Pokéthread - The Bear and Badger

Blue Swirl

In other news, dibs on Grass Cat. Captain Smug Bird was tempting too.

mistercrayon

Blue Swirl wrote:

Also, what makes this generation 9, and Arceus gen 8, when they're mechanically so similar? Surely Arceus is gen 9 then, too? I dunno. Pokemon move in mysterious ways.

There are a couple of things - arceus is a side story. In terms of battling it breaks a lot from the normal Pokémon games.

The open world was hinted at in Lets go and Sword but to a limited extent. Each Pokémon now feels like a beta for the next one.

The main differences they’ll add here are definitely new pokemon and be partially designed for Pokémon tournaments. (Arceus has no MP battling I think)

EvilRedEye

Historically it was the introduction of new Pokémon that seemed to define a generation but recently they've started to introduce Pokémon between generations, like the Mythical Pokémon they distributed with Let's Go Pikachu and Eevee and the new Pokémon in Arceus. There was quite a big debate at the time about whether the Let's Go Pokémon would end up being part of the Gen VII tranche of Pokémon or the Gen VIII tranche. I would imagine the Arceus Pokémon have the data structure of Gen VIII Pokémon.

It seems like now the main thing is that it's the next iteration of the core competitive Pokémon gameplay (but there's still also a huge tranche of new Pokémon that none of the 'minor' mainline games have had yet).

Blue Swirl

mistercrayon wrote:

Each Pokémon now feels like a beta for the next one.

Definitely true for Arceus. I guess it’s why it’s the first game released without a counterpart: they're just making sure that the open(ish) world stuff works before committing to a “proper” release. I guess if Arceus had been panned Scarlet/Violet would have been quietly cancelled.

mistercrayon

I don’t think there was a chance the open world would have failed with Arceus because it’s proto version (the wild area in sword) was well received and sword’s protoversion (the in world Pokémon of Lets go) was also well regarded. They’re iterating all the time.

EvilRedEye

I don't really think they left themselves enough time to change tack with Scarlet and Violet - the merchandising and multi-media stuff will already be in place by now. I wouldn't be surprised if they focus tested this stuff up to the eyeballs anyway.

Minnesänger

EvilRedEye wrote:

I don't really think they left themselves enough time to change tack with Scarlet and Violet - the merchandising and multi-media stuff will already be in place by now. I wouldn't be surprised if they focus tested this stuff up to the eyeballs anyway.

Aye. Pokémon is the assassins creed of RPGs and will come out on a regular basis no matter what. They can change but it usually takes a couple of releases for anything to really sink in.

Blue Swirl

Minnesänger wrote:

Pokémon is the assassins creed of RPGs

Ouch. Makes me not want to play S/V.

mk64

Level 45 in Go now

Blue Swirl

The more I play post-credits Arceus the more fun I have. Spent this evening using an actual god to beat up wild pigs. Ah, Pokeymans.

Blue Swirl

New Scarlett/Violet trailer.

The human characters, especially the player, are verging on uncanny valley, but the game itself looks the part.

Wookienopants

Yep, I'll have some of that

dynamiteReady

I personally don't give a fuck about Pokemon, but apparently, there's an official popup store launching this week, if anyone's into that:
https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/pokemon-center-london-pop-up-store-map-reveals-new-products/

cosmicjellybean

I booked a slot to take the kids tomorrow, who are obviously very excited.

Just read that there are queues lasting hours and it doesn’t matter if you booked a slot or not, there’s just a big queue… I mean we can’t not take them but fuck sake, hours queuing with a 7 and a 5 year old?! I’m thinking my wife will take the kids away somewhere and I’ll just hold in line for a while. Will take my new Anbernic RG351P I think.

EvilRedEye

I don't understand why they don't set up a permanent one given people go apeshit whenever they do a pop-up one over here. There's a Pokémon Centre online store for the UK now so it's not like ye olden days when they just didn't sell this stuff to us.

cosmicjellybean

Got there an hour before our slot, no queue and they just let us straight in. Very nice! Although the kids must have spent about £150 between them on plushies… I got myself a small ditto cos ditto rocks.

They are having an absolute blast so all worth it. Am guessing train strikes means everyone came yesterday and no one today.

EvilRedEye

Good stuff! Sounds like a good job you booked today and not yesterday!

mk64

Pokémon go worlds this week

Blue Swirl

Pokemon Scarlet/Violet special edition Switch OLED.

tigersgogrrr

Anyone on the new games?

MattyJ

Got Scarlet, haven't played it much really it was a Christmas present for my son. Think Wookie had Violet?

Blue Swirl

I've seen a ton of people on my friends list rocking Violet/Scarlet, so some of you must have taken the plunge.

tigersgogrrr

My lad has Scarlet but hasn't touched it much. I'm tempted to jump in and get myself a copy...

Wookienopants

We have Violet. It's great

MattyJ

I do look at it while playing and think... If you just spent more budget on graphics, some quality of life improvements, bit better writing... You'd probably make the biggest game ever.

Wookienopants

It's definitely janky, the graphics have potential but the engine can't cope. Artistically it has some very pretty moments but it's ruined by running at single digit frame rates when placed anywhere beyond the immediate close range.

It still plays a great game of pokemans though

MattyJ

Also, no voice acting at all! Feels like it's crying out for a more powerful system

Wookienopants

MattyJ wrote:

Also, no voice acting at all! Feels like it's crying out for a more powerful system

It really is. I love my switch but it's definitely falling way behind in terms of power and ability now

EvilRedEye

Xenoblade Chronicles 3 had really good image quality and stable performance, if a softer image than you'd expect from, say, PS4.

The problem with Scarlet and Violet is that GameFreak are incompetent and complacent, frankly.

Blue Swirl

EvilRedEye wrote:

The problem with Scarlet and Violet is that GameFreak are incompetent and complacent, frankly.

I think a lot of it also comes down to a brutal release schedule. There’s a new Pokémon pretty much every year. Each one always feels like a beta test for the next.

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