Bold text means we can still realistically expect for these to be in a hypothetical Sinnoh remake if that's the next game that happens
(
Italic is a maybe)
FROM EVERY GENERATION SINCE IV
-
New Pokémon not from DPPt (? we do know the selection will be limited, but the thing is that - unless they manage to include every Pokémon that's already in SwSh, but even as a design choice, I'm not confident that they will)
* To elaborate on this... if they limit the selection at all, they're definitely not going to do that by cutting Pokémon that were already in DPPt, and 493 is already more than Sword and Shield had. I don't think we need the complete National Pokédex or anything for the remakes to be good. But that said, I do think the dex cuts are at least
a bigger hit to remakes than they are to proper new entries, and I
am afraid of the possibility of pulling an LGPE and having nothing more than what was in the originals but a Mythical or two.
Melmetal was good. I love Melmetal. But it's not better than Pokémon 152 through 807 combined.
* For comparison: if this were the last 3DS game, we would be guaranteed at least everything up to Zeraora.
-
New battle styles (? every Generation has had some of these - Triple, Rotation, Horde, SOS and Battle Royal - but we're currently back to only the formats that existed in Generation IV, plus Max Raid battles, minus Multi Battles from the majority of the game, including places like the Battle Tower... and they're apparently super clunky for PVP, too)
* For comparison: if this were the last 3DS game, we would have at least SOS battles (like ORAS had Hordes from XY) and proper support for Multi Battles, as well as possibly Battle Royals in some form, although these were more Alola-specific.
-
Graphical improvements and UI improvements
* This is happening.
-
More PC box space
* This is happening.
-
New moves, Abilities, items and battle balance changes
* This is happening, although a few have been lost relative to Generation VII.
-
Improvements on the Battle Tower clone (yeah, this is absolutely not happening now)
* This is a big one for me. I know everyone talks about battle facilities being on a decline in quantity and diversity, but the Battle Tower clone itself has been getting better and better every Generation!
BW gave us the division of Normal Mode and Super Mode, so losing your streak didn't mean going right back to the unevolved tutorial opponents; XY made it more approachable and streamlined, as well as more convenient to earn BP; ORAS dropped the idea of locking TMs behind BP, a major QOL issue; SM gave us the inclusion of story characters and cames as mini bosses, as well as the scouting mechanic
(a straight improvement over a feature from DPPt!); and USUM even gave us alternate methods of BP gain, which I appreciated because it meant that the facility
wasn't a barrier to the players who weren't interested in playing it.
We've gradually been moving in a direction where the Battle Tower equivalent is the one feature that
does not need to bend over backwards for the so-called "casual audience"
(and I can say with total confidence both that this was the primary intention behind the changes made to the Tower in SwSh and that the feature is not any more fun for that audience than it was before, which is why I'm putting it in quotes: the target audience of the new Battle Tower is one that I don't actually think exists) - it was
safe for it to focus on the players who already enjoy this kind of feature, without being alienating to the players who don't, because there's no longer anything locked behind it and it only exists for its own sake.
And it absolutely worked! The Battle Tree is the only regular regional "basic Tower clone" I've ever just enjoyed playing to kill time, with no end goal but to have fun and build my streak, even without having anything obviously setting it apart like the other kinds of facilities in the Battle Frontiers past. This would be the perfect core set of mechanics to make the best possible incarnation of the Sinnoh Battle Frontier... but you know what? I'm going to be honest and say that I would
also gladly take an exact copy of the Battle Tree and no other facilities, just updated for Generation IV's characters like Palmer and the stat trainers,
and I would still actively enjoy it as a postgame feature in Sinnoh remakes and regularly play it.
This is what we've lost with the totally gutted Battle Tower in Sword and Shield.
Okay, on to Generation-specific ones...
ORIGINATING IN GENERATION V
-
dark grass (this was just a Gen V thing)
* Wouldn't happen now or in Gen VII (and not really important).
-
seasons (these were just a Gen V thing)
* Wouldn't happen now or in Gen VII (and not really important).
-
the original Entralink (which is pretty much inconsequential to be fair) and Funfest Missions (these were just a Gen V thing)
* Wouldn't happen now or in Gen VII (and not really important).
-
the Habitat List (? this was just a Gen V thing, but it did come back for ORAS, so putting this down as a maybe no matter which Gen)
-
PGL (gone as of Generation VIII)
* Not sure if this feature really matters that much, to be fair, but yeah.
-
Team Preview
* This is happening.
-
phenomena -> Hidden Pokémon (part of DexNav) -> ambush encounters -> overworld encounters (lumped together because they're at least somewhat equivalent)
* There will almost definitely be something like this, yes. It will probably be overworld encounters in Gen VIII, while it would have been regular ambush encounters if this were the last 3DS game. This could be a point for Gen VIII depending how you feel about them.
-
Pass Powers -> O-Powers -> Roto Loto (sort of)
* No equivalent exists in Generation VIII.
ORIGINATING IN GENERATION VI
-
The Fairy type and other type chart changes.
* This is happening.
-
Mega Evolution and Primal Reversion
* May they rest in peace. These would definitely have been in for Generation VII and will explicitly very definitely not be in for Generation VIII.
-
Sky Battles (these were just a Gen VI thing)
* Wouldn't happen now or in Gen VII (and not really important).
-
Inverse Battles (? these were mostly just a Gen VI thing)
* These actually did make a brief return in Gen VII for a Wi-Fi competition, but they don't seem to be in Gen VIII? I'm not sure what to make of this (but to be fair... also not really important).
-
Super Training (this was just a Gen VI thing)
* Wouldn't happen now or in Gen VII.
-
Character customization (? this one is a maybe because it was intentionally excluded from ORAS on the basis of being a remake)
* This isn't really a point against Gen VIII or for Gen VII - if either one would have it, the other probably would, too - but it's not
really something we can safely anticipate, either. I'm not gonna cite this as a reason why a Generation VII remake would've been better, but I am tentatively striking it from the list of things Sinnoh remakes would actually stand to gain from being made right now.
-
The modern Experience Share
* This is happening, buuut...
-
The modern Experience Share being optional (gone as of Gen VIII)
* ... my first post in all of Orange Islands was about why this was an absolutely terrible change, and I stand by that completely. This actually proved to be a significant obstacle to my enjoyment in Gen VIII. On the other hand, I absolutely loved how it was handled in Gen VII. Definitely another point against a remake happening right now.
-
Soaring (this was just an ORAS thing (and then LGPE brought it back (but worse) and then it was gone again))
* Technically this does seem to be a remake thing, so maybe? but I kinda doubt it, and LGPE executed it badly, and Fly in SwSh amounts to a loading screen.
-
The PSS (this was just a Gen VI thing)
* I will touch on Festival Plaza in a bit, but this wouldn't happen now or in Gen VII.
-
Pokémon-Amie -> Pokémon Refresh (replaced as of Gen VIII)
* We have Camping now, but I absolutely loved how Refresh was integrated and personally don't think Camping can compare. I do know some people like Camping, so this one might be controversial - if you do like Camping as a feature, that's valid, and this can be a plus for you! It's just definitely something I miss that we would've had if Sinnoh remakes were on the 3DS.
ORIGINATING IN GENERATION VII
-
regional variation (? maybe)
* This was intentionally excluded from USUM on the basis of being an already-explored region, but Sword and Shield might actually be opening this up again? Unclear but possible. That said, it seems likely based on past precedents
(USUM not doing it at all + the way SwSh DLC does it) that only Pokémon not already obtainable in Sinnoh will be considered candidates, and those are also the least likely Pokémon to receive a spotlight. Putting this as exciting but questionable for either Gen?
-
Z-Moves
* Explicitly very definitely gone. That said, I will confess that I don't miss them - I loved them for flavor reasons and what they added to Alola (they were also just cute), but I think leaving them to Alola is best, and I don't think they did were that mechanically beneficial.
-
Totem Pokémon and auras
* Even LGPE had this, so we KNOW Sinnoh remakes would have done the same... but gone as of Gen VIII, and may they rest in peace.
-
Poké Ride
* Almost definitely would have happened in Gen VII. Gone as of Gen VIII.
-
Poké Pelago (replaced as of Generation VIII)
* I will miss this. So much.
-
Hyper Training
-
Checking on a caught Pokémon before sending them to the box
* To their credit, SwSh definitely didn't hold back with the QOL, at least! Both of these are happening.
-
the Poké Finder and the Photo Club
* I would actually be pretty surprised if 3DS Sinnoh remakes didn't have these, because they seem like a perfect match for some mechanics Gen IV already had. Gone as of Gen VIII (but admittedly not super important).
-
Festival Plaza
* Okay, I know this one wouldn't make a lot of people happy. It's very likely that we would have gotten this in Generation VII instead of the PSS or anything. But...
oh my goodness, do you really want the Y-Comm instead? This was
perfectly serviceable. It's a low bar, but it's one neither Switch game so far has even remotely reached.
ORGINATING IN LGPE
* At this point, none of the mechanics that are absent here are ones that the 3DS would have over Switch remakes... but they do still contribute to my point of how little there would be to gain from making Sinnoh remakes at this specific point in time.
-
Partner Pokémon
* ... well, technically they
might come back, if and only if the Sinnoh remakes are Let's Go!
* so call the strikethrough there "optimism"
*
(actually I do kind of like what LGPE did with these though - could some of these features become the norm for starters in the future?)
-
GO-inspired capture mechanics and motion controls
* Mad respect to Sword and Shield for not doing this
* Good riddance
-
Catch Combos
* These actually sounded like a cool feature, but they're also gone as of Generation VIII. One of the few LGPE features I wish I had been able to experience for myself
to clarify, I've done plenty of research and watched full walkthroughs so I could form an educated opinion before I judged LGPE, but I have not played them myself - I didn't have a Switch at the time they came out, and I just don't think I could bring myself to play them now
-
Two-player local multiplayer (with like exploring the region together and stuff? there's a word for this but it's past midnight and I can't think of it)
* Gone as of Gen VIII
(in this form... the Wild Area has its own bullet later - I didn't forget!).
-
Walking Pokémon
* Gone as of Gen VIII...
why are these gone as of Gen VIII?
* Every Pokémon already has fully functioning overworld behaviors
* I'm
* Guys
* Wh
-
The Pokémon Box
* I actually do also like this. Again, SwSh did not fall short in keeping up the QOL features.
ORIGINATING IN GENERATION VIII
-
The Wild Area (? questioning this because it's almost more of a design philosophy than a feature)
* Its core mechanics will probably be applied to the Underground, but I can't see Sinnoh being significantly remapped to center around a Wild Area the way Galar does.
Just you wait for my eventual Unpopular Opinions post on this.
-
Dynamax and Gigantamax (probably)
* ... which are like the Gen VI and VII features they replaced but less good.
-
The Y-Comm
* ... which is like the Gen VI and VII features it replaced but less good. The worst part is that multiplayer was one of Gen IV's strong suits and its big selling point, and it's at its lowest point since then... right now, as we're talking about remaking them.
-
Camping
* Again, this might be unpopular, but I feel the same: that this is like the Gen VI and VII features it replaced but less good. I respect that people enjoy this more, though - this could be a plus for you.
-
Poké Jobs
*
... which is like the Gen VII feature it replaced but less good. How long will this go on?
-
The Battle Tower's new rank system
* ... which is like the Gen
VII VI V IV?? III feature it replaced but less good.
-
Existing on a single screen for the first time since Generation IV itself
* There was a whole lot of emphasis on the introduction of touch screen features to the series in Generation IV, and with the minimal use of the touch screen in SwSh and the total inability to use two screens at the same time, I just can't help but wonder how many side features from Sinnoh will be lost to this or totally gutted.
TO RECAP
The parts of this list that we actually get:
* graphics
* QOL: box space, Hyper Training, checking on caught Pokémon, accessing the Pokémon Box from anywhere
* moves/Abilities/items
* Team Preview
* overworld encounters
* the Fairy type and other type chart changes
* mandatory Experience Share
* Dynamax and Gigantamax (fantastic)
* the Y-Comm (excellent)
* Camping (can't wait)
* Poké Jobs (favorite feature)
* the new Battle Tower (I'm so glad they threw out everything good about it)
* being a single screen (see now I'm just wondering why they didn't think of this for the original Gen IV!)
So here's my opinion: I
really, REALLY don't want for Sinnoh remakes to come out
right now. I have no interest in remakes purely for the sake of remakes - if we're going to see Sinnoh, I can't imagine the only selling point being "going back to Sinnoh as it was."
The thing is that the series
has been gradually getting better in my eyes, and a Sinnoh remake coming out
last Gen would have been genuinely exciting for me! I mean, I've talked so much in my other posts about the dip in quality from the 3DS era to Sword and Shield in almost every area - do I still need to explain what I think has changed?
I mean, I guess we'd lose overworld encounters for SM's ambush encounter system, which is something I don't personally mind but I think a lot of people care about this
(?)... but in exchange, we could
toggle the Experience Share,
have Generation VII's excellent boss design, trade Dynamax for Mega Evolution and Z-Moves, trade the Y-Comm for
something actually functional, have Refresh back, trade Poké Jobs for Poké Pelago
(rebranded as the Pal Park?), have the best standard battle facility the series has ever known instead of the worst
(Frontier or no Frontier, I'd rather Gen VII's mechanics than Gen VII's, see all of the original dedicated dual screen features revamped for a console that actually supports them,
take for granted that at least
some of our new favorite Pokémon can see Sinnoh for the first time, and even have Poké Ride to solve the HM crisis
as opposed to a bike that pretends to be a Pokémon to be cool but you can't actually see the Rotom on it... and that pretends to be customizable to be cool but looks awful in every color....
For that matter, I wouldn't mind Bank instead of HOME and Wi-Fi instead of NSO?
Admittedly, I don't doubt that there are people here who are just as uninterested in the prospect of a Sinnoh remake with what
I would have liked to see in it last Gen, so maybe that side of this is more of a personal thing - but considering the features I've highlighted above, all I can say is that I would
love that game myself, and the Generation VIII equivalent just looks so incredibly barren in comparison.
Especially knowing that remakes tend to be a one-time thing, I doubt we'll ever have another chance to see a new game give Sinnoh another look and try to make it the best it can be. We have one opportunity to revisit Sinnoh with some Generation's set of revised and modernized mechanics. With that in mind, I would really, really like it to be in a Generation that's not... the least improved from Generation IV out of any that's happened since?
Please don't waste it on the set of revised and modernized mechanics that specifically this Generation has to offer, because I have zero confidence and zero interest in a Generation VIII remake of Generation IV.
