The Soapbox feature allows individual writers and contributors to voice their opinions on hot topics and random content of interest. todayLowell is thinking about how Pokémon can do with their rivals to keep them hungry, and who might be able to step up…
When Pokemon Sword and Shield, Pikachu and his friends, first appeared on consoles as an all-new mainline Pokemon game, I remember many people, myself included, making excuses for the game’s shortcomings. increase. I think Game Freak designed his 3D semi-open world complete with hundreds of Pokemon, some textures and animations straight from the Gamecube era, and absurd and unfinished stories left out. I thought it was because I didn’t have enough experience to do it. Surely, I thought, his one of the most famous game series in history would do well next time. And so was Pokémon Legends: Arceus to some extent. I still think it’s the best Pokemon game since Black 2 and White 2.
However ambitious, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet is, by most standards, an inferior game to Sword and Shield. technical problem The team has apologized and issued a patch for the still persisting issue 6 months after release. The DLC is suspiciously due for release later this year, but nothing is in sight other than a few major art images. The Pokémon HOME integration was announced, then unannounced, then announced again. An entire tournament result was ruined by a glitch. For months, online matches had only one arena with the same copy-and-paste granny model cheering in the background. If you really throw a trailer full of rakes into a huge building, Windon Stadium Release Game Freak and The Pokémon Company, and they’ll find a way to get their feet wet one by one.
Still, I had a lot of fun with Scarlett and Violet. It has great music. Terrastalization is a great mechanism. The split story is surprisingly decent. And while the Overworld runs like a one-legged Slowpoke, there are a lot of great ideas in there. Still, we all know it could have been tough, many It would have been better if Game Freak and The Pokémon Company weren’t satisfied with churning out half-baked titles.
Cassette Beasts and Temtem add fresh ideas and innovations to the genre, but these Pokémon-challenging games are like level 22 Charmeleon battling level 80 Mewtwo.
Game Freak and The Pokémon Company need rivals to keep their integrity. Blue against their red. Gary Oak as Satoshi. Someone pushes them to innovate, not retreat, to make a game that makes them say, “Why should I play Pokemon when I can play Pokemon?”Other Creature Collection & Battle Adventure” Instead? Ultimately, Pokémon management has no incentive to create a technically perfect game if it continues to break sales records despite this.
Unfortunately, Pokémon’s former rival, Digimon, is no longer what it used to be. Smaller titles such as the recent Cassette Beasts and the fantastic MMO Temtem (both of which I reviewed and enjoyed) add fresh ideas and innovations to the genre, but these Pokémon-challenging games are the It’s like a level 22 Charmeleon fighting a level 80 Mewtwo. .
So who else can get a piece of Pikachu pie? A game like this needs a large publisher with an established fanbase. For example, in Epic’s Fortnite, 150 creatures to find and catch while building islands, dancing, and filming as Spider-Man said Pokémon chief operating officer Utsunomiya said: You might even break a little sweat in one of his stylish outfits. Pearl Abyss” Doke V – Remember that feverish dream when you saw the trailer? – It might surprise us all when it finally releases. Atlus’ Persona 5 The Royal targets a completely different and more mature market.
In my opinion, this leaves two publishers, Capcom and Square Enix, with a history of creature collecting. I would argue that Capcom is the best publisher/developer to put Game Freak in a chair, as they have proven in recent years to value quality and meet fan expectations above all else. Both of which are clearly lacking in recent Pokémon games. .
I would go so far as to say that Capcom’s own monster battle game, Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin, is better than any Pokémon game on Switch. However, at this time he has yet to be announced for a third entry.perhaps monster hunter stories 3 It will be a game-changer for future Nintendo consoles.
All of this may sound like I want Pokémon to fail. Conversely, one of my favorite game series wants to improve, rather than succeed with barebones features.
Well, here are last weekend’s surprise announcements. Square Enix is working on a new Dragon Quest Monsters game. It has the potential to be the perfect rival for Pokémon. It’s a game that makes everyone say, “Wow, I wish Pokemon had this too.” While not much younger than Pokémon itself, DQM has a similarly storied history and, importantly, a large company to support it. Both games let you collect hundreds of monsters while batting in gyms/arenas. Breeding, adventure, great tunes – all the hallmarks of this genre.
Dragon Quest Monsters and the main series have traditionally not sold well outside of Japan, but Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age has changed that. It outperformed its predecessor worldwide, both critically and commercially. Admittedly, the last few Monsters games haven’t even left Japan yet, but if Square Enix can bring the quality of Dragon Quest XI to the monster breeding series, fans, critics, and most importantly, will love it. The Pokémon Company may be the focus of attention.
And don’t forget: the legendary Akira Toriyama Dragon Ball Fame is responsible for a wide range of monster designs, from iconic slimes to absolutely amazing ones. Siamese Hat Witch. I don’t know about you, but I would rather Hakusaurus than Huxolus.
All of this may sound like I want Pokémon to fail. Conversely, one of my favorite game series wants to improve, rather than succeed with barebones features.Despite the criticism, I said hundreds of I spent hours playing Sword and Shield and collected all the Pokemon. But after the credits roll, I completely lose sight of Scarlett and Violet.
Pokemon needs to get better. To grow and innovate rather than to struggle and stagnate, even if sales do not stop. Boycotts and online complaints (like the aforementioned 900-ish words) have little effect on Game Freak and The Pokémon Company every time the game breaks sales records. They will continue to deliver games equivalent to Garvodor dressed up like a shiny Celebi. Only true rivals can make a difference. And for now, the next Dragon Quest Monsters adventure could be the rivalry that Pokemon his game and its fans desperately need.
