Pokemon Scarlet & Violet Revolutionized on Nintendo Switch 2 with Technical Advancements

Oh boy, where do I even start with this? So, I remember when Pokemon Scarlet & Violet came out on the Nintendo Switch, and honestly, it was a bit of a mess. Like, not the kind of mess where your room looks like a tornado hit it, but more like a half-baked cake that’s just… not right. You still enjoy it, but you know it could be better, you know?

Back in 2022, I might’ve called it a “super-effective new vision” for the series, but man, the performance was… well, not great. Picture this: windmills moving like they’ve had a bit too much to drink, and those cliffs in the distance looking like they came straight out of an old-school Nintendo 64 game. Scarlet & Violet had all the right vibes but seemed stuck in some weird time loop of bad graphics.

Anyway—fast forward three years… The Switch 2 update is here, and it’s like a breath of fresh pixelated air. I’m calling it a barnstormer—are barnstormers still a thing? Not sure if anyone actually storms barns anymore, but anyway. The folks over at The Pokemon Company gave me a sneak peek at this shiny new version. I was one of the loud complainers before, but this update? Wow. Seriously, it’s like comparing night and day, apples and oranges, whatever else people compare that’s totally opposite.

They say frame rate isn’t a big deal, but uh, try playing on the original and then on the Switch 2. It’s like eating vanilla ice cream and then finding out chocolate exists. Friend of the site Joe, he’s in Serebii’s video preview, and he’s like, “Yeah, not gonna happen,” when it comes to going back.

The visuals? Crisp as that first snow in winter—you know, the kind that crunches underfoot. And it’s not just about showing off. The game feels different now, in a good way. Scarlet & Violet was all about being footloose and fancy-free—blast from the past, right? They were like a mash-up of Skyrim’s openness and Breath of the Wild’s adventure, but the performance… yikes. With everything now smooth as butter, it finally feels right.

Interestingly—have you ever tried to spot those faint Pokémon rolling across fields? They’re everywhere now, like they finally decided to wake up. And those frustrating delays? Gone. Menus that used to lag are now as snappy as a twig underfoot. Even something small like Pokémon Box icons springing to life—it makes a difference.

Here’s the scoop, though: it’s not perfect. You still get those flowers and bits popping in like they’ve got a reservation to crash your game, but whatever. The art style still feels a bit loose, like it needs a nip and tuck. But hey, HDR helps Paldea sparkle, so there’s that.

Overall, it’s a win. This is what Scarlet & Violet should’ve been from the get-go. Feels like the slickest main-line Pokémon game yet, and that’s saying something. Playing at 60fps feels almost… risky? Like you’re breaking some rule. But this is it—this is how it should be played. Now, with good performance on board, I’m pumped for this year’s Pokemon Legends Z-A. Can’t wait!