Pokémon Scarlet and Violet may have had a rocky launch and a rocky few months afterward, but, despite all of their flaws, they did achieve some incredible feats. From a genuinely incredible soundtrack to some fantastic Pokémon designs, there is a lot to love about Scarlet and Violet. However, by far their greatest accomplishment is Koraidon and Miraidon, their two central legendaries that not only adorn the box art but remain in our hearts as the adorable legends that they truly are.

In fact, I'd go as far as to say that Scarlet and Violet's mixed reviews rarely had a negative thing to say about these motorbike-looking Pokémon. Of course, what made these two stand out above other legendaries was the way that Scarlet and Violet handled them. For the first time in the series' history, they weren't treated like every other legendary, and that is cause for celebration. In fact, the way that Scarlet and Violet handled Koraidon and Miraidon should be replicated in the Gen 10 Pokémon games.

Scarlet And Violet Made Legendaries Important

They Were The Focus From The Very Start

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet took a unique approach to legendaries. While the majority of Pokémon games have made their central mascot legendary simply something for the player to collect at the end, the reward for completing the story in a lot of instances, in Scarlet and Violet, the legendary Pokémon are a key part of the narrative. Both Koraidon and Miraidon, in their respective entries, are present from the start to the very end, being integral not only to the ultimate outcome of the central narrative but also playing a key role in one of the three main quests.

Koraidon and Miraidon were also an important part of exploration, with players unlocking more movement options throughout the main story, including swimming, climbing walls, and flying. This integration into both gameplay - beyond battles - and the narrative helped players build a genuine attachment to Scarlet and Violet's adorable legendaries in a way that they'd never really been able to do before. Scarlet and Violet, despite their many flaws, managed to capture the effect legendaries have in the anime better than any previous Pokémon game.

While Koraidon and Miraidon aren't to everyone's liking, it is hard to deny that including them from the start, whether directly under the player's control or as a key figure in the narrative, is effective in making them feel far more significant. I've always thought it was weird that these legendaries were plastered all over the marketing material, but they have little to do beyond appearing towards the end. That isn't always the case, and later entries have handled their mascot legendaries better, but it does often boil down to them being little more than another Pokémon to collect.

The Gen 10 Games Need Great Legendaries

They've Been The Cornerstone Of The Franchise

There's a lot that the Gen 10 Pokémon games must get right, including fixing the series' biggest problems, but by far the most important of these is crafting the perfect legendaries. It isn't just their impact on the narrative or on gameplay, but also their integration into the world and lore, as well as the way that they interact with the player and the villains. Of course, they also need to have amazing designs, something that Game Freak has rarely failed to achieve. Getting legendaries right is absolutely crucial in any Pokémon game.

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet didn't just have their mascot legendaries, but also a handful of impressive sub-legendary Pokémon that largely appeared in their surprisingly good DLC. The stand-outs were the Loyal Three in the Teal Mask DLC, but they all nevertheless had great backstories and were well-integrated into the lore of the region they came from. While not necessarily perfect examples, in combination with Miraidon and Koraidon, they serve as a strong blueprint that the Gen 10 Pokémon games absolutely should look at replicating.

If the Gen 10 Pokémon games are going to make their legendaries ones to , to rival the likes of Mew, Rayquaza, and Giratina, then they need to make them a major focus of the overall experience.

Ultimately, it is how the legendaries are used in the game's story that will determine not just how successful they are at encapsulating their titular status, but also how memorable they become and how important they end up feeling. If the Gen 10 Pokémon games are going to make their legendaries ones to , to rival the likes of Mew, Rayquaza, and Giratina, then they need to make them a major focus of the overall experience, much like Koraidon and Miraidon ended up being in Scarlet and Violet.

Gen 10 Pokémon Should Make The Legendary A Key Focus

They Should Be The Backbone Of The Experience

The Gen 10 Pokémon games must make their legendaries present from the outset. They need to appear at the very start, to have an immediate impact on the player and story, to kickstart events and set the story in motion. They need to have personalities, purpose, and a meaningful impact, one that drives the player to want to catch them, to want them on their team, to believe they are worth completing the entire game to get them. While the Gen 10 Pokémon games need to drop Scarlet and Violet's worst features, they absolutely should retain their use of legendaries.

Of course, that doesn't mean the new legendaries need to be a part of the player's team from the start. They could be antagonistic, cautiously tracking the player, or occasionally helpful. However, the more impact they have on the narrative - and even potentially gameplay - the better. The more they are included, the more players are going to build that all-important bond. Really, the legendaries are the only Pokémon players should truly care about building a bond with. While it is important that they like their team, it is ultimately replaceable. The legendary is not.

The Gen 10 Pokémon games are already shaping up to be one of the series' most innovative entries, which is extremely exciting for fans who've been hoping for something new. Continuing to innovate on the inclusion of legendaries and their place in gameplay and narrative would not only benefit players but also make the series feel less repetitive and antiquated. Legendaries should serve as the backbone of each Pokémon experience, just like they did in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, and the best place to continue trailing that is with the Gen 10 entries.