Pokémon Scarlet and Violet were always going to be compared to Pokémon Legends: Arceus, and many players have come to the conclusion that Shiny hunting in the new games was significantly more difficult because some quality-of-life changes had been removed. Although Shiny Pokémon are still present in the overworld as they were in Legends, they no longer sparkle or make sounds, so tracking down subtler Shinies is going to be much more difficult.
In addition to the removal of Legends: Arceus’ Shiny cues, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet’s overworld Pokémon seem smaller, making less obvious Shinies even more difficult to find. Some species, like Nymble and Capsakid are tiny in the overworld, so finding normal species can be difficult enough, let alone Shinies. Mass outbreaks in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet are really the only times when a contrast between some normal and Shiny forms are visible. Flabébé and Igglybuff are small Pokémon with subtle Shiny forms, for example. Even determining if slightly larger Pokémon like Phanpy and Gothorita have their normal or Shiny colorations can be tough.
Pokémon Scarlet & Violet’s Let’s Go Feature Is The Key To Finding Small Shinies
Fortunately, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet does have one surefire way to detect if a small Pokémon in the overworld is Shiny. The new Let’s Go feature allows players to send out one of their party members to quickly defeat wild Pokémon, making it an efficient form of battling. Regarding Shiny hunting, Pokémon that have been sent out thanks to the Let’s Go mechanic will not attack Shiny Pokémon at all, whereas they can easily attack and defeat any non-Shiny species.
Removing Sparkles In Pokémon Scarlet & Violet Was A Mistake
Ultimately, removing at least the sparkles for Shiny Pokémon in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet is a huge misfire, as the sounds possibly made catching Shinies too easy in Pokémon Legends: Arceus. Having to squint to see if every Pokémon surrounding players is Shiny though will undoubtedly be straining on the eyes, and making use of the Let’s Go method would make Shiny hunting much more tedious. That being said, even removing the sparkles is an accessibility concern, as the previously mentioned eye strain makes things even more difficult for visually impaired players.
Outside of overworld Shiny hunting, the Masuda method is always an option for players, which involves breeding one of the player’s Pokémon with a species from a country that speaks a different language. The new Picnic feature changes how eggs are given out. In addition, this exclusive feature to Pokémon Scarlet and Violet also adds sandwich recipes, which provide boosts such as increasing the odds of finding Shiny Pokémon. Clearly, steps are being taken to make Shiny hunting less of a hassle, so the removal of the Shiny sparkles and sound effects just seems baffling.
With most games making the decision to embrace accessibility, it does seem strange that Pokémon Scarlet and Violet would remove some of Legends: Arceus’ attempts to make Shiny Hunting more accessible for players. Hopefully, further updates in the future will address this issue and improve the player experience. Until then, the Let’s Go feature will be pulling its weight.
