Step aside, whatever “Pokémon Café Remix” is, for the Pokémon ninth generation is on its way. After “Pokémon Sword and Shield” was released in late 2019, a Pokémon Presents show this morning introduced “Pokémon Scarlet and Violet,” the newest edition in the main series of Pokémon games. In late 2022, Nintendo Switch games are likely to be published.
The aesthetics appear to be comparable to the recently released (and extremely enjoyable) “Pokémon Legends: Arceus,” but the trailer may not depict real gameplay, so it’s still unclear whether we’ll see over-world Pokémon again (that implementation worked in “Arceus,” but please don’t pull a “Pokémon Let’s Go”). “Welcome to the open world of Pokémon,” says the trailer’s YouTube description, so perhaps this game will pay homage to “Arceus” (which isn’t technically an open-world game, but is the closest the Pokémon series has to a “Breath of the Wild”-style journey).
Magnemite, Lucario, Hoppip, Drifloon, Combee, Meowth, Pikachu, and other familiar Pokémon appear in the teaser, but the only new Pokémon are the generation nine starters, who have yet to be announced. (Update: these new buddies are supposedly Sprigatito, a “capricious, attention-seeking Grass Cat Pokémon,” Fuecoco, a “laid-back Fire Croc Pokémon who does things at its own pace,” and Quality, an “earnest and neat Duckling Pokémon.”) Please don’t ask me how to pronounce any of them.)
We’ve got a peculiar triumvirate on our hands. There’s a cute little grass kitten (easily my favorite), an apple-shaped fire-type dinosaur (don’t let us down, there’s major potential for a final evolution here, don’t let us down), and a water Pokémon that looks just like Donald Duck — don’t tell Disney’s legal department.
In other Pokémon news, the broadcast announced that Pokémon from the Alola region will now appear in “Pokémon Go,” that “Diamond and Pearl” and “Arceus” will receive minor updates, that “Pokémon Unite” and “Pokémon Masters EX” will get some new playable Pokémon, and that “Pokémon Cafe Remix” will get… I don’t know, something new.
During the Pokémon Day event on Sunday, the Pokémon Company presented Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet, introducing three new beginning Pokémon. They’re all adorable, and I’ve already selected who I’ll play when the game releases on Nintendo Switch later this year. (The name is Fuecoco.)
Sprigatito, a “capricious, attention-seeking Grass Cat Pokémon;” Fuecoco, a “laid-back Fire Croc Pokémon that does things at its own speed;” Sprigatito, a “capricious, attention-seeking Grass Cat Pokémon;” Sprigatito, a “capricious, attention-seeking Grass Cat Pokémon;” Sprigatito, a “capricious, Quaxly, an “earnest, and neat Duckling Pokémon,” and Quaxly, an “earnest and tidy Duckling Pokémon.”
