The Pokémon franchise has spawned numerous titles and spin-offs, spanning several generations of games and has an animated series that spans many seasons.
The first few Pokémon games (from Red/Blue to Ruby/Sapphire) really constitute most part of my childhood. Something like 70% of it I would say. Even today I don't think there is any other RPG, or any other game for that matter, that is quite like it. My favorite title has to be Pokémon Yellow. Why? Because it's Red/Blue (which everyone knows is the best generation) only slightly better.
That being said, even when I was completely under the hypnotizing spell of Ruby/Saphire, the last generation that I played, I felt that there were too many Pokémon.
Don't stop reading now, I know we've all heard this whining. That's not quite the point of this blog post.
When Game Freak gave us Gold/Silver it was pretty darn great because, hey, more Pokémon. When Ruby/Sapphire came out it was, hey, more Pokémon, again. When that other [gem stone]/[gem stone 2] generation, whose name I cannot remember, came out it was simply way too much Pokémon for me to care. So I didn't even get into it. But the recent release of Soul Silver and Heart Gold made me check some of the newest Pokémon there are.
And I thought Bidoof was bad. What the fuck is this?!
Number 442. Wait... FOUR HUNDRED FORTY TWO?!
Honestly, one element I think fascinated us all was the creativity of the team that created Pokémon. Even the names were great. Who didn't think Squirtle, or Charizard looked awesome? And you know, I could actually understand the concept of a fire lizard and a water squirrel/turtle, but I cannot understand what this thing above is. I cannot figure it out.
What the heck is it?!
Is it Jell-o mixed with Flubber on top of a rock?
Is it a blood sample taken from Frankenstein? It looks purple plasma with green cells in it.
Why does this color pattern still remind me of the two Nidorans?
The Pokémon team has obviously been deprived of all creativity they ever had. It seems as if they have been replaced by... I don't even know who or what can be so uncreative. Seriously, how many times are they going to use that color scheme. Do they expect us to have forgotten about the two Nidorans? It's been done before, make up something new.
Phew.
Ranting is exhaustive. So having said all that: I recently began playing Pokémon Yellow. On a Gameboy color. And it's really fun. I hadn't had this much fun with a videogame in a long time, this is also one of the most addictive videogames I've ever played. Additionally, the nostalgic feeling is amazing. The first 150 are the best Pokémon, with the best names, best design, and well, Lickitung.
So yeah. Play that game. Even if it's on an emulator. It's amazing.
The first few Pokémon games (from Red/Blue to Ruby/Sapphire) really constitute most part of my childhood. Something like 70% of it I would say. Even today I don't think there is any other RPG, or any other game for that matter, that is quite like it. My favorite title has to be Pokémon Yellow. Why? Because it's Red/Blue (which everyone knows is the best generation) only slightly better.
That being said, even when I was completely under the hypnotizing spell of Ruby/Saphire, the last generation that I played, I felt that there were too many Pokémon.
Don't stop reading now, I know we've all heard this bitching. That's not quite the point of this blog post.
When Game Freak gave us Gold/Silver it was pretty darn great because, hey, more Pokémon. When Ruby/Sapphire came out it was, hey, more Pokémon, again. When that other [gem stone]/[gem stone 2] generation, whose name I cannot remember, came out it was simply way too much Pokémon for me to care. So I didn't even get into it. But the recent release of Soul Silver and Heart Gold made me check some of the newest Pokémon there are.
And I thought Bidoof was bad. What the fuck is this?!
Number 442. Wait... FOUR HUNDRED FORTY TWO?! Honestly, one element I think fascinated us all was the creativity of the team that created Pokémon. Even the names were great. Who didn't think Squirtle, or Charizard looked awesome? And you know, I could actually understand the concept of a fire lizard and a water squirrel/turtle, but I cannot understand what this thing above is. I cannot figure it out.
What the heck is it?!
Is it Jell-o mixed with Flubber on top of a rock?
Is it a blood sample taken from Frankenstein? It looks purple plasma with green cells in it.
Why does this color pattern still remind me of the two Nidorans?
The Pokémon team has obviously been deprived of all creativity they ever had. It seems as if they have been replaced by... I don't even know who or what can be so uncreative. Seriously, how many times are they going to use that color scheme. Do they expect us to have forgotten about the two Nidorans? It's been done before, make up something new.
Phew.
Ranting is exhaustive. So having said all that: I recently began playing Pokémon Yellow. On a Gameboy color. And it's really fun. I hadn't had this much fun with a videogame in a long time, this is also one of the most addictive videogames I've ever played. Additionally, the nostalgic feeling is amazing. The first 150 are the best Pokémon, with the best names, best design, and well, Lickitung.
So yeah. Play that game. Even if it's on an emulator. It's amazing.
I think that nostalgia has a lot to do with those (me included) not being all that fond about the design of the newer pokemons. The original pokemons looked quite silly too in retrospect.
Hey guys, first generation of Pokemon were designed hella nice, huh? Remember these guys?
Hello, slime ball with eyes and mouth
Check out what I evolve into - an even bigger slime!
Oh look, another slime thing
A couple of ovals sticking out of the ground. Easy enough for even me to draw!
...evolves into three of the same. But I guess they're angry now.
Admittedly this guy was kinda cool looking
...oh, nice, we're sticking three of them together again.
Sorry man. I feel for you but I think this is your nostalgia kicking in. Each generation has their own handful of duds with Pokemon so there's no use talking about how they used to be better. I can understand the fact that there's too many for you to keep up with now but no, first gen's designs were not substantially better. Besides, think you'll find that Ken Sugimori has been doing pretty much all of the designs of the monsters since the very beginning with the exception of a couple here and there in Generation 3 and 4. And a lot of his designs would have been thought up at the very beginning, just saved for later due to space limitations and time constraints.
I agree, R-B-Y were awesome. The first 150 or so Pokemon seemed to me, more Naturally designed. A Fire-Lizard and a Water squirting Turtle. Now....all sorts of crazy creature designs are out there in G-S R-S etc. Though we must remember that Pokemon is was made in Japan. Cute silly things are biger over there than say in the west. I have always wanted a Pokemon stlye game but with things like zombies and skeletons and dragons and ghosts to take the place of all the silly cute pokemon. It still could be silly but more of a darker silly. Not all of the Pokemon are silly looking, Im sure we can agree that Charizard and Blastoise, Gengar, Scyther are pretty cool looking Pokemon.
I have to admit, the original 150 had a charm that is hard to replicate in the later generations. But the core concept of pokemon, and the journey to becoming a pokemon master, is unchanged. And it's not like the other pokemon have ceased to exist, they are still there. My vaporeon and scyther and muk and electrode are still rockin' out :D
" I have to admit, the original 150 had a charm that is hard to replicate in the later generations. But the core concept of pokemon, and the journey to becoming a pokemon master, is unchanged. And it's not like the other pokemon have ceased to exist, they are still there. My vaporeon and scyther and muk and electrode are still rockin' out :D "
But now they are all useless as they have some kind of evolved form.
Red/Blue is my second favorite game of all time, Gold/Silver was just as good. Ruby/Sapphire is where they kind of lost me a tiny bit, but don't get me wrong I've played every Pokemon game to date... in the main series I mean.
Maybe it's the fact that the series old motto "Gotta catch 'em all!" has kinda been shot to hell. I remember feeling so accomplished when I was younger for being one of the few people in my neighborhood who got all 150 in the originals. I remember being disappointed how Ruby/Sapphire had no way to connect with the older games so I had no way to keep these Pokemon who I've been attached to since I had Yellow (got Yellow before Red and Blue). Plus, it seems like the designs of new Pokemon get crazier and crazier because the original designs covered most of the simpler bases, so now it's either replicate old designs or make it crazy weird.
I don't know, I probably shouldn't really say anything as I don't have a DS and thus haven't played the new generation. All I know is I'm gonna be real fucking sad the day my Crystal game finally dies out and I lose my Mewtwo I've had and been attached to since my first Yellow game.
@Kowbrainz: You might have a point there. This argument isn't anything new, in fact, it has been around for quite a while now. But I do not think you are right. Quite honestly, I grew up with Sapphire and Ruby in the same way I grew up with Red an Blue and most of the Pokémon in the most recent generations are way less than the ones in the previous generations. Also, I believe you misinterpreted me. I never meant to argue the ridiculousness of the Pokémon, my main focus was the lack of originality that was starting to show. As if Ken Sugimori had run out of ideas, so he repeats the same techniques over and over again. Heck, I provided a link to Lickitung and said it was one of the best things in R/B/Y. Certain species are meant to look ridiculous.
EDIT: This post was ridiculously huge, more than what it should be. I reduced it to a spoiler, so this blog is much easier to browse.
It might be the nostalgia kicking in, but Snorlax has a much more simplistic design than Slaking. Slaking feels really hammered on, and much less original than that other fluffy fat.. thing. And in fact, the nostlagia argument doesn't even work here because, to be honest, I feel nearly equally nostalgic for both of these.
Take a look at Victreebell and its equivalent.
vs.
Note that in this case I am not even arguing the ridiculousness of the design. Ludiculo is supposed to look silly. The thing that i dislike about the most recent designs is that, in contrast to the earlier ones, they feel much more.. hammered on (for the like of a better word). Victrinbel is a plant with eyes. Period. Ludicolo is something that is under a Water Lilly, has flippers for his hands, is dancing around, has those stripes for no reason. It just looks a lot less original, and a lot less faithful to what it is based on (Water Lilly).
The earlier designs feel a lot more natural, more fluent. These days it feels as if they randomly generate Pokémon using a computer.
Example #3: Loudred vs. Golbat
vs.
Again. Loudred is arguably the equivalent to Golbat in the 3rd generation, but whereas I can tell that Golbat is a bat witha big mouth I cannot tell what Loudred is. Just that it is a big purple thing with a bigger mouth. It feels a lot less original than Golbat, Golbat is a bat, and ergo makes supersonic sounds, Loudred is something that shouts loudly.
Legendary Pokémon
This is most apparent in the legendary Pokémon. Compare how natural Moltres and Celebi look to the most recent legendary Pokémon.
vs.
The first two are much more charming. Moltres is a fierce fire bird and Celebi is an adorable mystical creature, that much I can tell. When I look at Kyogre and Palkia they both look like droids. Kyogre looks more like a cyborg, to be fair, but when I look at Palkia, the thing looks like a robot, period. I feel these two belong in some other franchise. Additionally, you can tell that the lack of creativity had become apparent here, they both share the same elements. They both have small eyes, Alien-like patterns all over them and they both look like an animal-droid-thing.
Now compare these groups of legendary Pokémon:
vs.
When I look at Articuno, Zapdos and Moltres I can tell they are birds, each of a different element, whereas when I look at the Regis the only thing I can tell is that they have stupid names. Are they statues? Why are they living then? Weren't Pokémon supposed to be animals (aside from a few exceptions, such as Geodude)? These designs are evidence of how new Pokémons have lost the charm that the earlier ones bear. Metaphorically speaking, when you look at the most recent Pokémon it feels as if they were made factory, whereas the earlier ones were handcrafted. They have that charm and originality to them that the new ones seem to have lost.
Now compare these two:
vs.
Again, Lugia and Oh-ho look, well... Legendary. Latias and Latios look like droids.
And finally take a look at Darkrai:
WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT?!
It doesn't look like anything! It looks like a printing error!
Other Problems
The general lack of ideas leads to lame new Pokémon based one the ones from the first two generations.
This is a major problem and one of the things that pisses me off the most. The general repetition of old ideas and techniques really helps to tone down the general magic. The cheapest of all tricks is the new evolutions of old Pokémons, from the 1st generation. They actually came up with evolutions for Pokémons of the first generation and put it in the 4th. This is such a lame trick to extend a franchise that I get the feeling George Lucas suggested this. Seriously, I felt the same thing I felt when Obi-Wan asked to delete the droids' memory in episode III. "Why would you do that?"
It's like Game Freak just went: "OK, we're out of ideas-- OH WAIT I HAD AN EPIPHANY. FANS WILL LOVE IT!".
Why is it that we only find an evolution from a Pokémon from Kanto in some other island? Why is it that the original Pokémon is #11, its first evolution is #12 and it's second evolution is #345? Why did they need to delete their memory? How did that help? Take a look at this evolution:
Electabuzz #125
Electrivive #446. What the fuck is this?
That's not to say some concepts from previous installment aren't welcome in most recent games. I kinda liked seeing the whole Magikarp/Gyarados thing all over again on the 3rd generation. Magikarp is a weak fish Pokémon which then evolves into this badass seadragon, likewise Feebas is an ugly-ass fish who then evolves into a beautiful sea creature, Melotic.
Gallery
Gallery
The names. Oh God, the names.
The names of the Pokémon have always been something fascinating to me. The origin of some of them is quite obvious, such as Squirtle (Squirrel, Turtle), but whenever I figure out something much more complex it's always "OH SNAP!". For example, my mind exploded when I realized the following:
ArticUNO
ZapDOS
MolTRES
If your reaction was something like "HOLY SHIT MAN", it is not only completely understandable but predictable as well. My point here is: Pokémon names used to be original, and often humorous. These days you have Pokémons called Abomasnow and Spiritomb. How lame can you get? You're not even merging to words here, you are taking two words and putting one in front of the other. It's the difference between Charmeleon and Spiritomb. One is two words made one, the other one is two words stuck together. Same thing applies for, oh say, Venusaur. It is the merging of two words, whereas Abomasnow is two words stuck together. It sucks.
Conclusion
To conclude I would like to compare the ghost type Pokémons of R/B/Y to Spiritomb.
But hey, this thread is about Spritomb, who, regardless of all this, is undeniably the most retarded-looking pokémon I've ever seen. This is a fact.
Gallery
HURR DURR HURR. I find Spiritomb to be the perfect example of what has happened to the franchise. I asked around to make sure it wasn't the "nostalgia kicking in". Both online communities and personal friends believe this is the most retarded thing they have ever seen and should not be considered a Pokémon. And I think I figured out what it is. It's Sarah Palin's face whenever someone says "Health Care".
In Conclusion
As I said earlier on, recent Pokémon feel factory-made. It feels as if they are produced in high amounts and really fast, so they get a list of elements and repeat them over and over again, moreover, their names are really retarded and uninspired. Whereas the earlier Pokémons feel as if they were handcrafted, they have that charm and originality to them that none of the most recent generations has. That goes for the names as well, the earlier names were much more original than the new crap we're getting.
Sorry about the long reply. I know it's really poorly formatted, which is nothing like me, but I really procrastinated a lot while doing this, and by the time I finished it it was really late.
@Snail: only thing I can honestly agree with you on is the legendaries, since I know that adding metal plating and crap is not how you make monsters look cool. If I wanted that shit I'd still be into Digimon.
But otherwise no. Many of those examples you gave I'm fine with and I think a lot more people would be if they were released as Generation 1 pokemon. Spiritomb is a dud, sure, but you can't base everything of gen 4 on him alone.
The whole "lacking originality" thing is bullshit, though. You keep flip flopping on what you're actually looking for in pokemon - natural looks or originality. A lot of the original pokemon looked natural because they were pretty much just cartoon versions of their real life selves. Seel was a seal, Dewgong was a Dugong - neither had much done to them to differentiate themselves from their real life counterpart. Ludicolo, on the other hand, is one of the most original designs I have seen. He doesn't need to stay true to what he's meant to represent - he's a freaking monster. They all are. Pocket. Monsters. Same goes with Loudred - someone actually had a concept for what a monster could be and what their unique traits were, then created it, instead of just looking through some wildlife magazine and copying an already existing animal. Don't see why you have to fault them for that.
Yeah, new pokemon suck for the most part, and I hope they just stop making new ones. But still, I felt that Gold/Silver Pokemon were fantastic. And thus, Pokemon Heart Gold/Soul Silver is awesome.
You know, Persona is quite a bit like Pokemon. So much so, that when I acquire a new Persona I sometimes say "Look, a new Pokemon!" completely seriously and on complete accident.
Just replying to your sentence here:
Even today I don't think there is any other RPG, or any other game for that matter, that is quite like it.
I completely agree. The newer Pokemon seem so poorly designed compared to the original generation. The thing I've noticed the most is so much unnecessary geometry all over them.
I agree, sometimes I think they're just running out of ideas. These days I think that some pokemon are over designed, with lots of tassely bits. I mean look at fucking evee. It's pretty much a small, fluffy dog. That's it. Ratatata is a fucking rat. It doesn't have streamers shooting out of its ase or pink polka dots. And somehow I think the older pokemon were more hardcore than todays ones, like you could tell ratatata meant business, he was going to tear your goddam balls off. Even the retarded pokemon were pretty hardcore, I mean magikarp still wins as best pokemon ever, and he evolved into one of the most powerful. Even fucking Jigglypuff was kind of morbid, as she sung you asleep so she could murder you.
On another note, I wonder what happened to some pokemon, like that tiger/dog pokemon, or the one which wore skulls on it's head and beat you with a bone. And does anybody remember that pokemon that was literally a fat black chick who sung?
I'll just say that I have nostalgia for the old games, and everyone does NOT know that r/b/y is the best generation. Gold/Silver/Crystal is the best. That being said, I thoroughly enjoyed both the 3rd and 4th generation games, and even if some of the new pokemon are lame, some of them are pretty cool too. Lucario for instance. Or Kyogre. Or Rayquaza.
" Some (hell, a lot) of the new dudes are uninspired, but really, Abomasnow isn't one of them. He's a christmas tree yeti. Tell me that isn't AWESOME. "
Easy son, I'm complaining about his name.
@Kowbrainz: It's not bullshit. Pokémon are becoming less and less original. What you call "originality" I call "lack of originality" so this argument isn't going anywhere. But I really liked some of the posts on this blog, some users managed to put my thoughts into words in a more effecitve, and more simple way, than I did with my gigantic oversized post.
@MisterBoss: Yep, they just won't stop. I've seen the only two new Pokémon that have been announced from that generation, and I think they belong in a Yu-Gi-Oh! card, not in a Pokédex. The two Pokémon are below:
The games are still pretty awesome if you can get over the dumb Pokemon. The first 150 pokemon were briliant, and they've been gradually been getting worse since then. But the gameplay is still solid, and I can get over the stupidity of the Pokemon.
Peaked at Gold/Silver in my opinion. After that, for me, it's just too much :/
In my opinion, 250 was about the maximum number of Pokemon you could have a really in-depth knowledge of mechanics and how each Pokemon worked. With the advent of the 3rd generation, there was just so much shit that made you go "what the fuck?", that you just can't be bothered to engage with it.
That said, G/S was the last generation I really got into.
Money. More Pokemans == more money. If they don't make more to fill up Amethyst, or Malachite, or Quartz, or whatever the hell the next game's going to be called, people will lose interest. Or maybe they won't but the creators of Pokemon seem to think it works that way. I loved the old games as well and I even picked up Soul Silver because, for me, another set of unimaginative Pokemon doesn't change the fact that the games are addicting to play. It gets annoying, I completely agree, but I just can't stop. I mean, ya gotta catch 'em all... right?
Yep. The games are still good, but the designs are kind of garbage at this point. The last time Pokemon designs generally looked "awesome" were G/S/C, and then there are a few good ones in R/S/E ( An evil shark head? Hellz yeah!) . But really, I wouldn't cry too much if any of the 4th gen pokemon kicked the bucket. Especially abominations like Probopass... I always use Alakazam and Gyarados anyways.
Kowbrainz knows whats up. Seriously, smartest post in this entire thread.
That said, I think this generation has some awesome designs. Luxray for example is probably one of my favorite looking Pokemon in a long time. His whole line is great. Shinx is so god damn cute.
"You know, Persona is quite a bit like Pokemon. So much so, that when I acquire a new Persona I sometimes say "Look, a new Pokemon!" completely seriously and on complete accident.
Just replying to your sentence here:
Even today I don't think there is any other RPG, or any other game for that matter, that is quite like it.
"
Your Persona just learnt a new move, but it can't remember anymore, choose a move to forget!
Come on, tell me that didn't remind you of pokemon? The wording is even really close.
Oh, and don't talk crap about Grimer, he's awesome.
Why do they think that adding more is mandatory? Couldn't they just update the graphics and perhaps the gameplay mechanics or even change the continent that the "story" is taking place? Stop inventing stupid looking pokemon!!, you are killing my childhood!!!
I wish I could build my own Pokedex. Like they make you choose at least 150, but you could fill that however you wanted and play with just those. That would be fucking prime.
Sure there are plenty of duds among the newer creatures (notably since the start of generation 3, ruby/sapphire, especially with the legendaries) there are also lots of really great creatures. creatures in the Gardevoir and Luxray family, Tropius, Mawile, and many others are additions are some I'm very grateful. I actually made a thread about the 151 best creatures in the series, which I wish they would make a game featuring exclusively.
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