6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Geek Culture
‘Pokémon Scarlet and Violet': First Looks At 4K 60FPS Gameplay For Nintendo Switch 2
Pokémon fan or not, there's no denying that Scarlet and Violet could have been released in a better state. From game-breaking glitches to inconsistent frame rates, the ninth-generation titles saw dampened excitement levels at launch, even if they ended up being Nintendo's fastest-selling entries.
Fans can expect to bid these issues farewell on the Nintendo Switch 2, where the games will receive a free performance upgrade. Ahead of the console's launch on 5 June, with pre-orders for Singapore starting from 9 June, the company has dropped a gameplay preview running at 60 frames per second and 4K resolution on its Nintendo Today news app.
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The footage is locked down on the platform, but a 33-second-long recording by Bluesky user Wario64 offers a promising glimpse of Paldea in docked mode. In it, the player is seen traversing various key locations, including the Pokémon Academy in Mesagoza and Casseroya Lake, notoriously known for its major frame rate dips and stutter in the original build, with relative smoothness. The visual experience remains largely unchanged, however, maintaining the same flat textures as before.
The update for Scarlet and Violet may be too little, too late, but it does signify a big leap in the right direction, especially with the launch of Pokémon Legends: Z-A just right around the corner. Featuring similar mechanics to its 2022 predecessor Pokémon Legends: Arceus, the highly anticipated title is set in Lumoise City and will introduce cross-generational starter critters Totodile (Generation II), Chikorita (Gen II), and Tepig (Gen V).
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Combat has also been revamped, with the turn-based tradition eschewed for real-time features akin to other role-playing games, such as active player positioning and dodging. Additionally, the Mega Evolution system is set to return after its last outing in Sun and Moon.
Pokémon Legends: Z-A releases on 16 October for both the Nintendo Switch and its upcoming successor. The next-gen console will launch in most regions on 5 June, before landing in Southeast Asia on 26 June.
