Pokémon Scarlet and Violet are finally here, and though there are plenty of things to celebrate, it’s safe to say the ninth generation of Game Freak’s iconic franchise has some performance issues. Still, of all the freaky things to be going in-game, from gigantamaxing NPCs to drowning Fuecoc, the reappearance of a Mario 64 glitch seems to be the most surprising.
The bug sees you able to perform a backwards long jump, just like the iconic Mario 64 glitch that sees the moustachioed plumber cannonball himself backwards up otherwise unassailable walls. This time around, it allows you to traverse Paldea much easier, with your rideable legendary reverse pouncing up the region’s many cliffs and mountain regions.
Sure, this fault in the Pokémon overworld mechanics isn’t exactly a like-for-like swap-in of the Mario 64 glitch, but both share the ability to help speedrunners chart a course to get through this new title. Already, eager streamers are pushing the bug to its limits as they try and reach new heights – physically and metaphorically – in the Pokémon world.
Mario isn’t the only iconic gaming character the performance woes of Pokémon Scarlet & Violet have us thinking of. With the problematic textures of the overworld, by the time your dragon can glide through the Pokémon-filled skies, you might feel a touch of the Spyro’s with how the horizon vanishes in and out of view. Nothing like a few early 2000s pop-ins while playing a game in 2022. A real sense of nostalgia.
There you have it, all you need to know about the Mario 64 glitch popping up in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. For some tips or traversing the challenges of this new land, check out our Pokémon Scarlet and Violet gym leaders guide.