Summary
Among the many new mechanics being added toPokemon ScarletandVioletthrough its DLC, the ability for Koraidon and Miraidon to not just glide but fly comes too late a change for Gen 9 with the only hope being that futurePokemongames carry this forward. Over the generations,Pokemon’s traversal mechanics have evolved alongside its design, ranging from its initial use of Hidden Moves like Surf and Fly to the recentScarletandVioletbreaking traditions with its mascotLegendary Pokemon serving as ride Pokemon. YetScarletandViolet’s DLC appears set to potentially and possibly even permanently change how its traversal mechanics work once more.
As part of thenew features introduced in The Indigo Disk,ScarletandViolet’s second half of its two-part DLC, it was confirmed during the Pokemon Presents showcase that the players' Koraidon and Miraidon would be able to perform full-blown flights. This trailer gave players a glimpse of what this would look like such as the mini-game trope of flying through rings, but it was stressed that this ability would only be temporary. However, it was also hinted that the ability might be made permanent, though the significance of this is undercut by the fact a key traversal mechanic is being added last inScarletandViolet’s post-launch content.
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Flying in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Should Have Come Sooner
With the new approach to open-world design, it was arguably a good choice to gradually introduce players toScarletandViolet’s new traversal mechanics which were linked to one of its three storylines. But these mechanics were limited to just five “upgrades,” such as the ability to jump, climb, or glide, each gained by defeating a respectiveTitan Pokemon throughoutScarletandViolet. Given that Gen 9 still retained the traditional eight gyms, it wouldn’t have been beyond reason to include a final sixth Titan Pokemon as its strongest yet in order to give players a challenge with the ultimate reward of flight.
Since it has now been proven thatPokemonScarletandVioletwere intending to grant the players flight, if only temporarily, then restricting this to not just post-launch content but also behind a paywall appears shortsighted. Even if this flight ability never became permanent within the baseScarletandVioletgame, withholding what is arguably one of the most fundamental open-world traversal mechanics just punishes ordinary players who either can’t afford or aren’t interested in the DLC expansion. Between the fact it could have been part of the base game and the vast size of Paldea, flying should have been added sooner than The Indigo Disk.
Future Pokemon Games Could Learn From Scarlet and Violet’s Flying
While it might be too late for players to make the most out of flying inScarletandViolet, if Game Freak does make flight a permanent ability then futurePokemongames can learn from Gen 9’s DLC. Just asPokemon Legends: Arceus’own traversal mechanicscould be compared as a trial run for testing Game Freak’s open-world design, so too couldScarletandViolet’s DLC lay the groundwork for what does and doesn’t work for in-game flight. With the uncertainty that players will again ride Legendary Pokemon in future games, it seems inevitable Game Freak will need to adapt its newfound formula regardless.
Following a similar approach already established withScarletandViolet’s Path of Legends, the general format of unlocking each ability one by one would help ensure players don’t advance too quickly to areas they aren’t ready for. So even if flying was seen as too great an ability to grant players right away, futurePokemongames could save this one until last with its most challenging requirements yet. Then, with whatever is learned from any shortfalls inScarletandViolet’s DLC, Game Freak could improve flight to effectively balance this with the rest of the game and its mechanics.
Pokemon ScarletandVioletare available now for Nintendo Switch.
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