Pokémon Scarlet and Violet: 6 features we want to see in the new Switch game

I am in love with Pokémon Legends: Arceus. The first open world Pokémon game helped put my faith back into a series I felt was becoming stagnant, not enough changed with the times. Then Legends: Arceus comes along and tilts the whole series on its edge.

I loved waking up this mid morning, hey it’s the weekend and I need my beauty sleep, to see the big announcement. Pokémon Scarlet and Violet not only exist, but are coming out this year. While the trailer is over three minutes long, there’s about two good minutes of footage of the new Pokémon titles.

As I sat and watched the trailer, and rewatched looking for any hidden clues I got to thinking. What are some of the features I want to see in this next step in the Pokémon franchise? Here’s a couple of things I’m hoping we get to see.

Different biomes

I enjoyed going from biome to biome in Pokémon Legends: Arceus. The fast travel from one location to the next was excellent and a step in the right direction. But I felt like a couple of biomes felt too similar from one to the next.

The coastlands and icelands were great “vacations” from the rest of the game. I need more Diversity Game Freak, please give me more mountains, caves, something unique I’ll only see in a Pokémon game.

Longer day and night cycle

I loved watching the sun set over Sinnoh. The short twilight in Legends: Arceus was fantastic, but never lasted very long. The same can be said for the night. Give me more. I want more to happen during the night, a bigger variety of Pokémon to see exclusively during the evening hours. Give me more secrets that only take place during certain times of the day.

Cities without sacrificing wilderness

I loved the open world presented in Legends: Arceus. Set in a time before any other title in the series to date, which means towns and cities aren’t what they are today. The use of camps was a great way to show you were truly out in the middle of nowhere.

But in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet the trailer shows off cities. Civilizations are back! I look forward to being able to explore a city, to stop some diabolical team who’s taken over a building that only me and my Pokémon can rescue.

Let’s not sacrifice the open wilderness to do so. Let me explore and fill my Pokédex just like in Legends: Arceus.

Gyms

I was excited to see that gyms were not going to be a main focus of Legends: Arceus. But once I was finished with the main campaign I suddenly missed collecting a handful of badges.

There’s just something about arriving in a new town and seeing the gym, wondering what type of Pokémon the leader uses. I didn’t think I would miss earning them, but I did.

Cave exploration

The lack of cave exploration has been an issue I’ve had for a couple of titles. The caves in Pokémon Sword and Shield were perhaps one of the worst aspects. The problem was how linear they were. Just walk in this straight line and you’ll be out in no time.

Give me a cave I can get lost in. Force me to use an escape rope, let me blackout from having all my Pokémon fainting.

In closing, how adorable are those new starters, except for  the grass Pokémon Sprigatito, bleh.