With the Nintendo Switch 2 officially on the horizon, the status of Pokemon as one of the company's flagship franchises has fans looking forward to the announcement of the next entries in the series. Over two years after the debut of the previous generation, Gen 10 has the potential to arrive right around the 30th anniversary of Pokemon as a whole. When it comes to honoring that history and achieving lasting appeal as a generation, one staple feature of the past should become a top priority once again.
Although the concept of the Pokemon League's gym challenges has always served to structure the progression of mainline Pokemon titles, it has also led to several titles feeling rather bare once their main story content is completed. The Battle Frontier, featured in games of the 2000s, offered a fresh twist on competitive battling which has led to a few entries still being recognized for their replayability. This kind of depth to supplementary content is no longer common for the IP, but changing that could do well to ingratiate it among dedicated fans.
Why Pokemon Gen 10 May Be the Perfect Time to Replicate One Gen 2 Feat
Pokemon Gen 10 has a lot of exciting paths it could take, and the more powerful hardware of the Switch 2 could be the key to replicating one feat.
No Pokemon Postgame Offering Has Lived Up to the Legacy of the Battle Frontier
The Missed Opportunities Following Gen 4
Starting with Pokemon Emerald's Battle Frontier, the core flow of defeating gym leaders and becoming a champion was subverted in a memorable way that defied the limits of RPG leveling. By locking Pokemon to predetermined levels, offering rentals to players instead of their own trained combatants, and integrating diverse gimmicks into the different Battle Facilities, this postgame set of challenges feels like the final stage in a master's journey. Pokemon Platinum later honored this formula as a third game with its own take, but it would be the last official appearance of the idea in full.
Apart from the downsizing of ORAS entirely skipping the Battle Frontier and BDSP later reducing it to the Battle Tower alone, other titles have similarly substituted a complete form of it in favor of a single building. The likes of the Battle Maison in Pokemon Gen 6 have become the norm instead, providing a means to earn Battle Points and achieve winning streaks with far less variety than what Gen 3 focused on.
The Return of the Battle Frontier in Pokemon's Tenth Generation Could Ensure a Lasting Impact
Allowing a Potential Switch 2 Flagship Title to Stand the Test of Time
If the next set of mainline Pokemon games launches right as the Nintendo Switch 2 is beginning its life cycle, meeting any lofty fan expectations would have a strong impact on the staying power of the latest generation. While an engaging narrative and support for multiplayer competitive battles are always going to be appreciated by a general audience, going the extra mile with the return of the Battle Frontier could also give players a lasting set of challenges that can keep their skills honed for years following release. With the trend of DLC expansions replacing the previous pattern of third games improving upon the bases of an initial pair of games, there's even the long-term possibility for the Battle Frontier to specifically be the focus of updates like these.
A Platform for Celebrating Decades of Characters
The diverse array of Frontier Brains from generations past have been remembered as distinct and evocative characters despite how long it's been since their debuts, and another set of these would likely bring the same benefit to Gen 10. Given the age of the franchise overall, it could even make sense to include popular characters from past titles in order to allow them to return in a format similar to the beloved Pokemon World Tournament.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 71 /100 Critics Rec: 48%
- Released
- November 18, 2022
- ESRB
- E For Everyone Due To Mild Fantasy Violence
- Developer(s)
- Game Freak
- Publisher(s)
- Nintendo, The Pokemon Company
- Engine
- Proprietary Engine
- Multiplayer
- Local Multiplayer
- Cross-Platform Play
- no
WHERE TO PLAY
The school that you’ve enrolled in as you play Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet hosts a special independent study project. The theme of this assignment is "A Treasure Hunt." Explore the world and seek out your very own treasure!
Three stories will be woven into your adventure while traversing the sprawling Paldea region. Along Victory Road, you will go to Gyms in different locations in order to to achieve Champion Rank. On the Path of Legends, you can join Arven in search of rare ingredients. And in ★ Starfall Street ★, you’ll challenge Team Star, a group of delinquents causing trouble for the school.
These stories are set in an open world, so where you go is all up to you. A world teeming with Pokémon and people to meet is waiting for you—traverse the Paldea region wherever you heart desires.
