Pokémon Scarlet and Violet

Broadly, I have a lot of problems with Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, but goddamn, I’m not exaggerating when I say it is all worth trucking through to reach the games’ ending, which stands out as one of the most incredible moments of the franchise’s long history. Game Freak got Nier in my Pokémon

Much of Scarlet and Violet is some pretty typical Pokémon about the power of friendship and contextualizing its open world as students “finding their treasure” in the great big region of Paldea. But as you spend your time roaming around this island, you’re always circling around a crater in the middle of the map. You don’t know much about what’s down there beyond that Professor Sada or Turo is conducting research down there. For much of the game, the professor is an enigmatic force that checks in with you over a Zoom call every now and then. This is already suspicious because the professor is usually a pillar of your Pokémon journey, but nothing could have prepared me for what I’d find when I finally went down the crater and entered Area Zero.

For a lot of these endings, we’re going full spoilers, but Scarlet and Violet’s ending is so good and a lot of people dropped off these games because they’re technical messes. Instead of explaining what happens in Area Zero, I’d rather just tell you that if you haven’t finished one of these games, it is absolutely worth it to see what’s down the crater. If I’d played this as a kid, it would have completely altered my brain chemistry. It stands head and shoulders above almost any other moment in the series. Though Pokemon Legends: Arceus’ final act is in the running, as well. — Kenneth Shepard

Buy Pokémon Scarlet: Amazon | Best Buy | GameStop | Target
Buy Pokémon Violet: Amazon | Best Buy | GameStop | Target