Nintendo’s handheld systems have always been the home of the mainlinePokemongames. Even when the Switch family of systems took the place of handheld systems as a hybrid console, thePokemonseries followed. With each new handheld, at least one new generation ofPokemonis introduced to players, featuring a new region with its own regional Pokemon.
Now that the Nintendo Switch 2 has launched, fans of thePokemonfranchise can expect to see more games made specifically for the console. The Switch 2 is already receiving a spin-off title,Pokemon Legends: Z-Awill release soon, which will also be available on the original Switch, but Game Freak has traditions to uphold. This includes the release of the next generation on the new platform, but there is one other tradition that cannot be broken: aPokemonremake for every handheld console.
Pokemon Black and White Remakes Need To Launch On Switch 2
Every Nintendo Handheld Has Its Own Pokemon Remake
As well as the mainline series, remakes of pastPokemongenerations have also featured exclusively on handhelds. More specifically, with each major handheld release since the Game Boy Advance, there has always been a remake of a previous mainline title. Some fans have attempted to find apattern in the release dates ofPokemonremakes, but there is too much variety to be able to accurately predict a release window. All that is certain is that aPokemonremake has been available on each successive handheld, and this is, thankfully, unlikely to stop with the Switch 2.
After the addition ofPokemon Brilliant DiamondandShining Pearlto the Switch library in 2021, remakes of Generation 5’sPokemon BlackandWhiteare very likely to be next. It’s unknown whether these will release during the continued lifespan of Gen 9 or if they will launch after the next generation, but if tradition is followed, fans can be certain that they will release within the Switch 2’s life. There are hints that it could even happen very soon, withcredible leaks indicating thatBlackandWhiteremakescould arrive as early as this year.
Pokemon Remakes Make Use of Hardware Improvements
The hardware that eachPokemonremake releases on is an important signifier of the progress made between each release. Using Generation 4 as an example, the original versions ofPokemon DiamondandPearlwere developed for the Nintendo DS, the company’s first handheld focused on displaying 3D graphics. However,3D was used very sparingly inDiamondandPearl, only making full use of the handheld’s capabilities in the third Gen 4 title,Pokemon Platinum. The remakes,Brilliant DiamondandShining Pearl, retain a 3D look throughout the game while emulating the stylization found in the original, serving as a true upgrade to fit the Switch’s hardware.
Following this, a remake of theBlackandWhitegames should elevate its strong points to show how far the series has come 15 years later. Generation 5 improved uponDiamondandPearlby giving the Pokemon sprites smooth and unique animations. In its recent titles,Game Freak’s animations have been criticizedas looking stiff and lacking personality, the complete opposite of Gen 5. In a Switch 2 remake of these games, the developer could turn perceptions around by giving the animations of the Pokemon more life than ever before.
What Gen 5 Remakes Could Be Like On Switch 2
For the majority ofPokemonremakes, they follow the style presented in the most recent generation of the time. This started with the Generation 1 remakes,FireRedandLeafGreen, which were in line with Gen 3’sRubyandSapphire. By the time Gen 3 received its remakes, it included gameplay mechanics introduced in Gen 6 likeMega Evolutions, differentiating the remakes from the original entirely, resulting in a new way to play through the classic story.Brilliant DiamondandShining Pearlstrayed away from the formula somewhat, borrowing some ideas from the then-latest generation – Gen 8’sPokemon SwordandShield– but using a style reminiscent of Gen 4.
WhetherPokemon BlackandWhite’s remakes will release after Gen 9 or 10, there is a chance that the games will replicate their visual style, but after the Gen 4 remakes, it’s very possible that they could be more evocative of the original Gen 5 titles. Instead of blending in with the most modern generation’s aesthetics,Gen 5 remakes could return to 2.5D, placing 2D character sprites within a 3D environment.
This could be done while still increasing the game’s graphical fidelity when compared to the originals. Higher resolution sprites in environments with a higher polygon count could serve the remakes well. Another approach could be to take inspiration from Square Enix’s recent HD-2D gamesTriangle Strategyand the upcomingFinal Fantasy Tactics: Ivalice Chronicles, maintaining the classic look of the original while smoothing out the landscapes and adding modern lighting effects that are now possible on the Switch 2.
One downside to most of thePokemonremakes is that they omit the content from the third game in each generation.Brilliant DiamondandShining Pearlwere the most overt examples of this, asPokemon Platinum’s expanded storyline is missing from these remakes. Generation 5 received direct sequels to its games.Pokemon Black 2andWhite 2were completely different experiencesto the originals, with their story following on fromBlackandWhiteyears later. To really sell the idea of a Gen 5 remake, including the stories of the originals and their sequels could make a Switch 2 release the definitive edition.
Now that the Switch 2 has been released, thePokemonseries should stick to tradition and release the next remake on the console. The Switch 2 has a long life ahead of it, giving the Gen 5 remakes a lot of time to release, but considering recent leaks, more information could be seen at the upcomingPokemon Presents presentation on July 22. Even if this event doesn’t show remakes forPokemon BlackandWhite, fans should be able to hold onto the hope that the games will still release for the new platform at some point, so long as the tradition is not broken.
