I kept my expectations low. We knew a Presents was coming, but after Legends: Arceus released, it just seemed too soon for a new generation to be beginning. The video played out, and numerous small updates on mobile and Switch games were shown. Legends: Arceus was up last with its small story update offering a new questline to play. But then, naturally, one more thing.

Was it Detective Pikachu 2? The man wandering a dark building with a torch in security guard clothing would suggest as much, but then a Game Freak sign appeared. This was obviously something they had been in control of, so perhaps it was Legends: Arceus related. Wouldn’t be the first time someone’s pulled the one more thing trick to then talk about the same game again.

Then, the gameplay begins. A new location! In the graphical style of Legends! But it didn’t look like anywhere in Hisui or Sinnoh. The trailer continues showing off the region, where we see this is clearly a modern setting. Welp, guess it really is the start of the next generation after all. And if you needed convincing, the new starter trio and the two versions made it obvious what we were seeing.

So, welcome to Generation Nine. Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet. The region looked lovely just from those first views we got of it. I do think we’re seeing the opening areas, and only the opening areas, as the field we see has the feel of a starting location, with the first major city in the distance. The swamplands and desert are possibly higher-levelled areas, but not late game. I feel we’ll get to challenge ourselves there if we so wish.

After all, this is a true open world. Anywhere on the map is viable to go to. Maybe there will be roadblocks. After all, those mountains and the tunnels that run through them bring the perfect opportunity to stop you going beyond this starting area. And there will be such roadblocks with this region. Even if some do seem a little forced.

There’s a few looks at different angles of that urban area, and though it seems like nothing more than a central plaza with buildings around the outside of it, there does seem a lot more to it tucked away beyond those buildings. After all, look at that first shot again. That major city is the one we’re getting the close-ups on, and there’s more buildings than just those around the plaza.

The last place we get a look at is the player’s home. I love this place. Set up high with views of the sea, a nice little garden off to the side, and a nice easy walk to whatever that large blue building is. Maybe a school? The outfit of the trainer looks similar to a school uniform, so maybe it is. The inside of the house – from what little we see of it – does seem designed in such a way that makes me think the camera will be locked within buildings again, but it is difficult to say without seeing all of it.

While inside that house, we see the map. Three of the west-side columns are seen as the trainer walks past it, with the southern-most row when the Switch is focused upon. The western edge looks very close to Spain’s eastern one, with that southern curve being similar to the one on the Balearic Sea. The Balearic Islands are moved northwards, but it does match. Some locations also have that Spanish feel – especially the player’s house with its red roof and sand-coloured walls.

The only new Pokémon seen so far are the starters, and already I’ve made some comparisons. Water starter Quaxly has an air of classic Donald Duck about them, with a hairstyle that looks close to a captain’s hat. Grass starter Sprigatito is a Litten that wanted to be a different type. And my favourite of the three, Fuecoco looks to be the third brother of Bub and Bob from Bubble Bobble.

I’m sure we’ll be getting more looks at this region soon, along with more of the new Pokémon that inhabit it. It is a bit odd that we’re yet to know the name of this region, but that will follow soon enough once we start getting details about it. Everything we’ve seen I’m loving, and though it feels too soon for another core series game, I have the feeling this will be something even more special than Legends: Arceus.

As I stated in my experiences of Legends: Arceus article, that game was definitely a testing ground for a more open Pokémon experience. Sword and Shield introduced the idea of an open world game with the Wild Area and its expansions, and now Scarlet and Violet will show us just what an open world Pokémon game truly means.