So it looks like Pokemon has wrapped itself back around to using colors in the titles again. The new starters include grass kitty, fire croc, and not!Ducklet. The game looks like it might be set in PokeSpain or Portugal. It looks pretty damn good, but then Gamefreak owns my soul through the power of nostalgia so I am not an unbiased opinion.

 

Wait this is a real thing? I thought it was another fan game. Skip to the end of the vid for the Scarlet/Violet announcement.

Fire starter looks interesting.

 

Duck looks like a cunt.

 

Spoiler

 

I thought it was a fan game too.

Fire starter looks like the only usable one.

 

I want both grass and fire starters, for now.

 

I love cats and I love green. That little dude is going to be my favorite starter as long as they don't fuck up the final form.

If it's anything tiger-like at the end it'll go in my top-six.

 

All aboard the grass starter train!

 

I'm down to go water if it's final form is pokemon Donald Duck, otherwise I'm all aboard the Sprigatito train.

 

I like all of the starters, I'll take the grass starter myself since that's what I always do at the first playthrough. I honestly thought Fuecoco was a dinosaur instead of a crocodile, but I can see it now that it's been pointed out.
A bit strange that they made another water duck after Psyduck and especialy Ducklett, but I've always liked Ducklett and Swanna so I don't mind too much.
Sprigatito looks the best to me though, I hope it doesn't evolve in another humanoid like Incineroar did. After the Sun/Moon and Sword/Shield starters I hope all of them get less humanoid appearances in general.

 

"Scarlett" with a double t?

 

Totally didn't happen, nope. No proof. I can spell guys, I swear.

 

Looks like it's Spain/Portugal-themed this time. The predictions were calling India/South America, so big miss there.

This trailer had the same issues the PL:A trailers had -- ugly graphics, FPS dips, etc. PL:A ended up being really good despite the graphics so Game Freak gets a (small) pass this time, so I'm hoping they realized early on how fun that gameplay loop was and are making basically PL:A but with more content and battles.

Cautiously optimistic right now.

 

So, first thoughts:

• Character art seems to be improved significantly in detail, but outside of what I assume is the lab location, the world hasn't matched it. Possible that this will change in the run-up to release, but I doubt it'll reach parity (if it does, though, then it could look pretty good).
• Legends Arceus style open world with Pokémon wandering around. The ball throw also doesn't seem to be taking place in general world-traversal mode, so fighting to capture may still be required (unlike PLA).
• 4-player co-op? Big news, that. No idea how it will function.
• Lechonk is a home run as far as obvious internet favourites go.
• Companion Pokémon?
• Legendaries look decent in my opinion. Pretty big contrast between the two.
• Laventon Kukui has competition for the crown of hottest Pokémon Prof.

 

Story's gonna involve future vs. past. Names in both Japanese and spanish meaning "past" and "future." Both the legendaries and the professors' designs seem to be based on past and future.

 

I think it's guaranteed you can ride the legendaries too. Kiraidon's a Motorbike (his chest is a tyre) Miraidon is a (jet?)Hoverbike. Miraidon also has a seat on his back.

 

Not going to lie. I miss pokemon not being in the overworld. Kind of wished the went back to the old school where you can't see them in the grass but I doubt that will happen ever again.

 

No it won't. Thank god

 

Wait, there's no more random encounters in grass in Pokemon?

I haven't played since like... gold/silver. Maybe one gen on from that.

 

I haven't played PLA yet, but SwSh had both overworld mons and grass mons.