Sure thing! Here goes:
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So, here’s the thing. I almost feel bad for the original Nintendo Switch version of Pokemon Scarlet & Violet. I mean, it’s not like I’m talking about a total flop — there are games out there that are a complete mess. But this one? It was just… ugh, held back because of how it ran. Seriously.
When I reviewed it back in 2022, I kind of raved about this “super-effective new vision” for Pokemon but couldn’t help grumbling about the performance. Like, picture windmills moving in stop-motion and cliffs straight out of a Nintendo 64 game. Who knew that brilliant design would get tangled up like that?
Fast forward three years, and bam, we’ve got the Switch 2 update coming. I’m calling it a barnstormer, just you wait. Scarlet & Violet had a killer design back then, but now? On the Switch 2? It’ll finally have the chops to back it up.
The Pokemon Company let me sneak a peek at the patched version on Switch 2. Honestly, it’s like night and day. And to anyone thinking frame rates don’t matter — yeah, give this a whirl and then go back to the original. Good luck with that. As Joe from Serebii says in that video peep below, it’s impossible.
Catch it on YouTube.
Now the game looks crisp, shooting for higher resolution and a smooth 60fps (most of the time, anyway). So long, slideshow Pokemon! Even those pesky windmills are behaving.
But don’t get it twisted. This isn’t just some geek boast. The game itself feels different now. Scarlet & Violet were designed to be carefree, sprawling — think open-world vibes from Skyrim to Breath of the Wild, but it had this drag because of performance issues. Whipping the camera around without the screen stuttering redefines the whole experience.
Beyond that fuzzy “game feel” upgrade, gameplay’s taken a leap too. More wild Pokemon popping up. No more lag when a wild creature appears. Menus fast as lightning now. Those pokey Pokemon Box icons? Bang, they’re there.
Check out this image, folks. Look at this!
Little changes, but they all matter. Battles used to drag because some moves would crash the frame rate. Now they flow. Not everything’s perfect, though. Details still vanish and reappear as you dart along at 60fps. Annoying flowers popping in aren’t the greatest look. And let’s be honest, the art style? Could still use a facelift. HDR does make Paldea’s colors pop, though!
Overall, it’s a win. This is what Scarlet & Violet should’ve always been. Probably the best performing 3D Pokemon title out there right now. It feels kind of naughty playing Pokemon at 60fps, like I’m breaking some rules. But here we are. This has just cranked up my excitement for this year’s Pokemon Legends Z-A through the roof.
Can you feel the hype?
