Pokémon

[soratami]

I tried Squirdle a couple of times a while back but having to guess by height/weight makes it too hard and not particularly fun.

 

[XXX]

Squirdle trolling me by making the mystery Pokémon be Stunky.

 

[soratami]

Just randomly discovered the existence of the Carddass cards, a set of Pokémon trading cards that predate the release of the trading cards everyone's familiar with. It's an interest artifact from the start of the series, and the early depictions of certain moves being used a pretty cool:

 

[soratami]

What the fuck is that Ditto doing..

Using Transform dd, each of the cards represents both a Pokémon and a specific move being used.

 

[Thorium]

Poor Psyduck.

 

[soratami]

I know but how is it transforming into the 3 Kanto starters simultaneously? What kind of nightmare fuel...

Yeah, it's cool that these were probably created before there was a defined way in which these moves worked. Like Golem being hollow when using Explode, or Staryu detaching its arms to use Swift.

Also, this early Pikachu is absolutely adorable

 

[V3RYP05H]

Yeah, it's cool that these were probably created before there was a defined way in which these moves worked. Like Golem being hollow when using Explode, or Staryu detaching its arms to use Swift.

Also, this early Pikachu is absolutely adorable

Granted, I highly doubt that it was a case of the artist thinking Golem was hollow and more of “let’s not draw it’s guts and stuff flying everywhere”.

 

[soratami]

They aren't detached. The stars are inside blue circles - you can see them in the ones "closer to the viewer" too.

Yeah, you're right, I didn't look closely enough.

Granted, I highly doubt that it was a case of the artist thinking Golem was hollow and more of “let’s not draw it’s guts and stuff flying everywhere”.

Well, but the way these moves work is the Pokémon spending all their energy to cause a huge explosion around them and knocking themselves out in the process, they're not actually tearing themselves into pieces when using them. Weezing's is actually similar to Golem's:

 

[V3RYP05H]

Well, but the way these moves work is the Pokémon spending all their energy to cause a huge explosion around them and knocking themselves out in the process, they're not actually tearing themselves into pieces when using them. Weezing's is actually similar to Golem's:

Well, that shows I am clearly not alone in thinking they legitimately exploded, dddd. Honestly Had no idea, so they basically just give off a huge fart then.

 

[Chris_P]

Classy!

There are so many interesting depictions around in various side projects or products in terms of color, anatomy or how the mons use moves...
Two more that I thought were cute here are Pinsir moving its pincers forward instead of leaning its entire body forward (no idea if this is standard, I haven't seen pinsir in action much) and Poliwrath being tall rather than wide (accidentally - ? - closer to its - superior - beta version).

I am also going through older art and sprites these days and noticed that a lot of Kanto and Johto shinies are actually some mildly off-color variations that appeared in other media or early art. So it seems that those simply became the shiny colors once the official depiction of those mons was standardized further, I guess?

Another interesting one for me is shiny weedle which had a greener hue in gen 2, in line with shiny kakuna and shiny beedrill, but has been depicted in a variety of colors from honey colored to pale yellow ever since for whatever reason, no longer matching its evolved forms.

 

[V3RYP05H]

Dragonite’s Hyper Beam coming from the antennae instead of it’s mouth looks much cooler.

Also, I definitely had that Kakuna card.

Also also, this might be my favorite one.

 

[SlowGinFizzzz]

Scream!

 

[Jeffo]

@Nidorina You in danger, girl.

 

[_hazzie_]

Love these old artworks. Poor Psyduck indeed but also poor Ditto, not only is it having a nightmarish identity crisis but it’s also being mauled my Krabby and Kingler!

 

[Lapras]

I've delayed buying the new sofa I need for my house so I can snap up the giant Lapras plushie while it's available in the UK. At least if my old sofa does give in during that time I'll have a Lapras to sit on.

Make yourself comfortable!

 

[bbynewyear]

Those old artworks definitely made Pokémon feel more like a traditional JRPG back then. Like these were the weirdo monsters you might find in a dungeon as opposed to the ‘best friends’ energy most of them have now haha.

Also playing UNITE and maybe this is a controversial opinion, but I think a lot of Pokemon look better utilising flat textures?

Like especially where the eyes and some stylised mouths are concerned. I appreciate that they’re developing the models in the new games, but some Pokémon loose their charm in that process (like Magikarp in PLA, Oshawott too). As usual, UNITE casually reminds me why I love it so much.

 

[soratami]

Those old artworks definitely made Pokémon feel more like a traditional JRPG back then. Like these were the weirdo monsters you might find in a dungeon as opposed to the ‘best friends’ energy most of them have now haha.

That's a great point actually. Looking at the cards, a lot of them totally look they could be Dragon Quest monsters.

 

[Monado]

Yeah I totally get the SNES feel. Koffing looks like something you'd encounter in 2.300 AD in Chrono Trigger.

 

[Chris_P]

Those old artworks definitely made Pokémon feel more like a traditional JRPG back then. Like these were the weirdo monsters you might find in a dungeon as opposed to the ‘best friends’ energy most of them have now haha.

Also playing UNITE and maybe this is a controversial opinion, but I think a lot of Pokemon look better utilising flat textures?

Like especially where the eyes and some stylised mouths are concerned. I appreciate that they’re developing the models in the new games, but some Pokémon loose their charm in that process (like Magikarp in PLA, Oshawott too). As usual, UNITE casually reminds me why I love it so much.

Yeah, the "realistic" textures look hideous and are unnecessary/irrelevant. Likewise for the added details, such as flat features becoming three dimensional. It is okay that creatures created with a certain aesthetic in mind only look good like that. Not holding my breath though after what we've seen from gen 9.

 

[Fertilizer]

I’m fine with the eye depth and with mouths being actually modeled (Gengar looked positively ridiculous in 3D with the sticker mouth) but stuff like Lucario’s fur and shiny metallic Magnemite are a complete boot for me.