Scarlet & Violet—151 finds new stars in the first generation of Pokémon

polygon.com:

When I pulled open the crinkly plastic containing my first booster pack of 10 random Pokémon cards, I found a new kind of surprise waiting for me inside. Shuffling through the short stack, examining the retro art, my eye caught a shiny corner of foil peeking out. I wanted to see something grand — maybe a legendary bird with the power to change the climate or perhaps a roaring Charizard — but I didn’t. Instead, I found a lowly Caterpie, a tiny little bug sitting on a leaf all by itself. It was a quiet moment, but it embodies the vibe of Pokemon Scarlet & Violet—151.

Scarlet & Violet—151 is the latest expansion for the Pokémon Trading Card Game. Fans can find it for sale at retail starting Sept. 22 at several different price points, including the $59.99 151 Elite Trainer Box, $119.99 151 Ultra-Premium Collection, and the 151 Binder Collection for $24.99. Other products, like 151 ex Box—Alakazam ex and 151 ex Box—Zapdos ex, go on sale Oct. 6 for $21.99 each.

While new Pokémon TCG expansions come several times a year, this set brings something noteworthy for the casual collector: It revives and reboots the original 151 Pokémon from the Kanto region, the same collection of critters included when the TCG was first released in the United States at the end of 1998. It’s a major nostalgia play that has already drummed up a lot of hype, but it also comes with a uniquely difficult challenge as the set contends with the legacy of the first generation of Pokémon and the prized “base set” of original cards.

Flipping through these new cards, a lot of the art from Scarlet & Violet—151 seems markedly less inspired than the original cards released 25 years ago. I pulled a Charizard ex and a Kangaskhan ex, and both look like relatively