On some level, it makes sense that Pokemon Scarlet and Violet folded in the gameplay elements of Legends: Arceus (and by extension, the upcoming Pokemon Legends: Z-A). When it was released back in 2022, Arceus wasn't just financially successful, it was popular and appreciated by the fanbase and critics alike for taking steps to update a now very well-trodden formula. By blurring the lines between open world exploration and turn-based combat more than any Pokemon game had before, the first Pokemon Legends game felt fresh and innovative!
But when Scarlet and Violet came out, the influence of Legends was overpowering. There was a greater emphasis on throwing balls in the overworld, said world itself was redesigned to be more open, and the titanic time-displaced Pokemon felt reminiscent of the enraged Noble Pokemon from before. And again, I can see the logic of copying something successful, but I have to ask – what's the point in a spin-off series when the original games begin to mimic them?
