Pokemon Scarlet and Violetare the next entries in the series, and they will be doing things differently. Players will have access to the legendary Pokemon from the get-go, and they will use them to travel around Paldea. It has also been discovered that the games will no longer force players to battle Trainers they make eye contact with. This will have a big impact on the gameplay and how players explore the region.
The change will likely makePokemon Scarlet and Violeteasier than their predecessors, and it will also make exploration more convenient. However, it may result in players missing out on opportunities to level up their Pokemon in preparation for gym leaders. The lack of on-sight battles is just one of many changes that will simplify gameplay in the upcoming games.
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Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Ditch On-Sight Battles
As the release ofScarlet and Violetdraw nearer, The Pokemon Company has been releasing more information about the upcoming games. Lucky reviewers have also gotten the opportunity to have a hands-on preview of the game, and responses thus far have been quite positive. Many have noted how the games depart from the usual norms of the series in an attempt to be more accessible to newcomers. Hence,new features such as Auto Battles and TM craftinghave been added. While this may annoy series veterans, it also makes exploration far more inviting, as there are fewer obstacles.
One of the new features reviewers have brought up is the lack of on-sight battles. In pastPokemongames, making eye contact with other Trainers on routes would trigger an automatic battle. According to reviewers, inScarlet and Violet, players can walk past fellow Trainers without a care in the world. The Trainers will have an icon above their heads signifying they are willing to battle, but the battle will only be initiated if players interact with a Trainer. This is a drastic change, and it is bound to havemajor implications for how players explore Paldea.
How the Removal of On-Sight Battles Will Affect Scarlet and Violet
In olderPokemongames, the on-sight battles meant that players were forced to sneak around if they wanted to avoid battles with Trainers. This gets annoying if players are busy exploring an area, so it is often more convenient to simply battle all the Trainers around. While this can be time-consuming, it also helps players level up their Pokemon in preparation for the next gym leader. Consequently, players may have to be more deliberate about leveling up when getting ready for gym battles inScarlet and Violet. On-sight battles also enable gauntlet situations that force players to run through multiple Trainers at once. The most notable example of this is inPokemonRed and Bluewhich features the Kanto region’s Nugget Bridge. To cross the bridge, players must battle five Trainers. It is grueling, but players are rewarded with a valuable Nugget at the end of the ordeal.
WithScarlet and Violetditching on-sight battles, players will be free to adventure throughout Paldea without worrying about Trainers forcing them to battle. This will make exploration easier, though it could also result in players being underpowered by the time theychallenge gym leaders. It may also mean that players will no longer deal with the gauntlet situations that test their endurance. Some players will be happy about this, but it may be disappointing to other fans who enjoyed Nugget Bridge.
AlthoughScarlet and Violetbreak many franchise norms, they still contain many of the elements that makePokemonso great. Players will still be expected to catch Pokemon, the goal is still to be the greatest Pokemon trainer, and there will be plenty more critters to discover. However, there will also be many changes that appear to make the upcoming games the easiest mainline entries in the series thus far.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violetare scheduled to release on July 06, 2025, on Nintendo Switch.
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