7 Things Only Previous Pokemon Players Noticed in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet

Pixel Power

Paldea’s towns and cities are full of flavor. Even the first towns players will visit are interesting, with things like a hedge maze and a treehouse cafe with many levels.

But let’s focus on the painterly references to Pokemon Red and Blue in Alfadora Town. Even though Artazon Town is known for its art, the best art in the area is right here. Brassius, I’m sorry. The streets are filled with pixel paintings that look like the old-school graphics from the games. This takes you back to the beginning of the series. It’s a walk down memory lane for a whole block.

Back In My Day

Pokemon Scarlet & Violet makes a few clear references to Pokemon Legends: Arceus. It’s not unusual for new games to make references to older ones, but the stuff for Hisui is especially interesting because it makes that game, which is set in the far past of the series, feel more like it belongs there.

Clavell will tell Nemona at the start of your adventure that back in his time, there was no Pokedex. Instead, trainers wrote down everything they saw with a pencil and paper.

Clavell is probably in his late fifties now. Early sixties? He’s not nearly old enough to have lived during the time of Hisui, but this is a good reminder of how we do research in Legends: Arceus.

More interesting is the picture of Professor Laventon and the Hisuian Poke Ball on the board in the history room at Naranja/Uva Academy.

The Power Of Science Guy Is Staggering

This one is kind of like the free center space in Bingo, since this guy is in almost every mainline Pokemon game.

Right at the beginning, near your house, there’s a guy who likes science and tells you about a new way to play the game that has to do with technology.

There has always been a version of this guy, from Kanto to Paldea. This has led fans to joke that he’s part of a big family, like Nurse Joy and Officer Jenny in the Pokemon anime, and they’ve all split up to do their jobs in each region. How much could this be worth?

Your Pokemon Look Tired, And Your Mom Looks Galarian

Mom has always been an important part of how each Pokemon game starts. The player character’s mother is loving, no matter what else she is.

Most of the time, your mom is happy to stay home while you’re on your journey. If you try to talk to her outside of a few scripted events, she’ll tell you to take a nap, making her a sort of one-woman Pokemon Center.

The second part of this strangely named section header isn’t answered by that.

In the games Hoenn and Alola, the main character and their mother have just moved to a new area. In Alola, the parent and child are from the Kanto region. In Hoenn, it’s never said, but mom’s husband Norman says they’re from Johto in Pokemon Black 2 and White 2.

Okay, but where’s the proof that you came from Paldea? It’s not too obvious, but it’s there. Because she asked Clavell to join her for a “cuppa” and because Skwovet is only found in Galar, it’s possible that you and your mother are from Galar.

Have We Met?

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet have gotten a lot of attention for their Paradox Pokemon, which are new versions of species from the previous generation. In Scarlet, they are all from a long time ago, while in Violet, they are from a long time from now. This, along with Paldean Wooper and Paldean Tauros, gives us a lot of familiar faces with a completely different feel.

But the strangest of all must be the so-called “convergent species.” These are regional forms that have been taken to the extreme, to the point where they are now considered to be entirely new species, with names that are pretty clear. There are Wiglett and Wugtrio, and Toedscool and Toedscrool.

Evil Teams Are Distant Dreams

It looks like Game Freak has been on its own journey for the past few decades. Fans of the Pokemon games will notice that the organizations whose names include the word “Team” have become less evil since Sun & Moon. Let’s think for a moment about the groups that came before Alola.

Team Rocket is a group of thieves. Teams Aqua and Magma are misguided environmental extremists. Team Galactic was started because its leader is so big-headed that he wants to make a whole new world. Team Plasma’s supposedly good goals are actually a cover for Ghetsis’s plans to take over the world. Team Flare is supposed to be all about beauty, but Lysandre’s idea of beauty involves an old weapon that can kill a lot of people.

Now, let’s move on. Team Skull is a group of likeable punks who live in Alola. They do kidnap people’s Pokemon, but they have no end goal, which makes them sad. Team Yell from Galar is just a group of die-hard Marnie fans who want to make their town a little better by making a fuss.

In Pokemon Scarlet & Violet, Team Star is just a group of bad students who don’t want to go to school. Even though they are fun and have some good character moments, how far can we go with Giovanni, Cyrus, Ghetsis, and the rest? Will Team Happy People Who Give Free Hugs When Needed be in the next Cuphead games?

Sonia-On-Side

Lastly, did you hear that Sonia’s book came out? Yes, it did! In Pokemon Sword & Shield, Sonia decides to write a book about how she found the legendary Pokemon Galarian. She includes details about her own character arc from the games. As it turns out, the book has done pretty well.

The library at the academy has a copy of Sonia’s book, “Galar: A History.” The excerpt you can read is about how Bede messed with the mural at Stow-on-the-Side and the secret statues that were hidden behind it.