During Pokémon Day yesterday, fans got the first look at the next entries in the main series, Pokémon Scarlet & Pokémon Violet. The trailer included a live action component that ultimately led into actual game footage, but its content raised plenty of questions about the new games. Sure, we know some Pokémon that will be available in the titles and what the starting Pokémon look like, but here are some questions the trailer left us with.
What did these items in the room mean?
One of the first things that caught my eye during the video was the spiderweb-like mark on something draped across the back of a chair. Could it be related to a Pokémon? An evil organization? Part of the region’s lore? As we learn more about the games, it will be something I look for.
The ‘grape’ and ‘orange’ shields were another item in the real room that seemed like they hinted at some unknown part of the games. But if we look at the colors, orange and purple, they do somewhat resemble the color schemes of the starting clothes of the main characters, which varies depending on the version. Could they be related to a school and its uniform? There’s also a bowl of grapes and oranges on the table, alongside a sandwich (will bocadillo be the next regional food, like Alola’s malasadas or Galar’s curry?).
How much has the battle system changed?
The trailer, notably, did not feature much in the way of battling. We got a brief glimpse of Lucario attacking and an official screenshot of Hisuian Zoroark facing off against one, with an additional look at what seems to be an early battle with a wild Larvitar. With battling being one of the core parts of Pokémon games that players love to strategize around, it seemed like a very deliberate choice not to show us much.
Following the more simplified battle format of Pokémon Legends: Arceus and its move styles, it will be interesting to see what changes Scarlet and Violet will bring. We could also see, and probably will, a regional gimmick like Mega Evolutions, Z-Moves and Dynamaxing.
Where are all the people?
Only a few scenes actually showcased NPCs in action, and they were primarily background to whatever Pokémon was onscreen. Otherwise it was almost like looking at aerial footage of a closed amusement park, with its varied and grandiose locations feeling lifeless without actual people to enjoy them.
What are the trainers of this region going to be like? Who are we going to meet? Part of each generation are the memorable characters who are part of our journey, like Cynthia, Lillie and Marnie just to name a few.
How soon can we change out of those school uniforms?
I’m not going to waste too much time critiquing the initial outfits of our new main characters, but please confirm that a robust wardrobe is available in the game. I was pleasantly surprised by all the great options that Legends: Arceus had for trainers, and I’m really hoping we see some fun clothing in Scarlet and Violet as well.
When will we hear more about Scarlet and Violet?
Here’s a question I know that many fans are also wondering about: when are we going to get more details?! Looking back to the release of information for Pokémon Sword and Shield, which were also announced on Pokémon Day (2019), the next major reveal came on June 5. That’s probably not too different from what we should be expecting for Scarlet and Violet.
We may get some smaller details along the way, just like Gen VIII had, but buckle yourselves up for a wait that could be over three months! Here’s some details I’d love to see during the next big reveal, let me know in the comments what you’d like to see:
- The regional Pokémon Professor
- New early-game Pokémon species
- Silhouettes or full view of the Legendary Pokémon
- More information on battle changes (if there are any) or battle gimmick
- Whether or not this region has Pokémon Gyms
Our Discord server has been quite busy with all the Pokémon news, and we invite you to join our ongoing discussions! We’d also love to hear what questions the first trailer left you with regarding the two upcoming games. Share those in the comments and I’ll try to reply!