
And it’d sound great with the Nintendo DS sound suite too.
With the release of Pokémon X and Y in 2013, the series’ left bitmapped visuals behind and went to polygonal models. It’s a switch most other popular video game franchises had made years earlier, and with polygons now being the industry norm, no one was surprised when Scarlet and Violet, the newest Pokémon games, arrived last September with their casts made of polygons too.
However, Pokémon doesn’t strive for photo-realism, and looking at the polygonal people encounter in Scarlet and Violet, you might find yourself daydreaming about what they’d look like rendered in the art style of the pre-polygon games. Japanese Twitter user @Roncally_Hayate did more than just daydream, though, and created awesome bitmap versions of eight Scarlet and Violet gym leaders!
ポケモンSVジムリーダー達の
— 京雲寺ハヤテ (@Roncally_Hayate) February 28, 2023
BW風ドット絵完成したぞォ!!#ポケモンSV pic.twitter.com/oDw6HQfjt3
Across the top row are Larry, Grusha, Ryme, and Tulip and below them stand Brassius, Katy, Kofu, and Iono. @Roncally_Hayate didn’t just create a single image for each of them either, as they’re all expressively animated. As an extra-special treat for veteran fans, @Roncally_Hayate chose to specifically emulate the character design traits of Pokémon Black and White, the last of the bitmapped mainline Pokémon games
And as if that wasn’t impressive enough, @Roncally_Hayate also remixed the Scarlet and Violet gym leader battle background music to evoke Black and White’s Nintendo DS sound suite soundtrack.
In recent years, we’ve seen a number of older Pokémon titles get remakes that replace their original 2-D graphics with shiny new polygons, and odds are we’ll never see another mainline entry with pixel art as its primary motif, but at least @Roncally_Hayate is here to show us how cool it could look if one did.
Source: Twitter/@Roncally_Hayate via IT Media
Images: Twitter/@Roncally_Hayate
● Want to hear about SoraNews24’s latest articles as soon as they’re published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!


Pokémon is going open-world with brand-new Pokémon Scarlet and Violet games【Video】
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet starter Pokémon appear on Tokyo’s giant 3-D billboard【Video】
Real-life Pokémon Scarlet and Violet arrive at Japanese cafe chain【Taste test】
Tokyo Skytree to light up in Pokémon colors for summer-long art event!
Real-world Pokémon Koraidon motorcycle makes its first run in Japan【Video】
Japanese vending machine sells freshly squeezed lemon juice with a futuristic light show
Coco’s Japan is very confident in their chilled ramen, but should they be? [Taste test]
Tokyo’s Haneda Airport airlines announce stricter luggage check-in deadline for domestic flights
Air-conditioned dress shirts arrive in Japan to save working professionals from sweltering heat
Pokémon comes to McDonald’s Japan for new Happy Meals toys, brings every generation’s starters
7-Eleven Japan rethinks convenience store sandwiches with a wild new choc-mint variety
Studio Ghibli’s No Face twirls to sound of Spirited Away’s theme song in beautiful accessory box
Is covering your entire upper body with cooling strips enough to fend off Japan’s summer heat?
Sanrio characters join forces with your favorite Japanese snack mascots as prizes at Family Mart
Sweet dreams are made of cheese at this all-you-can-eat cheese and doria restaurant
Tokyo’s newest viral dessert is like a Japanese parfait inside a bread bun [Taste test]
Starbucks Japan releases first-ever gacha capsule toys, featuring iconic menu items as plush coffee charms
7-Eleven Japan adds new chocolate fruit gummies to its sweets range, but are they worth the hype?
Kyoto receives more foreign tourists than ever before, but fewer visitors say they’ll return
7-Eleven Japan now offering baked-in-store pizza by the slice with two very different topping sets
Starbucks Japan opens new store inside historic seaside quarantine station near Tokyo
Foreign tourists in Japan eat far more rice than previously thought, according to new data
Studio Ghibli has a new anime out, and there’s only one place in the world where you can see it
Tokyo subway installing new ticket gates that don’t accept payment through Suica or other IC cards
Japan now has human refrigerators inspired by Japanese vending machines
Hatsune Miku collaborates with Hokusai’s art in new Vocaloid ukiyo-e illustration series [Pics]
New Shinkansen luggage drop-off system begins in Japan, making train travel even easier
Studio Ghibli releases anime T-shirts that pay homage to one of Hayao Miyazaki’s most personal films
Family Mart opens new “Famima” flagship store in Tokyo that’s like a tourist attraction
Uniqlo looks back to the very start of Pokémon with new black-and-white pixel art T-shirts[Pics]
Japanese Shinkansen becomes an overnight hotel for three nights this summer
Japan announces sudden 400-percent increase in visa fees for foreigners entering the country
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Japanese ninja certification exam attracts 131 candidates from Japan and abroad
Salomon releases Japan-exclusive Mt. Fuji hiking gear that doubles as an amazing souvenir
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
Giant Pokémon appear in Yokohama sky in awesome drone art show at World Championships【Pics, vids】
Pokémon-playing fish commit credit card fraud against owner in Japan via Nintendo eShop【Video】
Fans decide Ash would look better as a girl in the new Pokémon movie, fan art ensues
Awesome “Poké-drone” video shows how to catch the monsters in Pokémon Go from the air【Video】
Look at this awesome vision of how beautiful a modern Pokémon Red and Blue remake could be【Video】