Game Theory

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet Legendaries may have a secret hidden in plain sight

Pedal to the metal.

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Originally Published: 
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet
Nintendo

A major focus of every single Pokémon game is its new Legendaries, especially seeing as they always grace the cover of a new release. From Lugia and Ho-Oh to Zacian and Zamazenta, every Legendary Pokémon features into both the story and gameplay of its respective title. Game Freak has officially revealed the Legendaries for Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, and already fans have a crazy theory about how these two might be bringing something wildly new to the franchise.

The two new Legendaries are Koraidon, the red dinosaur-like Pokémon in Scarlet, and Koraidon, the shiny mechanical Pokémon in Violet. Getting the obvious out of the way, the color corresponds to the different versions, but there’s also a potentially big hint about the story in their names. In Japanese “Korai” means ancient, and “Mirai” means future.

This, combined with the aesthetic of the two new professors, has fans thinking that Pokémon Scarlet and Violet might be telling a time travel story, with one set in the past and one in the future. This seems especially likely considering Pokémon Legends: Arceus already played around with the idea of time travel, taking players to a past version of Sinnoh, known as the Hisui Region.

The new Pokémon Center looks suspiciously like a gas station.

Nintendo

While the potential for time travel is interesting enough, there’s another aspect in the Legendary Pokémon’s designs that could hint at something even wilder. Fans like @PLDHnet on Twitter have noted that the two designs are remarkably similar to a motorcycle. Koraidon’s chest and abdomen look like motorcycle wheels, while Miraidon’s head looks like a motorcycle windshield and its back like a seat. There are even more motorcycle-themed details in the new trailer, like a shot of what seems to be racing flags, an ad for some kind of tires, and the new Pokémon center basically looking like a gas station.

All signs point to the new Legendary Pokémon transforming into some kind of motorcycle, which honestly would fit perfectly. Building off the foundation set by Legends: Arceus, the new Scarlet and Violet are going to be the first fully open-world Pokémon games. Arceus let players traverse the world more easily by riding Pokémon like Wyrdeer and Basculegion, so it’s not unreasonable to think that Scarlet and Violet will do the same thing.

The Master Cycle Zero let players zoom around the world of Hyrule on a sick motorcycle.

Nintendo

It’s possible that other Pokémon can be ridden, but maybe Koraidon and Miraidon are unlockable as some kind of vehicle that lets you blaze around the world. There’s even a precedent for motorcycles in Nintendo games, as Breath of the Wild’sChampions Ballad” DLC let players unlock the Master Cycle, an incredible vehicle that gives a whole new way to play the game.

We still don’t know a whole lot about the general structure and flow of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, but there has to be some kind of system to get around the world, outside of just being on foot. Pokémon has already had plenty of absurd creatures, like Klefki who’s literally just a set of keys, so a motorcycle Pokémon doesn’t seem so absurd.

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