» Watch video: Pokémon Wind and Pokémon Wave: Announcement Trailer
Finally a worthy Pokémon for the Nintendo Switch 2?
A comment from Martin Hartmann
Game Freak and The Pokémon Company show us the first scenes from Pokémon Wind and Pokémon Wave. In the new RPG for the Switch 2, trainers end up on tropical islands. The games also take a leap forward in terms of graphics. Well, maybe it’s more of a small hop.
Pokémon: Ugly Floors
Pokémon Wind and Pokémon Wave are undoubtedly better here than Legends: ZA or the Crimson and Crimson editions. Despite this, the textures of the environment are still visible in many places outdated and unclear out of. I wouldn’t exactly describe the soil and grass as beautiful.
Pokémon: Beautiful Water
In other places, the open-world Pokémon seems to use the resources of the Switch 2. I particularly noticed the water here. Be it the coral reefs or the strong waves, in such moments the new editions really don’t look bad at all.
Trainers will probably also be able to dive in Pokémon Wind and Pokémon Wave. The underwater world sees really consistent and can create the right atmosphere.
Does it depend on the graphics?
Ultimately, graphics won’t determine the success of Pokémon Wind and Wave. They’re Pokémon games and they sell incredibly well. Still, it’s nice to see that Game Freak is at least taking small steps to make the games look a little more contemporary. Ironically, the studio doesn’t develop the really nice games for the Switch 2.
They are also much more important than the graphics Monster Designs and Game Freak has done a great job here again. The three new starter Pokémon in particular are likely to give many fans pause. Plant bird, fire dog or would you rather be a water lizard?
Pokémon Wind and Pokémon Wave are scheduled to be released for the Nintendo Switch 2 in 2027.