Pokemon Scarlet

 Switch
User Score
3.4

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 3197 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 755 out of 3197
  2. Mixed: 290 out of 3197
  3. Negative: 2,152 out of 3197
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  1. ORNITOMUSIC
    Sep 11, 2023
    5
    Juego que se ha pasado al mundo abierto, con algunos aciertos, pero empeorandose conforme avanza el juego;
    Me gustan los mapas, son muy bonitos.
    Pero las misiones son repetitivas, faltan los puzzles que tanto caracterizaban la saga, los poblados estan vacios, los npc son vagos y no te dan recompensas, no incita a ir a hablar con ellos… la dificultad es irrisoria… en definitiva un juego que    Juego que se ha pasado al mundo abierto, con algunos aciertos, pero empeorandose conforme avanza el juego;
    Me gustan los mapas, son muy bonitos.
    Pero las misiones son repetitivas, faltan los puzzles que tanto caracterizaban la saga, los poblados estan vacios, los npc son vagos y no te dan recompensas, no incita a ir a hablar con ellos… la dificultad es irrisoria… en definitiva un juego que podría haber sido mucho mejor con más cariño. Prefiero que se alejen del mundo abierto pero enriquezcan mas mundo.    … Expand
  2. fnenamg
    Sep 8, 2023
    6
    The effort was good, but there are many shortcomings. and i love polteageist
  3. TJohn
    Sep 1, 2023
    7
    As far as Pokémon games go it was fun. The school setting was brilliant, the characters are some of the most memorable to me since Gen IV, and the setting of Paldea is probably one of my most favorite Pokémon regions. The 3 main questlines, and free roaming of the map is also a welcome change over the old stories that were more linear. I liked the new Pokémon as well. The battling is funAs far as Pokémon games go it was fun. The school setting was brilliant, the characters are some of the most memorable to me since Gen IV, and the setting of Paldea is probably one of my most favorite Pokémon regions. The 3 main questlines, and free roaming of the map is also a welcome change over the old stories that were more linear. I liked the new Pokémon as well. The battling is fun as usual, and I love that all the Pokémon are running around in the world.

    When I think about it, I really like the game, but it's held back by some really aggravating choices by the developers. Chief among these issues is the graphics, they are terrible. Character and Pokemon models are generally fine, but most of the textures are downright awful, characters and pokemon really close to you walk at like 5 FPS and the pop in is obnoxious. I actually think SwSh had better graphics than S/V, or at least they were more consistent and the issues less noticeable. A lot of people complained about FPS drops and bugs but neither of these were much of a problem for me. I never experienced a crash, and the FPS drops were noticeable but never lasted for very long and didn't impact my enjoyment of the game. When I see games like TOTK, Xenoblade Chronicles 3, DQXIS, etc. running on the Switch and looking great, it really makes me angry that this game looks so bad and has such obvious graphical problems.

    I also wished they incorporated the Legends Arceus style of catching and battling, as that was more fast paced and fun. It's another aggravating decision by the developers, as the technology already exists and has already been applied to another Pokemon game and proven to work... it's just strange that they didn't add it to this game.

    So yeah, I actually really enjoy this game, but I can't give it more than a 7 with all the obvious cut corners that the development team made to get it out. It's a fun game, no doubt held back by executives pushing tight release windows on the development team. 7/10    … Expand
  4. Kirbo1777
    Aug 23, 2023
    6
    The game is clearly trying to do something, but some of the textures look rushed. As well as the occasional lag that happens, especially when at the lake.
  5. toastmonster64
    Aug 20, 2023
    5
    Scarlet is overpriced and just generally not a fun game. Bugs aren't too much of a problem, although they can be annoying.
  6. sideshownate
    Aug 13, 2023
    6
    The technical issues are rough but not very present. This game has fun and unique characters that create some interesting boss fights.
  7. Cavs4MVP
    Jul 27, 2023
    7
    It's definitely a fun game but it needs WAY more polish. The story and designs are actually really good but it's just disappointing that this game was rushed. I would still recommend though.
  8. MisterWizard
    Jul 20, 2023
    5
    This game was enjoyable, but it is sadly so rushed. I heard that they made this in only 1 year, why gamefreak? Games don't take that much time to make anymore. There are so many glitches and the game looks awful, and that's not deu to the switch (take BotW and TotK for an example). It's ok, if you like Pokémon, give it a try. It just had so much more potential.
  9. GT9
    Jul 17, 2023
    5
    I recently played Pokemon Scarlet and I have to say, it was just okay. The graphics were decent and the gameplay was fine, but it didn't really stand out to me. I found myself getting bored after a while and not really feeling motivated to continue playing. Overall, I would give it a 5 out of 10. It's not terrible, but it's not amazing either.
  10. TKSwiz
    Jul 15, 2023
    7
    Scarlet and Violet are very difficult games to rate. It some ways, they represent the lowest point of the series, such as the many performance issues that pretty much ruin any possibility of the world being immersive. And performance issues aside, the game is still pretty ugly, being completely outclassed by nearly every other 3D adventure game in the modern day, including lots of indieScarlet and Violet are very difficult games to rate. It some ways, they represent the lowest point of the series, such as the many performance issues that pretty much ruin any possibility of the world being immersive. And performance issues aside, the game is still pretty ugly, being completely outclassed by nearly every other 3D adventure game in the modern day, including lots of indie ones. The music is also a relative low point for the series, as there is not much memorable here aside from a few standout tracks that unfortunately do not come until late into the game. All that being said, I still think this game is worth checking out for any fan of the series, provided you can look past the huge performance issues. The layout and formula of the game works better than ever before, and I found it more fun to explore the world and catch Pokemon than ever before. The open world structure definitely could have been done better, as you are heavily discouraged from breaking too far off of the intended order of events. The story is a big step up from almost every other Pokemon game in my opinion, but it is still just okay overall. There are a good amount of characters that are at least somewhat interesting, but I found one of the three main plots of the game was extremely bland to the point where I completely stopped paying attention. That being said, the ending of the game is very strong, to the point where it was somewhat easy to forget the boring parts before that. As far as the new Pokemon go, I think there are a lot of great and fresh additions. The game still suffers from a lot of issues that have been plaguing the series since the Gen 1, namely dumb trainer AI and the game being way too easy in general. There is a big decrease in the number of required filler trainer battles, however, and I believe it works strongly to the games benefit. The end result is a game that is generally a lot more engaging than any entry since Gen 5. Overall, while there is a lot here to criticize, I still believe that at its core, this is the best Pokemon has been in quite a while. That's why it is such a shame that this return to form has been completely wasted by an embarrassing amount of technical problems and overall presentation issues.… Expand
  11. CapitanQwark
    Jul 9, 2023
    7
    Buen juego de Pokemon, increíble monster catcher, e increíble mapeado del juego principal con montones de cosas que hacer. Lo malo es que el rendimiento es muy pobre. Tiene muchos bugs y la historia se percibe incompleta. También decir que el postgame es muy triste y que prácticamente hay zonas del entorno que están sin terminar. Decir que no hay prácticamente ni un solo lugar en el queBuen juego de Pokemon, increíble monster catcher, e increíble mapeado del juego principal con montones de cosas que hacer. Lo malo es que el rendimiento es muy pobre. Tiene muchos bugs y la historia se percibe incompleta. También decir que el postgame es muy triste y que prácticamente hay zonas del entorno que están sin terminar. Decir que no hay prácticamente ni un solo lugar en el que puedas entrar, casi todo el juego es al aire libre y en cuanto consigues la pokemontura, el rendimiento empeora aún más y se siente cada vez más vacío. No hay a penas legendarios. Otra cosa positiva que decir es que tiene montones de tramas principales que se van desarrollando de forma natural y una gran banda sonora. También decir que los combates están chulos, pero la cámara es malísima.… Expand
  12. Resoul
    Jun 21, 2023
    6
    Making all none story trainers optional and removing random grass pokemon kinda makes the game less fun and boring but aside from auto battling and raid battles just not really working the gameplay is good as for the 3 stories the sandwich one which is a real/main story is good the team star story sucks and i wish it was optional and not force on the player to finish the main story andMaking all none story trainers optional and removing random grass pokemon kinda makes the game less fun and boring but aside from auto battling and raid battles just not really working the gameplay is good as for the 3 stories the sandwich one which is a real/main story is good the team star story sucks and i wish it was optional and not force on the player to finish the main story and the gym leaders one which isn't really a story is fine, some of the gym leaders are cool and some are not and there isn't a actual story its just battling gyms which is fine most players don't care for the story and only play for the battles but what is not fine is that none of the stories are optional and you have to do all three to finish the game i mean at least have the team star stuff be opitonal as it just sucks all around with the only good part of it being Chive, the gameplay sucks because it doesn't really work the characters i either don't care about or just don't like, the writing is on par with gen 8's post game which is one of the worst written things ever the penny twist isn't a real twist as it can be seen from the very start and even if you don't some how see it coming the game just ruins the twist anyways if you do the team star stuff last and as for Penny she is just the worst not only is she like the characters from the gen 8's post game and should be put in jail for her crimes shes also unlikeable and has what has to be the worst team of any pokemon boss fight… Expand
  13. NightmareYT
    Jun 2, 2023
    6
    Boy this is going to be a tough one to review for me. I love Pokémon. Since I was a kid I've cared about the anime, the games, and the TCG for so long. So it hurts to say, other than the main story, this game is just so boring, I've been shiny hunting a ton because I'm a completionist and love the satisfaction from getting a shiny that I want. But the game is just really boring after youBoy this is going to be a tough one to review for me. I love Pokémon. Since I was a kid I've cared about the anime, the games, and the TCG for so long. So it hurts to say, other than the main story, this game is just so boring, I've been shiny hunting a ton because I'm a completionist and love the satisfaction from getting a shiny that I want. But the game is just really boring after you complete the surprisingly great main story.

    Let me talk about the main story real quick because it might just be the greatest in the entire franchise. I love the ability to play 3 storylines and complete them all for them all to come full circle and have a great ending. This is the only Pokemon game that has ever made me come close to crying at how sad some parts were. I don't want to spoil much because it's so fun discovering things for yourself.

    Now gameplay. This game is a buggy mess. Shi**y frame rates, terrible lighting, and just some awful bugs. I've seen some bugs where people's characters will just start having their head spin, or having their legendary become gigantic or just straight up disappear. It's inexcusable bugs that should never have made it past production. But if you can put those aside, it's just a Pokémon Game.

    Even though I didn't really like Legends Arceus all that much due to my own person opinions on the game, it was still an innovation in the Pokémon franchise. But even though many people LOVED this game, they barely took anything from it and decided to make the game completely different. Like, let me throw my pokeballs in the overworld, let me walk around during battles, let me hear OVERWORLD SHINIES SPAWNING!

    Also there's no voice acting still. Game Freak had Ed Sheeran money but not voice actor money...    … Expand
  14. gabynuozzi
    Jun 1, 2023
    6
    Un juego que le falta pulirlo, el Lets go se ve muchísimo mejor y es de años atrás. Lo deje de jugar al mes, compra lamentable
  15. Marioipod13
    May 25, 2023
    5
    Technically I like the game but it has numerous technical performance issues that make it very difficult to play comfortably. The battery on the switch drains like you won't believe playing this, and of course I really don't like the dex cuts.

    Additionally, Nintendo should not be cutting out entire postgames and selling it back as DLCs. They did this with Sword and Shield too; Platinum    Technically I like the game but it has numerous technical performance issues that make it very difficult to play comfortably. The battery on the switch drains like you won't believe playing this, and of course I really don't like the dex cuts.

    Additionally, Nintendo should not be cutting out entire postgames and selling it back as DLCs. They did this with Sword and Shield too; Platinum had a postgame nearly double the size of the postgame in the DLCs.    … Expand
  16. guicalistrato
    May 24, 2023
    6
    this could have been goty if it had one more year in development. wonderful ideas but poorly executed. this game could have been way more than it is.
  17. Grdran
    May 16, 2023
    5
    Not rating it higher because it has performance and noticeable issues.

    Not rating it lower since I personally didn't get the game breaking stuff.

    If you brave through it, it's a pretty ambitious story, especially in the post game.

    Other than glaring frame rate issues and other things I could easily ignore because they didn't break the game, it's pretty fun.
  18. Taken_Hades
    May 16, 2023
    6
    -5/10 story
    -6/10 gameplay
    -6/10 environments
    -5/10 characters
    -8/10 music
  19. boo453
    May 15, 2023
    5
    This game has a lot going for it but it needed longer in the oven. The open world is great and the story is the best we've seen in a Pokémon game for a long time. There's no scaled progression despite being able to do the gyms in any order, so even though you can go "anywhere you want", you could end up at a high end gym as your first thing, only to breeze through the other gyms. It alsoThis game has a lot going for it but it needed longer in the oven. The open world is great and the story is the best we've seen in a Pokémon game for a long time. There's no scaled progression despite being able to do the gyms in any order, so even though you can go "anywhere you want", you could end up at a high end gym as your first thing, only to breeze through the other gyms. It also runs really bad, and there's tons of glitches.

    One more year in dev and qa, this could have been really good, but the performance issues really hold it back    … Expand
  20. JustAGameGuy
    May 14, 2023
    7
    A brilliant game held back by glitches. Exploring and catching Pokémon is fun, the story - while not the strongest in the series - is still one of the best so far, and the Terastal mechanic adds a layer of depth to battling never before seen. However, the excellent core experience is held back by glitches galore. Constant frame dips, Pokémon spawning inside walls, crashes, a bug thatA brilliant game held back by glitches. Exploring and catching Pokémon is fun, the story - while not the strongest in the series - is still one of the best so far, and the Terastal mechanic adds a layer of depth to battling never before seen. However, the excellent core experience is held back by glitches galore. Constant frame dips, Pokémon spawning inside walls, crashes, a bug that results in save data being corrupted, and more. All these issues held back what could have been one of the best games in the entire series.… Expand
  21. Protomario
    May 12, 2023
    5
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Pokemon Scarlet takes players on an exciting adventure through the enchanting Paldea region, delivering an engaging gameplay experience reminiscent of the beloved Pokemon franchise. With its immersive storyline, diverse cast of characters, and captivating features, this game offers a fresh and thrilling addition to the Pokemon universe.

    The game begins as players, taking on the role of a new resident in the small settlement of Cabo Poco, prepare to embark on their studies at the prestigious Naranja Academy in Mesagoza. The introduction of Nemona, the head of the student council and a Champion-level Trainer, sets the stage for a dynamic partnership as both players and Nemona choose their starter Pokemon to train and journey alongside each other.

    One notable feature in Pokemon Scarlet is the Terastal phenomenon, which grants the ability to transform and empower Pokemon using the Tera Orb. This mechanic adds depth and strategy to battles, allowing players to enhance or alter their Pokemon's natural attributes according to their innate Tera Type. It opens up a range of possibilities for team customization and adds an extra layer of excitement to every encounter.

    The game's narrative branches into multiple storylines, each providing a unique perspective and set of challenges. Whether players choose to follow the Victory Road, Path of Legends, ★ Starfall Street ★, or The Way Home, they will find themselves engrossed in an immersive world filled with intriguing characters, unexpected plot twists, and impactful decisions. The branching paths offer replayability and encourage players to explore different storylines, ensuring a fresh experience with each playthrough.

    Paldea's Gym challenge, a staple in the Pokemon series, makes a return in Pokemon Scarlet. The eight Gym Leaders, with their diverse Pokemon teams and distinctive battle styles, pose exciting challenges for players to overcome. The non-linear nature of the game allows players to tackle the Gym challenge in any order they prefer, granting a sense of freedom and personalization to their journey.

    The Elite Four and the Top Champion provide formidable adversaries, testing players' skills and strategy to the fullest. The intense battles against these powerful Trainers are both satisfying and rewarding, showcasing the growth and development of the player's team throughout their adventure.

    In addition to its engaging storyline and challenging battles, Pokemon Scarlet features multiplayer functionality, allowing up to four players to explore the world together, trade Pokemon, and engage in thrilling battles. This multiplayer aspect enhances the social experience, making Pokemon Scarlet a fantastic choice for friends to embark on their Pokemon journey side by side.

    The Paldea region is richly designed, boasting visually stunning environments and a diverse range of Pokemon species to encounter and capture. The attention to detail in the game's graphics and sound design immerses players in a vibrant and captivating world, bringing the Pokemon universe to life in a new and refreshing way.

    While Pokemon Scarlet shares similarities with Pokemon Sword and Shield, it stands on its own as a unique and captivating experience. Its engaging storyline, innovative features, and polished gameplay make it a must-play title for Pokemon enthusiasts and newcomers alike.

    Overall, Pokemon Scarlet delivers an enthralling adventure set in the Paldea region, inviting players to explore, battle, and uncover the mysteries that await. With its immersive world, engaging gameplay, and captivating storyline, this game undoubtedly deserves a place among the best in the Pokemon franchise. Get ready to embark on an unforgettable journey in Pokemon Scarlet!    … Expand
  22. LikeFahrenheit
    Apr 29, 2023
    5
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Some say this game would be the best game in the series if it weren't for the technical problems. Why? because it's open world where there is hardly anything to do outside the story? Because the story is one of the best that GF has written, when they have a track record for subpar storytelling? The game has little to offer in gameplay and content. No contests, no Pokethlon, no pokestar studios, no musicals, not even a damn battle facility - a first for a new generation since Diamond and Pearl back in 2006! There is nothing to keep me entertained outside of catching Pokemon and battling trainers once. But at least we can make sandwiches. Seriously there's more entertainment in transferring Pokemon to Gen 5 with that mini-game than there is with sandwich making. Making curry in SwSh had more effort and actual gameplay than sandwich making.

    Paldea is a big region, and I like that, but damn is it ugly. low-res textures and just weird, jarring edges to cliffs and riverbanks. the buildings are hideously low-res up close. The region and towns look like they were modeled by a novice. But the Pokemon and characters have never looked better in 3D (by GF standards at least), compare to how they look in Legends Arceus is almost night and day.

    I don't know where people are getting this "best story" nonsense from. before Area Zero, the only real story is that with Team Star and the character backstories you learn as you progress, and that is something I think GF did well on, is characters (for the most part). Team Star was interesting to learn they were just bullied and ostracized, and Penny's motivations for doing what she did were understandable, only problem is you really have no stake in their story at all. You're just told to defeat them. It'd be nice if Team star was planning on something big that involved you personally, gave you a legitimate and urgent reason to fight them. In the end, it's the best narrative in the game but that's not saying much.

    Nemona's story, or rather the gym challenge, isn't a story at all. It's the typical fare for Pokemon. battle 8 people then face the Elite 4. there's hardly anything interesting going on. There's hints of dissatisfaction with Geeta but that goes nowhere. Nemona herself is a one note character, it's nice to see a rival this enthusiastic about battling, but that's all there is to her. It's be nice if she felt stifled by Geeta then she would overcome the champion to become one herself, but she's already the champ at the start of the game. She doesn't have an arc.

    Arven's story was nice, his reason for hunting herbs, but again it doesn't really involve you personally. not a whole lot anyway. you're involved indirectly through the Koraidon. But in the end the story reaches its climax in Area Zero where for some reason Nemona and Penny tag along. There is no reason for those two to be in Area Zero, they have no stake, no ties to the crater, but Arven arbitrarily says you need them to aid you. Why is Nemona there? She craves battling strong Pokemon, Geeta has a Pokemon from the crater. why not have her seek out tough Pokemon to be more like Geeta, as a final test to see if she's worthy of being champion? Why is Penny there? because the elevator didn't work? you all take Koraidon down there anyway. Why not have her admire the professor for her technical prowess and want to meet her? Simple motivations and characterizations like this can do wonders in story telling that GF for some asinine reason refuses to do. they rarely go the extra mile anymore in their games and this is one example.

    So the "plot" only really happens at the end where the AI professor tells you that Paradox Pokemon if run amok would cause ecological devastation to Paldea. Only problem is that Donphan already is on the surface but doesn't do anything, so where's the danger? A good way to involve all three storylines together is to have paradox pokemon gradually become more prevalent around Paldea. People are afraid of the damage they are causing. So Nemona helps the gym leaders defend the towns, Penny asks Team Star and the other trainers around the region to help, And you and arven in the endgame head to Area Zero to face off the professor (along with Nemona and Penny who now have a reason for being there). Instead of one decent story that ties everything together, we have 3 disjointed narratives that culminate in a subpar finale.

    This cannot be the game GF intended to make, when there is obviously so much room for improvement. Rushed, and uninspired there is no way Scarlet (and Violet) are the "best if you ignore the glitches". I critiqued this game minus the bugs and it still came up short in the worst way.    … Expand
  23. Cesarantony
    Apr 26, 2023
    6
    The game have some softwere issues, but if they had more time i think the would be a great pokémon game
  24. Linkarinka
    Apr 23, 2023
    7
    Pokémon Escarlata, pese a los fallos técnicos que posee, es un gran juego que, aunque tiene un gran mapa de mundo abierto, está vacío. No por ello es malo, ya que está bien estructurado y logra llevarte a donde quiere de una forma bastante orgánica. La historia no es nada del otro mundo, pero dentró de los estándares de la franquicia está bastante bien. Con un gran diseño de criaturas yPokémon Escarlata, pese a los fallos técnicos que posee, es un gran juego que, aunque tiene un gran mapa de mundo abierto, está vacío. No por ello es malo, ya que está bien estructurado y logra llevarte a donde quiere de una forma bastante orgánica. La historia no es nada del otro mundo, pero dentró de los estándares de la franquicia está bastante bien. Con un gran diseño de criaturas y una banda sonora bastante decente, en mi opinión, es de los mejores juegos de Pokémon pese a lo que diga una buena parte del fandom.… Expand
  25. TheNapol
    Apr 1, 2023
    7
    This game is very overhated, although their arguments are VERY valid. The game is so glitchy, buggy, and doesn’t look like it should be made by THE MOST successful media franchise ever. Also the visuals in the wild looks like it was from the ps3. But although, Koraidon and Miraidon make the experience way better. A big problem with Pokémon is how is feels so slow when you move, but theThis game is very overhated, although their arguments are VERY valid. The game is so glitchy, buggy, and doesn’t look like it should be made by THE MOST successful media franchise ever. Also the visuals in the wild looks like it was from the ps3. But although, Koraidon and Miraidon make the experience way better. A big problem with Pokémon is how is feels so slow when you move, but the legendary fix that problem. I also loved exploring and going to gyms that I was way behind for. Also, love the new quality of life updates. This game would be objectively the best Pokémon game and way more positively accepted by the community if they just spent more time fixing the visuals and the bugs and glitches.… Expand
  26. RiftSilver
    Mar 20, 2023
    7
    Pokemon Scarlet and Violet push the franchise forward, while also holding the franchise back.

    The most glaring flaw in Scarlet and Violet is evident right at the start, the performance issues are a major problem and actively distract fr0m the game experience. With good performance as rare as frame-drops are in many other first party Nintendo titles, it's a near constant fight to ignore    Pokemon Scarlet and Violet push the franchise forward, while also holding the franchise back.

    The most glaring flaw in Scarlet and Violet is evident right at the start, the performance issues are a major problem and actively distract fr0m the game experience. With good performance as rare as frame-drops are in many other first party Nintendo titles, it's a near constant fight to ignore the issues to attempt to enjoy what else there is to like here. With pop-in, level of detail, texturing issues and flickering characters, Pokemon spawning inside of walls and camera clipping, there is rarely an instance where you won't be finding issues. Compare this to GameFreaks previous entry Legends Arceus, and you have to wonder how it all went so horribly wrong as many of the issues experienced here are non-existent there. While performance will affect many others differently, it affected my overall enjoyment greatly, and is inconsistent with what the previous entries led me to expect.

    The Open World is a great addition to the series, with the ability to choose your own path within reason, and choose whether or not you want to fight your way through higher leveled areas right away and have your own challenge, or start lower and work your way up. I often found myself getting lost within the world and continually catching new Pokemon and finding ways to battle Pokemon sometimes nearly twice my own level. While sometimes areas feel a little barren, for the most part I think the areas were pleasant to visit and enjoy. Proper Pokemon scaling is a welcome addition, although sometimes a nuisance for smaller Pokemon as the lock-on feature is again, not as polished as the previous entry, and while Let's Go is a great way to battle, collect materials, shiny hunt and have Pokemon follow you, the distance at which your Pokemon will disappear fr0m you and some speed issues make it feel less like a companion feature, and more like a utility to be used sparingly. Picnics are a fun idea, although also marred with technical issues that are noticeable enough, I often view this as a utility for shiny hunting or breeding alone.

    While I enjoy riding the title Pokemon and developing its powers, the encounter system feels half-baked compared to Legends Arceus. Throwing Pokeballs fr0m a distance and accompanying repositioning of your trainer to fit into a proper battle area feels clunky, and while the battles themselves maintain a competitive based formula, they also feel lacking. Contact animations are noticeably absent for many moves where they existed within Legends, and the battle system camera, while rotatable, results in some odd visual issues at times that would have been better solved with either a moveable trainer, or a completely dynamic fixed camera similar to what already existed within gym battles. Multiplayer ends up being an enjoyable feature, exploring the world around your friends and seeing their progress is great, and being able to breed Pokemon with your friends without the need to trade is a neat addition.

    The story is one of the better within the Pokemon Series and benefits with an air of mystery around certain aspects that reminded more of how Souls games might approach the history and lore of the region rather than your typical Pokemon game. This is definitely a highlight of the game, and something that actively kept me going despite performance issues. As of the current update, much of the story aspects are left unexplained, and so we can only theorize as to what is to come in future updates (hopefully alongside performance improvements).

    The characters within the game itself are also very enjoyable, each Gym Leader, main character and teacher within the world with their own personality and interactions within their respective sphere that made it much more enjoyable to visit with characters than some of the recent entries.

    Despite all my gripes with the game and how it would have benefited greatly fr0m extra time in development, the good aspects of the game remain one of the more memorable entries in my mind. If GameFreak can patch up the performance and many of the bugs, I think the entry could be one of the finest the series has to offer. However, at the moment, it fights against itself and becomes an entry that was marred by the franchises own dependence on a fixed release schedule. I can only hope that GameFreak allows themselves more time for future entries, as well as invests heavily in better technical prowess. As the evolution of gameplay continues, the technology needs to do the same to continue pushing the series to new heights, instead of holding it back.    … Expand
  27. OlilovesMovies
    Mar 15, 2023
    5
    Pokemon Scarlet is the worst game I've ever loved. It's honestly hard to properly review a game like this, because from a purely critical perspective, it is an absolute mess. How a game from the largest franchise in the world can be released in such a state is beyond baffling. It could possibly be excused if the game was gorgeous, but it's biblically ugly!

    However, I haven't enjoyed a    Pokemon Scarlet is the worst game I've ever loved. It's honestly hard to properly review a game like this, because from a purely critical perspective, it is an absolute mess. How a game from the largest franchise in the world can be released in such a state is beyond baffling. It could possibly be excused if the game was gorgeous, but it's biblically ugly!

    However, I haven't enjoyed a Pokemon game this much since Heart Gold/Soul Silver! The story is vastly improved on previous entries and I haven't been this motivated to "Catch them all" in a long long time. The gameplay loop is absolutely captivating.

    The fact that this game came out and actually stopped me from playing God of War Ragnorok is insane, and that is not to imply for one second that this is a better game, but there is something completely enchanting about it.

    I wish, this could be a warning to the Pokemon company, that they can't keep releasing games like this, but the truth of the matter is, they have no reason to try any harder. The games will always sell well.

    But if, IF they could take the time and effort to release a Pokemon game that took the timeless gameplay and merged it with a gorgeous functioning world, it could be one of the best games ever made.

    Instead we have Scarlet and Violet, a very confusing generation of vastly contrasting qualities.    … Expand
  28. smurfman26
    Mar 5, 2023
    7
    I personally find the game fairly fun just like its predecessors, but it does have a few glaring flaws. For example, on release it was a buggy and confusing mess, especially on the mount. This made the gameplay and story less fun if you are able to see some random pokeball model halfway through the floor during a cutscene. Other than the glitches and its competitive scene being prettyI personally find the game fairly fun just like its predecessors, but it does have a few glaring flaws. For example, on release it was a buggy and confusing mess, especially on the mount. This made the gameplay and story less fun if you are able to see some random pokeball model halfway through the floor during a cutscene. Other than the glitches and its competitive scene being pretty crazy, Pokemon Scarlet/Violet are fun games. I would recommend-ish.… Expand
  29. LivTheKirby
    Mar 3, 2023
    6
    Pokémon Scarlet and Violet are fun games, and I appreciate how those working on the game have been trying to make the games more open world. I love the majority of the new Paldea mons and the characters all have their own personalities and just feel more life-like to me.

    Of course, the game has its issues and controversies. First off, THE LAG. DEAR LORD, THE LAG. There is a LOT of lag in    Pokémon Scarlet and Violet are fun games, and I appreciate how those working on the game have been trying to make the games more open world. I love the majority of the new Paldea mons and the characters all have their own personalities and just feel more life-like to me.

    Of course, the game has its issues and controversies. First off, THE LAG. DEAR LORD, THE LAG. There is a LOT of lag in the games, some versions are worse off than others when it comes to lag, however it's unfortunate how many of the places are hard to traverse due to how the game chugs in areas with a lot of Pokémon.

    Second off, just like Sword and Shield, not every Pokémon is accessible. Sure, it's not the worst thing, especially to those who don't really care about using Pokémon from older games, but it's a shame to those who are attached to an old mon of theirs, and how some people get a bit upset if their favorite isn't in the game (mine isn't in SV yet, upsettingly, but hopefully it'll return in the DLC)

    I grew up with the Pokémon series, ever since I first played Omega Ruby on my 3DS. This game is great, but it's another showcase on why the games need to be worked on a bit more before they release; a year of development isn't enough time anymore.    … Expand
  30. mepphy
    Nov 20, 2022
    7
    Enough time has passed and 1.2 fixed something, the game has grown on me a bit but there Is still a lot to do. Map Is still bad overall but framerate not being on 9-10 is a step up xD

    now can i also Say i liked the three main character and the last story. Everyone is likeable and story isn't that complicated Difficult is... well still baby mode rpg, hope we can get an hard Battle somehow
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Awards & Rankings

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#1 Most Discussed Switch Game of 2022

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
72

Mixed or average reviews - based on 118 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 56 out of 118
  2. Mixed: 60 out of 118
  3. Negative: 2 out of 118
  1. LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    Jan 24, 2024
    60
    Not a bad game. It still has its solid core, new Pokémon, and what's worked for years continues to work. The open world is a questionable addition in my opinion. [Issue#324]
  2. VideoGamer
    Dec 14, 2023
    70
    Pokemon Scarlet and Violet take the long-awaited step into a fully open-world, but one poorly implemented and marred by frustration. A compelling story and characters are a saving grace in what is ultimately a fun game, but Pokemon's attempts at modernising continue to fall disappointingly short.
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  3. Het Nieuwsblad
    Jul 31, 2023
    20
    A square wheel spins more smoothly and fluidly than this game. If three Pokémon or characters come into view at once, the whole game creaks and falters. Edge-off unplayable. And that's a shame. Because the addition of an open world is "on paper" a puffy idea to refresh the franchise. No more linear walking that takes you past gyms and ever stronger and different Pokémon, gotta catch 'em all. You can go wherever you want. With some tactics, you can take on some very tough challenges with Pokémon that aren't nearly strong enough. Fun! Except this game just wasn't ready. It's shameless that Nintendo and Game Freak are still throwing it on the market. Nevertheless: 10 million games sold in just three days.
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