Unveiling the Astonishing Reason Why Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's Professors Must Completely Break Tradition

Highlights

Introducing novel features such as Team Star and Paradox Pokemon, the game intelligently concealed the revelation of the villains, evoking a subtle yet astonishing effect.

While the twist was successful for Scarlet and Violet in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, it should not be repeated in future games in order to maintain the unique qualities of this entry. The decision to deviate from Pokemon Professor traditions was ambitious and fruitful, but it should not become the standard. Pokemon games have undergone significant experimentation with traditional elements, such as Ruby and Sapphire featuring two Pokemon Teams and Black and White introducing the first female Pokemon Professor in the core series. Similar to Ruby and Sapphire, the inclusion of two Pokemon Professors would not have been overly unusual if Scarlet and Violet had not taken it to a greater extent.

Given that Scarlet and Violet bombarded players with numerous new features such as Team Star, Paradox Pokemon, and their box art Legendaries, it is possible that players were still adjusting to the idea of the Pokemon Professors being exclusive to each version. This made the unexpected revelation of their villainous nature even more shocking. In line with Pokemon's recent tradition-breaking tendencies, the games' villains have consistently undergone reinvention to keep players guessing. Scarlet and Violet successfully captured this unique quality by making each Pokemon Professor the primary antagonist, making it clear that such a twist should not be repeated in future games.

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Break From Tradition Paid Off

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet set themselves apart from the rest of the series right from the start. Instead of receiving their starter Pokemon from the traditional Pokemon Professor, players are given their initial companion by Director Clavell. Even the Pokedex takes a different form, as it is transformed into a smartphone application developed by Jacq. Although players eventually stumble upon the Professor's lab, accessing it is not possible early on. Sada and Turo, the Pokemon Professors, communicate with players only through televisions or Rotom Phones. These subtle clues indicate that something is not quite normal with the Pokemon Professors in Scarlet and Violet.

It is conceivable that deviating from numerous design traditions aided Scarlet and Violet in successfully integrating multiple independent storylines into their larger plot, albeit not without taking risks. Initially, the Professor's absence may not be readily discernible at the commencement of the game, but as players progress, their seclusion becomes increasingly evident, particularly during Arven's "Path of Legends" narrative. However, the unconventionality of the Professor's background revelation and the gradually uncovered hints surrounding their research on Area Zero, its historical background, expeditions, and the enigmatic Paradox Pokemon, ultimately justifies the innovative approach employed by Scarlet and Violet in their endgame.

The Pokemon Professors' Plot Twist Can Only Be a One-Off

Once players have finally reached the moment of meeting the Pokemon Professor, they would have already completed the game's three storylines. Consequently, they would be aware that Scarlet and Violet have not yet unveiled their typical world-ending villain. As a result, the journey into Area Zero deviates from the usual gameplay by controlling the player's progress and interspersing it with scripted events. Finally coming face-to-face with the Professor after a long wait, the player has now discovered that Sada or Turo is not the true threat. The tension steadily rises as they are innocently led into an impressively large chamber with an intense feeling of an impending boss battle.

The sudden revelation that the real Professor is deceased and replaced by an AI duplicate adds context to Scarlet and Violet's unconventional actions. Surprising as it may be for the Pokemon Professor to be the game's antagonist, the lingering suspicion throughout the storyline leading up to this twist adds to its impact. Despite its brevity, this moment stands out as one of Scarlet and Violet's defining moments. However, repeating this twist in future Pokemon generations would diminish the success of Scarlet and Violet, making subsequent revelations easier to anticipate, predict, and ultimately less impressive. Experience Pokemon Scarlet and Violet now on Nintendo Switch.