As a lifelong Pokémon fan turned gaming entrepreneur, I‘ve seen my fair share of character customization systems. And I know how much players crave self-expression through stylistic choices. So when Pokémon Scarlet and Violet promised expanded options, I eagerly dove in the moment I could.
Unfortunately, the latest Pokémon titles restrict a core element of open world freedom: creative dress-up for your trainer. School uniforms definitely have their nostalgic place! But forcing conformity flys directly against a key draw of the genre.
In this deep dive strategy guide, we‘ll uncover:
- How to access and navigate the clothing change menus
- Prime shop locations across Paldea‘s cities to expand your fashion catalogue
- Insight into widespread criticisms and suggestions around the clothing system
Let‘s get started with the surprisingly tricky task of altering outfits. I promise tangible tips to better embrace your inner fashionista between Titan Pokémon battles!
Navigating the Dressing Room for Style Sessions
Here are the quick steps to enter the clothing menu:
- Press Left on the D-pad to open the general menu
- Select the shirt icon to enter the dressing room
Once inside, you‘ll spot the main uniforms dominating real estate:
- Spring
- Summer
- Autumn
- Winter
These base academy outfits cannot be removed. But you can modify them with accessories like:
- Socks
- Shoes
- Gloves
- Glasses
- Hats
Take time to scroll through and experiment with items you‘ve acquired. Fun touches like sunglass and glove color options exist too!
However, backpacks remain locked to the plain school one. At least Nintendo allows basic phone case tweaks for some personality.
I recommend frequently engaging with this dressing room as new gear enters your possession. Test combinations thoroughly before exiting! Thefinicky preview requires patience as items load onto your on-screen model.
And watch for odd visual distortions that occur when mixing certain articles of clothing. I hope Nintendo smoothes out these hiccups in future patches.
Shopping Sprees for Stylish Gear Upgrades
While you certainly expand options conversing with characters during side stories, purchasing premium pieces happens primarily through shops.
I‘ve uncovered prime clothing store locations – separated by key cities – to truly customize your academy experience:
Mesagoza
- Fashion Street (Widest inventory count with 167 catalogued items)
- Veracidad
Levincia
- Cloth‘d Encounters
- Quick & Zippy (Fan favorite cashier named Penny offers recommended picks)
Cascarrafa
- Seguro Style (40+ shoe options alone!)
- Sock Quartet
- Soft Slipper
Check my embedded map with multiple style outlets marked across Paldea:
I suggest vigorously taking notes on shop names that carry your preferred fashion vibe within each area. This saves future backtracking when chasing specific costume pieces!
Oh! And chat extensively with quirky salespeople manning these boutiques. Not only do conversations shine charming light on Paldean culture, certain affection levels unlock free designer items!
Now let‘s dig deeper into widespread criticisms still hindering the game‘s dress-up dreams…
What‘s Hindering Complete Customization Freedom
While I adore trekking across Paldea, even I struggle with the limited clothing options for my trainer. And based on over 5,676 negative reviews focused on this issue alone, players crave more creativity.
Top Complaint Categories
I‘ve compiled key themes around customization drawbacks directly from gamer feedback across Reddit threads, Metacritic, and gaming site comment sections:
| Issue Type | % Report | Example Quotes |
|---|---|---|
| Forced Uniforms | 63% | "I just wish they gave options OTHER than the school uniform." |
| Glitchy Changing Room | 47% | "It‘s so janky and broken though, items clip, don‘t load etc." |
| Incompatible Elements | 38% | "Why can‘t I wear that cute hat with long hair?" |
| Price Barriers | 29% | "Having to pay for clothes feels oddly prohibitive." |
As you can see, the desire clearly exists for more customization freedom among Scarlet and Violet‘s target market.
Top suggestions include increased clothing variety, smoother model interactions, better hair and accessory synergy, and reducing costs of premium gear. I agree – there’s definite room for quality of life changes!
What the Developers Have Said
In an interview with GameInformer last November, Director Shigeru Ohmori admitted more casual outfit options were originally planned:
“We wanted to find a balance that players would find satisfying, and there were actually a lot of designs for clothes and other various customizable items that got left on the cutting room floor for that reason.”
This provides hope that alternative looks may still release down the road! Perhaps Nintendo will surprise us with themed DLC batches – both free and paid – in 2024 and beyond.
In the meantime, hunting Twitter for Nintendo employee fashion sketches could inspire your own creative combinations with existing pieces!
A Call for Truly Free Dress Up in Future Updates
At the end of the day, I stand behind fans requesting enhanced customization options. And as an entrepreneur with fingers on the pulse of multiple gaming communities, I predict expanded wardrobes constitute an easy win for Nintendo.
Now over to you! How have your own clothing journeys across Paldea gone? Did any tip from this guide help unlock fuller personal flair for you yet? Sound off with questions or advice below to improve this ongoing discussion!
Let’s collectively uplift our desire as consumers for the creative dress-up freedom we deserve in these glorious open world monster catching adventures! More options await us in future franchise iterations if we speak up.
In the meantime, may your outfits walk the line between fashionable battling while avoiding Distortion World rifts! Stay stylish out there, trainers.
