✎ 𝐏𝐨𝐤é𝐦𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐞𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐕𝐢𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐭┊𝙃𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙁𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨
˗ˏˋ ʀ ᴇ ᴠ ɪ ᴇ ᴡ ´ˎ˗
It's fair to say that Pokémon Scarlet and Violet was a mixed bag for most fans. Many people are rightly disappointed by the lack of polish this game has; others are still rightly justified to enjoy it even despite its shortcomings. This game has taken many steps forward in the right direction, yet is still going backward on others.
Ignoring the apparent devasting optimization the game sorely needs work on — they've even taken away a feature that players looking for a challenge enjoy using.
Set mode.
For those who don't know, the set mode was a feature that allowed players to be unable to see what Pokémon a trainer would send out next during a battle. Now, while players can still technically play by the set mode rules by simply pressing 'no' on whether or not they want to switch their Pokémon — it's disappointing that the game is making it a little bit more of a nuisance by removing that quality of life feature for these players seeking a challenge.
But I digress.
While I could sit here naming all the flaws the game has that others undoubtedly already have done, I won't. I came here to say that, despite this game not being in its prime, I had so much fun playing it. One thing I absolutely adored about the game was the three storylines it had going on. I loved being able to see so many different characters and feel like I was forming genuine friendships (with these said characters), unlike in previous titles.
I loved helping Arven save his dog and feeling like a true best friend of his. Being able to stand there for his lows and see how he gradually warmed up more and more to the player was preciously wholesome. He was, personally, the best boy for me.
I loved experiencing Nemona's absolute joy about us beating her, just being a rival who loved to battle and nothing else that grand. Plus, it was precious that she had called us her treasure of the whole treasure hunt event.
And then I ended up liking Penny way more than I thought I would. At first, I thought she would be a shy character, needing help to break out of her shell. But she was, truthfully, someone with more sass than I was expecting, and it was hilarious to witness her interacting with someone like Nemona and Arven. And I personally found it very endearing how much she and Team Star cared about each other. It was heartwarming.
And then to be able to journey to the Great Crater with them? It felt like I was experiencing a real Pokémon anime adventure! And it only made me love the characters even more!
This game has its flaws, and I will never deny that — but I also won't deny that this game and the characters will have a place in my heart forever. And I know that I will definitely play this game over and over again in the future to revisit all the things I love in the Paldea region.
ʀᴇᴍᴇᴍʙᴇʀ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜɪꜱ ɪꜱ ᴊᴜꜱᴛ ᴍʏ ᴏᴘɪɴɪᴏɴ, ᴀɴᴅ ɪ ʙᴏᴛʜ ᴄᴏᴍᴘʟᴇᴛᴇʟʏ ᴜɴᴅᴇʀꜱᴛᴀɴᴅ, ᴀɴᴅ ʀᴇꜱᴘᴇᴄᴛ ᴀɴʏʙᴏᴅʏ ᴡʜᴏ ᴅɪꜱᴀɢʀᴇᴇꜱ.