Pokemon is the highest-grossing franchise globally. With multiple TV series, rafts of films, near-annual video game releases, and a trading card game – all packed with cute pocket monsters – it makes sense that Pokemon dominates the markets in practically every country on earth. A franchise conceived in 1996, Pokemon has also been one of the best games for connecting generations; I can bond with 30-year-olds and 4-year-olds alike over just how cute Pikachu is, or that heart-wrenching time Ash was turned to stone. The way this franchise can bring different people together is, honestly, magical.
I love Pokemon. I have loved Pokemon for years. But Pokemon Scarlet and Violet concerns me more than any other Pokemon release in the series 26-year history. Pokemon Sword and Shield was far from a fun time, but it performed well and plenty of people loved it. Ultimately, I don’t expect to click with every Pokemon game in existence, and that’s okay. Pokemon Scarlet and Violet – with fresh, innovative gameplay in a vibrant open-world that runs at 5fps, with horrendous pop-in, and Pokemon falling through the floor mid-battle – is a different case altogether.