One of the most interesting things about thePokemonfranchise is how it takes real-world places and adapts them into regions populated by children going on adventures with fantastical beasts. Thefirst fourPokemonregions were based on different parts of Japan, not including any locales featured in spin-off games. After that the developers branched out with a New York-themed Unova, France-themed Kalos, Hawai’i-themed Alola, and most recently a United Kingdom-themed Galar.
These influences allow each region to stand out using recognizable landmarks and themes, from the towering skyline of Unova’s Castelia City reminiscent of Manhattan to the Pokemon League of Galar being based on a football league. Even Pokemon themselves pull from the lands each region is inspired by, fromKalos' fashionable poodle Furfrouto Alola’s ghostly Decidueye line that pulls from local owl species and culture. While it’s exciting to see where Game Freak will travel to next, it would also be interesting to see the developer do more with the idea of revisiting these regions it put so much work into designing.
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Pokemon Remakes Versus Revisits
When discussing the idea of revisiting aPokemonregion, it’s important to make the distinction between a developer remaking an older game and new series canon in which players get to go back to somewhere they’ve been before. Kanto, Johto, and Hoenn region games have gotten remakes over the years, with ILCA’sPokemon Brilliant DiamondandShining Pearlset to remake the original DS games. However, these tend to be enhanced versions of what came before with some new content.
Game Freak bringing players back to a land they’ve already seen before is more of a rarity, but it’s often more interesting. The Generation 2Pokemongames are a famous example, as it is unveiled toward the end of the main story that Johto shares a border with Kanto, and both regions operate their Pokemon League out of Indigo Plateau. InGold,Silver,Crystal,and their remakes, players even get to explore Kanto again after defeating the Elite Four and Champion Lance, letting them see how it has changed in the three years since the events ofRed,Blue, andGreen. Their ultimate challenge ends up being a battle withRed, the now-reclusive silent protagonistwhom players controlled in the original adventure.
Something similar was done withPokemon Black 2andWhite 2. Unlike the “third version” that mostPokemongames receive with varying differences - such asCrystal,Emerald, orPlatinum-Black 2andWhite 2are direct sequels taking place two years afterBlackandWhite. Players can explore how the region changed in that time, for example Driftveil City’s Cold Storage becoming thePokemon World Tournament stadium, and they’ll find familiar faces taking on new roles.
Pokemon Legends: Arceus Could Herald More to Come
Nothing likeBlack 2andWhite 2have really been attempted since they released nearly 10 years ago.Pokemon XandYdid not release a third version of any kind,Pokemon SunandMooninstead got “alternate universe” reimaginings inUltra SunandUltra Moon, andPokemon SwordandShieldopted to expand what already existed via DLC. However, Game Freak may be giving the idea a new spin with its upcomingPokemon Legends: Arceus.
Rather than revisiting the Sinnoh region after the events ofDiamond,Pearl, andPlatinum,Legends: Arceusis a prequel set during a feudal erawhen Sinnoh was known as Hisui. Players will instead get insights into how the region was established back when Pokemon and humans weren’t yet coexisting. Games likeGoldandSilverbrought things forward by introducing new characters such as Koga’s daughter Janine, who takes over his Gym after he becomes a member of the Elite Four.Legends: Arceuswill instead seemingly introduce characters' ancestors, from Commander Kamado (a younger Professor Rowan) to Captain Cyllene (a genderbent version of Team Galactic’s Cyrus).
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The concept behindPokemon Legends: Arceusis unique enough to stand out when compared to games likeBlack 2andWhite 2, but it ultimately serves a similar purpose. Game Freak can explore a pre-established land from a new angle, offering players insights into how its franchise’s living, breathing world changes over time. There’s clearly interest there, thus it wouldn’t be surprising to see the developer dip back into a more traditional form of revisiting regions.
Why Pokemon Region Revisits are Worthwhile
MostPokemongames are not known for their stories, which tend to be set dressing for more formulaic quests to travel around, become strong enough to beat up adults with decades of training, and learn about the power of friendship along the way. However the relative success of games likePokemon Masters EX, in which players scout major charactersfrom across the series' history to add to their collection, shows they can be just as popular as the titular creatures.
This is part of what helps games likeGold,Silver,Black 2, andWhite 2stand out among their peers. Not only do these games have the benefit of hindsight regarding years' worth of development on their respective consoles, they also bring more life to thePokemonworld by showing it isn’t static.
The Memory Link feature inBlack 2andWhite 2is perhaps the most brilliant usage of this conceit. Should the player link data fromBlackandWhiteversions, they can unlock cutscenes with major characters that offer some backstory as to why things have changed. For example, one scene showsNimbasa City Gym Leader Elesa confiding in Mistralton’s Skylaabout wanting to change her look - while revealing more of her jovial personality.
Whether Game Freak will revisit a past region in a future game again remains to be seen. Current speculation points to something likePokemon’s Generation 9 games being based on Italy. However, there is merit to the idea of aPokemongame at least taking fromGoldandSilver’s book by adding an older region to explore and get a larger sense of how the world evolves over time. This would almost certainly hit a lot harder for longtimePokemonfans than cameos or remakes, despite the merits of both approaches.
