Pokémon Scarlet And Violet's Funniest Glitches So Far
The state that the ninth generation of the "Pokémon" series released in isn't exactly everything players were hoping for. Though plenty of fans have praised "Pokémon Scarlet" and "Violet" amongst all the criticism, just about everyone agrees that its bugs, glitches, and visuals weigh down what is otherwise a worthy mainline "Pokémon" game. No one really knows why "Pokémon Scarlet" and "Violet" are running so badly, though some have blamed the Nintendo Switch hardware itself. Whatever the issue is, the launch version of the game is full of glitches. There aren't many game-breaking bugs that hinder players' progress, but most players have encountered some kind of glitch.
For the most part, "Pokémon Scarlet" and "Violet" are perfectly playable. Most glitches seem to be tied to character models, NPC behavior, or other rendering issues that don't get terribly in the way — except for when the glitches affect the game's framerate, of course. Even so, fans and critics alike have been having a field day posting the best "Pokémon Scarlet" and "Violet" glitches, and the following are particularly hilarious examples of just how broken the new games can be.
NPCs and Pokémon don't always know when to stop
Some of the most noticeable glitches in "Pokémon Scarlet" and "Violet" arise from unexpected changes to NPC behavior. Video games are video games, and it's to be expected that characters move a bit unrealistically, but "Pokémon Violet" and "Scarlet" take this principle to a whole new level of unbelievability, especially when it comes to scripted events and movements.
In a particularly uncanny clip, one user showed their character traversing a coastline with a bunch of Gyarados hovering above the ground. As funny as that is, it's not even the best part of the clip. A cutscene is suddenly triggered that shows one character sneaking up on another — only they don't stop and keep going forward, walking through their target and into the distance.
I can't breathe! What just happened? from
PokemonScarletViolet
This glitch isn't just tied to cutscenes and events, though, as another player posted a similar glitch that happened in the middle of a battle. In this instance, a passing bystander casually saunters up to the dueling Pokémon, then keeps going as he clips through both and into middle of the scene. It's normal for surrounding wild Pokémon to get in the way of a fight when you're outside of city limits, but one would think civilized people have better manners.
Me on my way to the fridge at 3 am from
PokemonScarletViolet
Gigantamax IS in Scarlet and Violet after all!
One of the most viral glitches for "Pokémon Scarlet" and "Violet" is related to the game's multiplayer. The newest "Pokémon" games have a co-op mode, but as neat as it is to play "Pokemon" with a friend in the open world rather than just as dueling partners, it's not exactly perfectly implemented.
In a clip that's racked up more than four million views on Reddit, two players are seen mounting their Koraidon and Miraidon Pokémon in a multiplayer session. One player has no issues, but as soon as the other player summons their own beast, their body stretches out to ridiculous — and perhaps nightmarish — proportions.
Glad to see Gigantamax is back in the new games! from
pokemon
The post title references the Gigantamax system, a gimmick mechanic first introduced in "Pokémon Sword" and "Shield" that made Pokemon grow immensely. In "Pokémon Scarlet" and "Violet," this system was replaced by the Terastallize mechanic, which lets Pokémon take on a new type and abilities when activated. Unfortunately, it has also been replaced by glitches that turn human beings into Slender Man.
Don't let your Pokémon take a picnic on top of a cliff
Another crafting-related mechanic included with "Pokémon Scarlet" and "Violet" is the ability to have picnics. During these wholesome sequences, players can create food, interact with their Pokémon, and collect eggs. Picnics can be set up virtually anywhere in the game's open world, including places that might otherwise be dangerous — like the edge of a cliff.
Nobody ever wants to see their Pokémon come to harm, let alone hurt themselves in an accident, but the NPC behavior and movement glitches so prevalent in "Pokémon Scarlet" and "Violet" might cause one anyway. Pokémon can have a hard time staying within the confines of the Picnic area, and when next to a cliff edge (or just an edge in general), summoned Pokémon can sometimes fall off.
Miraidon just couldn't take it any more. from
PokemonScarletViolet
The glitch is easy to replicate, and Pokémon summoned at a Picnic won't take any damage from falling off such a cliff. If you would rather not see a Lechonk suffer a horrifying demise, don't set up a picnic near the edge of a cliff, as Pokémon don't seem to be any smarter than lemmings around them.
Should have listened when they said no cliffside picnics from
PokemonScarletViolet
Rendering issues can be hilarious and depressing at the same time
Some of the most notable glitches in "Pokémon Scarlet" and "Violet" spring from its innumerable rendering bugs. Some of these bugs are absolutely hilarious — like when one player tried to catch a Pokémon and instead caught something far less family friendly. Most of the rendering issues with the game seem to stem from draw distance, as textures and models will suddenly pop in when players get close to them. It's normal for games to lower the framerate and quality of faraway models and textures, but it's more noticeable than usual in "Scarlet" and "Violet."
In one clip, a player is talking to Raifort when two trainers walk into the scene in the background. Some fans have said the game's graphics are on-par with the PlayStation 1, which becomes evident as this pair jaggedly walk at a stuttering rate. As they round the corner, their full-res faces suddenly load in with almost perfect comedic timing.
Texture pop-in making this scene unintentionally hilarious. from
PokemonScarletViolet
In another particularly horrifying clip, one trainer appears to point in the distance and then rapidly contort their body and arms in ways that seem physically impossible, no doubt terrifying the kid next to them.
Though the games have mostly received positive remarks from diehard "Pokémon" fans, some members of the community have called out Game Freak for the release state of "Pokémon Scarlet" and "Violet." In a particularly harsh comparison, a user compared the repetitive textures and quality of the landscape to the beautiful and crisp sandwich textures — a jab at the game's lack of attention to the open world when compared to its minor details.
Get your priorities straight, Game Freak! from
PokemonScarletViolet
A more serious note: Glitches that break Scarlet and Violet
Hilarity aside, the glitches and bugs in the newest "Pokémon" games do have the potential to ruin the experience, either by fundamentally altering how players interact with the world or outright breaking the game and hindering progress. After the pair of games were released, players quickly figured out a way to scale normally un-climbable cliffs and sloped surfaces, giving access to areas players shouldn't be able to reach. There's only really two steps: mount one of the box-art legendary motorcycle-mon, then simply ride backward and jump. You will slowly but surely ascend just about any mountainside.
You can jump up slopes by jumping at them backwards as long as they're not to steep. from
PokemonScarletViolet
It's a glitch that helps players more than hinders them, as it makes the open world feel more explorable. However, there are plenty of glitches that can stop players in their tracks, too. Another post shows a player collect an item out in the open world, jump down to ground level just slightly below, then clip straight through the ground and fall into an endless skybox below the world.
I don't think this is supposed to happen... from
PokemonScarletViolet
For the most part, glitches in "Pokémon Scarlet" and "Violet" are perfectly harmless, and the worst that can happen is a sudden drop-off in framerate when there's a lot happening on-screen. But there are plenty of players who have experienced these more serious glitches. Some are even demanding refunds thanks to these problems. But with no way to fix them except to wait for a patch, most "Pokémon" fans are putting up with the issues and focusing on the positives, like game-changing auto battle system and new monsters.