Pokémon is one of the most popular and universally recognizable gaming franchises on the planet. With nearly 30 years of history, the series has evolved from a simple Game Boy game into a multimedia juggernaut. It includes some of the most popular TV shows, movies, trading cards, merchandise, mobile apps and, of course, video games the world has ever seen. Pokémon helped define childhood for an entire generation and has been a staple of gaming for two decades and more.
The creature-collecting series set a high bar for itself and is constantly referred to as the gold standard when it comes to games in its genre. In recent years, though, Pokémon has lost some of its magic. Where the series was once known for innovation, fan service, and polish, it’s increasingly becoming the subject of frustration, disappointment, and outright abandonment. Fans are taking notice, and they’re speaking out.
The Scarlet and Violet Mess
A lot of the downfall can be attributed to one title: Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, which released worldwide on November 18, 2022. Hype was through the roof. It was set to be the series’ first fully open-world entry. A major leap for the series, and a long time coming. Instead, it has become the franchise’s most noticeable sign of deterioration.
Scarlet and Violet shipped with graphical glitches, serious technical issues, and so many bugs and glitches that social media was overwhelmed with clips of glitched animations, laggy environments, and everything else that could break immersion. It was so bad that Nintendo even made a public apology on December 1, 2022, vowing that updates would address these issues.
Technical issues weren't the only thing players were griping about, though. Players also took issue with the game's sluggish pace. Scarlet and Violet has what many players consider the worst pacing in the series so far: agonizingly slow menus, protracted battles, delayed item use, and unsophisticated animations that weigh down the experience. With or without auto-battle options, you constantly bump into Pokémon that spawn inexplicably in your way. Trainer battles, wild encounters, and basic navigation all start to feel like chores.
In previous generations, players could turn off Pokémon attack animations for a faster pace of play. Scarlet and Violet completely removed that option. Small gripes built up until the whole adventure felt like a grinding obstacle course rather than the smooth, happy journey fans expected.
The Legends ZA Flop
Fans had hoped the next major game would be that reset button after the Scarlet and Violet backlash, and with the next big entry on the docket, Pokémon Legends Z-A, many had high hopes that the series would at least improve on Legends Arceus, the last experimental Pokémon game.
Legends Arceus had been an ambitious game that was fresh and new but had also shown promise. A lot of fans wanted to see the creators expand on that formula and do more with it.
They didn’t.
Pokémon Legends Z-A was not bold, creative, or exciting. It was plain as day, average in every sense of the word. Fans complained about its bland, uninspired visuals, and a world that just didn’t feel like it compared to past games in terms of charm and character. Environments were described as dull and lifeless, with empty NPCs that never move, empty shop interiors that have no interactive items, and jarringly copypasted building designs with “JPEG windows” that are flat and lifeless.
The game felt safe. Way too safe for a series that was in serious need of a jolt of creativity.
