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Play Overview
Pokémon Scarlet & Pokémon Violet (2022) are the latest role-playing games in the longstanding Pokémon franchise, where you explore and catch creatures to battle against other trainers. Taking cues from both the previous mainline games and Legends Arceus, you explore a vast open world and, in a first for the series, can complete the various gyms and challenges in any order. With new Pokémon species to collect, new gameplay mechanics, and unique non-linear gameplay, it expands and modernises the classic formula.
Set in the new Paldea region, based on the European Mediterranean coast, you play a student at the Pokémon academy, where you complete the annual treasure hunt and explore to find treasure. You use the legendary Pokémon, which differs depending on which game you have, to explore land, sea, and sky as you discover, battle, and capture different Pokémon species to add to your team and fill out your Pokédex.
A new mechanic this time is terastillization, where your Pokémon become crystalline and gain different strengths and weaknesses for that battle. Along the way, you face off against Team Star, a troublesome group of rebellious students, and also complete the gym challenge, where you face off against different trainers in a bid to become the Pokémon Champion.
Each Pokémon species is unique, with a different selection of stats and moves it can use in battle, and learning which moves work well against other species is essential in harder fights. As you win battles, your Pokémon gain experience, which makes them level up and can evolve them into new species. Terastillizing your Pokémon is essential and can help you turn the tide against a seemingly unbeatable opponent. Experimenting with different species, moves, and strategies is essential and has kept the series so popular over the decades, and there's a prominent competitive battling scene in each game.
The result is a unique twist on the established Pokémon formula that greatly increases your freedom to engage with the game in whatever way you choose, be it by closely following the story beats, or by spending hours exploring the expansive wilderness.
Our examiner, Ben Kendall, first checked Pokémon Scarlet & Pokémon Violet 2 years ago. It was re-examined by Andy Robertson and updated 5 weeks ago.
Set in the new Paldea region, based on the European Mediterranean coast, you play a student at the Pokémon academy, where you complete the annual treasure hunt and explore to find treasure. You use the legendary Pokémon, which differs depending on which game you have, to explore land, sea, and sky as you discover, battle, and capture different Pokémon species to add to your team and fill out your Pokédex.
A new mechanic this time is terastillization, where your Pokémon become crystalline and gain different strengths and weaknesses for that battle. Along the way, you face off against Team Star, a troublesome group of rebellious students, and also complete the gym challenge, where you face off against different trainers in a bid to become the Pokémon Champion.
Each Pokémon species is unique, with a different selection of stats and moves it can use in battle, and learning which moves work well against other species is essential in harder fights. As you win battles, your Pokémon gain experience, which makes them level up and can evolve them into new species. Terastillizing your Pokémon is essential and can help you turn the tide against a seemingly unbeatable opponent. Experimenting with different species, moves, and strategies is essential and has kept the series so popular over the decades, and there's a prominent competitive battling scene in each game.
The result is a unique twist on the established Pokémon formula that greatly increases your freedom to engage with the game in whatever way you choose, be it by closely following the story beats, or by spending hours exploring the expansive wilderness.
Our examiner, Ben Kendall, first checked Pokémon Scarlet & Pokémon Violet 2 years ago. It was re-examined by Andy Robertson and updated 5 weeks ago.
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Play Style
This is a Battle and Collecting game with Action, Adventure, Fighting and Role-Play elements. You can play this by yourself or as a 4-player online game. You can play with three friends online, where you go and explore the open world, catch Pokémon, and battle other trainers and each other, or play alongside each other.
You can also compete in online 1v1 battles against other players in competitive tournaments.
You can also compete in online 1v1 battles against other players in competitive tournaments.
You can play this game in the following styles:
Duration
Play Time: This game will take between 20 hours and 50 hours to complete. Because of the fully open world and the ability to do and go where you want, the time to beat varies significantly.
Benefits
Age Ratings
Content Rating
Users Interact: The game enables players to interact and communicate with each other, so may expose players to language usually associated with older rated games.
Rated for younger players in the US. Rated ESRB EVERYONE for Mild Fantasy Violence. Players explore an open-world environment, interact with characters, and engage in Pokemon battles against opponents (e.g., students, Pokemon, trainers). Turn-based combat involves players choosing cartoony attacks (e.g., ember, tackle, bite) from a menu and watching Pokemon perform the actions; smacking/zapping sounds and mild explosions are depicted, indicating damage.
Skill Level
9+ year-olds usually have the required skill to enjoy this game. Still, it’s important for parents and guardians to ensure they understand in-game purchases and have spending limits set-up. Younger children enjoy the wacky designs and characters, but the game is also appreciated by older children and adults for the deep strategy and statistics involved in advanced battling, and also the breadth of content.
Account Rating
- You need be 18-years-old to subscribe to Nintendo Online, but can then create accounts for children of any age to play online with Nintendo Switch.
Costs
Pokémon Scarlet & Pokémon Violet usually costs £49.99.
This game offers players the opportunity to purchase in-game items, in the form of Downloadable Content, which some parents or carers may want to be aware of.
It's important to set up your accounts and devices appropriately. More information is on our Financial Resources page.
Pokémon Scarlet & Pokémon Violet
There are the following additional costs associated with this game:
- In-Game Purchases: Additional in-game purchases are offered for items that enhance the experience.
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You need a subscription to play online:
- You need to purchase a Nintendo Online subscription to play online with Nintendo Switch.
This game offers players the opportunity to purchase in-game items, in the form of Downloadable Content, which some parents or carers may want to be aware of.
It's important to set up your accounts and devices appropriately. More information is on our Financial Resources page.
Game Details
Release Date: 18/11/2022
Out Now: Switch
Skill Rating: 9+ year-olds
Players: 1 (4 online)
Genres: Battle, Collecting (Action, Adventure, Fighting and Role-Play)
Accessibility: 26 features
Components: 3D Third-Person, Cartoon, Day and Night and Open World
Developer: Nintendo America (@NintendoAmerica)
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Written by parents for parents, the database complements the in-depth discussion about video game addiction, violence, spending and online safety in the Taming Gaming book. We are an editorially independent, free resource without adverts that is supported by partnerships. |
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