3 reasons why a Pokemon fighting game is the need of the hour

The Pokemon franchise is known for its role-playing elements and iconic creatures. However, many fans have grown attached to the various spin-off titles from the series. Unfortunately for them, one avenue that spin-off games rarely consider is the fighting genre. While Pokken Tournament was the franchise's first official romp into the competitive fighting scene, various Pocket Monsters have also made their way into Super Smash Brothers.

With the franchise changing so drastically since these titles released, a new Pokemon fighting game could greatly expand upon the ideas presented in earlier renditions.

Note: This list is subjective and solely reflects the opinions of the writer

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3 reasons why there should be another Pokemon fighting game

1) More roster potential

The potential for new cast members in this hypothetical fighting game could include some interesting choices thanks to the franchise's extended list of monsters (Image via The Pokemon Company)

The most important part of any fighting game is the roster. Since Pokken Tournament's deluxe Switch port only includes creatures up until the seventh generation, there are two whole generations of Pocket Monsters that the development team could pull from for their roster. Smash Brothers' selection is incredibly limited since characters from other franchises also have to be present.

In a more traditional fighting game, the rosters usually follow certain archetypes. Zoners are fighters that excel at keeping opponents at a distance with long-range attacks. A creature like Toxtricity, Intelleon, or Magmortar would fit this role perfectly. Gallade or Ceruledge would make great hit-and-run fighters, which play aggressively but have some defensive tools in their kit.

The designs of these critters can fit well when assigning them roles in fighting games, so they would be easy to comprehend for newer players. While some franchise staples, like Pikachu, Lucario, and Charizard, would still need to be there, the developers could get crazy with who they decide to add.

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2) A more traditional approach in a fighting game

Pokken was nice, but its changing battle modes made it hard for hardcore fighting game fans to really enjoy it (Image via The Pokemon Company)

Pokken Tournament and its Switch port was an interesting take on a mainstream fighting game. However, it lacked a lot of the complexities modern fighting franchises have, leaving the skill ceiling relatively low for hardcore fans. With a second attempt at a fighting game, the developers could retain a playstyle and pace similar to other popular titles in the genre, like Tekken and Street Fighter.

Pokken's format of constantly switching between 2.5D and 3D fighting also left many traditional fighting fans unsatisfied. With this in mind, taking a more traditional approach and offering a 2D title similar to the likes of Street Fighter or Mortal Kombat may be the key to making a long-living, fun Pokemon fighting game.

Rather than needlessly innovating on parts of the format that fighting fans already like, such as the character archetypes and planes combat takes place on, the developers can instead focus on expanding on the gameplay or the characters themselves. Introducing an interesting gimmick like Mega Evolution would be the easiest to do.

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3) Perfect game to release in between main entries

New content for Pokemon Scarlet and Violet has come to an end, and updates on the franchise's next title is scarce (Image via Game Freak)

Pokemon games have come under heavy criticism since the franchise's switch to the Nintendo home console. With Game Freak finally listening to the community and extending the time between releases, as well as revealing less information about a game, the franchise can feel a bit barren in long periods between new titles.

With The Pokemon Company showing interest in expanding the franchise to different genres with the release of Pokemon Unite and Detective Pikachu Returns, the possibility of a new fighting game for the franchise is not unrealistic. In the current period we find ourselves in, this would be the perfect time for Game Freak to release a spin-off for home consoles.

While a traditional 2D fighting game might not be in the cards for the Pokemon franchise, a title using a similar style and featuring Pocket Monsters would undoubtedly be popular on the Nintendo Switch.

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For more information on Pokemon spin-offs, check out our other articles:

• Is Pokemon GO worth playing in 2024?
• 5 hidden mechanics in Pokemon Unite
• All Pokemon games on the Nintendo Switch