Pokemon ScarletandVioletare on the way, endingPokemon’s first generation to be fully made with home consoles in mind. Expectations for the upcoming ninth generation are currently mixed. Hypothetical scenarios based on the games’ allegedly Spanish influence are one of the primary topics of discussions. So far, the idea of bringing back old features that ended up being exclusive to one or a couple of games has yet to be popularized. However,Pokemon ScarletandVioletare the perfect opportunity to make sure that fan favorite features and modes are brought back.
Ever sincePokemon XandYcame out, the series has been enjoying introducing and hyping up a new gimmick that will supposedly shake the core of the franchise. The Mega Evolutions looked promising, only for Gen 7 to leave them be and introduce Z-Moves, which were then rejected by Gen 8 in favor of Dynamax and Gigantamax.Pokemon ScarletandVioletwill likely introduce a new feature that will be advertised as the new games’ primary innovation, but if Gen 9 wants to truly polish thePokemonformula, then it should bring back old elements that were abandoned, despite their popularity. One of these features is the Pokemon World Tournament.
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Why The Pokemon World Tournament Was Great
The Pokemon World Tournament was introduced inPokemon Black 2andWhite 2, a set of games thatPokemonfans lauded for being able to appeal to both fans of the older generations, and the ones that appreciate the experimental, newcomer-centric Unova. Taking inspiration from the Battle Frontier from Gen 3 and Gen 4, and sharing similarities with the Orre Colosseum fromPokemon XD: Gale of Darkness, the Pokemon World Tournament is an event that is unlocked in the postgame. As its name implies, it is a tournament that pits Trainers from all around thePokemonworld against each other.
The appeal of the Pokemon World Tournament comes from two things. The first of those aspects is the competitive side:Trainers pick a certain number of Pokemonon their team for the battle, and all opponents use Pokemon that are specifically trained for competitive battling. They have particular move sets and abilities accompanied by an item that is compatible with said move sets and abilities, in addition to having the proper Effort and Individual Values, also known as EVs and IVs.
While the idea of fightingEV trained Pokemonmight be off-putting to most casual players looking for an adventure in thePokemonuniverse, the World Tournament was there to contribute to potential hours of replay value for almost just as many people. This matters a lot, especially since competitive battling has gotten more popular and accessible over the years, especially with Gen 8 onward.
The second selling point of the Pokemon World Tournament is how it essentially turnsBlack 2andWhite 2into a special crossover just for this particular occasion. The World Tournament brings backevery past Champion and Gym Leader, including the ones fromBlackandWhitethat were replaced inBlack 2andWhite 2. The tournament gives these characters one of, if not the strongest and most competent team players will ever see them with.
Not every round is an opportunity to fight every potential opponent. Just like the aforementioned Orre Colosseum fromXD: Gale of Darkness, the Pokemon World Tournament stars an ensemble of memorable opponents that will be as tough as the player desires.
The Pokemon World Tournament is arguably one ofBlack 2andWhite 2’s most recognizable contributions to thePokemonseries, and yet, just like the Battle Frontier, it never came back. There are so many more Gym Leaders, Champions, and even evil team members and rivals that form new tournaments in currentPokemongames.Pokemon ScarletandVioletshould take advantage of this opportunity. A new Pokemon World Tournament will satisfy fans of all generations and tons of replay value without feeling cheap andrelying on new gimmicks.
