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Geek Girl Authority
14-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Girl Authority
Nintendo Switch 2 Archives
Categories Select Category Games GGA Columns Movies Stuff We Like The Daily Bugle TV & Streaming Games Stuff We Like Think Pieces Video Games Pokémon Scarlet & Violet now play a lot better with the Switch 2 release. But the new console hasn't fixed the series' lacking graphics yet.
Geek Girl Authority
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Girl Authority
Switch 2 Doesn't Fix POKÉMON's Biggest Problem
Now that the Switch 2 is out, we're getting a lot of comparison videos of Pokémon Scarlet & Violet gameplay on Switch and the new system. And honestly? It doesn't look all that different. If you didn't tell me what was recorded on Switch 2, I'd assume most of the new footage is coming from the original console. Marginal graphics improvements that smooth lines and bump the frame rate up to 60 FPS are great. But I would love to see Pokémon bring back monster designs and detailed landscapes filled with the life and color that once defined the franchise. Pokémon has changed a lot since its 1996 debut. For the most part, it's been for the better. New monsters, regions and mechanics have strengthened the series and added depth to the canon. But the most recent mainline releases, Scarlet & Violet , were met with negative reception from players, both new and old. The problem? Poor image quality and non-stop glitching made the games tough to play. The Switch 2 launch finally made Pokémon's latest titles playable, but Nintendo's newest console merely offers a band-aid. Have 3D Graphics Helped or Hurt Pokémon? Pokémon Colosseum on GameCube. That seems to be the question to ask right now, huh? Many fans associate the introduction of 3D sprites in the video game series' sixth generation with a decline in the overall charm of their favorite monsters and the regions they inhabit, but the topic goes a lot further back than the release of Pokémon X & Y and the Gen III remakes Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire . In fact, many of the games that longtime players grew up with also featured 3D visuals. RELATED: Video Games Are Becoming a Luxury Few Can Afford Pokémon Stadium , Pokémon Colosseum and its sequel XD: Gale of Darkness remain some of the most beloved titles 20 years on — and they all gave us gorgeous 3D worlds and battle animations that outshine even the most recent games. So, is a 3D approach the real issue here? Or has the quality of Pokémon simply taken a dip, despite improved technology? Not Much of a Switch Flying on Miraidon in Violet on Switch. The power of Switch systems has been a major point of contention since the original console's launch back in 2017, and it's still at the forefront of discussions about the quality of Pokémon games. Many blame the console for frequent lag and frame drops. But others can't help but compare buggy titles like Scarlet & Violet to other AAA releases that feature stellar graphics and smooth gameplay on the same system. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and its sequel Tears of the Kingdom are the gold standard when it comes to Switch titles; both are 3D and accomplish more in Hyrule than Pokémon has across four regions on Switch . Soaring on Latios and Latias in Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire on 3DS. The launch of the Switch 2 last week has only added fuel to the fire when it comes to these hot debates. Why did it take three years and the release of a more powerful console for Scarlet & Violet to run as intended? And why is it that these games still can't compete with past titles and other Nintendo releases? As players, we don't have all the answers. But we can all agree on what works and what doesn't. RELATED: Wholesome Games Direct 2025: 9 Games Release Today Smoothing Over the Details Looking back on classic Pokémon titles, the transition to 3D graphics was hardly a harbinger of lesser quality. Gen IV and V installments — Diamond & Pearl , HeartGold & Soulsilver , Black & White and Black 2 & White 2 — played around with implementing this new animation style. And they pulled it off while maintaining the integrity of past titles with a familiar pixel art style. The problem is that newer games on Switch (and by extension, Switch 2) have done away with the details that added charm to such a fantastical world created to highlight the magic of our own. The Paldea region of Scarlet & Violet , while based on the vivid and culturally rich country of Spain, lacks a lot of the life and color we saw in Sword & Shield's Galar just one generation prior. Hisui, the ancient Sinnoh region introduced in Legends: Arceus , was almost as sparse as Paldea. (Though the game's unique art style still managed to capture much of the magic and mystery of its setting.) The unique art style of Legends: Arceus. None of the Switch-era remakes — Let's Go! Pikachu & Eevee or Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl — were received particularly well, either. Many blame the return to a chibi art style. But if we're being honest, this change in artistic direction might not have missed the mark if more intricate details weren't sacrificed in favor of a cleaner image. After all, Gen IV and V gave us some of the best-looking games yet, and they utilized the same look. What's different? RELATED: Can Nostalgia Save the Games Industry? One criticism I often hear is that Pokémon's newer regions feel empty. That hasn't changed yet on Switch 2. The world of Pokémon has never been bigger, with Scarlet & Violet marking the franchise's first true open-world games. There's so much beauty to be found in Paldea. But its newly cleaned-up lines can also feel sterile. Fantasy elements have taken a back seat as a more realistic approach is solidified. And yet, forests are thin. Mud is … clean. Something is missing. Paldea is beautiful, but lacks the same detail as past regions. Fewer Opportunities for Community and Choice For one thing, you can't even enter most buildings in Scarlet & Violet . So, most don't stand out. Sprawling landscapes are virtually barren. There's no need to talk to anyone, since their thoughts conveniently pop up in bubbles above their heads in passing. This way, you find yourself ignoring most of the NPCs hanging around towns and cities because, perhaps more conveniently, the ones offering items, services or battles are also color-coded. They might as well have signs on their foreheads that say: TALK TO ME! I'M USEFUL! Catching Pokémon feels a lot like that, too. Don't get me wrong; I actually love that Pokémon show up in the overworld now. You don't have to search for too long to find the ones you're looking for, and you do have a say in which Pokémon you battle. That being said, I also run straight past most of them. It kind of makes me miss the unpredictability that marked wild encounters back in the day. You can always tell which NPCs want to battle or have items and services to offer in Scarlet & Violet. There seem to be so many people and Pokémon I'll never meet. Call it a personal gripe, but to me, it sometimes feels like this system opposes the prioritization of community that Pokémon was founded on, despite a push toward narrative-driven gameplay in recent years. It's as though we're just passing through rather than embarking on a journey to take it all in. (Don't get me started on drive-thru-style Pokémon Centers.) When so much of these games simply fades into the background, the world becomes less immersive, its stories less profound. But there's a simple fix. RELATED: 10 Coolest Pokémon According to Someone Who's Never Played the Games More to the Imagination If you follow Pokémon discussions on social media, you might know where I'm going with this. The people want expressive monster sprites. They want dynamic battle animations, accessible cities and towns. They want to get lost in a world that welcomes them, not by force, but by fostering a sense of curiosity for the regions, people and Pokémon that await them. Fans want something left to the imagination. The franchise began with the originally black and white games Red & Blue (or Red & Green in Japan). But its colorful monsters and locations are what really drew players in and kept them coming with later installments. Animation improvements came with the release of Gen II's Crystal on the Game Boy Color. I'll never get over how cool it was to see Umbreon's rings glow for the very first time. It was just as exciting to see its attacks in action in Pokémon Colosseum . Sprites and moves only got better with each release — up until X & Y , that is. Swampert sprites in Ruby & Sapphire (left) and Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire (right). Kalos is still one of the most beautiful regions in all of Pokémon. But Gen VI infamously stripped monsters of their bright colors and expressions with the transition to more advanced 3D sprites. Most don't exactly look battle-ready when you send them out, either. No attack stance. No crossing the field to land a move. Three generations later, Scarlet & Violet didn't fix this problem. It looks like there's some hope for heated battles in Legends: Z-A , which will reintroduce dynamic animations and a new battle mechanic alongside familiar sprites on Switch and Switch 2. I'd like to see a return to the use of vivid color palettes, too, but that's only half the battle. RELATED: 6 Pokémon Ports Perfect for Nintendo Switch A Cultural Shift Pokémon once rewarded curiosity by placing items in trash cans. NPCs in random houses offered HMs that were required to progress. Routes to new cities were blocked by strange trees and boulders or a puzzle of some kind. This brought the world of Pokémon to life and kept players engaged, encouraging thoughtful interaction with the world around them. The Switch era has offered no such reward. The Kalos region's Pokémon League in X & Y. It's no secret that the video game series has endured a lot of criticism for being too easy in recent years. That's largely due to its removal of things like puzzles and tough battles that necessitate strategy. Some argue that the games are for kids, so they have to be easy. But I and countless other '90s kids grew up playing them, too. And honestly? It seems more likely that Pokémon has simply begun to reflect real-world cultural changes. RELATED: Mobile Game Monday: Medieval-Idle Prayer Fans Then and Now While older fans probably spent time outside playing classic games with friends on handheld systems, the Switch and Switch 2 aren't exactly built for outdoor play. That's because no one's taking their games outside anymore. (We have Pokémon GO for that.) This alone disrupts the connection between mainline Pokémon games and the world they're based on, as older titles and systems were designed to be played on the go. Why create forests, deserts, rivers or mountainsides alive with color and detail if your target audience isn't going outside to imagine exploring them? The Paldea region's Pokémon League in Scarlet & Violet. But that's the thing. Pokémon has always been about modeling and teaching appreciation for the world we live in. The Hoenn region was based on the Japanese island of Kyushu, where Ruby & Sapphire director Junichi Masuda would spend his summer vacations as a kid. Tapping into that sentiment is key. The Pokémon franchise has never been better equipped to bring this fantastical world to life on Switch 2. But its next entry, Pokémon Legends: Z-A , has already been met with the same criticism in development. I just hope a setting as bright and alive as Lumiose is done justice. June's Most Anticipated Video Games Olivia Rolls (she/her) is a weekly contributor at GGA, specializing in cozy games, anime and all things horror. Her byline has appeared at publications like The Mary Sue, The Escapist, GameSkinny and more. When she's not writing deep dives on her favorite games, shows, movies or characters, she's probably yapping about the latest pop culture trends or catching up on another Pokémon playthrough. E-mail professional inquiries to [email protected]. You can also find Olivia on Bluesky and LinkedIn.
Digital Trends
08-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Digital Trends
Pokémon's Switch 2 upgrade is a massive evolution
When Nintendo revealed that select Switch games would be getting improved Switch 2 Editions, I couldn't help but notice one glaring omission: Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. Of all the major Nintendo franchises released on the Switch, that was the one I was begging to see get a massive performance boost on the Switch 2. None of the Pokémon games on Switch ran fantastically, but the ninth generation was seriously hindered by technical woes. I wanted to love the game, but an abysmal framerate, bland textures, and even crashes were enough to push me away from the game until it was in a more complete state. We never got a comprehensive Switch patch, and instead of a full Switch 2 Edition, Nintendo only promised Scarlet and Violet would receive 'enhanced visuals and smoother gameplay.' Needless to say, my hopes weren't exactly high before trying it out for myself. After starting a new adventure on the Switch 2, it feels like Pokémon has finally reached its true potential and has reinvigorated my waning excitement for Pokémon Legends: Z-A. Recommended Videos The experience it was always meant to be I could always see a great Pokémon game fighting to shine through under the technical mess. Even I, someone who isn't overly sensitive to frame rates or able to count pixels at a glance, wasn't able to look past all the issues plaguing that game. It wasn't just that the frame rate was bad, but also inconsistent. This frequently caused me to feel almost queasy playing — an experience I never get outside of some VR games. That, combined with the flat textures and extreme pop-in, resulted in a game I simply couldn't enjoy, no matter how much I wanted to. And I did want to. I could see the joy and whimsy of this world and the academic setting, but the technical issues just prevented me from reaching it. On the Switch 2, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet's core design is finally able to shine. Why Nintendo was so vague about just how substantial the improvements would be is beyond me. That 'smoother gameplay' claim made me hesitate to even hope for a locked 30 FPS, yet here we are enjoying a buttery smooth 60 FPS experience. I'm relying on those with a more keen eye and the ability to measure frame rates to confirm that number, but it more than feels like 60 to me. Even in areas where the frame rate was notoriously poor, I felt little more than a minor hitch in the experience. That's a far cry from the base experience where I would be subjected to a slideshow. Visuals are another area I was pleasantly surprised by, though not to as big a degree. There's no getting around some of the textures here are still quite basic, but at least now I don't have to see the foliage spring into existence as I cross the map. Beyond the draw distance, the game can also populate the world with more Pokémon that I can spot from a greater distance away. Besides removing that eerie emptiness I sometimes felt wandering around, this also makes hunting Pokémon a much more engaging task. When taken as a whole, the world of Pokémon finally feels alive. There are several other small improvements worth mentioning, like reduced loading times and more responsive menus, but the frame rate, visuals, and general stability afforded by the Switch 2 feel like the way Pokémon Scarlet and Violet was envisioned to be played. If you had to put your Pokémon journey on hold due to the performance issues like I did, or even held off completely based on others' experience, this free Switch 2 update finally shows off the diamond hidden in the rough. If nothing else, it goes a long way towards calming my hesitation about Pokémon Legends: Z-A coming later this year — at least the Switch 2 version, anyway.
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Nintendo finally shows gameplay footage of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet on Switch 2, and the frame rate boost is honestly a lot nicer than I expected
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Last week, Nintendo confirmed that Pokemon Scarlet and Violet would get a free update on Switch 2 offering improved frame rates, wider draw distances, and other graphical enhancements. Today, the publisher has finally showed the world what this update looks like in motion, and I've got to admit that it's a lot more impressive than I expected. Admittedly, my expectations were pretty low. The original announcement only mentioned unspecified frame rate improvements, and part of me suspected that the update would only improve Scarlet and Violet to more closely match their original 30 FPS targets. Given how dismally the games ran on Switch 1, even that would be an improvement, but not exactly one to write home about. But no, Scarlet and Violet do run at a proper 60 FPS on Switch 2, according to a new gameplay video shown in the Nintendo Today app. If you don't have access to the app, Felipe of Universo Nintendo uploaded a high-quality version of the video online. The frame rate boost goes a long way toward making the game more pleasant to look at, and as my far more Pokemon-obsessed colleague Catherine suspects, the improved draw distance could be a big boon for shiny hunting. But in terms of graphical fidelity, Scarlet and Violet were never exactly stunning, and this update isn't changing that. The "looks like a PS2 game" criticisms of Scarlet and Violet were perhaps a bit ungenerous, but, well... now they kinda look like remastered PS2 games. These upgrades offer what's undeniably a dramatic visual improvement over the original releases, but we'll still have to wait for yet another Pokemon generation in hopes of seeing one that looks genuinely current-gen. Check out our guide to all the upcoming Switch 2 games you need to know about.
The Verge
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Verge
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet's much-needed performance patches are launching with the Switch 2.
Charles Pulliam-Moore While the next big Pokémon game won't be releasing until later this year, Nintendo's Japanese site says that we can expect to see Scarlet and Violet getting their long-awaited patches that will improve the games' frame rates, visuals, and draw distances on June 5 just in time for the Switch 2's big debut. 『Pokémon LEGENDS Z-A』が10月16日に発売決定。ダウンロード版は6月5日から予約開始。 | トピックス | Nintendo [
