Thanks to technical upgrades, Pokémon Scarlet & Violet are completely transformed on the Nintendo Switch 2.

I’m sitting here, thinking about how some games just can’t catch a break. You know, like when you’re running late and every single traffic light decides it’s time to turn red? That’s sort of what happened with the original Nintendo Switch release of Pokemon Scarlet & Violet. Not saying it was a disaster – plenty of games are out there, stuttering like a bad WiFi connection. But man, this one really had potential, and what we got was… well, not quite it.

Back in 2022, I called the game a “super-effective new vision.” Catchy, right? But dang, those graphics were like something out of a time machine set to the late 90s. Remember the windmills that looked like a flipbook animation? Yeah, I still have nightmares. Scarlet & Violet had all the charm and creativity, but, come on, they deserved better.

Jump forward. Now it’s 2025, and Scarlet & Violet have gotten a facelift for the Switch 2. And what a facelift! I’d call it a barnstormer update, if people still said that. Maybe it’s me getting overexcited? But really, if you were impressed in 2022, just wait. The game finally runs like a dream.

Here’s the kicker: The Pokemon Company invited me for a sneak peek at this upgraded version. Honestly, I thought they’d given me a call by mistake. Given my loud whining about the original’s performance, you’d think they’d want to keep me away. But no! And let me just say, wow. The difference? Like night and day.

For those out there who argue graphics and frame rates aren’t that big of a deal, I challenge you. Play it on Switch 2, then go back to the original version. Trust me, you’ll be longing for the slickness of the update.

Not to say it’s all about the visuals. The way this game feels now changes everything. Scarlet & Violet seemed like they wanted to be playful and free, mixing the best of open-world magic with Pokemon flair. Once, performance issues yanked you out of the immersion every five seconds. Now? Smooth as butter. Relatively speaking, of course.

And let’s chatter about gameplay. With the enhancements, you see more wild Pokemon roaming and gathering in groups. Before, there was always this tiny, annoying delay when a wild Pokemon showed up. Now, gone. Menus are zippier, and Pokemon Box sprite icons? They pop up like little fireworks.

Quality of life details make a bigger impact than you’d think. Battles? They’re fast-paced and thrilling again. Once, a flashy move could drop the frame rate faster than you can say “Pika pi.” Now it’s all rock solid. But hey, nothing’s perfect. The detail level’s still a bit too intense – flowers and tiny objects keep appearing out of nowhere, which is awkward. And I’m seeing the art style could use some TLC now that the game runs smoothly.

Despite these quirks, it feels like a triumph. Finally, we’re playing the Scarlet & Violet we were meant to have. And thinking about the future, maybe all main-line Pokemon games could follow suit. I mean, playing at 60fps feels like I’m getting away with something sneaky. With these changes, I’m seriously hyped for whatever’s next, like this year’s rumored Pokemon Legends Z-A. Can’t wait!