So Nintendo keep e-mailing me to advertise Pokkén to me (even though it’s already pre-ordered with them), I do have the Wii U version but my switch library is pretty small and I think I might enjoy Pokkén more as a portable title. I think we know the full roster which is all the originals plus Darkrai, Scizor, Croagunk, Empoleon and Decidueye. Only Decidueye is truly new as they had released the other four for the arcade machines, though had they released them as DLC would I have upgraded to the switch version? Probably not.
Anyway I ended up thinking about who I would include if hypothetically there was future dlc or a sequel. I probably wouldn’t my favourite two pokémon as they either add nothing new (Gallade) or would have to be compromised in design (Smeargle). The game already has 2 (3? with Shadow Mewtwo) psychic pokemon and Mega Mewtwo X is the exact same type combination as Gallade and would probably have a very similar fighting style, plus the other psychic type is Gardevoir and I was remember being dissapointed orginally that in a roster of 16 fighters two were different versions of other fights (even if they do play differently). Smeargle if you’re not familiar with him can learn every attack via sketch his signature move. This would open up to him feeling watered down if he couldn’t use some mechanic based on this e.g. his moveset varying based on who you fight. Ultimately I don’t think something along those lines would be fun as if you want random you would pick random. So who would I choose?
I looked at the roster and feel there are some big gaps particularly generation 2, 5, 6 and 7 don’t feel that well represented. Also no playable normal or rock types. Breaking it down we get:
| Generation 1 |
5 to 7 (if you include Pikachu Libre and Shadow Mewtwo) |
| Generation 2 |
2 |
| Generation 3 |
3 |
| Generation 4 |
6 (up from 3, Gen 4 remakes incoming?) |
| Generation 5 |
1 |
| Generation 6 |
1 to 2 (if you include Pikachu Libre) |
| Generation 7 |
1 |
By type:
| Nomral |
0 |
| Fighting |
4 to 6 (Mega Charizard X and Mega Mewtwo X) |
| Flying |
1 |
| Poison |
2 |
| Ground |
1 |
| Rock |
0 |
| Bug |
1 |
| Ghost |
3 |
| Steel |
2 |
| Fire |
4 |
| Water |
2 |
| Grass |
2 |
| Electric |
2 (but both are Pikachu) |
| Psychic |
3 (but two are Mewtwo) |
| Ice |
1 |
| Dragon |
1 to 2 (Mega Sceptile) |
| Dark |
2 |
| Fairy |
1 |
Despite normal and rock not appearing at all I would also feel a bit sorry for flying, ground, electric, ice, dragon and fairy. If I was going to include any generation 1 pokémon I would choose Onix (ground and rock covered and we would get some snake like gameplay) or Omanyte/Omastar being as it would cover rock and we’re not oversaturated in water types, additionally there are no fossil pokémon in the roster and Omanyte is arguably the most popular since twitch plays pokémon – might as well cash in. As for generation four Rotom in one of his forms could have been quite cool but it’s already well represented.
Generation 2 contenders
This and gen five are the only generations without a starter pokémon playable, we have plenty of fire and grass starters so Totodile, Croconaw or Feraligatr. None really strike me as offering anything new to the roster and with 33.33…% (didn’t include Pikachu Libre) of the roster being starters maybe not every generation needs a starter to represent them, though Bayleef/Meganium or Quilava could have offered some different gameplay. So currently gen two is represented by Suicune and Scizor. The ones that jump out at me which might offer some fun gameplay are; Ariados, Sudowoodo, Shuckle, Delibird (some fun flying and “delivering” presents) and Donphan.
Honourable mention: Wobbuffet (who wouldn’t want a pokemon that could only taunt and counter/mirror coat your opponent?)
Generation 3 contenders
Already reasonably well presented but I would consider Flygon, Serviper or Milotic.
Generation 5 contenders
Lots to choose from but I would be interested in seeing; Samurott despite it being a starter though it could end up too similar to Suicune, Drilbur or Excadrill who could tunnel around for their moves, Crustle who I know in the anime can fight without its shell (the powered up version maybe), Archeops, Galvantula who could probably do all Ariados could do and more.
Generation 6 contenders
I loved gen 1 and 2 (which is probably my favourite) generation 6 and 7 have been the best generations for me since gen 2 (probably all the nostalgia they threw in) so I did find it a shame there were so few entries from the recent games in the roster. I’m considering; Diggersby, Vivillon (who would be cool online to have the different patterns depending on who you were fighting and where they were in the world), Sylveon who not only would bring fairy but also an eeveelution (odds on getting the final missing special type Dragon in the next gen?), Goodra who always seemed so much fun in the main series.
Generation 7 contenders
While this generation added so few pokémon it also brought us a load of new forms and although they are all generation one pokémon it would be a shame not to show at least one off. I am thinking of choosing from; Raticate, Sandshrew/Sandslash, Vulpix/Ninetales, Lycanroc (was he getting a new form? could be fun to choose that one, thought I like his moon form better, sun perhaps would allow for a fresher fighting style), Golisopod, Nihilego a poison/rock jellyfish what could be more fun? Buzzwole or Pheromosa, probably Pheromosa as she would be less similar to Scizor.
After narrowing it down a bit I then tried to reduce it down to five and failed as I cut all the normal type. So seven pokémon who I thought would best represent what was missing and also potentially add some interesting playstyles. Here’s who I picked and why.
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Delibird
I really do think there could be a lot of fun utilising present in his moves also he is a flying/ice type which could use more coverage. It looks like Decidueye is going to use his more bird like figure as part of his style, I would like to imagine Delibird could do the same. |
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Donphan
Picked mostly for the possible gameplay, Donphan is usually potrayed as slow except when he rolls and then he is extremely fast. |
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Galvantula
While I’m not a fan of spider or electric pokémon (in general), I think Galvantula could bring a very unique style of gameplay, lay webs to trap/slow your opponent and then also if they are trapped having the ability to shock them even worse than normal. |
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Sylveon
The lack of eeveelutions coupled with the fairy type which was only represented by a retconned Gardevoir made this a pick for me. Though it’d probably be a fairy version of Suicune in gameplay, which wouldn’t be too bad as we have very few non-bipedal pokémon. |
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Goodra
I feel like Goodra’s slime like nature could easily be exploited for a different style of play though perhaps I would have been better picking Goodra’s previous evolution to show it off better but with Goodra’s size maybe it could be utilised more? |
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Raticate
Finding a normal type proved my hardest struggle as all the really prolific ones I would have liked to choose were from generation 1, in particular Chansey or Porygon (who would have been nice as we have no pokémon from a three stage evolution line who are in their base stage). Also I was keen for an alolan form. |
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Nihilego
Not sure how well this counts as the rock type I picked as it’s designed to be weird and I could see it lending itself to some less convential gameplay like Chandelure, which was why I picked it over Lycanroc. |
Amazed how few of my favourites slipped in (just Delibird). I shall look forward to Pokkén and trying out the new pokémon, who knows maybe this time we will get some dlc when they add fighters to the arcade machines?
Fomar0153 