#also fun fact my first shiny was an unown in that game!

[typhra]

Bytes, bits, nibbles... truly the computer was designed to eat, which is why i leave all my crumbs on it

[ianmrid]

Pokémon!

Another pokémon generation, another great set of pokémon to choose from for my top ten. I really don't think that there are any pokémon that I think are awful - they all range from average to fantastic. Additionally, in Sinnoh, I loved the big expansion on the new evolutions to old pokémon concept - and I think this Top 10 reflects that. As is always the case, I have included both the original Gen4 sprite as well as the shiny sprite, with all sprites taken from Platinum for the sake of consistency. Gen4 also marked my first first shiny since Gen2, and although Bibarel didn't sneak into my list, I really just wanted to mention it again!

10. Roserade

The last slot on the list is always tricky as it edges out all your honourable mentions, but I couldn't have a list without Roserade. The first of several on this list that is a new evolved form of a previously establised pokémon, Roserade is a perfect example of how this can breathe new life into a pokémon family. I can't imagine ever bothering with Gen3's Roselia which was fine, but nothing too special. But with it evolving into the masquerade ball-inspired Roserade, it was always on my list. I trained one on my Pokémon Pearl team and I think it is now my favourite Grass/Poison type - sorry Venusaur! Also, the shiny is lovely; the blue and red rose-hands change to black and purple and it looks so good. If this was a top ten list of shinies, Roserade would be even higher up!

09. Honchkrow

Honchkrow gets into this list head of the regional bird of Sinnoh, Staraptor (which I also think is great), for a couple of reasons. I think Staraptor is great, but the type combination Normal/Flying just isn't as interesting as the cool Dark/Flying type of Honchkrow. Additionally, as with Roserade, I love how it takes the previously average Murkrow from trickster crows to a group of lackeys who surround the Mafia Boss that is Honckrow. It's a great evolution concept. I also enjoyed training my Honchkrow (again on my Pokémon Pearl team) to combine it's Super Luck ability, the Scope Lens held item, and the high critical hit chance move, Night Slash, to dish out a crit every three attacks or so. I don't hate the shiny either, although I wish it was a bit of a deeper purple as it does stray dangerously close to hot pink. Still at least it isn't yet another blue pokémon turning to this colour!

08. Lopunny

I feel like Lopunny isn't a pokémon that would be on many people list of favourites, and I totally see why. It is weirdly sexualised - not too surprising given it seems to be based on a Playboy bunny - with the way it hold it's arms in front of it's chest to give the impression of cleavage (which it thankfully doesn;t actually have) and the 'wolf whistle' cry that cannot just be a coincidence. I never planned to use one but I needed a male Lopunny to help hunt for a female Combee, and he ended up sticking around on my Pokémon Diamond team. A big part of this was the headcannon I had that given it is a pokémon with such a feminine design, my Lopunny was a bad-ass pokémon drag queen! I also really like the shiny with the (thankfully not hot) pink highlights. YAAASSS!

07. Floatzel

I'm not even sure exactly why I like Floatzel so much - but it really appeals to me all the same. I like the animal it is based on - the Weasel presumably, although it could easily be a stoat, ferret, or otter - and think the design with the dual tails acting as a propeller is really cool. I also like how the rubber tubing element of it's design doesn't make look clumsey or inept like a Water-type pokémon, with what is essentially a flotation device, could easiy end up. Floatzel is another pokémon that I trained on my Pokémon Diamond team and it is both quick and relatively hard hitting on both the Attack and Special Attack sides, which makes it nice and versatile, especially when playing through and requiring it to learn both Special and Physical HM moves. The shiny is nothing to write home about though, essentially a more washed out orange. Maybe they were going for a gold colour, but if so it just looks kinda off. I'll stick with the original, thanks!

06. Mismagius

After two original pokémon lines, I'm back to new evolutions to old pokémon, and also my second drag queen pokémon! Another feminine-styled pokémon, my Mismagius is male earning it the nickname Ru Pol (because Ru Poltergeist was just a little too long). Evolving from the very overlooked Misdreavus, I always planned to use Mismagius on a team and he becomes the third member of my Pokémon Pearl team to get into the Top Ten. Really great Speed, Special Attack, and Special Defence, combined with a really good movepool for great type coverage makes Mismagius an excellent pokémon that I was a big fan of before even playing through the Sinnoh games. I'm also a fan of te mustard-coloured shiny, but if I had to choose between the colour options, I think the original is slightly better suited to a spooky Ghost-type.

05. Hippowdon

This is the first pokémon in my top ten that I didn't actually train in Gen4. This is odd because if I had produced the list without playing the games and the chance to bond with various other pokémon, then I think Hippowdon would have been in the top three. Part of the issue here is how difficult/late in the game you can get one. To catch it's pre-evolved form, Hippopotas, you need to capture a certain number of Unown in order to get into the tunnel where it lives. Since I had all the Unown forms in Emerald, I was never going to do this again, so I never caught it. The fully evolved for is available in the post-game, but this is far too late. Even so, I still love it as a pokémon. I really like the design of a scary looking, Ground-type hippo with sand pouring out of it and I think the sexual diamorphism in colour between the male and female forms helps make up for the fact the male form's shiny is rather lackluster, being just a more washed out beige. One day I will definitely train a Hippowdon of my own!

04. Mamoswine

Sinnoh certainy introduced some cool (Ice-type pun not intended) Ground-types, as this is the second of three in this top ten, as well as the fourth out of five that evolve previously established pokémon. Interestingly, after Swinub appeared in my Gen2 top ten, this is the first time two members of the same evolution line have been in a list of my favourites! Mammoswine was a key member of my Pokémon HeartGold team and is such a great addition to the Swinub/Piloswine family. According to in-game cannon, it is essentially a pre-historic evolution that only happens in certain circumstances in the modern day which makes it feel like a fossil pokémon, but without the need to saddle it with the Rock-typing. Unfortunately, on the shiny side it draws the short straw of the family as it just looks a bit weird compared to Swinub's aquamarine or Piloswine's lovely golden coulouration.

03. Vespiquen

Moving into the top three, Vespiquen is another pokémon that I liked before I ever played through Sinnoh and was very keen to use on a team. It's not hard to see why I like it; it is a fearsome-looking Queen Bee with a great honeycomb design, and the fact it can be a bit of effort to obtain since it only evolves from female Combees makes it feel like a prize when you finally get one. I had earmarked Vespiquen for my Pokémon Platinum team but it ended up missing out as, despite being part Flying-type, it can't learn the HM Fly. This caused me to drop it out for Drifblim in the end, but it is another pokémon I would love to train someday. Although I definitely prefer the original colouration, the more angry-looking orangey-red of the shiny is still a great look, but the idea of shiny hunting a female Combee doesn't sound like fun at all!

02. Yanmega

Yanmega was a late choice for my Pokémon SoulSilver team, but using it there rocketed it into the top ten, as I hadn't really ever considered it muc before using it on that team. It actualy combines everything I like about my previous two entries; it is a bad-ass looking Bug-type with an amazing design, and it is also a pre-historic evolution, based on the huge dragonflies that lived back then and evolving in the same way as Mamoswine. Since it is a new evolution to Johto's Yanma, it made sense to use it in the Gen2 remakes over and above Vespiquen, which share the same typing but only really has ties to Sinnoh. Finally, Yanmega has a realy excellent shiny with the blue version looking so good and it right up their with Roserade for best Sinnoh shiny!

01. Torterra

As we reach the number one slot, it shouldn't come as much surprise to see a member of a starter pokémon line here. The starter lines are always among the best designed pokémon of any region and my favourite from Sinnoh is easily Torterra. It has an excellent design concept; a Grass/Ground-type tortoise with an entire eco-system on it's back, my Torterra was an integral part of my Pokémon Diamond team. Given how much I like a lot of starters families, it is interesting that this marks the first time a fully-evolved starter has made the list, although the first-stage evolutions have been well represented with Bulbasaur, Cyndaquil, and Mudkip all previously representing their various regions. The only downside to Torterra is that I don't love it's shiny. It certainly isn't bad, but the variation of green used just can't hold a candle to the original.

Wow, I can't believe that I am finally at the end of Generation 4. As always I will be posting all the lovely art that I had commissioned of my Diamond, Pearl, Platinum, HeartGold, and SoulSilver teams before I move onto Gen5. I know these upcoming games are often considered rather devicive within the pokémon fanbase, but I also think this view has softened over time so it might actually be more of a case of fans of the franchise not enjoying new things. Eiter way, I'm excited to see how I fare with Pokémon Black and White!

[slowpokesami]

My opinion about pokémon games 2- Johto (Silver, Gold and Crystal)

Hi! As I said in the last post, in these reviews I will write about what I think is good and bad about different Pokémon videogames. I will talk (at least by the moment) about the principal games and I will go generation through generation. So as last time I talked about Red and Blue here is the link if you missed it now I will write about Silver, Gold and Crystal. Now it’s been some time since I don’t play it so be free to correct me if I make any mistakes.

In general I think this game was more complete than the first one, it had more options, like the phone and the bright idea of Pokémon breeding, which I think is one of the most entertaining things in Pokémon. It also included the first battle tower in Chrystal. It’s kind of a magic game, as they gave it a softer (but not worse) touch that wasn’t in Kanto. In fact Crystal was the first Pokémon game I played and that’s why it makes me feel kind of nostalgic. Another thing that I find very important is the fact that they added the option of being a girl with my favorite protagonist, that girl with blue hair I call Crystal. That was one big step to make the feminine public more comfortable, cause that was basically telling them the game was also for them and that girls can also be heroes. If I am not wrong it was (if not the first) one of the first videogames that added the possibility to play as a woman, and I think this is a big step in such a sexist industry as the videogame’s is. About the world: now that was a real fantasy world! I liked the realistic touch in Kanto but I rather the dreamy Tradicional-Japan inspired Johto. I think it gave another look to the videogames, maybe more appealing to the young public, but also not forgetting the adult one; I love the changing from day to night they added to this second game; I think it’s the best idea they had in Pokémon. All the scenario changed from day to night: you were in the same place but everything was darker and some Pokémon changed. I loved walking through tall grass and finding all the hoot-hoots and spinaraks, I kind of rather playing this game by night; but then the day came again and it all got calm and dreamy again. Talking about the cities, they were all very different; I like every one of them too: the idea of the Sprout Tower in the violet city, together with all Ecruteack city gave it the mysterios and tradicional japanase touch, while Goldenrod and Olivine cities gave it the cute touch. Mahogany Town and Blackthorn city added what most of the audience look for in Pokémon and other videogames, the epic touch, and the lake of rage was also helping in that. But cool cities and towns wasn’t everything that Pokémon offered us; there were also very entertaining places where we could do other activities, like the Ruins of Alph were we tried to complete the Unown dex while solving mysteries and the National Park and it’s contests, I had a lot of fun trying to catch the strongest or weirdest bug! And if that wasn’t enough, we could also travel to Kanto! I honestly have nothing to object about this region, the only fact that can be discussed is the decision of the boring zubat caves again and having to go across the victory road again, UFF!!

The villains: we had Team Rocket again there, which maybe wasn’t necessary but it wasn’t either a bad option. In one hand it was cool they went on showing that, even in a pretty world like the Pokémon one, there was cruelty; I’m referring to things like, for example, the slowpoke’s tails creepy plot. When you’re a child you’re like: “okay, this is bad”. But when you grow up you are like: “wait, WHAT?” They literally cut their tails to sell them in a high price, as it seems they are tasty. But doesn’t that reflect how bad we are too for eating animals? I’m not vegan but that is an interesting fact to think about, how we are reflected in team Rocket actions. Anyways it could likely be more compared to the shark hunting on japan (or was it in China?), as their fins are used for making soups and other food. I’m not sure how it works but I know they kill the whole animal just for eating the fin; if killing an animal you’re going to eat entirely can be cruel for some of us, how is it to kill an animal just for a fin? To me it makes 100% logic these things happen in Pokémon, and it is very clear that it would be team rocket who would sell the Slowpoke tails. The only question I have about it is… what happens to the Slowpokes? Do they kill them? Or do they make them live suffering? I can’t imagine team Rocket healing Slowpoke butts, honestly – and that makes me sad as you know it is the Pokémon I feel more represented by ;_;

But team Rocket was not that powerful since Giovanni left it, and Game Freak made a good job showing the contrast. For example, in Red and Blue, Team Rocket is everywhere: in the powerful places like Silph S.A., in the casino, Giovanni is a Gym leader, etc. while in Gold, Sylver and Crystal they even have difficulties invading the Radio Tower… because when they do you immediately go and kick them out. Not to mention there is no sign of them in Kanto neither. And after this game, team Rocket disappears. I doubt if Game Freak intentions were to make us aware that team Rocket ended there, if they wanted to show how a big mafia ended up being a group of thugs with dark intentions or if they just didn’t know what to do about the villains and didn’t think about a new team as they did lately… I think I personally would have rathered a new team because it is kind of repetitive and boring fighting them again; maybe a team linked to the spiritual touch of Johto? A lot of ideas come to my head, but well, as they made it fit the game, the idea of team Rocket again didn’t end that bad.

  About the Pokémon: All I have to say about them are good things; this is my favorite generation of Pokémon designs, they all look extravagant and at the same time they all have the old school touch Kanto also had. There’s a lot of Pokémon I love there: Smeargle, Jumpluff, Stantler, Ledyba, Hoot-Hoot, Misdreavus… Not to mention the legendaries were also stunning; I simply love Ho-oh and Suicune. They also included the shinys and the baby Pokémon in this game (you know, Cleffa, Pichu, Magby…) which also strengthen the cute touch I was talking about before. The pokemon they choosed of Kanto also fit the story and curiously had a big importance in it, like Bellsprout (in the sprout tower) or gastly and it’s evolutions (that were very important in the ghost gym and also helped strengthen the mysterious and dark touch I was talking about before) . I think it’s the only game I wouldn’t mind what starter to use and the eeveelution introduced are as good as the three originals or even better. As I said, nothing bad to write here.

The Character designs: In the last review I was complaining of the lack of representation of social minorities and well, they introduced the first androgynous looking boy of Pokémon, Bugsy! Not to mention that Will looks kind of androgynous too. They still lacked representation for people of color and androgynous woman (and I could talk about more minorities!) but again that was Japan in the late nineties, so let’s go step by step.  Apart of that they are also good characters, but I would like to know more of them. It feels like the leaders in Kanto had a more important role than in Johto, as some of them are part of the story while we don’t get to know the Johto characters that much (maybe the only exception is Jasmine, as we help her with her ampharos). But there’s one character that amazes me and this is Whitney; she always makes me laugh as I think she’s got a strong character, she behaves like a little girl but she will destroy you with her miltank – she looks cute (and she knows it!) but will make you a drama if she doesn’t win. Honestly I can understand it if the other people find her annoying but for me she is so frinking funny. We may not get to know the new Johto characters that much but the good thing is we get to know the Kanto characters better, and I like the fact that the Johto and the Kanto league are the same and now Lance is the champion, and we also got the opportunity to fight together with him against team Rocket. We can also see how the people of Kanto is doing after the first games: I like the fact that Green is a Gym leader and you can also fight Red.  I could spend hours talking about how amazing and interesting it got but I think I said everything I had to.

I can’t say I have many objections of this game. Now playing it is not as entertaining for me as playing the new games because they got more dynamic and entertaining but it is still one of my favorite games Thanks very much for reading and, if you liked it, please reblog it, like it or follow me, this blog is still new and I need your support to go on with it! J oh, and you can ask about my point of view of anything of the Pokémon world if you want, I’ll try to answer it! Sami Luu~