GRcade

100% finished off the Johto part of my living dex. Managed to get a shiny Miltank in the process too! Here's what I have remaining for my living dex - excluding forms.

There's like 4-5 on there that I do have, but the rest I still need. Can't believe how close I am, but it's also kind of annoying there's some I can't get until they eventually do an event for them lol

Been listening to so much of the Pokemon Sound Library on Youtube recently, proper nostalgia hit

So, slowly nearing two years since Scarlet and Violet came out, just wondered what everyone's thoughts on the series going open world vs routes is now? Replaying them, basically running from objective to objective, actually makes me miss the route system of the older games....... I think Sword and Shield had a very good compromise, which should have been improved upon for SV with better routes alongside a better wild area, it'd have probably performed a lot better as well. I still think SV is a better game (story wise) than SS, but think Pokemon is just more suited to the older style, although Legends Arceus is a much better attempt at a semi open world game than SV is, once I've quickly gone through both of SV again, I might try and solo LA with one of the starters, it was a tricky game with a full team, never mind just one Pokemon.

I'd be very happy if the Legends games became the semi/open worlds games, then the standard games stuck to the route system, but then again I'd love for the games to go back to a pixel based style, so maybe I'm not the best person to comment on the future of the franchise

As much as I love the world of Scarlet-Violet, it could be infinitely better without the crater there. What Game Freak need is to keep improving their world design, because at present it still feels like there's hints of the route design there. Just like for ages it felt like towns were still designed on a grid system.

I actually like the crater in the centre of Paldea, mainly as it brings the three storylines together very nicely. I don’t dislike the open world (but it only becomes really open to explore once you have all the ride abilities back), but guess you like the move to an open world, DarkRula.

Nearing the end of my second play through of the base game of Violet, think I’m nearing about 15 hours on this save. Just got the final task of each arc before going to the centre. Then it’ll be a quick blast through both DLC and then catching the new legendary Pokémon again, not bothering with the BB points as that was a grind and then some

Anyone manage the Meganium raid at the weekend? I need to get it done this coming weekend, can’t miss out on one of my favourite starters 7 star raid, need to sort a Skeldierge out first though.

Oh, I don't mind the world inside the crater, but the fact it lies at the dead centre meaning the world is yet again another loop/ring. Something Game Freak apparently love in recent times.

And yeah, I feel the open world, if done right, can serve a greater purpose in making the Pokémon world feel truly alive in ways that routes never would be able to. But I also wouldn't be against a return to routes if they could prove me wrong.

Oh yeah, I get where you’re coming from now with the world design, Unova was the worst for that aspect though. Feels like until they make levelling/scaling a common thing, players will continue to have a very similar journey through the worlds they create, they don’t seem to want to focus on this aspect for some reason though.

In my opinion, Pokémon should do away with a singular linear story if it wants to stay open world. The joy of the series has always been in the discovering new things. There can still be a singular goal being worked towards. Becoming champion, stopping an evil plot, whatever... But the journey taken to get there shouldn't be dictated by the game. Heading to a town, you uncover something - or even multiple things - happening that you can get involved with that will then count toward overall completion of that story.

I do really enjoy the three pronged story that joins up at the end like we got in SV, as you said, it’s just not an ideal way to get there as you basically clear the middle of the map, then the south, before heading north. Could have been so much better.

It’s weird, the Wild Area in SS had scaling to a degree with wild Pokémon increasing in level as you did more of the gyms, so why not expand that for SV?

For wild Pokémon, I'd much rather see a greater mix of levels all across the world rather than areas having a set smaller range while also scaling with progress. Yeah, there's the possibility of breaking the balance wide open (much like I did with Scarlet) by doing so, but that's part of the freedom of exploration. Allow levels to be seen when targeting a 'mon, have a set distance you can get to them before they start chasing you, and all should be fine.

I’ve enjoyed being under levelled on my quick run of Violet (so far, imagine the three Pokémon I’m using will be over levelled before long), but again, I think there should be difficulty levels to Pokémon games, so levels aren’t the only barrier, some of the double battles in the Blueberry Academy were a lot better, because you had to try and think a little differently about them.

Wild stuff I’d not be fussed if they were scaled to near the players level, a wide range of levels in the wild is realistic, well as realistic as you can get in Pokémon

Robbo-92 wrote:It’s weird, the Wild Area in SS had scaling to a degree with wild Pokémon increasing in level as you did more of the gyms, so why not expand that for SV?

probably time constraints

shy guy 64 wrote:

Robbo-92 wrote:It’s weird, the Wild Area in SS had scaling to a degree with wild Pokémon increasing in level as you did more of the gyms, so why not expand that for SV?

probably time constraints

We’ll have to see how such elements are implemented when Legends Z-A releases then, although that one could be wildly different anyway, being entirely set in the city itself.

Robbo-92 wrote:

shy guy 64 wrote:

Robbo-92 wrote:It’s weird, the Wild Area in SS had scaling to a degree with wild Pokémon increasing in level as you did more of the gyms, so why not expand that for SV?

probably time constraints

We’ll have to see how such elements are implemented when Legends Z-A releases then, although that one could be wildly different anyway, being entirely set in the city itself.

indeed. all we know is mega is back

7 Star Meganium caught in Scarlet, now to quickly unlock 7 star raids in Violet and catch it in there too. Really hope Chikorita is one of the starters in Legends Z-A.

Edit, got 7 star raids unlocked in Violet now, will be doing the Meganium one on there later, I’ll be adding it to by Violet team as that’s still at 3 currently.

Also, these are pricy, but Pokémon have just revealed a set of hand puppet Pokémon plushes

https://www.pokemoncenter.com/en-gb/search/hand-puppet

Just a thought... the original Game Boy Pokémon games in Japan had the text "Pocket Monsters" as a tagline on the box covers. I wonder why this approach wasn't taken in the West? Maybe the "Pokémon" term was just well-known before the games arrived here?

I think it was that Pocket Monsters was taken in the west by something else. Not sure, but that's what I remember hearing way back when. Before the internet was a big thing, mind you.

Pedz wrote:I think it was that Pocket Monsters was taken in the west by something else. Not sure, but that's what I remember hearing way back when. Before the internet was a big thing, mind you.

Ah! It could well be, Pedz... I just searched and was reminded of the "Monster in my Pocket" toy brand!

somes remixes and fanmade i find.

Some great Pokemon battle themes there Fisher!

Just seen this has been posted by NintendoLife a few hours ago, not watched it yet though, but they're ranking all of the Pokemon games, which is always a risky list to make!