growing pains accompanied this generational leap until the development team smoothed out the presentation.
Verdict:Absolute must-buy for Pokémon fans
While not perfect, in my 20+ years of Pokémon experience, Scarlet and Violet stand out as the most outright fun I‘ve had with the franchise in recent memory. The joy of journeying across the Paldea region with my trusty Pokémon companions by my side felt like recapturing the magic of my childhood days playing Pokémon Blue on my Game Boy Pocket.
For Pokémon fans, Scarlet and Violet are absolutely worth full price. The combination of an inviting open world, multiplayer integration, streamlined mechanics, visually enhanced battles, and freedoms in forging your path result in the most engrossing and personalized Pokémon adventure yet. An unquestionable must-buy and a great jumping on point for new fans as well!
So gather your team, pick your version exclusive Legendary, and set out on your own Pokémon adventure. Just be warned – before you know it, you may lose 100 hours mastering the Paldea Pokédex like I did! Let me know which version you choose and if my guide helped make your purchasing decision easier.