Pokemon Fan 'Proves' Devs Don't Care About Attack Animations
Pokemon has a long list of growing ambitions, and it has made the series all the better for it. Finally, it looks like the upcoming Scarlet & Violet could be bringing us the glorious co-op open-world adventure that we've wanted since Pokemon Red & Blue. After all, it was teased in Sword & Shield and finally refined in Legends: Arceus.
While we've come on leaps and bounds, some fans think the Pokemon series has regressed in a few ways. One user on Reddit has rallied fans to wail on the game's focus (or lack thereof) on battle animations.
Why Doesn't Pokemon Care About Battle Animations?
As the mainline series has moved on from mere sprites jumping around to simulate battles, animations have gotten better in order to bolster the battling experience. It's not quite the case, and some feel that The Pokemon company has all but given up on making battling immersive.
In a post in the Pokemon subreddit, user u/MortonShekelstorm has shared a video comparing the animations seen across the series, with Pokemon Stadium's intricate animations for Kabutops and Snorlax - and Pokemon Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - showing a Pikachu performing Double Kick. In the latter though, the Pikachu just hops off the ground as a foot appears over the opposing Pokemon.
They've got a point, and things come across as more than a little lazy. When compared, the animations of Stadium are undoubtedly much more complex and customised for the individual Pokemon performing the move. Weird considering there are 19 years between them. It turns out though, there's probably a reason for this.
Pokemon Has To Focus On Other Gameplay Features
As Pokemon has grown in ambition, and with the technological advancements of its native consoles, its focus has slightly shifted away from the act of actual battling. A lot of what drives Pokemon these days is the pursuit of excitement in exploring a new region and seeing the sights it has to offer.
This is a move away from the competitive element that defined its early days, but you've got to compromise if you want to ride around on Legendary Pokemon. While this shift is fascinating in its own right, fans are justified in their upset. Battling is always a huge part of Pokemon, so deserves its fair amount of attention. Players are angry, but there are yet hopes that things could improve in Scarlet & Violet - so here's hoping they can come through to give us the Pokeverse of old.