ThoughPokemon ScarletandViolethave led the charge for Gen 9,many are already anticipating an inevitable throwback to Gen 5 withPokemon Blackand White remakes, especially after the likes of Kingambit and Volcarona’s new forms renewed fans' hopes. As has become traditional for thePokemonseries, remakes of older games typically follow once a new generation has begun, showcased in the generation last withPokemon Brilliant DiamondandShining Pearlin 2021. But while these most recent remakes have sparked uncertainty due to third-party development and challenges facing old DS titles,Gen 9’s newest Pokemoncould help correct the course.
While Gen 9 introduced a breadth of new Pokemon including several cross-gen evolutions and unique Paradox forms, several of these included in this list were of Gen 5 fame. But specifically, among these were future and ancient forms for Volcarona and an all-new evolution for the Pawniard line that officially introduced Kingambit. Between Volcarona demonstrating both sides of one ofPokemon ScarletandViolet’sgimmicks with Paradox Pokemon and Kingambit possibly leaving the door open for future Gen 5 Pokemon to see new evolutions or forms, there are positives fans can look to forBlackandWhiteremakes.
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Why Gen 5’s and Future Pokemon Remakes Have Fans Concerned
Currently, the issue facingPokemonremakes is that up untilBrilliant DiamondandShining Pearl, these had been developed by Game Freak itself and typically incorporated the design and gimmicks of the new generation they’re released in. An example is the 3DS graphical upgrade toPokemon Omega RubyandAlpha Sapphireand the inclusion and expansion of Mega Evolutions. But after the development of theDiamondandPearlremakes was passed to ILCA, the results were arguably one-to-one reinterpretations of the originals, lacking the design ofPokemon SwordandShieldand omitting the Dynamax function and Gigantamax forms.
It’s possible that as another former DS game,BlackandWhitemight also be given to another developer like ILCA if Game Freak is planning to use the spare time for other titles, like a potential secondPokemon Legendsgame set within Unova. But while Gen 9’s Terastallization gimmick could be likewise omitted, there’s hope that a renewed creative interest in Gen 5 Pokemon seen with Kingambit and Volcarona could be a sign that Game Freak and ILCA are learning from the shortfalls of the first third-party remake. This is strengthened when considering that these two, alongside Hydreigon and Amoonguss, represent other gimmicks fromScarletandViolet.
Volcarona and Kingambit Could Make Gen 5 Pokemon Remakes Amazing
It should be acknowledged that Volcarona is not alone as the Gen 5 Pokemon to have received new forms, as other Paradox Pokemon such as Brute Bonnet and Iron Jugulis also featured respectively inScarletandViolet. However, both of these received only one form as ancient and future Pokemon, withPokemon ScarletandViolet’s Iron Jugulis being disappointingdue to its lackluster design and downgrade in type combo. Volcarona, on the other hand, received both ancient and future forms with Slither Wing and Iron Moth, and as a result, it embraces the Gen 9 gimmick of Paradox Pokemon from each side.
Combining this with Volcarona’s “special” status inBlackandWhite,where it’s found at the end of the labyrinthian Relic Castle and encountered only once, this seems to indicate thatGen 9 could be important forBlackandWhite’s remakes. Since these remakes will already need to outright accommodate Kingambit as a new evolution, it’s possible that Volcarona could lead to Paradox Pokemon appearing as well. Even beyond this, just asOmega RubyandAlpha Sapphirehad expanded Mega Evolutions orUltra SunandMoonadded new Ultra Beasts, so too couldBlackandWhite’sremakes introduce yet more Paradox Pokemon.
Pokemon ScarletandVioletare available now for Nintendo Switch.
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