Pokemon Scarlet and Violet: The 5 Most Exciting Things We've Seen

Pokemon fans have been incredibly well-catered to over the last year, (Legends: Arceus, Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl, Snap, Unite) so most were not anticipating anything too explosive for this year's "Pokemon Day". Game Freak blew past these understandably subdued expectations however, instead revealing the latest generation of the world famous series. Here are the five most exciting things we've seen from Pokemon: Scarlet and Violet.

1. Starting off strong

Scarlet and Violet's trailer did not reveal many new additions to the Pokedex, but the three they did show prove Game Freak's still got it. Sprigatito, Fuecoco and Quaxly are all instant winners, with each one appealling to a sizable chunk of the fanbase, although there is one interesting break from tradition here. Fuecoco appears to be the first fire starter which isn't an animal from the Chinese Zodiac, unless its evolutionary line turns it into a sheep, horse, ox, or snake (It's also the first fire starter not to be the worst of the three but that's besides the point). As always the most hotly asked question is what the trio will grow into, with final evolutions remaining under wraps for now. Hopefully Game Freak will continue the strong theming introduced in Sword and Shield's Galar, where each starter represented something iconic to the U.K, the basis for the region. There are signs Scarlet and Violet will take this route, as we know that like its predecessor, it is set in a fictionalised version of a European country, albeit a much sunnier one...

2. You can Basque in the sun as you enjoy Pokemon's take on Spain

Scarlet and Violet's trailer treated us to tantalising snippets of the latest region, with terracotta rooves, idyllic beaches, and orange trees giving a distinctly Mediterranean feel. After a few rewatches we can get even more specific about the setting, with several details pointing to one country in particular. After all, there's a clip of rain falling mainly on the plain, something Spain is known for. Of course an accidental reference to My Fair Lady is not the only evidence we found; the angular stone buildings shown are reminiscent of iconic Catalan architecture, the starters names all have Spanish roots, and most tellingly of all, the live action portion of the announcement had what looks like a partial map of Spain in the background.

3. An "opener" open world

While Pokemon Sword and Shield was well received by critics, many fans were hoping for something different. The clamour for a game set in a truly open-world instead of the classic corridor-like routes has reached a fever pitch over the last few years, with some of the more "hardcore" followers of the franchise unsatisfied even by the step forward Legends: Arceus took. Whether fan demand was the reason or not, change is coming, the official Pokemon twitter confirming that Scarlet and Violet are "open-world adventures". Speculation that Legends:Arceus was testing the waters for an open-world Pokemon game may have a ring of truth to them, with the hugely successful release presumably boosting the publishers confidence. Whatever the reasoning the end result is the same: generation 9 is finally taking Pokemon in a "opener" direction.

4. Theories on the trailer teasers: Textures and types

While Pokemon Day gave us a lot of big news to mull over, there are a couple of finer details worth noting from the reveal trailer. Eagle-eyed watchers worked out the ring in the town square contains 18 segments, each corresponding to one of the existing types. This strongly suggests there'll be no new types added in Scarlet and Violet, meaning Fairy in generation 6 will remain the latest inclusion. A far more exciting aspect of the reveal is the visuals, with the new Pokemon textures being one of many improvements over previous installments. Seviper and Magnemite (Pictured above) were the most obvious beneficiaries of this step forward, but graphical improvement across the board is sorely needed after the dissapointment of Legends: Arceus. Scarlet and Violet look promising in this regard, but the truth will only come out with the games release. Speaking of which...

5. Scarlet and Violet will be red-y to continue Pokemon's purple patch very soon

As established earlier, Pokemon fans have not been left wanting recently, so you'd be forgiven for thinking that Scarlet and Violet will not be releasing any time soon. However, you would be wrong. The fact the game is releasing later this year means it's likely that more gameplay will be shown soon, possibly during June's rumoured E3. Whatever the case, the next generation of Pokemon is now imminent, and we will keep you up-to-date every step of the way.