Is Scarlet Violet worth getting? A deep dive into the pros and cons
Yes, despite a messy launch, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet introduce highly appealing features that make them absolute must-plays for most Pokemon fans. The jump to open world design finally brings the freedom and adventure many players have hoped for. This reinvigorates the classic monster collecting gameplay loop. While technical issues still persist post-patches, the games‘ strides forward outweigh the frustrations.
Sales and popularity reflect hype
Scarlet and Violet instantly became massive hits, reflecting tremendous excitement surrounding the first open world Pokemon RPGs. The games sold over 10 million copies worldwide in their first 3 days, the highest ever for a Switch title. For comparison, the previous record holder Pokemon Sword and Shield took 6 days to hit 10 million.
As of January 2023, Scarlet and Violet sales surpassed 20 million copies, making them the second best selling Switch games behind only Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. Suffice to say fans turned out in force to explore Paldea despite the well-publicized technical problems prior to launch. These are now the second best selling Pokemon games ever behind Red and Blue.
Post-launch patches fixed many, but not all, issues
As mentioned earlier, Game Freak issued major patches in November, December, and February aiming to improve performance and fix bugs. These updates noticeably boosted frame rates in most areas and reduced occurrence of distracting visual glitches like disappearing NPCs. Reviewers revisiting the games agreed they now run reasonably smoothly for the most part.
However, occasional frame rate dips and graphics quirks still pop up, especially when congregating with other players during co-op. Some bugs also still await fixing, though most egregious progress blocking ones have been addressed. The technical execution notably falls short of a first party Nintendo title. But for many fans the experience is now acceptable and doesn‘t ruin the fun. Those bothered by even minor technical blemishes may want to wait for further optimization.
Open world design reinvigorates the adventure
Easily Scarlet and Violet‘s most celebrated change is the shift to true open world environments. Previous games restricted players to largely linear paths between towns. Now the sprawling maps give unparalleled freedom to explore in any direction. Thisorganic discovery fuels the classic loop of catching and battling Pokemon in exciting new ways.
Reviewers widely praised the revitalized sense of adventure and surprise. Kotaku described it as "the breath of fresh air I didn‘t realize the series desperately needed." Sites like IGN and GameSpot lauded the increased immersion and rewards from wandering off the beaten path. Gamers have craved this lack of restrictions for years.
There‘s joy in stumbling upon hidden caves, remote lakes, and oases teeming with rare Pokemon completely organically. It finally feels like a real expedition. The world also offers more opportunities for emergent gameplay moments between players and Pokemon through the new Let‘s Go feature. Overall, the move to open zones gives players the agency to carve their own memorable journey.
Multiplayer and cooperative functions
Another way Scarlet and Violet modernize the formula is the ability to explore the open world simultaneously with up to 3 other players. Previous games limited multiplayer to trading and battling. Now you can journey together and directly engage in the core activities of catching, training, and battling Pokemon.
The seamless cooperative play makes completing all facets of the game more social and engaging. You can split up to cover more ground seeking rare spawns or team up to take on powerful Tera raid battles. Trading Pokemon and items is also easier than ever.
Small touches like picnics and sandwich making help reinforce the shared adventure. Reviews praised the integration for removing barriers and enabling organic player-driven moments out in the world. The multiplayer addition rounds out the complete open world experience.
An abundance of gameplay improvements
On top of the major changes above, Scarlet and Violet introduce countless quality of life improvements that streamline tedium. Crafting TMs grants free move re-customization. Medicine crafting removes reliance on Poke Centers. New team switching mid-battle creates strategic opportunities. Auto-battling in lower level encounters reduces grinding.
The new Terastal phenomenon adds another layer of strategy by letting Pokemon transform into crystallized “Tera” forms and enhancing a specific type. This forces you to think more adaptively in battles against trainers and giant Tera raid foes.
Picnics and sandwich crafting offer fun downtime between adventures to bond with your Pokemon and boost their stats. Poke Portal fast travel eliminates previous frustrations backtracking across continents. Streamlining box management reduces breeding/release hassles. Lettuce harvesting automates EV training. These are just some of the many examples of smart QOL improvements that respect players‘ time.
The world and storytelling match the scope
The region of Paldea impresses in scope with its nine distinct biomes spanning lush forests, craggy mountains, arid deserts, and snowfields. The diverse landscapes are brimming with charming details and make exploring feel more rewarding. Little touches like herds of wild Pokemon roaming about and dynamic weather enhance immersion.
Scarlet and Violet also deliver one of the better stories in the series so far with memorable rivals, evil teams, and high stakes around legendary Pokemon. The plot still caters to a younger audience but has greater cinematic flair during important cutscenes. Reviewers praised the characters for feeling like real teens undergoing relatable coming-of-age struggles. Their arcs develop meaningfully over the journey, keeping things emotionally engaging.
Over 100 new Pokemon to discover and train
As with all new generations, the debut of unique creatures is a huge selling point. Scarlet and Violet introduce 135 new Pokemon from the small but fierce Cetitoad to mighty legendary Pokemon Koraidon and Miraidon.
Standouts for me include the adorable hamster-like Pawmot, the Majin Buu-inspired Garganacl, the Derpy-eyed Cyclizar, the fierce tank-like Iron Treads, and the mysterious Miraidon. But honestly the designer‘s creativity shines through in this batch, with very few duds. I already can‘t pick just 6 to take with me. Discovering and experimenting with fresh monsters is when Pokemon is at its most magical.
And the possibilities for customizing movesets, abilities, stats, and Tera types create nearly endless strategic team building options. Hardcore players can spend hundreds of hours perfecting competitive teams through breeding, training, and battling online. The sheer volume of content caters to all commitment levels.
Satisfying postgame activities
Completing the around 30 hour main story is just the beginning. A Battle Tower-esque facility called Victory Road, higher difficulty gym leader rematches, and five star Tera Raid battles offer substantive endgame challenges to test your combat abilities.
Unlocking these tougher activities requires further exploring the world and developing your team. I also found the postgame story vignettes wrapping up loose ends compelling in their own right. Of course catching all the new Pokemon also becomes more demanding after obtaining the National Pokedex.
Shiny hunting Pokemon through soft resetting or Masuda method breeding provides hundreds of hours of potential entertainment for those seeking to “catch ‘em all.” Completionist players could spend over 200 hours in their quest for a flawless Pokedex. So there are plenty of carrots dangling to keep you engaged after the credits roll.
Minor differences between versions
When it comes to choosing between Scarlet and Violet, there are only negligible distinctions beyond the exclusive legendaries. Scarlet has the more offensively oriented Koraidon while Violet features the defensively bulky Miraidon. Their secondary typings and designs may sway your pick.
Aside from that, the versions feature some different gym leader types, a handful of version exclusive Pokemon, and slight variances in certain story scenes. But the core journey remains 95% the same either way. You can eventually trade to get version exclusives from the other game. So go with whichever cover legendary appeals to you more.
In conclusion
Despite underwhelming technical execution, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet usher in a new era for the long-running RPG series. The shift to open world environments injects a renewed sense of freedom, adventure, and wonder back into the classic creature collecting formula. An abundance of smart quality of life improvements reduce tedium and respect players‘ time.
For anyone craving to escape into a relaxing world catching Pokemon, Scarlet and Violet are easy recommendations. The rocky launch marred early impressions, but Game Freak has substantially improved performance and stability via patches. What‘s left is one of the most outright fun and addicting Pokemon journeys yet.