The culture, gastronomy and geography of Spain and Portugal that inspire Scarlet and Purple Pokémon

November 18 (Portaltic/EP) –

The setting of the new installment of Pokémon, scarlet and purplewhich arrives this Friday, November 18 for Nintendo Switch, is located at ‘pald’, a new region inspired by the two countries that make up the Iberian Peninsula: Spain and Portugal.

The presentation trailers issued by the Japanese video game company contain several nods to the culture, gastronomy, geography and climate of the Iberian Peninsula, both in the map of Paldea itself and in the new pokémon that they present.

The references are numerous from the first trailer: the security guard inspecting a mysterious room finds a board with various hanging items, including a map of the Iberian Peninsula. Perhaps this is the most obvious detail that suggests that the ‘Paldea’ region is similar to this region.

In that same trailer, you can see elements known to abound in Spain, such as a fountain with grapes (very typical of areas like La Rioja) and oranges (famous in the Valencian Community). In addition, these fruits coincide with the symbols of the banners crowning the Scarlet and Purple schools.

Next to the fruit bowl with the grapes and oranges, you can see a table with two sandwiches attached with a toothpick, as a pintxo (Basque Country) or tapa. This snack also appears in the game, as it allows you to create a sandwich that resembles the chorizo ​​sandwiches that are usually eaten on the peninsula, with sausages and accompanying tomato.

The ceramictypical of both countries, or a chest with coins, cups and gold bars, Reminiscent of the maritime domain that both Portugal and Spain came to have from the fifteenth century in the age of discoveries, are other elements that link the new games with the Iberian Peninsula.

The game introduces the Scarlet Book and the Purple Book“diaries written many years ago that tell the story of an expedition”, each one with the engraving of a pokémon on its cover.

In the scarlet book the cover is crowned with the figure of the Legendary Pokémon Koraidon, which looks like a Liona symbol that also belongs to the Spanish Coat of Arms. On the other hand, the purple book shows the Legendary Pokémon Miraidon, that simulates the figure of a dragon on its cover, which coincides with the Greater Coat of Arms of Portugal, which also includes dragons.

OLIVES, IBERIAN PIGS AND MUFFINS

They also attract attention new pokemon that can be found touring the region. It is the case of ‘Smoliv’ a pokemon that resembles a olive, a typical crop in Spain, especially in Andalusia. The same happens with the pokemon ‘Lechonk’ shaped like iberico pigvery common in Extremadura, among other places on the peninsula.

Likewise, there are Pokémon referring to coastal areas such as Clauncherwhich resembles a lobster and, although it is not new to this installment, it could represent the shellfish that is collected in the Iberian Peninsula, just like ‘Wiglett’, a congrid pokémon of Paldea. It is also necessary to highlight ‘Sprigatito’reminiscent of an Iberian lynx, or ‘Fidough’, whose rounded fluffy ears look like muffins.

FROM CADIZ TO BARCELONA PASSING THROUGH MADRID

In the images that Nintendo has released, there are also geographical similarities. For example, it shows a scene with windmills that reminds of lands of Castilla-La Mancha. In another image, you see a square with terraces what an adventure to remember the Plaza Mayor of Madrid, and the protagonist’s house reminds a farmhouse, a rural construction typical of the east and northeast of Spain -in which, by the way, there is no shortage of clothes drying in the sun-.

There are even names of locations that refer to well-known Spanish places such as the Cáhiz Trail (which would be Cádiz) and Caleta Grotto (like the Cadiz beach of La Caleta). But there are more nominations like mesagoza (which sounds like Zaragoza), Mesaledo (which could be Toledo) or mesalona (Barcelona).

Similarly, regarding Barcelona references, the trailer shows a Pikachu that could be placed in what looks like the Gaudi’s Park Guell for the colors and architectural forms that are used. Also, one of the game’s iconic buildings is remarkably reminiscent of The sacred Family.

The company shows more representative locations as a desert full of pokemons called ‘Stonjurner’ which, in the case of the peninsula, would belong to desert areas such as Almeria.

Lastly, the house of the protagonist of the game, which is in a sea zone, also includes clues indicating that the game is based on the peninsula. Inside the house they look paintings representing a flamenco dancer, a field with windmills that seem to be taken from La Mancha from Don Quixote and a still life with tomatoes.