Pokemon Scarlet and Violet illustrated that the series is capable of embracing a fully open-world format. Going on such an adventure with Ash and Pikachu would be the special send-off the two characters deserve, and there is no easier way to please both anime and video game fans.
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An Ash Ketchum Pokemon Game Would Be the Perfect Send-Off
Ash Ketchum’s journey begins in sleepy Pallet Town where he teams up with Pikachu and embarks on his journey to become the greatest Pokemon Trainer. This is no easy task, but he, fortunately, makes many friends along the way including Brock, Tracey, Serena, and Goh. Having supportive companions around helps him keep his eyes on the goal even when he suffers from some brutal losses. During his adventures, he also catches and raises many Pokemon. This includes his rebellious Charizard, his loyal Lucario, and his powerful Gligar.
After entering endless championships and failing to secure that coveted first-place position he has been dreaming of for so long, Ash finally achieves his goal after beating Leon. As The Pokemon Company has confirmed, this marks the end of Ash and Pikachu’s saga, and the anime series will be continuing without them. Before they say their final goodbyes, there will be a series of special episodes which celebrate the iconic characters and the long adventure they have been on. It is a bittersweet moment for fans. Although they will be parting ways with characters that have been at the core of the series for over a decade, they have also gotten to witness Ash reach his greatest goals.
Over the years, Pikachu has served as a great mascot for the series. Furthermore, Ash embodies a lot of what it takes to be a great Pokemon Trainer. Having a game that follows Ash’s journey to his goal would give both him and Pikachu the kind of send-off they deserve. Fans would have the opportunity to play through the highlights in their story and experience what it took for him to finally become a world champion.
An Ash Ketchum Pokemon Game Would Tie Up Loose Ends
There is already quite a bit of crossover between the games and the anime series. Many characters from anime series, including Professor Oak and Serena, are taken from the games. A video game that focused on Ash’s story would be an opportunity to answer questions that many fans have had about certain characters. For example, gamers have been very curious about Lt. Surge and his military past, while others want to know more about Ash’s father and why he has never made an appearance. A game focused on Ash Ketchum and his adventures could tie up some of these loose ends, allowing gamers to finally find everything they’ve wanted to know about him and the characters surrounding him. The Pokemon Journeys seasons have already done a good job of giving a backstory for Pikachu, but more could be done through a fully-fledged Pokemon video game focused on Ash and his yellow rodent.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are great games, but the reception to the titles has been mixed due to performance issues. This has hurt how the Pokemon franchise is perceived and what gamers expect in the future. A game focused on an iconic character and his electric rat could be what’s needed to rekindle confidence in the franchise and evoke a little nostalgia.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are available on Nintendo Switch.
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