The rarity is what makes them significant. Not significant enough to actively hunt for (I dunno why anyone would want to do that, it sounds dreadful) but when you just randomly run into one, the fact that it was super unlikely to run into one is what makes it exciting.
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Unpopular opinions
- Thread starter antemortem
- Start date
I just like the idea that the Shiny Sceptile I have is a one-in-four-thousand (not, I Masuda'd it haha) version of all the other Sceptile. He's my special Celestial the Sceptile, and I like that.
I honestly feel like this wasn't exactly intended to happen. I personally think Shiny Pokemon were more of a weird experiment than a specific game mechanic. I can totally imagine some Game Freak employee messing with colors and turning Charizard purple, and everyone in the room is like "Holy frick that Charizard is so cool we should put him in the game." Then it evolved into what it is now somehow, but notice that it's significantly easier to find. It's a mechanic now, but back then it was more of an inside joke. At any rate, whoever started this wacky craze made Pokemon so much weirder and more popular. I love that guy, whoever he is. And I love purple Charizard too, but not as much as black, so there's my opinion
I made Magcargo's shiny look like this in my joke hack, based partially on GSCs blurple shiny, but also unique with a gold shell
Black is definitely overrated. Green shinies can be good...for none brown/tan mons
I finished up the "postgame" of Legends: Arceus within the past week, and while I had my doubts before, having played through the battle against Volo twice now (once when helping a much more inexperienced friend of mine beat him), I think I can safely say that... yeah, this guy's honestly pretty overrated. I'll save you my rambling on how he's already based off of another fan favorite character, that being Cynthia (who I also view as very overrated), but I just don't see the appeal this guy has for everyone else.
First off, his character writing. By the end of the game, he tries to come across as another one of those "twist villains" along the lines of Lusamine, Chairman Rose, or even Kamado in the same game. Compared to them, there's really no reason to be suspicious of him for quite some time. Sure, he's really interested in Hisui's mythology, but so was Cynthia, so what's the problem? A good twist villain is one who does have some hints but keeps them relatively subtle. He also goes out of his way to call the player "one of his best customers", among other things throughout the story, even if you rarely bought anything from him... I dunno, as someone who wants to be a writer when i grow up, I feel like Volo does some things right here and there, but if it wasn't for people's die-hard Cynthia bias, the characters based off of her would be just as, if not even more forgettable and bland. At least Cogita has some intelligent lines here and there.
Next, the battle with him. I'm sorry for speaking my opinion online, sue me, but... this fight is the epitome of horrible Pokémon game design. As much as I don't care for Cynthia compared to the averagesimp fan, at least I can say that her battles can feel rewarding to complete. Both times getting through this fight, both attempts being much easier than the general public made it sound, I didn't feel anything after eventually winning. If anything I actually felt cheated because the fight's essentially a 6 Vs. 8 with Giratina also getting one free move upon its transformation. For an "epic, climatic final battle", the music didn't do too much for me to set the tone, either. Even if I cared for Cynthia as a Champion back in modern Sinnoh, the first phase of the song is just way too... almost silent, very "un-Pokémon-like" in my opinion. The only enjoyable part of the battle for me was trying to play the new battle system most effectively, but this can hardly be considered a positive when said battle system's been the same for the entire game up to this point, even if it's different from vanilla Pokémon.
First off, his character writing. By the end of the game, he tries to come across as another one of those "twist villains" along the lines of Lusamine, Chairman Rose, or even Kamado in the same game. Compared to them, there's really no reason to be suspicious of him for quite some time. Sure, he's really interested in Hisui's mythology, but so was Cynthia, so what's the problem? A good twist villain is one who does have some hints but keeps them relatively subtle. He also goes out of his way to call the player "one of his best customers", among other things throughout the story, even if you rarely bought anything from him... I dunno, as someone who wants to be a writer when i grow up, I feel like Volo does some things right here and there, but if it wasn't for people's die-hard Cynthia bias, the characters based off of her would be just as, if not even more forgettable and bland. At least Cogita has some intelligent lines here and there.
Next, the battle with him. I'm sorry for speaking my opinion online, sue me, but... this fight is the epitome of horrible Pokémon game design. As much as I don't care for Cynthia compared to the average
Lopunny can go die in a hole.
or get some kind of replacement regional/cross gen evo that isn’t so effing stupid
or get some kind of replacement regional/cross gen evo that isn’t so effing stupid
I predicted that Volo was evil when I started playing because he seemed too much like a "friendly rival".
the sad life of JRPG players.
If someone is too friendly and always on the "scene of crime", they're the bad guy :(
Cogita showing up was what made me realize that with two Cynthia look-a-likes, only one of them has to stick around to the very end.
Better or worse than "Lysanderoth, you were behind all this?!" situations?
Notice how nobody mentions Volo having the same hair Grimsley had.
Nobody mentions Volo having the same hair Grimsley had because Volo doesn't have the same hair Grimsley had.
Yes he does (at least the same style).
Volo's hair is parted to the side and his bangs cover one of his eyes, while Grimsley's is mostly symmetrical with a lock of hair coming down the middle of his face. Volo's "horns" are more vertical, while Grimsley's are more horizontal and resemble wings. And most crucially, Grimsley doesn't have a giant insane ponytail thing coming out the back of his head.
I dunno about that. The foreshadow to Volo’s true nature was that Volo taught you the “backstrike “ technique , as in attacking when you are not suspecting it.
Volo being three letters away from Diavolo should have also warned us.
Going back to shinies, it's interesting how the series has to simultaneously tell the player that shinies are special and noteworthy (and worth seeking out) while also insisting that they hold no additional value compared with non-shiny Pokemon. There's a Pokemaniac in G/S/C/HG/SS (iirc) whose post-battle dialogue is something like "Differently-colored Pokemon are more valuable than regular Pokemon. What, you mean that's not true?!" with the typically-mute player character implied to be actively disagreeing. There's also a whole episode of the anime about a shiny hunter depicted as being in the wrong.
It's hard to escape the conclusion that, from an in-universe perspective, having a prized shiny Pokemon that's special to you because of its shininess makes you kinda shallow. Of course, from the player's point of view there's no non-shallow reason to like a particular mon more than any other, since the only features we can really assess are appearance and battle prowess and they don't have actual personalities.
Weirdly, I tend to prefer shiny Pokemon when they're not my usual favourites. I guess I like having a reason to pay attention to a member of a species that I'm not normally all that keen on.
It's hard to escape the conclusion that, from an in-universe perspective, having a prized shiny Pokemon that's special to you because of its shininess makes you kinda shallow. Of course, from the player's point of view there's no non-shallow reason to like a particular mon more than any other, since the only features we can really assess are appearance and battle prowess and they don't have actual personalities.
Weirdly, I tend to prefer shiny Pokemon when they're not my usual favourites. I guess I like having a reason to pay attention to a member of a species that I'm not normally all that keen on.
Does the series tell the player this, though? I mean, the few times I can think of NPCs mentioning it, it's in a very trivial, "this happens" sort of way - generally along the lines of "Oh hello, [player]. Did you know sometimes a Pokemon can have a different colour than usual?" It's only the odd examples like the one you mentioned (and that is, literally, the only one I can think of) which draw attention to shinies as being more valuable. Obviously a lot of people will be motivated to seek them out purely because of that, but they're so rare that most players will go an entire game without ever seeing one, so it doesn't majorly effect them. Villains like Team Rocket and Team Galactic never talk about wanting shiny Pokemon; Mr Pokemon in GSC wants the Red Scale because the Red Gyarados is rare, but he's explicitly deemed a nut who goes wild for obscure rare stuff so he's hardly typical.
Even the methods which make shinies easier to get are usually extremely under-the-radar and only known via guides (nothing in any game as far as I can recall ever so much as hints at the existence of the Masuda Method)*. The only one I can think of which explicitly tells the player "now you can find shinies more easily" is the Shiny Charm - but you have to complete the Pokedex to get it, so that's more justified as why else would you keep on playing after that?
*Wasn't there a bunch of secret coding discovered in the original Diamond and Pearl a while ago relating to increased shiny odds on certain days? I'm sure I didn't dream that but I can't find it anywhere.
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every kirby player when they see someone friendly
This entire discussion about shiny rarity makes me 
. I feel like that Blizzard employee from the Diablo Immortal announcement who asked to much fanfare "Do you guys not have phones?"
As a somewhat more active Wi-Fi Forum hoarder, shiny mons have been somewhat trivialized for me. I have access to a variety of methods to produce almost any shiny mon I want - heck, not only are most of my mons functionally free, I offer a free shiny-hatching service on my trade thread (definitely not an advertisement).
Yes, they're supposed to be rare. And yes, that rarity is what makes them substantially more desirable. But with all the tools available, in practice they aren't that difficult to obtain. An argument could be made that new shiny-hunting methods have made them excessively accessible. But, there has and almost certainly always will be omega-busted ways to go above and beyond in shiny production if you take the time to learn.
Of course, that's not to say your shinnies are any more or less valid - or your mons in general. It's the memories and effort that you nest within them that is important.
. I feel like that Blizzard employee from the Diablo Immortal announcement who asked to much fanfare "Do you guys not have phones?"As a somewhat more active Wi-Fi Forum hoarder, shiny mons have been somewhat trivialized for me. I have access to a variety of methods to produce almost any shiny mon I want - heck, not only are most of my mons functionally free, I offer a free shiny-hatching service on my trade thread (
Yes, they're supposed to be rare. And yes, that rarity is what makes them substantially more desirable. But with all the tools available, in practice they aren't that difficult to obtain. An argument could be made that new shiny-hunting methods have made them excessively accessible. But, there has and almost certainly always will be omega-busted ways to go above and beyond in shiny production if you take the time to learn.
Of course, that's not to say your shinnies are any more or less valid - or your mons in general. It's the memories and effort that you nest within them that is important.
I agree. I got a Shiny Kricketot in PLA, and I hate Kricketot and Kricketune (there's my opinion of the day). But having a Shiny one made me gain a different appreciation for it.
Still hate it though. RIP Fricketune
Understandable, but for me personally as soon as he shows up on every other "shit happened here" was just a major tell.
I also have played a bit too much Persona so... (who played the latest entries understands)
I have tons of shines too, through PokeHome and PoGo, but specifics like which Pokeball is used (Pokemon Go only has Regular, Great, Ultra, and Premier), and whether the Hidden ability is used and unable to be reverted can leave personally shiny hunting the only option.This entire discussion about shiny rarity makes me
As a somewhat more active Wi-Fi Forum hoarder, shiny mons have been somewhat trivialized for me. I have access to a variety of methods to produce almost any shiny mon I want - heck, not only are most of my mons functionally free, I offer a free shiny-hatching service on my trade thread (definitely not an advertisement).
Yes, they're supposed to be rare. And yes, that rarity is what makes them substantially more desirable. But with all the tools available, in practice they aren't that difficult to obtain. An argument could be made that new shiny-hunting methods have made them excessively accessible. But, there has and almost certainly always will be omega-busted ways to go above and beyond in shiny production if you take the time to learn.
Of course, that's not to say your shinnies are any more or less valid - or your mons in general. It's the memories and effort that you nest within them that is important.
I wanted a Shiny Berry Decoration Alcremie with a matching Heavy Ball, but unless I bartered with someone online, I either had to settle with a non-matching ball, or hunting for one myself. Shout out to any ROM hack that lets people swap out Pokeballs for already caught Pokemon.
But it's not just about how many shiny Pokemon I have, but the efficiency of the production methods I have access to. I did all the legwork for Gen 7, and now I can produce flawless shiny mons in ~30 mins (if I have the parent ready, ofc). Hence why I offer my shiny breeding service for free.
In Gen 8, I'm barely even putting in effort for getting my shiny mons. Despite GF's best efforts to make abuse impossible, Den RNG was cracked fairly quickly - and I don't use this method. I've been using Pokemon Automation, which uses an Arduino as a controller to execute actions based on a program. I've just been setting it up before work, and generally I come back to at least 1-2 shiny mons. Mind you, this is without CFW (although CFW can do it better).
Perhaps in a perfect world, shiny Pokemon could be tailored as a rare experience, a once-in-a-few-years kind of joy. But unfortunately, the methods to break sort of emersion are readily available and aren't going anywhere soon.
Also, Heavy Ball Alcremie is on my list to get around to eventually. I think I have 3 mons to go before it'll come time? Come check out the Heroes Home for when that eventually happens (
The only candidates for secret antagonist were Kamado and Volo from the very start of the game, and literally both of them became secret antagonists. Kamado was it temporarily, for the first “ending” which was actually very early, which knocked him out of the running, making the Volo reveal phenomenally obvious.
The most surprising thing about the “secret antagonist” was when Kamado betrayed you, because I thought Volo was gonna be the betrayer the whole time, and assumed only one would be the “secret antagonist”. Upon Kamado’s redemption, Volo was the only option.
To add more of my own thing to this, I really don’t like PLA’s first ending. It’s a great game and a lot of fun, but the first ending in PLA where Kamado betrays you and you catch Dialga / Palkia is whether the gameplay loop sort of dies. No new areas after that, no particularly interesting missions after that, just a lot of doing the same thing over and over slightly guided by side quests. I’ve talked about it with a friend who adores PLA and she agrees that only particularly minded players will actually finish the game, because you have to adore the core gameplay mechanics to push past the sudden loss of positive validation for your actions in the game. It becomes an abyss of backstrikes until you suddenly get a cool ending, which sort of speaks to a lack of good pacing of the story.
They had enough land to work with already, I’m not asking for a whole new area, they just needed to use that land better. In particular, they could open up new camp spots in regions you’ve already visited, or save an area for after the first ending, you don’t really need to go to all 5.
The most surprising thing about the “secret antagonist” was when Kamado betrayed you, because I thought Volo was gonna be the betrayer the whole time, and assumed only one would be the “secret antagonist”. Upon Kamado’s redemption, Volo was the only option.
To add more of my own thing to this, I really don’t like PLA’s first ending. It’s a great game and a lot of fun, but the first ending in PLA where Kamado betrays you and you catch Dialga / Palkia is whether the gameplay loop sort of dies. No new areas after that, no particularly interesting missions after that, just a lot of doing the same thing over and over slightly guided by side quests. I’ve talked about it with a friend who adores PLA and she agrees that only particularly minded players will actually finish the game, because you have to adore the core gameplay mechanics to push past the sudden loss of positive validation for your actions in the game. It becomes an abyss of backstrikes until you suddenly get a cool ending, which sort of speaks to a lack of good pacing of the story.
They had enough land to work with already, I’m not asking for a whole new area, they just needed to use that land better. In particular, they could open up new camp spots in regions you’ve already visited, or save an area for after the first ending, you don’t really need to go to all 5.
Look I don't know how to intro into this neatly it's a friday night ok
Unlike a lot of other people worried about the release date and such, I myself think that Scarlet & Violet can't come soon enough. This has nothing to do with my presumed state of the game or its development, it's simply due to the fact that for a host of reasons, some because of things that have happened with the franchise and others that have nothing to do with it, the whole of Generation 8 has been utterly exhausting and I frankly just want it to finally end and become a thing of the past. I understand that it's natural for the final stretch of a generation to feel slow and stagnant but I swear I never felt anywhere near this burned out in the waning days of Gen 7. From that perspective the only way SV wouldn't be a substantial shot in the arm to my and many others' spirits is if there's another dexit-level PR disaster contained within that's looming over the horizon, but honestly (and I'm on my knees praying this incoming statement doesn't age badly) I cannot envision an even semi-realistic scenario that would actually manage to match that whole shitstorm in severity other than like PokeNFTs or lootboxes, and on the off-chance we do stoop that low it sure as hell ain't getting fixed by a delay regardless of length.
Unlike a lot of other people worried about the release date and such, I myself think that Scarlet & Violet can't come soon enough. This has nothing to do with my presumed state of the game or its development, it's simply due to the fact that for a host of reasons, some because of things that have happened with the franchise and others that have nothing to do with it, the whole of Generation 8 has been utterly exhausting and I frankly just want it to finally end and become a thing of the past. I understand that it's natural for the final stretch of a generation to feel slow and stagnant but I swear I never felt anywhere near this burned out in the waning days of Gen 7. From that perspective the only way SV wouldn't be a substantial shot in the arm to my and many others' spirits is if there's another dexit-level PR disaster contained within that's looming over the horizon, but honestly (and I'm on my knees praying this incoming statement doesn't age badly) I cannot envision an even semi-realistic scenario that would actually manage to match that whole shitstorm in severity other than like PokeNFTs or lootboxes, and on the off-chance we do stoop that low it sure as hell ain't getting fixed by a delay regardless of length.