Unveiling the Revolutionary Twist in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet that Shook Two Age-Old Traditions

Highlights

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet break traditions in the franchise by making the professors the main antagonists in the story, a departure from the usual role they play.

Larry, a unique character in the Pokemon Scarlet and Violet game, holds the esteemed positions of being both a Gym Leader and an Elite Four member, a combination that has never been seen before in the series.

Throughout the game, players encounter Larry in thrilling battles not just once or twice, but a total of three times. This marks a significant departure from previous generations, where trainers would usually be challenged only once or twice.

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet may not excel in terms of performance and overall gameplay quality, but they undoubtedly push boundaries and introduce groundbreaking elements to the franchise. Notably, the games break traditions by featuring Professors Sada and Turo as antagonists rather than providing players with their starters or Pokedex. These Gen 9 games also introduce new type combos in Paldea and continue to defy expectations through Larry, a beloved character who defies conventions.

Despite being portrayed as a worn-out individual with little interest in battling, Larry quickly became a fan-favorite due to his relatable nature. He has now become a popular meme and respected NPC in the Pokemon community. Larry embodies an average person rather than having an extravagant personality or style, but his role in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet sets him apart from the series as a whole. Notably, he challenges the main character as both a Gym Leader and Elite Four member within the same game, providing players with a formidable opponent.

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's Larry is Both a Gym Leader and Elite Four

In Pokemon games, there is typically a set group of Gym Leaders and Elite Four members, making up a total of 12 unique trainers that players will encounter in battle. Each trainer specializes in a different type of Pokemon. However, in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, there is a break from tradition with Larry, who serves as both a Gym Leader and an Elite Four member. This is a unique occurrence, as in previous games, the Gym Leaders, Elite Four members, and Champion have all undergone changes, but never within the same title. For example, in Pokemon Black 2 and White 2, Iris becomes the Champion after being a Gym Leader in the previous games, similar to how Koga becomes an Elite Four member in Pokemon Crystal following his role as a Gym Leader in the Generation 1 games. Similarly, in Pokemon Crystal, Blue takes on the role of a Gym Leader instead of being the local Champion, filling the vacancy left by Giovanni after the disbandment of Team Rocket.

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Makes Players Face Larry in Battle Three Times

In previous Pokemon games, there have been rematches, but Gen 9 takes it to a new level. In Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, players can participate in the Ace Tournament at the end of the game, where they face opponents they have already challenged before, like Geeta. To unlock this tournament, players must also battle every Gym Leader for the second time, including a story-related battle against Larry. This is the third time players fight Larry in Gen 9 using this method, which is unprecedented in past generations.

For instance, in Pokemon Sword and Shield's Gym Challenge, players can challenge familiar trainers again when they reach the Champion Cup. Nessa, Bea or Allister (depending on the version), and Raihan all served as Gym Leaders, but players must defeat them once more before facing Leon. While it may not be groundbreaking that Larry can be battled again as a Gym Leader, the fact that players also fight him as an Elite Four member makes it the third time he needs to be defeated in a single game, breaking yet another tradition in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet.

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are available now for the Nintendo Switch.