wiki_page: Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet are 2022 role-playing video games developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo and The Pokémon Company for the Nintendo Switch. They are the first installments in the ninth generation of the Pokémon video game series. First announced in February 2022, they were released on 18 November 2022. 
  Unlike the previous installments in the Pokémon franchise, Scarlet and Violet take place in an open world, similar to Pokémon Legends: Arceus. The games take place in the Paldea region, based off of the Iberian Peninsula. There are three separate stories the player can take. Scarlet and Violet introduce 103 new Pokémon, alongside 4 new regional forms, and the Terastal phenomenon, which allows a Pokémon to transform into its exclusive Tera Type. The games also maintain features from previous modern Pokémon games, including large open areas and Pokémon appearing in the overworld.
  Scarlet and Violet received mixed reviews from critics. The games were praised for the open world formula and new designs, while its graphics and technical problems at launch received criticism. The games sold over 10 million copies in their first three days, making them Nintendo's biggest launch of all time.
  
  
  == Gameplay ==
  
  Pokémon Scarlet and Violet largely follow the same basic gameplay structure of previous Pokémon games, where players obtain creatures known as Pokémon, primarily through catching and trading and use them to explore the world and battle other Pokémon trainers.Scarlet and Violet have open worlds, which include both urban areas and open wilderness without borders between the two, unlike previous installments in the Pokémon series. In addition to this, progression through the games are up to the players, with three routes available to choose from, Path of Legends, Victory Road, and Starfall Street. Each route covers a different storyline.The games introduce three new starter Pokémon, Sprigatito, Fuecoco, and Quaxly; and two new legendary Pokémon, Koraidon and Miraidon. To assist in travel, Koraidon (in Scarlet) or Miraidon (in Violet) can be used to traverse the environment. A mechanic called "Let's Go" will allow the player to send out a Pokémon to roam the overworld and automatically battle wild Pokémon. In addition, co-op play with up to three other players is included.Scarlet and Violet introduce the Terastal phenomenon, which gives Pokémon a crystalline appearance, as well as changing a Pokémon's type to match that Pokémon's "Tera Type", as well as unlocking special moves such as Tera Blast, which, when used by a Terastallized Pokémon, becomes a move of the same type as the Pokémon’s Tera Type.
  
  
  == Plot ==
  
  
  === Setting ===
  
  Pokémon Scarlet and Violet are set in the Paldea region of the Pokémon universe, which appears to be loosely based off of the Iberian Peninsula. The player visits the Naranja (in Scarlet) or Uva (in Violet) Academy in time for the annual Treasure Hunt, where the rival character, Nemona, encourages the player to explore Paldea and find their own treasure. From there, three stories open up for the player to experience. Starfall Street has the player facing off against a gang of rebellious students called Team Star, Path of Legends has the player team up with Arven to explore the Paldea region to fight giant Pokémon called "Titan Pokémon" and obtain the Herba Mystica, and Victory Road follows the series tradition of fighting the region’s eight Gym Leaders in order to face the Champion and become the best Pokémon Trainer. Unlike previous titles in the mainline games, there is no set order for the player to face the Gym Leaders.
  
  
  === Story ===
  At the beginning of Scarlet and Violet, the player is given three stories to complete, Victory Road, Path of Legends, and Starfall Street. These stories can be completed in any order or simultaneously. After finishing all three stories, the player will gain access to the secret final story, The Way Home. The player also encounters the Legendary Pokémon Koraidon (In Scarlet) or Miraidon (In Violet), who lost their ability to use their battle mode in the beginning. Their Poke Ball is given to the player, and the Legendary joins the player on the Treasure Hunt, acting as their Pokémon bike mount.
  
  
  ==== Victory Road ====
  Victory Road sees the player travel across the Paldea region completing eight Pokémon Gyms, whilst repeatedly encountering their rival, the Champion-ranked trainer Nemona, as per the main gameplay of the Pokemon franchise. Once all eight Gyms are defeated, the player can take on the Elite Four, as well as the region's Champion, to become a Champion ranked trainer. Once the champion is defeated, the player can engage in one final battle with Nemona.
  
  
  ==== Path of Legends ====
  In Path of Legends, the player aims to defeat five giant and powerful Pokémon known as "Titan Pokémon" scattered about Paldea. At each encounter with a Titan Pokémon, the Titan consumes a Herba Mystica, recovering health. The player works with a boy named Arven, the son of Professor Sada (in Scarlet) or Professor Turo (in Violet), to collect all five Herba Mystica in hopes that it will restore the health of his pet Mabosstiff, which was injured under mysterious circumstances in the crater at the center of Paldea. Upon defeating the Titans, collecting all five herbs, and restoring Mabosstiff's health, Professor Sada/Turo calls the player and requests that Arven unlock the entrance to their laboratory. Once there, the Professor encourages the two to head to the Great Crater of Paldea and to bring Koraidon/Miraidon and the Scarlet/Violet Book with them, as well as any needed allies. The player and Arven choose to go, but after one last battle with Arven, he decides they need extra help and encourages the player to get some allies.
  
  
  ==== Starfall Street ====
  In Starfall Street, the player aims to defeat Team Star, a group that has caused some bullying at the adademy. They are enlisted by Cassiopeia, an anonymous voice whose identity is initially kept secret, and are tasked with defeating the bosses of all five Team Star squads, and as per protocol, when a boss is defeated, they are forced to resign, and Cassiopeia hopes that the group will be forced to disband once all bosses are defeated. Assisted by the shy and anxious student Penny and Clavell, the academy's director who is disguised as a student named Clive and aims to discover more information about Team Star's formation, the player learns that Team Star was founded to counter bullying, and the group fought back against their bullies roughly two years before the events of the games. After the confrontation, Team Star's bullies dropped out of school, and several staff members of the academy—including the previous director—resigned from their positions in recognition of their failure to handle the situation. After defeating all bosses, Cassiopeia, revealing she founded Team Star, and the one who tricked the bosses into "Operation Starfall", requested that the player meet them in the schoolyard. Later, they confront Cassiopeia, who reveals herself to be Penny. Upon Penny's defeat, Clavell, revealing his identity, announces that he has reconsidered his previous stances and offers peace with Team Star, though he subjects the members of Team Star to community service due to several violations.
  
  
  ==== The Way Home ====
  After completing all three storylines, the professor requests the player's assistance in their laboratory located in the Great Crater. Alongside Arven, Nemona, and Penny, the player travels to Area Zero, located inside the Crater. Inside, they encounter Paradox Pokémon—relatives of preexisting Pokémon from the ancient past (in Scarlet) or the far future (in Violet). After being attacked by several Paradox Pokémon, the player encounters the professor, who reveals themself to be a A.I. substitute for the true professor, who died in a laboratory incident before the events of the game. The A.I. professor also revealed that the original professor created a time machine to access the period in which the Paradox Pokémon originate, and their A.I. substitute is to maintain it at all costs. However, acting of its own volition, the A.I. notes that if the Paradox Pokémon escape the Great Crater, they will harm every ecosystem in Paldea. The player uses the Scarlet/Violet book to shut down the time machine at the request of the A.I., though it warns them that they will be overtaken by the self-defense protocols surrounding the time machine, and will battle the player. Upon their defeat, the A.I., now the Paradise Protection Protocol, sent out their own Koraidon (in Scarlet) or Miraidon (in Violet) and locks the player from using their own Pokémon, although the player's Koraidon/Miraidon manages to escape its Poke Ball, transform to battle mode, and defeat the A.I. for good. This shuts down the machine, and the group escapes. After returning to the academy, Nemona organizes an Academy Ace Tournament, and she's assisted by Geeta, who agrees to help if the player inspects and battles all previous Gym leaders. The tournament involves various faculty and students the player can battle, and in the end, the player emerges victorious.
  
  
  == Development ==
  Pokémon Scarlet and Violet started development in late 2019, around the time that Pokémon Sword and Shield released. Toby Fox assisted in composing some of the music featured in the games.
  
  
  === Marketing and release ===
  Pokémon Scarlet and Violet were announced as part of a Pokémon Presents presentation on 27 February 2022, through a partially live-action trailer. Throughout the games' pre-release marketing, several in-universe videos have been published by The Pokémon Company, such as a camera trap to reveal Grafaiai, a web seminar to reveal Wiglett, a livestream to reveal Bellibolt, and a short found footage trailer to reveal Greavard.On 1 June 2022, a second trailer was released, showing the two box cover legendary Pokémon along with more gameplay footage, three new Pokémon, and new characters.On 3 August 2022, a third trailer was released alongside an overview trailer during a Pokémon Presents. These trailers revealed two new Pokémon, the return of regional variants as showcased with Paldean Wooper, the name of the region, a new battle mechanic known as the Terastal Phenomenon, as well as other details.During the closing ceremony of the 2022 Pokémon World Championships on 21 August 2022, a new trailer was released that showcased a new Pokémon, Cyclizar, as well as new items and abilities to be used in competitive play.A fourth trailer, released on 7 September 2022 and titled "Seek Your Treasure!", detailed the three stories that the player can experience, as well as three new Pokémon. Characters such as Mela, Brassius, and Geeta also made their debut in the trailer.On 29 September 2022, singer Ed Sheeran released a song titled "Celestial" in collaboration with The Pokémon Company that is set to appear in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.On 6 October 2022, a 14-minute trailer was released, highlighting the unique gameplay between four different players, each going on a different "path" in the story, as well as Farigiraf, Girafarig's evolution.A special edition Nintendo Switch OLED model with themed artwork was released on 4 November 2022.On 11 November 2022, a week before the games come out, a Splatfest themed around the three starter types was held in Splatoon 3.Pokémon Scarlet and Violet were released worldwide on 18 November 2022.On 1 December 2022, Nintendo has apologised for the issues players have encountered, with the announcement of the 1.1.0 update.
  
  
  == Reception ==
  
  
  === Critical response ===
  Scarlet and Violet received "mixed or average reviews", according to review aggregator Metacritic. Publications criticised the games for suffering from graphical glitches and poor performance. The graphics were also considered to be lackluster, with unfavorable comparisons to other Nintendo Switch titles such as Xenoblade Chronicles 3. Eurogamer writer Oliver Mackenzie called the games "comprehensive technical failures", criticising the games' poor texture quality and crudely modeled environments. Due to the performance issues, some players began requesting refunds of the games soon after launch, to which Nintendo obliged for in some cases, but not others.The open world gameplay was praised. GameSpot writer Jeff Dekker regarded the non-linearity of the games as their "strength", while Nintendo Life described the experience as capturing the "real magic" of the first Pokémon games, Red and Blue.
  
  
  === Sales ===
  According to The Pokémon Company, Scarlet and Violet are the most pre-ordered titles in the series' history. Within three days of its release, the games had sold over 10 million copies worldwide, including 4.05 million in Japan alone. The sales figure was the highest of any software on any Nintendo platform within three days, and the best launch of any console-exclusive game in history.
  
  
  == See also ==
  List of generation IX Pokémon
  
  
  == Notes ==
  
  
  == References ==
  
  
  == External links ==
  Official website