Given thatPokemon ScarletandVioletwere series firsts for fully open-world games, the resulting shortfalls and oversights in its design have created all-new problems for shiny hunting trainers that go beyond missing jingles to outside the games' literal boundaries. Ever since their launch,PokemonScarletandViolethave been hit hard by criticism over the games' poor design and optimization, made infamous by glitches shared across social media concerning basic performance issues such as lagging frame rates and bad lighting. Though these issues are bad enough on their own, it’s also meant thatPokemon’stradition of shiny hunting has also suffered.
Even before factoring inScarletandViolet’stechnical problems, the introduction of certainnew Gen 9 Pokemon made shiny hunting even harder, whether due to indiscernible color differences or the rarity of multiple forms. Made worse by the fact that the once familiar and vital sound that played when a shiny Pokemon appeared inPokemon Legends: Arceuswas now gone inScarletandViolet, shiny hunting in the open world was becoming increasingly difficult. But with technical issues from poor performance and Pokemon spawning out-of-bounds such as behind walls or in rocks, it has since become a near-impossible and seemingly unfair challenge.
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A Missing Sound Was Just The First Shiny Hunting Concern
When it had been confirmed thatScarletandVioletwould be taking the next step beyondLegends: Arceusin introducing fully open-world games design toPokemon, many assumed thatthe lessons learned fromPokemonLegends: Arceuscould help make sure the upcoming Gen 9 games could succeed. But certain features that had helped makeLegends: Arceusa favorite among players were nowhere to be seen inScarletandViolet, with the lack of a shiny sound being the most keenly felt among shiny hunters. Though it may have been a small feature, it proved to be an essential part of the greater whole in its open-world transition.
But the challenges facing shiny hunting inScarletandVioletwent beyond just a missing shiny sound. With more time to play around withScarletandViolet, other issues facing shiny hunting started to become more apparent to which a missing shiny sound pales in comparison.Scarlet and Violet’s performance issuessuch as bad lighting making shiny Pokemon even harder to spot or frame rate drops and Pokemon spawning during inopportune moments like picnics meant players missed out on shiny Pokemon because of inadequate game design.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Spawns Are Major Shortfalls
However, while it could be argued that Game Freak is only trying to make shiny hunting more challenging forScarletandVioletplayers as some call forfuturePokemongames to make shinies rareagain, there are other issues that are far less excusable. For instance, a recent update set to patch multiple bugs has made some major changes with new limits on Pokemon spawn rates, something which directly impacts players hunting for shinies. Though Mass Outbreaks and other current shiny hunting methods can bypass this for most Pokemon fans, others won’t be so lucky, especially if they’re completing a collection or after their favorites.
Worse still, with a limited spawn rate comes another issue that, likeScarletandViolet’sglitches, was shared via social media and shows the moment during RyanWasTaken’s live stream when they finally spot a shiny Frigibax outside the game’s boundaries. Since it’s highly unlikely that this was a rare one-off givenScarletandViolet’strack record for buggy gameplay, othershiny Pokemon could be spawning out-of-boundswhere the player can neither see nor even reach them. So even with a keen eye and the best luck imaginable, shortfalls in game design could still scupper a hunt for a shiny Pokemon.
Pokemon ScarletandVioletare available now for Nintendo Switch.
MORE:Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Update is a Huge Blow to Shiny Hunting
