DiscoverTales from the Backlog191: Pokémon Scarlet and Violet (with Kate & Emily - No Small Games)
191: Pokémon Scarlet and Violet (with Kate & Emily - No Small Games)

191: Pokémon Scarlet and Violet (with Kate & Emily - No Small Games)

Update: 2025-11-12
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Modern Pokémon games are divisive, but rarely due to technical performance. Pokémon Scarlet and Violet (Game Freak, 2022) released in an embarrassing state, and are hoping for a comeback with their recent Switch 2 editions. So now that the bugs are squashed and the framerate is stable, what kind of game was lurking under all of those issues? Listen in to find out.



Guest info: Kate Hunter (she/any) and Emily Merritt (she/her)





TIMESTAMPS




  • 0:00 Title Card

  • 0:16 Intros

  • 5:53 Our Personal Histories with Pokémon

  • 12:52 Opening Thoughts About Pokémon Scarlet & Violet

  • 21:44 World and Story Setup

  • 36:07 Nonlinear Design

  • 42:50 Is the Story Actually Good, or Are We Grading On a Curve?

  • 54:25 Visuals/Presentation

  • 1:01:37 Open World Design

  • 1:17:28 New Quick Battle System

  • 1:22:28 Combat, Team Building and Challenge?

  • 1:41:08 Closing Thoughts and Recommendations

  • 1:47:16 No Small Games

  • 1:54:07 Spoiler Wall and Patron Thank-Yous

  • 1:56:55 Spoiler Section- Our Teams, Area Zero, Ending

  • 2:28:06 Spoiler Section- DLCs



Music used in the episode:




  • Title Screen (Junichi Masuda, Go Ichinose)

  • Home (Junichi Masuda)

  • Poco Path (Junichi Masuda)

  • Battle! (Trainer Battle) (Junichi Masuda)

  • Area Zero (GAME FREAK)

  • Pokémon Center (Junichi Masuda)

  • Welcome to the Paldea Region! (Minako Adachi, Toby Fox)



Check out Dave on Geeks & Grounds in November and December- https://www.geeksandgrounds.com/

Check out Dave on the Character Issues podcast- https://www.buzzsprout.com/1306474

Check out Dave on Nostalgium Arcanum- https://nostalgiumarcanum.fireside.fm/



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Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures

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191: Pokémon Scarlet and Violet (with Kate & Emily - No Small Games)

191: Pokémon Scarlet and Violet (with Kate & Emily - No Small Games)

Dave Jackson