With Pokémon Scarlet and Violet just over a month out from releasing, a new trailer has arrived. This one an overview trailer of fourteen minutes in length. Seems this might be the last info dump we’re getting, then. But, along with repeating some old information from previous trailers, there was some new stuff to sink your teeth into. Literally.
One of the features set to be returning from Sword and Shield is camping. Except instead of a tent, it’s a picnic table. And instead of a curry, you make sandwiches. Much like the curry ingredients, you’ll buy the sandwich supplies from shops in the towns, and perhaps from wandering traders, too. There’s more to it than just picking what to put on the sandwich, though, as you also have to place them. A wrong placement can waste ingredients, so care is needed when crafting the perfect sandwich.
Just like with camping, you’re able to play with the Pokémon in your team, and give them a wash. Those fire types had better watch out, since I’ve now got a super effective move in the palm of my hand. All of this gives boosts to your team, improving friendship and bringing other effects not detailed. A Pokémon Egg might also be found while having a picnic, which is a nice bonus.
Details of the Terastral phenomenon have been given before, including that we’d be able to fight Pokémon in raid battles to get Tera Types that aren’t their standard typing. This trailer revealed that Pokémon in the wild that shine also have a Tera Type different to their own. Upon reducing its health enough, the Terastral form will shatter, allowing a trainer to catch it.
Pokémon will now drop materials when caught or defeated, and these can be put to use in crafting TMs. A TM Machine (oddly making it a Technical Machine Machine) is available at every Pokémon Center, where these materials are put to use in making TMs. Along with League Points, which are given throughout the story or by trading the materials you own. Don’t expect the ability to craft strong moves right from the start, however. The TMs that are craftable are updated throughout your journey.
Character customisation was shown off, with eyes, hair, and more able to be customised to bring a true representation of who you are to life within the world. Which is just as well when you have a profile page that you can customise. The profile page allows you to use a selfie that you take within the world to show off who you are, with poses and filters playing a part in that.
And speaking of the photos, yes I’m excited. On-rails photo shoots within Pokémon Snap is one thing, but even if there’s nothing as spectacular to find within the wilds of Paldea, I’m glad it’s here. Just having a photo ability gives me one more entertaining thing to do when exploring. And I will be exploring.
The trailers might talk big about finding your own treasure, having your own journey, but the way to do that is not through the stories the game is going to offer. They give you the opportunity to head to places, sure, but the real journey is going where you want when you want, seeing what you want to do at your own pace. And that absolutely is what I’ll be doing. Much like with Legends: Arceus, I doubt I’llhave touched much of the story even after 30 hours of play.
Title Card Images Taken From:
Have a Picnic! Article | Pokémon Scarlet and Violet Website
