At first glance, it may seem likeStar Wars OutlawsandPokemon ScarletandViolethave nothing in common with each other. One is an open-worldStar Warsgame that deals with the criminal underworld while the other takes players on another Pokemon-filled adventure. Both have very different gameplay, stories, and are built for different audiences. However, it does seem likeStar Wars OutlawsandPokemon ScarletandVioletmay be similar in one way: their approach to food.
In both games, players are able to eat all sorts of food during their journey. This food not only lets them relax in between their high-stakes adventures, but it also has a slight gameplay benefit. Once players finish their meals, they will gain a buff to a certain ability. Although these abilities could not be more different,Star Wars OutlawsandPokemonstill seem to approach the concept similarly, which is great to see.
Star Wars Outlaws and Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Make Food Matter
Star Wars Outlaws' Food Gives Nix Powers
As players traversetheStar Wars Outlaws' galaxy, they will occasionally stumble across food. Sometimes, Nix will sniff out something and run off in the direction of whatever it is. If the player follows, they will soon discover a food vendor waiting to sell them a planet-specific meal. If they approach the vendor, they will be able to sit down with Nix and enjoy it via a quick-time event. Upon completion, they will be rewarded with a special Nix Treat.
These Nix Treats can be placed withinNix’s bowl on the Trailblazerfor a special bonus. There are four different ones in total, with only one being equippable at a time. They can make him distract more enemies, give him the ability to kick grenades, make enemies he attacks lose control, or distract enemies for a longer duration. While none of them are necessarily game-changing, they can all be a lot of fun to mess around with. And the process of unlocking them makes it worth it.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet’s Food Buffs the Player
Pokemon ScarletandVioletalso gives players the ability to sit down and eat a meal along their journey. Every town has restaurants and food carts that they can buy food from, with each dish giving them different buffs. These buffs can be anything from increasing the chance of finding eggs to increasing their catching power to making shiny Pokemon more common, or even rewarding more items after a Raid. There are about 10 different buffs in total, with only three being able to be active at a time.
If that was not enough food, players are also able tomake their own sandwiches viaPokemon’s picnic feature. They can set up a picnic almost anywhere within the open world and are able to make a sandwich out of ingredients they buy along their journey. This lets them dictate what type of buff they will be getting, with the ingredients having an effect on what the food does. The food fun does not stop there either, as these foods can also have an impact on what Pokemon types players find, making them extremely useful.
AlthoughPokemon’s food may be a bit more advanced thanStar Wars Outlaws, they both seem to be using the system in great ways. Letting players engage in systems like this can really help further build out these worlds, as it gives them a look into what types of food the people eat. Additionally, attaching buffs to them gives them far more of a reason to do just that. And because of its popularity, it will be interesting to see just what video game decides to take the concept for a spin next.
