Pokémon: A franchise review from a newer player part one. A focus on Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet base game.

By Aaron James Stead 10/07/2025

As one of the most iconic and enduring franchises in gaming history, Pokémon has captivated audiences for nearly three decades with its charming creatures, turn-based battles, and ever-expanding world. For long-time fans, the series is a nostalgic cornerstone of their childhoods—but what does it offer to someone experiencing it for the first time in a modern context? As a newer player stepping into the Pokémon universe, I found myself both enchanted and occasionally puzzled by the series’ unique blend of tradition and innovation. This review explores how the franchise holds up today, through the eyes of someone just beginning their journey as a Pokémon Trainer. This is going to be a focus on Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet base game.

I started playing the game during the end of the Nintendo Switch 1's lifecycle during the ninth Generation which included Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet, which in terms of what game I picked Pokémon violet. This game focuses on the region in the Pokémon world called the Paldea Region and here is a map on said region.

The game presents you with 3 different storylines at the beginning of the game that comes all together in one final story thread that takes place in the area that is denoted on the map ‘the great crater of Paldea’ or Just area zero. Here is a summary of each of the storylines in the following table:

When it mentions in the table ‘restore Legendary mount’ it is referencing the box legendary Pokémon that being Koraidon and Miraidon for scarlet and violet respectively.

When Pokémon Scarlet & Violet launched in November 2022, the community’s reaction was fiercely divided. On one hand, the titles shattered sales records—becoming the second biggest Pokémon release ever—fuelling enthusiasm and curiosity. Yet excitement was overshadowed by widespread complaints about technical issues: frequent frame drops, texture pop‑ins, crashes, and visual glitches—some fans likened their severity to Cyberpunk or Cyberpunk-era bugs. One person wrote on this website: https://pokemongohub.net/post/news/scarlet-violet-performance-issues/?u

“I’m by no means a graphics or framerate snob… but these games are so rough”

Despite the rocky technical state at release, Pokémon Scarlet & Violet still managed to capture the hearts of many players through its fresh open-world design, engaging storylines, and charming new characters. While the launch highlighted growing concerns about Game Freak's development pace and the limitations of the Nintendo Switch hardware, it also sparked meaningful conversations about the future of the franchise. For new and returning fans alike, the games offered a glimpse of what a more ambitious, expansive Pokémon experience could look like—flaws and all. As patches rolled out and players settled into the world of Paldea, it became clear that, even amidst criticism, the core magic of Pokémon endured.