Vienna Martin

Is it a little buggy at times? Yes. Does that prevent Scarlet/Violet from being *without question* the rich, charming, expansive open-world Pokémon game we've always wanted? No, not even close. The characters and their arcs are rewarding, iconic, and delightful. The main story's themes of abuse, neglect, and trauma are thoughtfully executed and help to flesh out the experience without bogging it down. The world itself is enormous, colourful, and dynamic, with plenty to explore and lore to enjoy. And the game's revamped models and updated shaders offers a bold and refreshed look to the series, even compared to Sword/Shield or Legends: Arceus. In the end, Scarlet/Violet is a tremendous achievement, albeit an imperfect one, and will only get even better as patches, updates, and expansions arrive.