Though there are plenty of popular JRPGs, none come close to the widespread recognition thatPokemonenjoys. Even genre titans likeFinal FantasyandDragon Questpale in comparison to the Game Freak IP, as it is currently the most successful fictional media property in the world. Its legacy spans almost 25 years and numerous iterations, each being revered by fans across a plethora of Nintendo devices. That’s not to say it’s a perfect franchise, however, as it has typically leaned on a tired, repetitive formula. This resulted inPokemon Legends: ArceusandPokemon ScarletandViolettrying to do something different by presenting players with open worlds to explore.
It has been a rocky few years for the franchise, butPokemon’s failures can be used for the benefit of others.Ni no Kunidraws some obvious similarities to the juggernaut, and as a third game had been rumored for a while, it’s in a prime position to capitalize onPokemon’s mistakes.Ni no Kuni 2was a significant departure from the first in terms of story and combat, but the prominence ofNi no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witchover its successor is evident.Ni no Kuni 3could take some cues fromPokemon ScarletandVioletto have an even bigger footprint in the west, especially given Game Freak’s latest outing had plenty of blemishes that were obvious for all to see.
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Open-world game design is immensely popularfor plenty of genres. From shooters to adventure titles, having a large, non-linear space to explore has proven to be an effective way to keep players' attention if handled well.Pokemon’s linearity was once part of its charm, but as technology advanced, graphics improved, and preferences shifted, the need for change was evident.Pokemon SwordandShieldfelt, in many ways, like a relic of a time long past, but whenPokemon Legends: ArceusandScarletandVioletshifted there were some significant growing pains.
Ni no Kuniborrows a lot fromPokemon, merging the best of traditional JRPG design with collecting small monsters and evolving them to do battle against wild enemies.Pokemon ScarletandViolethaphazardly deployed an open world that some felt was empty overall, butNi no Kuni 3could build on what the first two games in its series did while implementing a more modern open world that makes stumbling across new areas feel like a genuine discovery.
Pokemon Shows That Hardware Matters
Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witchreleased in 2013 in the west, but it saw a remaster in 2019 with updated visuals and a smoother frame rate. That is, if players opted to buy the PlayStation 4 version.The Nintendo Switch was also given a port ofNi no Kuni, and while its Studio Ghibli visuals stood the test of time, it was proof of the Switch’s limitations.Ni no Kuni 3is unlikely to be too taxing on modern hardware, as its art style and lighting is far from realistic, but fitting it on the Switch may prove to be difficult.
Pokemon ScarletandVioletreopened the topic of the Switch’s hardware thanks to inconsistent performance and presentation. This may not have been a result of the Switch itself, but it calls into question its ability to house games that were designed for other platforms, too.Ni no Kuni 3has to learn fromPokemon ScarletandVioletby understanding the limitations of the hardware, playing to its strengths and avoiding what it doesn’t do well. The series has plenty in common with Game Freak’s titan franchise, but it has the potential to be even better by steering clear of the pitfalls thatScarletandVioletweren’t able to overcome.
PokemonScarletandVioletare available now on Nintendo Switch.
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