Summary
Pokemon Legends: ArceusandPokemon Scarlet & Violetwere released in the same year, but the gameplay couldn’t be more different. WhileScarlet/Violetfollowed the traditionalPokemonformula,Legends: Arceustried something new. Since both games hit shelves almost a full year apart, some fans were disappointed to see thatScarlet/Violet, which released November 2022, didn’t take several QoL changes fromLegends: Arceus, released January 2022.
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While it’s likely that anotherPokemon: Legendsgame will follow the gameplay pattern ofLegends: Arceus, there are several concepts fromScarlet/Violetthat should be considered for a potential spinoff.Pokemon: Legendsshouldn’t lose what madeLegends: Arceusso memorable, but it wouldn’t hurt to add a few things from the mainline games, either.
7Pokemon Materials
Technical Machines (TMs) have always been a part of thePokemongameplay. These items would teach a Pokemon a new move, but they would disappear after one use. It wasn’t until Gen 5 where they were given permanent use. Unfortunately, TMs went back to being breakable in later generations, and this includes Generation 9.Scarlet/Violetmediates this drawback by allowing trainers to farm Pokemon Materials. These are dropped items that trainers will receive upon defeating or catching a wild Pokemon. They’re similar toPokemon GO’s Candy, but instead of being usedfor powering up Pokemonor evolving them, they’re used for crafting TMs.
Legends: Arceushad a very limited “TM Pool” in which trainers needed to take the Pokemon to the Move Tutor in Jubilife Village for them to learn exclusive moves (ex: Shadow Ball for Eevee). A newPokemon: Legendsgame could keep Pokemon Materials and have players trade them in for a new move. This will hopefully expand the types of moves that Pokemon can be taught by a Move Tutor.
6Auto-Battle
Auto-Battle is a new feature in mainlinePokemongames where trainers could send out their Pokemon withR-buttonand have them challenge any nearby wild Pokemon without having to formally enter battle. This was a great way to level up Pokemon quickly or farm Pokemon Materials for TMs. However,if a Pokemon had a Type Disadvantageand was a lower level, it would tire itself out and return to its trainer.
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Pokemon Legends: Arceusallowed Pokemon to be released from their Poke Balls and onto the field, but they were incapable of walking alongside their trainers. They could farm items and interact with other Pokemon, but throwing them at a wild Pokemon would initiate a battle. Having auto battle in a newPokemon: Legendswould be ideal as it’s likely the game will take the same battle style fromLegends: Arceus. As such, auto-battle could be a quick way to level up without having to continuously farm Apricorns or gain EXP from catching or battling.
5Pokemon Battles
Due to the time-frame ofLegends: Arceus, the Pokemon were feared by the villagers of Jubilife Village and beyond. Most of the side quests around the village involved getting them used to the presence of Pokemon. The very idea of Pokemon Battles was foreign to a majority of the characters. However, there were a handful of trainers that playerswere required to battlein order to advance the plot. The downside is that none of them gave players any Poke Dollars if they were defeated.
It’s likely thatPokemon: Legendswill carry the same mindest towards Pokemon, meaning there won’t be many trainers around to battle. Unfortunately, this can make it very difficult to farm money and EXP for Pokemon without the availability of battling. It should also take the same formula fromScarlet/Violet, where players should have the option of battling and not be forced into one if they’re spotted.
4Evolutions Added in Gen 9 (Cross-Gen Evolutions)
Pokemon: Legends Arceustook place in the Hisui Region, so most of the Pokemon that could be caught in the game were a part of the Sinnoh Dex. That didn’t stop Pokemon that had later evolutions (i.e,in Unova and beyond) from appearing in what was ancient Sinnoh. Sylveon made its debut inPokemon X/Y, and yet it was still obtainable inLegends: Arceus(unlikeBrilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl).
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Scarlet/Violetgave players new evolutions for Pokemon from previous generations. The new evolutions are Annihilape, Dudunsparce, Farigiraf, and Kingambit, which are the evolved forms of Primeape, Dunsparce, Girafarig, and Bisharp respectively. If there is to be anotherPokemon: Legends, then it would be nice to have the new Cross-Gen Evolutions from Generation 9. In fact, Primeape’s evolution matches up with how to evolve Stantler into Wyrdeer, or Hisuin Qwilfish into Overqwil, making it a perfect fit forPokemon: Legendsgameplay.
3Pokedex Entry Visuals
Perhaps less-demanding thatPokemon: Legendscan carry over fromScarlet/Violetare the Pokedex Entries. Each time a Pokemon wascaught for the first timeand registered to the Pokedex App, trainers would unlock Pokedex Entry art. It doesn’t add anything to the game itself, but it gives a creative visual cover that preceeds the entry itself.
A newPokemon: Legendsshould keep the Pokedex Tasks, which weren’t a part of the Pokedex requirements inScarlet/Violet. Given thatLegendsare spinoffs that appear to take place in a distant past, Pokedex Research Tasks are very likely to make a comeback. Whether they’ll be accompanied by “hand-drawn” art is currently unknown.
2Let’s Go! Pokemon Swimming Animations
IfScarlet/Violettrainers toss their Pokemon’s Poke Ball into the water, one of two things would happen: They’d manifest a raft beneath them to stay afloat, or they’d be able to swim in the water. Pokemon that need rafts can’t auto-battle in the water compared to those that have their own swimming animations.
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Pokemon Legends: Arceusallowed its players to throw their Pokemon in the water, but most of them would have makeshift rafts under them whenever they appeared.Those that didn’t, could stay afloat, but they wouldn’t follow their trainer. This is something that the nextPokemon: Legendsgame should take fromScarlet/Violet: Have Pokemon be able to swim while outside their Poke Ball, and have them be able to auto-battle. Maybe there could even be a Pokedex Research Task that calls for a Pokemon to swim a certain distance in water.
1Pokemon Eggs
One thing that was sorely missed fromPokemon: Legends Arceuswere Pokemon Eggs. Breeding and Egg Hatching made their debut inPokemon Gold/Silver, and it was a quick way to get more than one rare Pokemon,such as the starters. The best Pokemon for farming Pokemon Eggs is Ditto, which can breed with any Pokemon (with some exceptions).Pokemon Scarlet/Violetmakes the Breeding/Egg process a bit easier. All trainers need to do is have two compatible Pokemon (of opposite gender) and set up a picnic. They could then check the basket at the end of the table for Eggs.
SincePokemon: Legendsmay take place during a time when Pokemon are still feared, it’s likely that Eggs still won’t be a part of the gameplay. Not to mention that Professor Elm of the Johto Region is the one who discovered the existence of Pokemon Eggs. Introducing Pokemon Eggs in aPokemon: Legendsgame wouldconflict with the established loreof thePokemonworld. However, if one considers Professor Laventon’s “Pokemon can change their size to fit into Poke Balls” theory, then this wouldn’t be the first time aPokemon: Legendsdisregards the canon.
From a gameplay standpoint, Pokemon hatched from Eggs will have a higher base Friendship than those that are caught in the wild. They also start at level 1, meaning there’s plenty of time to build up friendship via leveling. This makes it a bit easier to evolve Pokemon that have Friendship Evolution, such as Togepi or Eevee.
