With decades of gaming and nine generations under its belt, the Pokemon series has established its own set of traditions. However, the future of the franchise is facing a turning point after Pokemon Scarlet and Violet revamped one of these traditions with in-game trades. Throughout its history, Pokemon has always aimed to teach players about its various mechanics and features in an intuitive way. For example, in Black and White, the battle music would intensify when a player's Pokemon were at low health, and in Sun and Moon, a vignette-like effect was added when near a trainer's field of vision. But more often than not, Pokemon itself has been used as a means to educate players.
For instance, in the Gold and Silver games, new mechanics like the day-night cycle and friendship were introduced, and certain Pokemon evolutions were designed to reflect these concepts. Eevee, for example, would only evolve into Espeon with high friendship during the day, or into Umbreon at night. Trading has always played a significant role in Pokemon gameplay, as certain Pokemon could only be obtained through evolution via trading. However, the games have been inconsistent in teaching players about this through the trope of in-game trades. Now, with Scarlet and Violet reintroducing this tradition, the pressure is on Generation 10 to make a similar decision.
Pokemon's History of In-Game Trade Evolutions
While every Pokemon game has featured multiple in-game trades, only a few generations have included trades where the traded Pokemon evolve. Specifically, only Gen 1's Yellow and Blue versions have trades for Haunter, Graveler, and Machoke, and in Gen 6, there were trades for Alolan Graveler and Phantump. These trades served as a way to teach players about Pokemon evolution through trading and provided access to otherwise unobtainable Pokemon, while also encouraging players to trade with each other.
It is surprising that Pokemon has not implemented this strategy in all of its generations, especially considering games like Let's Go Pikachu and Eevee or Sword and Shield, which included in-game trades that introduced players to regional forms of Pokemon. Furthermore, the recent Gen 4 remakes Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl deviated from this tradition frustratingly by offering a Haunter trade that could not evolve due to holding an Everstone. However, with the introduction of in-game trades in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, there is hope that future Pokemon games will continue this tradition.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's In-Game Trades Sets the Standard
Scarlet and Violet have demonstrated Game Freak's commitment to guiding players through mechanics and features, offering in-game trades for Paldean and Johtonian Wooper, as well as linking Palafin's evolution to the new Union Circle. In light of this, Scarlet and Violet have also introduced an in-game trade for Haunter, ensuring its evolution upon receiving. As a result, players are learning that certain Pokemon, whether regional forms or evolutions, can be obtained through trading.
Despite the existence of numerous Pokemon with regional forms and trade-based evolutions, both with and without held items, it is crucial for Pokemon to continue informing players about these features. Just as recent games have made effort to make regional forms accessible, such as Sword and Shield with its Isle of Armor DLC's multiple in-game trades, the same attention should be given to trade evolutions. Therefore, future generations, starting from Gen 10, must decide whether to adopt the Scarlet and Violet approach or risk disappointing players with another Everstone trade.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are available now for Nintendo Switch.
