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The development cycle for Pokemon Scarlet and Violet is officially over, and Game Freak is already teasing the next main series entry as the long-awaited remakes of the cult-favorite Gen 5 games, Pokemon Black and White. There are a lot of reasons to be excited about Black and White coming to the modern era, but if they are indeed coming in the near future, there are some things Game Freak needs to make sure are included in order for these games to be as good as they can be.
1. More Triple Battles, More Rotation Battles
Pokemon Black and White followed the natural progression from Gen 3’s addition of double battling to introduce triple and rotation battles. These battles are complex, chaotic, and oftentimes a lot of fun, but they were tragically underutilized in their own introductory generation and have been all but forgotten ever since. Gen 5 remakes are the chance to bring these battle styles back and do them correctly. Don’t just shove them off on some optional NPC fights this time, Game Freak; they need to be an essential part of the game.
2. The Return of Seasonal Cycles
Pokemon games have featured the passage of time with tangible effects on gameplay since Gen 2. The day-to-night and weather cycles are fun and should also remain. Still, Gen 5’s addition of seasonal cycles that changed the entire look of the world depending on when someone was playing was truly next level. Seasonal cycles took an already beautiful overworld and gave it an added layer of depth that kept players returning all year round to see the changes in the scenery and the Pokemon.
3. The Return of the Difficulty Setting
Fans have been asking for difficulty settings in Pokemon for almost as long as it’s been a series. Game Freak has effectively always turned its nose up at the idea, but for one part of one generation, those cries were heard. The challenge mode in Pokemon Black 2 and White 2 isn’t perfect, and many fans have criticized it for not fully living up to its title, but at least it’s something. If it’s included in these remakes, it needs to be available from the beginning, as well, not as a bonus once the game’s already been completed. Is it so hard to put a mildly higher difficulty curve as an optional difficulty selection, Game Freak?
4. Overworld Pokemon (Begone Random Encounters)
At this point, the only gamers who truly miss running through a cave hitting Woobats and Joltiks and Roggenrolas every few steps are the utmost nostalgic, while most recognize the modern addition of overworld encounters as being the far less tedious way to go. The fact that Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl reverted back to random encounters bodes poorly for the idea of Game Freak updating antiquated mechanics from Black and White for the current gen. Frankly, Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl‘s existence, in general, is a bad sign of where these Gen 5 remakes may go, but Pokemon fans will never stop dreaming.
5. Pokemon Black 2 and White 2 Implementation
For many fans, Pokemon Black 2 and White 2 are just as good, if not better, than the original Gen 5 titles. It would really be a shame to see these remakes go past without at least the innovations that these games had, improving the Black and White experience and being implemented in some way. Ideally, these remakes would be a bundle, allowing playthroughs of both the stories from Black and White along with Black 2 and White 2, but that’s likely just wishful thinking. Again, the fact that Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl added none of the amazing Pokemon Platinum content bodes poorly for the idea of any of this happening, but maybe Game Freak has learned a thing or two from those games, and maybe there’s a vested interest in one-upping Palworld now.
