Summary
Pokemongames in the mainline series often introduce entirely new features and gimmicks or improve on other ones added in past games, at times even reshaping the concept of it, such as withPokemon Scarlet and Violet’s regional fakes compared to regional forms. There were also times when the series made exclusive decisions and features for a single game and then never again, with an example beingPokemon Yellow’s fixed Electric-type starterrather than one players can choose from a selection of three, all within the Grass/Fire/Water trifecta. Gen 3 games, both in the form ofPokemon Ruby and Sapphireand laterPokemon Emerald, also have an exclusive feature that never came back - but it should.
There are a few staple traditions that the series has hardly broken away from, if at all. Some modern games are trying to break the mold, however, and shaking the classicPokemonformula up in multiple ways to reinvent the franchise. An example is howPokemon Scarlet and Violetdidn’t feature tall grass encounterslike every other mainline title before them, which is a fun and interesting way of makingPokemongames feel fresh. However, there are also exceptions that should either become the new norm or at least appear in more than one title, and Gen 3 games have the perfect blueprint for this.
Pokemon Gen 3 Games Are The Only Ones With Two Pseudo-Legendaries
How Pokemon Gen 3 Broke a Tradition That Didn’t Stay Broken
A constant of everyPokemongame from the mainline series has been that each generation features pseudo-Legendaries, with the norm being that every single one of them adds a new one to the mix. However, Gen 3 broke away from that rule by having two different pseudo-Legendaries in the form of Salamence and Metagross - something thatPokemongames only did once and then went back to having one pseudo-Legendary in every new game since.
Pseudo-Legendaries inPokemongamesoften play a big role in that generation’s competitive meta, and they are among the most powerful pocket monsters one can catch outside of Legendaries and Mythicals. Their own name derives from their very high stats that are a lot like those of actual Legendary Pokemon, which is a testament to how strong these critters can be in battle. Pseudo-Legendaries also often have Dragon as one of their types, as it’s considered an endgame type to encounter - hence why several pseudo-Legendaries are only available far into the game’s story.Pokemon Scarlet and Violet’s open world may be changing things up, however, and this specific rule may not apply to future games.
However, what remains is that no other generation outside of Gen 3 featured more than one completely new evolutionary line for pseudo-Legendaries, and that’s something future mainline titles should change. It’s unclear whichtraditions Gen 10Pokemongames will break, but one that should be on the chopping block is that pseudo-Legendaries shouldn’t have to be one per generation, or even have the Dragon type for that matter. Having Gen 10 include two or more evolutionary lines of pseudo-Legendary Pokemon could be an interesting move, especially because Game Freak could explore different possibilities that are not just three-stage creatures.
Pseudo-Legendaries are strong, and while featuring too many in each game could prove problematic for earlyPokemonVGC regulationsthat limit the use of Legendaries, Mythicals, and other critters, it could also allow for more diversity in team composition. This holds especially true if pseudo-Legendaries start coming with different types other than Dragon, such as with Metagross from Gen 3, which is Steel and Psychic, instead. Overall, a shake-up in this department could prove beneficial, and it wouldn’t make Gen 3 stick out like a sore thumb.
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 to to achieve Champion Rank. On the Path of Legends, you can 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.
