Summary
Pokemonhas established itself as one of the biggest franchises under Nintendo across over 20 years of releases, and with the landmark success ofScarlet and Violetit doesn’t seem to be slowing down any time soon. Across a multitude of releases that span several consoles, players have explored the many regions of thePokemonworld as they have been introduced. From the original Kanto ofRed and Blueto the modern Paldea of the latest generation, the distinct setting of the series' regions has always served to define newPokemontitles.
Pokemonregions are a crucial part of each release’s identity, capable of showcasing what a new generation’s focuses are through the setting alone. For example, Hoenn’s vast bodies of water emphasized the nature-based conflict ofthe Weather Trio, while Sinnoh’s ancient ruins set up the cosmic scale drama of the Pokemon of Myth legendary trio. The strong character of aspects like Unova’s American influence or Alola’s own basis in Hawaii makes them highly memorable, but fewPokemontitles have let players step out of one region and into another.
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The Depth of Pokemon Games Featuring Multiple Regions
With the recent release of the first half ofScarlet and Violet’s The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero DLC inThe Teal Mask, players have ventured outside the Paldea region and into the new land of Kitakami. A more traditionally Japanese-inspired place when compared to Paldea and its similarities to Spain, Kitakami is implied to only be accessible via actual airplane flight.Sword and Shield’s DLC may have taken place on new islands of its own, but even those were just technically extensions of Galar. Kitakami has further set itself apart through the size of its map and its distinct aesthetic, but this isn’t the first time the franchise has benefited from inter-region travel.
A favorite generation of many fans due to its depth of content,Pokemon Gold and Silverfamously allowed for the exploration of the entire Kanto region in what is debatably far more than just a post-game. Becoming the champion of Johto’s Pokemon League would have sufficed, but Game Freak went the extra mile through a return to the land of the previous games. The remakesHeartGold and SoulSilvereven went on to recapture this experience, allowing that release to remain as one of the most definitivePokemonexperiences to date.
Future Pokemon Releases Deserve More Than One Region
Between circumstances such as the lack of a Battle Frontier inOmega Ruby and Alpha Sapphireand theDiamond and Pearlremakes not even includingPlatinum’s content, fans have essentially been getting the opposite of an extra region in some cases. Most mainline titles stay focused on one place, but new expansion content has inspired a promising trend for the future following The Teal Mask. Withrumors of newPokemon Black and Whitegamespotentially on the way, expanding the world to allow for the additional exploration of Sinnoh/Hisui for example would follow in the footsteps ofGold and Silver’s legacy.
Returning regions from previous games have the potential to bring the same Kanto post-game flair to futurePokemonreleases, butScarlet and Violet’s approach is also equally viable. As DLC expansions are likely to become a consistent presence in later titles, the introduction of a brand-new land like Kitakami could bring just as much value to games that typically end after becoming the Champion. Asthe latest region inPokemonfeatured in The Teal Mask continues to be explored by many players, the design of Gen 2 has proven itself to have stood the test of time.
