Here’s where Gen 9 disappoints. Many returning Pokémon retain the stiff, lifeless “neutral battle stance” from previous 3D gens—losing the energetic, imaginative poses from older 2D sprites. New Gen 9 Pokémon fare better, with more expressive idle animations (e.g., Sprigatito’s playful paw lift, Cetitan’s looming sway). Still, the overall roster feels static compared to fan-made projects or even Pokémon Battle Revolution (2006).
The biggest drawback: frame drops and LOD (level of detail) pop-in. In the open world, distant Pokémon animate at choppy 5–10 FPS, and models may abruptly switch from low-res to high-res as you approach. This breaks immersion and makes catching overworld Pokémon feel less magical. pokemon gen 9 3d sprites
Unlike Legends: Arceus , where Pokémon had unique behaviors (e.g., sleeping, attacking), Gen 9 sprites mostly walk aimlessly or stand idle. Some species do interact—Tauros charges, Gyarados floats menacingly—but many feel like roaming NPCs rather than living creatures. Here’s where Gen 9 disappoints
Here’s a concise review of (referring to the in-game models used in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet ): Review: Pokémon Gen 9 3D Sprites — A Step Forward, but Still Stumbling Visual Quality: The Gen 9 models are largely the same high-poly, well-textured assets introduced in Gen 6 (X/Y) and refined since. On a technical level, they’re clean, colorful, and animate smoothly in battle. However, they lack the sharpness and dynamic shading seen in other Switch RPGs. Textures can appear flat or plastic under certain lighting, especially in the open world. Still, the overall roster feels static compared to
Players who prioritize roster size and battle mechanics. Not for: Fans of sprite-era personality or open-world polish.
6/10 — Functional but uninspired. The 3D models are technically competent, but technical hiccups and a lack of personality hold them back. Gen 9 is an improvement over Gen 8’s static gym battles, but it still lags behind the charm of 2D sprites or more ambitious 3D creature-collectors like Temtem or Cassette Beasts .