Pokemon Scarlet GamePlay and Review 2024

Pokemon Scarlet is an Open-world adventure with lots of battles and quests. It became popular after its release. If you didn’t know, Pokemon Scarlet doesn’t have a history in a traditional sense. Which means you will have fresh new characters and a new storyline.

Pokemon Scarlet has a counterpart called Pokemon Violet. They were announced in February 2022 and released in November 2022. They are the first titles in the ninth generation of the Pokemon Series. We tried Pokemon Violet before and gave you our overall experience.

Now it’s time to try Pokemon Scarlet and let you know our thoughts. Let’s get started:

Pokemon Scarlet: Overview

Pokemon Scarlet is a brand new open-world Pokemon game. It was released in November 2022 for the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch Roms. It lets you explore the vast Paldea region.

You can catch and train Pokémon, and battle other trainers. You do these all while uncovering hidden secrets and mysteries.

The Pokémon franchise has been around for over 25 years. They offered dozens of games under their belt. Pokemon Scarlet is part of the ninth generation of Pokémon games. It was developed by Game Freak and published by The Pokémon Company.

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet became one of the fastest-selling Pokémon games ever! They sold millions of copies within days of its release.

The critics and players also loved the freedom of exploring Paldea. We liked that we can explore it at our own pace. Each battle and challenge of Pokemon Scarlet brought its own kind of enjoyment. We found joy while playing the “Treasure Hunt” storyline. It was exclusive to Pokemon Scarlet.

Pokemon Scarlet: Storyline

Your story in Pokemon Scarlet starts as a new student at Naranja Academy. The story starts in the vibrant Paldea region. You quickly meet rival trainers like the energetic Nemona. She is here ready to push you to your limits.

In the Scarlet Academy, Professor Sada will invite you to join the “Treasure Hunt”. It’s a quest to uncover Paldea’s ancient history through artifacts and forgotten texts. Meanwhile, You will hear rumors swirl about powerful Titan Pokemon. The Titan Pokemon is connected to the region’s legends.

You will meet Juliana while exploring the ancient ruins and solving cryptic clues. Juliana Mischeivous Stunky and the Skuntank duo will be there to guide you.

Arven will need your help to confront these legendary Pokemon. Each Titan Pokemon has unique challenges. You need to take strategic battles and understand their connection to the land. Your victories will unclick their power.

Pokemon Scarlet is all about Paldea’s past. So, you must go deeper and uncover all of Paldea’s past secrets. Your choices throughout the journey influence how You can reveal this revelation.

The “Treasure Hunt” storyline lets you decide what ancient sites you want to explore. Your choices will impact the whole story of Pokemon Scarlet.

Pokemon Scarlet: Characters

Pokemon Scarlet and Pokemon Violet share the same important characters. They are the professors, gym leaders, elite four and champion, and other recurring characters. We have already introduced them in our Pokemon Violet Review. So, Let’s look at the Version exclusive characters.

Juliana Scarlet

Juliana Scarlet is an energetic student at the Naranja Academy. She is here to begin her Pokemon journey. you can choose them as playful and adventurous or analytical and serious-minded.

They adapt fast and are passionate about their work. They can also build a strong bond with their Pokemon. However, They can be inexperienced and may struggle with decision-making.

Image	Name	Strengths	Weaknesses	Role in Pokemon Scarlet
	Juliana Scarlet (Player Character)	Adaptable, passionate, eager to learn and explore	Inexperienced, may struggle with decision-making	Protagonist, tackles on Pokémon journey

Brassius

Brassius is the serene and Stoic Gym Leader of Levincia Gym. He specializes in Grass-type Pokemon. Brassius is a renowned botanist and master of intricate flower arrangements. He incorporates them into his strategic battles.

He can understand the nature and Pokemon. But he can be too rigid in his traditional approach.

Image	Name	Strengths	Weaknesses	Role in Pokemon Scarlet
	Brassius	Deep understanding of nature and Pokémon, strategic mind, calm demeanour	May be too rigid in a traditional approach, potentially underestimating unconventional strategies	Stoic Gym Leader, Grass-type Pokemon

Kofu

Kofu is a flamboyant and charismatic gym leader of Cortondo Gym. He is renowned for his fighting-type prowess.  He entertains crowds with acrobatic martial arts techniques and high-energy battles. Kofu is skilled at a martial art. He is a captivating showman and passionate about inspiring others.

Image	Name	Strengths	Weaknesses	Role in Pokemon Scarlet
	Kofu	Skilled martial artist, captivating showmanship, passionate about inspiring others	Prone to theatrics overshadowing strategic depth, susceptible to flattery or ego challenges	Gym Leader (Cortondo Gym), Fighting-type specialist

Poppy

Poppy is a fierce and competitive Gym leader of Aldoenada Gym. She specializes in Ground-type Pokemon. Poppy is a former professional athlete.

She’s known for demanding training methods and pushing her opponents to their limits. She is physically powerful, determined, and disciplined.

Image	Name	Strengths	Weaknesses	Role in Pokemon Scarlet
	Poppy	Physically powerful, determined, disciplined, instills respect through strength and perseverance.	Overly harsh training methods can demotivate weaker opponents, might prioritize results over sportsmanship.	Gym Leader (Alfornada Gym), Ground-type specialist.

Arven

We have already talked about Arven in our Pokemon Violet review. Arvin is a mysterious student at Naranja Academy. He is deeply invested in researching  Herba Mystica and its connection to Pokémon from the past. He holds a cryptic secret and avoids close relationships due to it.

Arven is Intelligent, passionate about research, and possesses unique knowledge of the past.

Image	Name	Strengths	Weaknesses	Role in Pokemon Scarlet
	Arven	Intelligent, passionate about research, possesses unique knowledge of the past	Secrecy hinders trust and collaboration, struggles to open up, potentially burdened by past	Student researcher, connected to Herba Mystica and Pokémon from the past

Mela

Mela is a rebellious and fiery student at Naranja Academy. She is passionate about Fire-type Pokémon. She challenges authority figures and established traditions. Mela loves seeking adventure beyond the typical Gym Leader path.

She is an independent, strong-willed, skilled Pokémon trainer. She is also unafraid to forge her path.

Image	Name	Strengths	Weaknesses	Role in Pokemon Scarlet
	Mela	Independent, strong-willed, skilled trainer, unafraid to forge her own path	Rebelliousness can lead to impulsive decisions, disregard for authority might create conflict	Student, Fire-type enthusiast, challenges traditional Gym Leader path

Stunky & Skuntak

Stunky and Skuntak are a mischievous Skunk duo notorious for causing trouble in Mesagoza. They keep the city on its toes with their foul stench and prankster ways.

They are clever and skilled at using their stench for defence and mischief. They always work as a team for effectiveness.

Image	Name	Strengths	Weaknesses	Role in Pokemon Scarlet
	Stunky & Skuntank	Clever, cunning, skilled at using stench, teamwork strengthens them	Impulsive, easily distracted, pranks can cause harm, potential conflict with authority	Mischievous duo, troublemakers in Mesagoza

Professor Sada

An energetic and passionate archaeologist leading the “Treasure Hunt” storyline. She believes exploring Paldea’s past holds the key to a brighter future.

She is investigating the mysterious Great Crater of Paldea, Area Zero. She will also task you with nursing the legendary Pokemon Koraidon or Miraidon back to health.

Image	Name	Strengths	Weaknesses	Role in Pokemon Scarlet
	Professor Sada	Energetic, passionate archaeologist, believes in exploring the past	Can be impulsive, focused on past at expense of present	Lead researcher, guides players on “Treasure Hunt” storyline

Hassel

Hassel is a restaurant owner in Pokemon Scarlet. He helps the players understand Paldean Cuisine. He is a skilled chef and passionate about food and culture. But sometimes Hassel gets competitive and easily frustrated. He also holds grudges a lot.

Image	Name	Strengths	Weaknesses	Role in Pokemon Scarlet
	Hassel	Skilled chef, passionate about food and culture	Competitive, easily frustrated, holds grudges	Restaurant owner, helps players understand Paldean cuisine

Dendra

Dendra is known for her Kindness in this game. She loves plants and Pokemon. Dendra is a nursery owner and provides players with Pokemon and information.

Sometimes, she can be timid and easily flustered. She also lacks confidence.

Image	Name	Strengths	Weaknesses	Role in Pokemon Scarlet
	Dendra	Kindhearted, loves plants and Pokémon	Timid, easily flustered, lacks confidence	Nursery owner, provides players with Pokémon and information

Salvatore

Salvatore is an Experienced sailor and knowledgeable about the sea. He is the Ferry captain and transports players across the region. You will see him guiding you in the sea. Sometimes, he can be stubborn. He always sets in his ways and rejects new ideas.

Image	Name	Strengths	Weaknesses	Role in Pokemon Scarlet
	Salvatore	Experienced sailor, knowledgeable about the sea	Stubborn, set in his ways, dismissive of new ideas	Ferry captain, transports players across the region

Saguaro

Saguaro is a musician, who hosts events across Paldea. He is very charismatic and enjoys performing music. However, he can be self-absorbed and prioritise fame over genuine connection.

Image	Name	Strengths	Weaknesses	Role in Pokemon Scarlet
	Saguaro	Charismatic, enjoys performing music	Can be self-absorbed, prioritizes fame over genuine connection	Musician, hosts events across Paldea drive_spreadsheetExport to Sheets

Pokemon Scarlet: Gameplay

Pokemon Scarlet is an open-world adventure. So you can explore the world and do whatever you want. We loved the challenges and side-quests of Pokemon Scarlet. It will give you a traditional Pokemon Vibe with modern graphics and new characters.

Challenges:

• Open-world freedom: You can roam freely in the open-word Paldea. It’s a vibrant world with various environments.
• Scaling difficulty: The early stages were easy. But gyms and will encounters were difficult to finish. It added a thriller to our enjoyment.
• Crafting and materials: We love that they allow you to craft materials. You can gather those materials and items to compete in the battle.

Battles:

• Traditional turn-based combat: Traditional combat looked familiar and enjoyable. They added the Terastal phenomenon for a dynamic strategy.
• Gym Leaders: It was a challenging battle for us. Each challenge has unique trams and battle styles.
• Team Yell encounters: These trainers interrupt with quick, often predictable battles. You can practice and get rewards.

Quests:

• Treasure Hunt Project: The main story arc is engaging. It offers open-ended exploration and diverse objectives. Sometimes, the players can be unsure about their goals. It’s because the hunting lacks a central narrative.
• Side Quests: You will get numerous side quests. These side quests are engaging and rewarding. However, the objectives can be unclear and repetitive.
• Post-game content: The world remains open for exploration after the main story. You will get additional challenges and Legendaries to discover.

Pokemon Scarlet: Technical Overview

The open world of Paldea is vibrant and full of detail. We loved how it showcases diverse environments and stunning vistas. Character and Pokémon models are also well-animated. Their style sometimes looks more outdated than other video games.

The game runs smoothly on the Nintendo Switch. It has minimal frame drops even in densely populated areas or during intense battles.

We find the soundtrack catchy and memorable. It perfectly captures the atmosphere of each location and battle. Sound effects are crisp and impactful. It allows you to engage in the Pokémon world.

The Terastal phenomenon adds a strategic layer to battles. Meanwhile, the open-world exploration and crafting system offers new ways to experience the Pokémon formula.

You can still roam in the world after finishing the main storyline. We loved the additional Legendaries and challenges to discover.

We also saw some shortcomings while playing Pokemon Scarlet. These are some occasional glitches like clipping or texture pop-in. The inventory system can feel bulky. Especially when dealing with large numbers of items and materials.

Gathering materials for crafting can become boring. Especially for items needed in competitive battling. The open world’s freedom can overwhelm new players. Also, the lack of clear quest markers or paths can confuse the players.

Pokemon Scarlet Updates 2024

Recently, Pokemon Scarlet and Violate update 3.0.1 brought you some amazing features.

Fixes:

• Dragon Cheer bug: Remember how your Pokemon kept writing even after switching out? That’s history now!
• Inkay freeze: Leveling up Inkay with items won’t lock your game anymore. Phew!
• Stuck in the League Club Room? Not anymore! You can finally escape the Item Printer’s grasp.
• Other pesky bugs: Gone! The update squashed various smaller glitches to make your journey smoother.

improvements:

• Crafting TM223 (Metal Sound) is easier: You no longer need a Pokemon only found in Violet! This item now crafts without Shieldon Claws.

Bonus:

• There might be another big update coming with a new Mythical Pokemon! But that’s just a rumour for now.

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Starter Evolutions

In the Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Starter Evolutions, you can choose either Pokemon Scarlet or Violet. These two Pokemon will set the tone for your entire adventure. But what about the side Pokemons going to evolve into?

Sprigatito:

• Floragato (Level 16): This sleek feline stands on its hind legs. It also has floral markings on its body.
• Meowscarada (Level 36): Meowscarada is elegant and theatrical. It has a flowing cape and mask-like markings.

Fuecoco:

• Crocalor (Level 16): This fiery crocodile gain develops fiery pepper patterns on its body. Don’t underestimate its bite. Its Fire-type attacks become more potent.
• Skeledirge (Level 36): This one is Inspired by skeletal mariachi musicians. Skeledirge is a fiery rocker with a skull guitar!

Quaxly:

• Quaxwell (Level 16): This dapper duck loses its pompadour. But it gains slicked-back hair and impressive eyebrows. It stands taller on human-like legs.
• Quaquaval (Level 36): Quaquaval sheds its blue hues for vibrant red and black feathers. It shows Fighting/Water typing with powerful dance moves and water-based attacks.

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet DLC

The title of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet DLC is “The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero.” It’s a thrilling two-part adventure beyond the familiar Paldea region. Pokemon Scarlet and Violet DLC was released in December 2023. You will get a lot of new content for trainers.

Two Parts, One Treasure:

• Part 1: The Teal Mask: You will start on a school trip to the distant land of Kitakami. There you’ll encounter the enigmatic “Treasure of Herba Mystica”. You must uncover the secrets behind the region’s fascinating folklore.
• Part 2: The Indigo Disk: Trade school uniforms for an underwater exchange program at the prestigious Blueberry Academy. This unique school is beneath the ocean waves. It focuses on intense Pokémon battles.

You will discover exciting new Pokemon including legendaries like the masked Orichَلcoridon (Scarlet) and the techno-organic Miraidon (Violet). Moreover, the Pokemon Scarlet and Violet DLC offers expanded regions, fresh stories, and engaging activities.

Pokemon Scarlet: Our Overall Experience

Pokemon Scarlet was a very interesting game for us. We enjoyed the open-world freedom. We can Explore Paldea at your own pace, tackle gyms in any order, and choose your path. All of these features added excitement to this game.

The ninth generation introduced memorable creatures like Fuecoco, Lechonk, and Sprigatito. It was amazing to see these new Pokemon Designs.

We enjoyed the story that focuses on interpersonal relationships. The story was enjoyable and kept us engaged. We especially loved the Auto-healing Pokemon after battles. Other gamers also appreciated it.

The performance was smooth but came with some lackings. While playing it, we saw frequent frame drops, pop-ins, and occasional crashes. We also felt the story was rushed and could be long for a deep connection.

Overall, Pokemon Scarlet will be the video game you would play with your siblings and friends. It’s a fresh story with new Pokemon designs and maps. It will definitely not bore you.

Final Thoughts

Finally, we have done the Pokemon Scarlet review. It was an enjoyable moment for us. We loved the new Pokemon Designs and challenges. Besides the initial excitement, the final verdict is mixed.

We loved the bold innovation and story themes. But it was also lacking some elements and felt repetitive. However, you should try Pokemon Scarlet if you love open-world adventures and battles.