Summary
After the release of two DLC packs, the era ofPokemon Scarlet and Violetmay be coming to an end as the 10thPokemongeneration sits on the horizon. While looking toward the future of the series, it’s easy to recognize that one major theme ofPokemon Scarlet and Violetwould be wasted if it were not revisited again.
Scarlet and Violetbrought tons of new innovations to thePokemonseries, most notably an open-world model. Though thePokemongame released with some issuesthat needed addressing, some fans embraced it from day one, seeing its potential rather than its faults. In many ways,Scarlet and Violetbreak with traditions of the series, such as including a split story without a linear path - choices which some consider faults, yet others feel are improvements. But one inclusion that most fans agree is for the best is the inclusion of new paradox Pokemon. These new forms, either past or future variations of existing Pokemon, are central to the games’ major theme of time travel. While mostPokemongames leave the previous generation’s themes behind, the series will be worse off if it doesn’t continue to explore the implications of time travel in thePokemonworld.
Pokemon’s History with Time Travel
ThoughScarlet and Violetwere the firstPokemongames to include time travel as a central theme, the series has explored the area before. As early as generation 2, the games introduced a Pokemon with the ability to travel in time. Celebi, one of the mythical Pokemon, is known as “the time travel Pokemon,” and even takes the player back in time briefly inHeart Gold and Soul Silverif certain conditions are met at the Ilex Forest Shrine. In the core games, that is the only time Celebi is shown using this power, but it does happen more frequently in the anime.
Generation 4 also hinted at time travel with the arrival of Dialga, the box legendary ofPokemon Diamond, and “the temporal Pokemon.” Dialga is said to be able to control time as well as travel through it. The games don’t directly show Dialga traveling in time, but, much like Celebi, the anime does. Dialga is the entity that controls time in thePokemonworld, and, along with Palkia,received powerful origin forms inPokemon: Legends Arceus, so it has been top of mind for many players lately. These two Pokemon show that Game Freak has been toying with the idea of time travel inPokemonfor a long time. It took untilScarletandVioletfor that idea to be used as a major theme.
The Future of Time Travel in Pokemon
Because ofScarlet and Violet’s heavy emphasis on time travel, it’s currently unclear if the series will revisit the trope again any time soon. Future generations could certainly include some version of time travel, if only as a way to allow players to catch paradox Pokemon again, but possibly not as a main theme. Additionally, it is worth pointing out that thePokemon Legendssubseries seems to be a time travel-heavy series, with the first game taking place in the ancient past, andthe nextPokemongame rumored to take place in the future. It seems that game freak isn’t planning to shake the fascination it has with the idea of seeing Pokemon from different time periods, but it might decide to take a break from time travel in the next mainline game in the series.
While a break from time travel as a major theme is reasonable, the plot device is too rich and full of potential to be dropped completely. Paradox Pokemon have fascinated the fan base,with many even designing their own versions of Pokemon from the past or future. Seeing what the Pokemon from those times look like has made fans wonder if they will ever see the locations that those Pokemon originated from. If Pokemon can make the temporal trip, it would stand to reason that humans might as well, allowing the player to visit distant locations in time. And if the player can, so too could a new villainous team, seeking to alter time for nefarious purposes.
Time travel has been a staple in media for generations, and thePokemonseries would be better off building on whatScarlet and Violethave introduced, rather than keeping it in the rear view. WhilePokemon Legendssubseries seeming to be ongoingand may provide Game Freak with a chance to continue exploring different eras in time outside the main games, the mainline titles do not have to stop exploring time travel.Scarlet and Violethave done an excellent job of introducing these ideas into the series, but they only scratch the surface of what could be done further down the road.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet
WHERE TO PLAY
The school that you’ve enrolled in as you playPokémon ScarletandPokémon Violethosts a special independent study project. The theme of this assignment is “A Treasure Hunt.” Explore the world and seek out your very own treasure!Three stories will be woven into your adventure while traversing the sprawling Paldea region. Along Victory Road, you will go to Gyms in different locations in order to to achieve Champion Rank. On the Path of Legends, you’re able to join Arven in search of rare ingredients. And in ★ Starfall Street ★, you’ll challenge Team Star, a group of delinquents causing trouble for the school.These stories are set in an open world, so where you go is all up to you. A world teeming with Pokémon and people to meet is waiting for you—traverse the Paldea region wherever you heart desires.
