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How is Silvally more useful for raids?
Route Boss: Wish that was kept cause it was a neat idea, a trainer you can only battle after you beat all other trainers, uses only Pokemon on that route, and awarded you with a TM for winning. Not only is it a more challenging battle but provides another way of getting a TM instead of just finding it on the ground, and now that we have TRs I could see them giving out maybe a few kinds of TRs representing the Pokemon on the route (infact I'm surprised trainers giving out TRs as a reward wasn't done).
Shoulder Mascot: If they ever bring back Walking Pokemon that's something I'd like to see, the ability to choose what Pokemon you want out. HGSS only allowed the first Pokemon in your party, would have liked to select any Pokemon in your party and assign them as your Walking Pokemon. Maybe even go one step further and let you pick a Pokemon from your Box.
Master Trainers: It was certainly an interesting idea but I feel having one for EVERY Pokemon was a bit much. Had they just had one for every final evolution (and maybe also have another trainer use a copy of the Starter, Alolan Variants, and actually battle with the Legendaries (though keep Ditto as just needing to have it)) I feel that would have been less tedious (instead of 145 it would be 91, still a big number but you wouldn't have to keep a Pokemon from evolving (plus a lot of families used the same strategy or some use a lesser strategy to try and mix things up)).
I'm not too sad they didn't return but would like to see them experiment with ideas like this, groups of these special trainers, especially mirror matches. If they want to bring back this idea specifically maybe make it into a Battle Facility, you and your opponent uses the same Pokemon/team but before battle you're allowed to set up the Pokemon you're using the way you'd like (Moves, Ability, Items, EVs).
Wild Starters: While I would like to see wild Starters, I don't want it like how Let's Go did it. I understand why Let's Go did it as they did cause how its catching system work, for a core series game I would like to visit the actual breeding grounds where they raise the Starters that'll be sent to the Professor to give out to promising trainers (and let you catch extra ones which aren't being specially trained for the Professors).
Let's Go Issues:
- I've come to terms with the Exp. Share (& Portable PC Box). It's super useful things to have. Now I wish you could turn it off (or at least make the amount gained less egregious) for those who want to play with the challenge of leveling up Pokemon the old way, but I also understand they want the player to get a move on. However I do feel they should now make it so you can choose what Pokemon you want to sent out first during a trainer battle. I get why for a Wild Battle you'd throw out the first Pokemon in your party (to defend yourself), but in a regulated Trainer battle you should be able to choose what Pokemon you want out first. Also Portable PC Box I think should be locked when you're going through a location the first time (routes, dungeons, etc.) or places where the challenge is consecutive battles to try and wear you down (like in Gyms or the villain team base).
- I think had they let you use the cross gen evos in Let's Go there would be no complaints on Pokemon variety (and maybe threw in a few others just to give some trainers Type variety, even if it was some Johto Pokemon). However...
- Exclusion of Abilities and Items will forever be a DUMB decision. Some Pokemon really got a boost to their usability with Abilities (and some Mega Pokemon in the worked around their Ability!) and removing them made a Pokemon feel less special and more dictated by its Type, or at least more than usual. And held items was a nice way to give your Pokemon a small boon for an upcoming battle, even if it was just a Berry.
Guessing cause it can change Type. If you got a well trained Silvally, before you do a Raid just quickly change its Memory to give yourself the Type Advantage that you need (and you can use its other 3 moves to activate a useful effect like summoning weather/terrain).
Of course this is only for the Raids you start, multiplayers Raids you can't switch a Pokemon's item (as far as I can tell) so hopefully you got a Pokemon trained up that has an advantage in the battle in some way (which honestly shouldn't be an issue if you're doing Raids post game and you have a well balanced team you used throughout the game, plus other Raid Pokemon you catch are usually good-to-go as soon as you get them (maybe just need to change their moves a bit)).
Bold of you to assume that those battles are regulated.
I've said this a long time ago, and I'll say it again. Despite NPCs telling you that "when trainers lock eyes, they have to fight", that's not at all what happens in-game. If an enemy trainer sees you, even if you don't see them (i.e. even if your eyes don't lock) then they challenge you to a money match that you can't decline. And the reverse does not apply; if you yourself want to challenge a trainer, you have to go up to them and tap them on the shoulder (and they still act like they're the one challenging you).
This is just mugging with extra steps.
Another thing to consider with Silvally is Multi-Attack. When Dynamaxed, the move seems to just change into Max Strike, but it'll always be used as the Max Move that corresponds to Silvally's current type. (Max Flare for Fire, Max Geyser for Water, etc.)
I really like that Game Freak have wizened up and taken away event-exclusivity from moves -- examples including Hurricane Mewtwo and Aura Sphere Raikou. It was always frustrating and limiting and complicated and now it just makes things so much more simplified. I imagine move tutors in Isle of Armor might do similar things for Softboiled Clefable and Wish Chansey.
This is how Let's Go works, actually. You go into your menu and decide which one you want to have follow you (if any).
Unless you are specifically talking about the actual shoulder mascots, partner pikachu/eevee, which I think would be exclusive to them just because of their specific size and extra animatiosn needed to stay on you.
I mean....that's always just been fanon. They never really acknowledge why you can't find them in the standard wilds, it's just a gameplay contrivance, not there's secret breeding grounds.
I actually think Isle of Armor will just straight up have wild starters, too. Would go well with the "growth" theme.
I have a feeling that american move tutors, like wish chansey, probably won't happen. But bringing back all those much older one-off move tutors would be pretty cool, like Softboiled.
So few pages ago I talked about the amount of detail they went in on the Curry making feature. Now this isn't as indepth as that, but it is a neat little detail concerning the League Cards: the signatures.
While just quickly looking at the page, I noticed that Hop's signature for his rare card is not only a bit sloppy but also has a happy face in the "o" equivalent of it:
Curious peaked, I looked at the other cards and saw that they tried giving all characters a unique style of signature:
Marnie: With the curve underneath the "V" makes it look like a sinister grinning face, fitting for a Dark-type specialist.
Milo: Has included this peanut-looking plant drawing under his signature. Not sure what it symbolizes, it doesn't look to be based on the plant his name comes from.
Nessa: It's an elegant-looking signature, one could maybe even say flow-y. You know, like water, cause she's a Water-type specialist. She's also a model who would naturally do tons of signing so of course would have a nice looking signature as she had plenty of practice.
Kabu: His signature is done in a fine-pointed pen and looks rather basic. Could possibly be because he's from Hoenn so, even having lived in Galar for many years, may not be so fluent writing in whatever language Galar uses.
Bea: Her signature looks to actually be written in an Asian-based language instead of the one other Galar trainers are using, showing her focus on her karate.
Allister: I guess his signature is supposed to look like how in movies you see ghosts write messages on walls or mirrors, using bold lined letters.
Opal: Her signature I think is meant to look dignified though if you look closely you can notice some jaggedness, possibly because Opal is old so her hand isn't as steady as it used to be.
Gordie: Very bold and fancy signature, fitting for a rock star... ROCK star, I just got that!
Melony: Her signature is done elegantly in a very fine point, a possible symbolism of how beautiful yet fragile ice is. Also an interesting fact about Melony's signature is that it's one of two which significantly changes between her normal and rare cards. In Melony's case, it goes from being black to being white. Though in this case its probably because her normal card its written over her white coat while in her rare card she's writing it over her son's black jacket.
Piers: Since Piers rare card was his card when he participated in his first Champion Cup, only his normal card has his signature. And fitting for a goth punk rocker, it's a sharp looking signature with a twinkling skull drawn beneath it.
Raihan: Incorporates his signature as part of a drawing of a Duraludon's head.
Leon: A bit less sloppy than Hop's though you can see some rough spots in it, and also adds in a star for fun.
Rose: Bold lines, clearly written, and adds a cartoony bouncing Pokeball, matching probably how Rose sees himself being a larger-than-life but honest individual with a bit of a fun side (sure thing Rose...).
Bede: Bede is the other second trainer who's card signature differs from its normal and rare version but it's a MAJOR difference compared to Melony's as it's two different styles. Actually Bede is the only rookie trainer who even signs his first Champion Cup card (compare with Hop's & Marnie's normal card and Piers rare card). On his normal card his signature is very swirly and twisty, showing Bede thinks a lot of himself. Of course his story takes some unexpected terms which knocks him down a few pegs. His rare card shows this by having his signature be much more simple and basic, a possible representation that Bede is now showing his true self.
Ball Guy: In addition to having a nice signature, he of course adds a big ol' Poke Ball on top of it. It's kind of his thing.
While just quickly looking at the page, I noticed that Hop's signature for his rare card is not only a bit sloppy but also has a happy face in the "o" equivalent of it:
Curious peaked, I looked at the other cards and saw that they tried giving all characters a unique style of signature:
Marnie: With the curve underneath the "V" makes it look like a sinister grinning face, fitting for a Dark-type specialist.
Milo: Has included this peanut-looking plant drawing under his signature. Not sure what it symbolizes, it doesn't look to be based on the plant his name comes from.
Nessa: It's an elegant-looking signature, one could maybe even say flow-y. You know, like water, cause she's a Water-type specialist. She's also a model who would naturally do tons of signing so of course would have a nice looking signature as she had plenty of practice.
Kabu: His signature is done in a fine-pointed pen and looks rather basic. Could possibly be because he's from Hoenn so, even having lived in Galar for many years, may not be so fluent writing in whatever language Galar uses.
Bea: Her signature looks to actually be written in an Asian-based language instead of the one other Galar trainers are using, showing her focus on her karate.
Allister: I guess his signature is supposed to look like how in movies you see ghosts write messages on walls or mirrors, using bold lined letters.
Opal: Her signature I think is meant to look dignified though if you look closely you can notice some jaggedness, possibly because Opal is old so her hand isn't as steady as it used to be.
Gordie: Very bold and fancy signature, fitting for a rock star... ROCK star, I just got that!
Melony: Her signature is done elegantly in a very fine point, a possible symbolism of how beautiful yet fragile ice is. Also an interesting fact about Melony's signature is that it's one of two which significantly changes between her normal and rare cards. In Melony's case, it goes from being black to being white. Though in this case its probably because her normal card its written over her white coat while in her rare card she's writing it over her son's black jacket.
Piers: Since Piers rare card was his card when he participated in his first Champion Cup, only his normal card has his signature. And fitting for a goth punk rocker, it's a sharp looking signature with a twinkling skull drawn beneath it.
Raihan: Incorporates his signature as part of a drawing of a Duraludon's head.
Leon: A bit less sloppy than Hop's though you can see some rough spots in it, and also adds in a star for fun.
Rose: Bold lines, clearly written, and adds a cartoony bouncing Pokeball, matching probably how Rose sees himself being a larger-than-life but honest individual with a bit of a fun side (sure thing Rose...).
Bede: Bede is the other second trainer who's card signature differs from its normal and rare version but it's a MAJOR difference compared to Melony's as it's two different styles. Actually Bede is the only rookie trainer who even signs his first Champion Cup card (compare with Hop's & Marnie's normal card and Piers rare card). On his normal card his signature is very swirly and twisty, showing Bede thinks a lot of himself. Of course his story takes some unexpected terms which knocks him down a few pegs. His rare card shows this by having his signature be much more simple and basic, a possible representation that Bede is now showing his true self.
Ball Guy: In addition to having a nice signature, he of course adds a big ol' Poke Ball on top of it. It's kind of his thing.
The official Pokemon Twitter 'leaked' the unreleased Diamond/Pearl version of the Oak's Letter event
(In Platinum, Marley is there and Dawn's bag is also white instead of yellow.)
Yung Dramps
awesome gaming
I love Galarian Slowpoke because unlike Mega Evolution it didn't leave Slowking to fuck off and die.
I see we have another subscriber to the "Mega Slowbro's shell is the shell of the Slowking it killed in mortal combat" theory.
Also I'm a sucker for cool sound design, and Pokemon cries have A LOT of that, especially in Gens 4, 5, and 6. So that, I suppose.
Yea I'm in agreement here, Gen 4 has a lot of really neat sounds. The chirping of the starly line, the ... squish.... of Shellos & Gastrodon, the iconic Kricketune, and I love a lot of those "Screeches" like Empoleon, Dialga, or Palkia. Bidoof!
Gen 4, I feel, went for a more "naturalistic" cry selection which helps give it a really distinct flavor thanks to it being their first DS outing.
Gen 4, I feel, went for a more "naturalistic" cry selection which helps give it a really distinct flavor thanks to it being their first DS outing.
Yung Dramps
awesome gaming
It really irks me when people discuss Gen 4 cries and never bring up this beast of a sound:
It definitely has _iconic_ cries and most of them are very fitting but, IDK, they're just not my personal favorites, I guess.
I still think Dialga (and Arceus, but given how rare it is it matters a lot less) have pretty bad cries, and I say that as a Diamond player.
As I recall, Lumineon has an excellent cry too.
And on that note:
I’m early in an Ultra Sun playthrough, where I’m using Finneon for the first time maybe ever. Turns out I’ve been sleeping on this Pokemon for years. Back when Diamond and Pearl came out, I wrote it off as a boring generic fish, and didn’t give it much more thought than that. But gen 7 models and animations have been very kind to it.
The butterfly-like tail opening and closing. The way it lights up when it attacks. The way it very obviously strikes with that tail when it uses Pound. Add a bit of interesting movelist flavour, and you actually have a pretty cool Pokemon.
This fits the overall pattern where, as I become an older fan, I notice more and more that I like almost every Pokemon design, with very few exceptions. Hell, Gigantamax even redeemed Garbodor a bit.
And on that note:
I’m early in an Ultra Sun playthrough, where I’m using Finneon for the first time maybe ever. Turns out I’ve been sleeping on this Pokemon for years. Back when Diamond and Pearl came out, I wrote it off as a boring generic fish, and didn’t give it much more thought than that. But gen 7 models and animations have been very kind to it.
The butterfly-like tail opening and closing. The way it lights up when it attacks. The way it very obviously strikes with that tail when it uses Pound. Add a bit of interesting movelist flavour, and you actually have a pretty cool Pokemon.
This fits the overall pattern where, as I become an older fan, I notice more and more that I like almost every Pokemon design, with very few exceptions. Hell, Gigantamax even redeemed Garbodor a bit.
Something I've been wanting to mention for a while but keep forgetting, but talking about the Gym Leader's Signatures reminded me of it: The SwSh Concept Art. Pokemon has some really neat concept art for the human characters and even provides additional information about them mentioned nowhere else, and SwSh is no different. You can find all the concept art HERE, but here are the ones that caught my attention:
In General: A few of the Concept Art for the Gym Leader shows what their clothes underneath their uniform looks like, most notable case being Gordie, Allister, and Bea (the latter two have a few other things worth mentioning).
Bede: The most notable thing about Bede's Concept art is that they go into detail how his pockets work. His coat only has three pockets sewn in, but those purple pouch pockets are detachable and there's drawings to show how they attach to his jacket. Many probably thought they were just attached to the jacket but, nope. They also act as Bede's backpack, storing his items. And a bit of oddity, there's this random picture of Bede getting shocked with no details why... maybe hinting him having a run in with a certain yellow electric rodent in the anime?
Marnie: A quick one for her, it actually includes alternate art for her backpack incase for some reason the animators think her backpack was too detailed (which they obviously didn't). Still, with how much these concept art feels like the final version of the characters, to actually see even a little detail of a "beta" design is interesting.
Milo: Has a younger brother never seen in the game. He's also like a foot smaller then Nessa which makes sense.
Nessa: Don't make excuses like she's exercising, artist (not sure if this is Ken Sugimori, though looks like his recent style), you just wanted to draw Nessa doing a split (and to draw her feet). :P
Kabu: First we get to see a drawing of his younger self which we also got to see a model of on his rare League Card. There's also a drawing of him in a bench coat we never see him wear.
Bea: The second Twilight Wings episode showed us Bea in her black bodysuit so it's no longer a unique piece to just the concept art. Though what is is schoolgirl Bea, complete with stuffing her face with what looks to be pastries cause she has a sweet tooth. Speaking of Twilight Wings, this also puts a certain controversy that has arose about them having possibly lightened up Bea's skin. While I originally was thinking there was enough vagueness with her stock art & in-game model that she could have light skin... yeah, this concept art kind of proves she does have a darker skin tone and Twilight Wings semi-whitewashed her. Oops.
Allister: So his stray hair spike detects and points the direction of ghosts.I don't think it moves in the actual game which is a shame as would have been a funny thing for it to do when he Gigantamaxes his Gengar.
Opal: Like with Kabu, there's a drawing of Opal when she was younger. I don't think this appears anywhere in the game, then again I know the backstage of her Gym is covered in pictures so maybe one of them shows a younger Opal? Anyway, apparently she had dark purple hair similar to the mane fluff of her jacket.
Melony: More surprise family members! In addition to Gordie, her eldest child & eldest son, she also has a daughter (looks to be second eldest) and three younger sons (and this means Gordie has a younger sister and three younger brothers). Though oddly the card mentions that the daughter is the "eldest" daughter, which implies that maybe Melony has a second younger daughter? Also her three younger sons look to be the same age so could they be triplets?
Piers: GEEZ, Piers is TALL! He looks to have more than a foot on Nessa and two feet on Milo. And let's also remember he's slouching a bit so he's probably even a few inches taller then that!
In General: A few of the Concept Art for the Gym Leader shows what their clothes underneath their uniform looks like, most notable case being Gordie, Allister, and Bea (the latter two have a few other things worth mentioning).
Bede: The most notable thing about Bede's Concept art is that they go into detail how his pockets work. His coat only has three pockets sewn in, but those purple pouch pockets are detachable and there's drawings to show how they attach to his jacket. Many probably thought they were just attached to the jacket but, nope. They also act as Bede's backpack, storing his items. And a bit of oddity, there's this random picture of Bede getting shocked with no details why... maybe hinting him having a run in with a certain yellow electric rodent in the anime?
Marnie: A quick one for her, it actually includes alternate art for her backpack incase for some reason the animators think her backpack was too detailed (which they obviously didn't). Still, with how much these concept art feels like the final version of the characters, to actually see even a little detail of a "beta" design is interesting.
Milo: Has a younger brother never seen in the game. He's also like a foot smaller then Nessa which makes sense.
Nessa: Don't make excuses like she's exercising, artist (not sure if this is Ken Sugimori, though looks like his recent style), you just wanted to draw Nessa doing a split (and to draw her feet). :P
Kabu: First we get to see a drawing of his younger self which we also got to see a model of on his rare League Card. There's also a drawing of him in a bench coat we never see him wear.
Bea: The second Twilight Wings episode showed us Bea in her black bodysuit so it's no longer a unique piece to just the concept art. Though what is is schoolgirl Bea, complete with stuffing her face with what looks to be pastries cause she has a sweet tooth. Speaking of Twilight Wings, this also puts a certain controversy that has arose about them having possibly lightened up Bea's skin. While I originally was thinking there was enough vagueness with her stock art & in-game model that she could have light skin... yeah, this concept art kind of proves she does have a darker skin tone and Twilight Wings semi-whitewashed her. Oops.
Allister: So his stray hair spike detects and points the direction of ghosts.I don't think it moves in the actual game which is a shame as would have been a funny thing for it to do when he Gigantamaxes his Gengar.
Opal: Like with Kabu, there's a drawing of Opal when she was younger. I don't think this appears anywhere in the game, then again I know the backstage of her Gym is covered in pictures so maybe one of them shows a younger Opal? Anyway, apparently she had dark purple hair similar to the mane fluff of her jacket.
Melony: More surprise family members! In addition to Gordie, her eldest child & eldest son, she also has a daughter (looks to be second eldest) and three younger sons (and this means Gordie has a younger sister and three younger brothers). Though oddly the card mentions that the daughter is the "eldest" daughter, which implies that maybe Melony has a second younger daughter? Also her three younger sons look to be the same age so could they be triplets?
Piers: GEEZ, Piers is TALL! He looks to have more than a foot on Nessa and two feet on Milo. And let's also remember he's slouching a bit so he's probably even a few inches taller then that!
Why is Piers so TALL?! Also, more importantly, why did Opal's nose get so big as she aged?!
It's like the opposite of my cousin. His nose grew huge a few years before he did.
Kinda disappointed there isn't a height comparison for Raihan. Dude towers over the player character in-game.
Gravity + cartilage, as with ears.
I find it rather curious that they felt the need to point out Oleana's height rather than draw her next to Rose like they did with Milo compared to Nessa, and then them compared to Piers. I also find it interesting that Bede running his hand through his hair is supposed to show that he's embarrassed or uncomfortable. I guess until Opal takes him under her wing to be her successor, he's just not very good with people who aren't Chairman Rose.
Pikachu315111 I don't believe the episode "whitewashed" Bea. I'm positive it has more to do with the fact it was extremely bright outside. There seem to be other points in the episode where her skin color is portrayed much closer to her concept art and in the game.
Pikachu315111 I don't believe the episode "whitewashed" Bea. I'm positive it has more to do with the fact it was extremely bright outside. There seem to be other points in the episode where her skin color is portrayed much closer to her concept art and in the game.
Yung Dramps
awesome gaming
Y'know, this discussion about the concept art and lore of certain characters in SWSH brings to mind something I love from one of my favorite games ever, Pokemon Mystery Dungeon Explorers of Sky.
It's no secret just how much the fanbase at large adores these games and how special they are to many people (myself included), but I think Sky in particular is notable for having what I genuinely think is the meat of these games that they'd be nowhere near as good without: The Special Episodes. For those not in the loop, these were totally optional side stories that were unlocked upon reaching certain points in the main story where you would assume control of a different character and go through their own mini story set before or during the grander narrative. They were fun and interesting on their own for letting you play as other members of the cast and seeing major events in their life, and more importantly they did WONDERS for fleshing out the already lovable characters to a whole new level, Bidoof's Wish, Igglybuff the Prodigy and In the Future of Darkness being my personal highlights in this regard.
The concept art talk reminded me of what I think is by a massive margin EoS' best feature because like... imagine Special Episodes in the main games. Yes, I'm veering off into blatant wishlisting, but really think of how great that would be with the cast of SWSH and the bits of background info given about them via trainer cards alone. A lot of people loved Bea's Twilight Wings episode, now imagine that in playable form! How about Opal and Leon episodes set many years before SWSH proper where we see them in younger forms at the height of their acting career/training under Mustard to succeed him respectively? Oooh, perhaps a dark, dramatic Oleana episode where we play as her in her orphan days scavenging the slums with her Trubbish? I'm sorry, but my mind is teeming with possibilities here!
It's no secret just how much the fanbase at large adores these games and how special they are to many people (myself included), but I think Sky in particular is notable for having what I genuinely think is the meat of these games that they'd be nowhere near as good without: The Special Episodes. For those not in the loop, these were totally optional side stories that were unlocked upon reaching certain points in the main story where you would assume control of a different character and go through their own mini story set before or during the grander narrative. They were fun and interesting on their own for letting you play as other members of the cast and seeing major events in their life, and more importantly they did WONDERS for fleshing out the already lovable characters to a whole new level, Bidoof's Wish, Igglybuff the Prodigy and In the Future of Darkness being my personal highlights in this regard.
The concept art talk reminded me of what I think is by a massive margin EoS' best feature because like... imagine Special Episodes in the main games. Yes, I'm veering off into blatant wishlisting, but really think of how great that would be with the cast of SWSH and the bits of background info given about them via trainer cards alone. A lot of people loved Bea's Twilight Wings episode, now imagine that in playable form! How about Opal and Leon episodes set many years before SWSH proper where we see them in younger forms at the height of their acting career/training under Mustard to succeed him respectively? Oooh, perhaps a dark, dramatic Oleana episode where we play as her in her orphan days scavenging the slums with her Trubbish? I'm sorry, but my mind is teeming with possibilities here!
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this is not the first time ive seen this mentioned but....where is her backstory stated? I dont remember her or Rose ever mentioning it and she has no league card. And her concept art lacks mention of it too it seems.
Did I miss some dialog somewhere?