WithPokemon Scarlet and Violet, players can tackle three storylines separately. For those who want a more traditional experience, the “Path of Victory” storyline is the one to pick, as it has players collecting Gym Badges and eventually facing the Elite Four. Though the Elite Four ofPokemon Scarlet and Violetput up a fairly tough battle, the members are pretty forgettable. Compared to the Elite Four of older generations, they just don’t feel as impactful.
If players aren’t satisfied with the Elite Four, they can explore the other twostorylines thatScarlet and Violetoffer- Path of Victory still remains a crucial one to complete due to the main narrative. The “Path of Legends” storyline has players helping out Arven as he collects the Herba Mystica, while “Starfall Street” involves taking down what at first glance may seem to be a gang of bullies terrorizing the school. These stories provide some of the most touching moments of the series, unlike Gen 9’s Path of Victory.
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Why The Elite Four of Scarlet and Violet Don’t Live Up to The Hype
AlthoughScarlet and Violetbring a lot of changes to the typicalPokemonformula, the Elite Four still make an appearance. Players encounter these powerful foes after earningall eight Gym Badges in Paldeaand beating them lets players become Pokemon Champions. In past games, the Elite Four provided some of the most nail-biting moments of the games, as they pack strong teams. Furthermore, they have striking personalities that make them hard to forget. The Elite Four return inScarlet and Violet, though they lack the zest of previous generations.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet’s Elite Fourinclude Rika, Larry, Poppy, and Hassel. Players are familiar with Rika already because she conducts the Champion Assessment interview. Larry is also a familiar face because he is the Normal-type Gym Leader. His entire personality is centered around being bland and brooding, which makes for quite a boring Elite Four member. Perhaps the only Elite Four members that leave an impression are Poppy and Hassel.
Poppy is memorable because she is very young, and despite her age, she has a tough team themed around Steel-type Pokemon. The last challenger players face is Hassel, who is also the art teacher at the Pokemon academy. He loves Dragon-type Pokemon, and he is memorable because players get to build a relationship with him at the academy.
The entire experience feels even less impactful because it all takes place in the same room. This isn’t the case in past generations where players move from room to room, which builds excitement and better conveys a sense of progression. Like in past games, there is a fifth challenger, and this time around, players are up against Geeta. The showdown has a lot of hype around it, and players finally get to move to a new location, butGeeta is let down by her lackluster team.
Why Elite Four Battles Are Memorable in Past Pokemon Games
The Elite Four members of the Paldea League fail to reach the highs attained in prior games. Some Elite Four members are remembered for their clever dialogue, such as Karen fromGold and Silver,who has been immortalized in thePokemonfandom for shunning the concept of weak and strong creatures, claiming “truly skilled trainers should try to win with their favorites.” Her philosophy is one that many take to heart.
Other members are remembered for their interesting backstories, as is the case with Drake fromRuby and Sapphire. He is a sailor that was once caught in Hoenn’s rough waters. Luckily, a dragon saved him, which is why he dedicates his life toDragon-type Pokemon. His Dragon-type team which players had to face when there weren’t Fairy-types around to even the playing field made him a tough foe.
None of this means thatScarlet and Violetdon’t have their high points.Pokemon Scarlet and Violet’s travels with Koraidon and Miraidonare great fun, and the open-world format with split storylines is one that the series should continue to fine-tune and perfect. Nevertheless, the Elite Four encounter is one of their weak points, and it doesn’t meet the high bar that has been established by earlier titles.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violetare available on Nintendo Switch.
