There Were 190 Pokémon!

I've been doing a bit of research on this topic with a couple of buddies since this news broke, and using my amazing powers of deduction, I've come to the conclusion that with some confidence you can say that the Missingno slots with cries were once indeed filled, though to an unknown degree.

Given the confirmation of Missingno being reserve slots for future Pokemon, we can now say reasonably what the process was for creating a new Pokemon: First, an Index number was defined, along with the most basic bits of their data. Then, Moveset/learnset/stats/etc. are defined and stored with the Pokedex number- these two in combination making a complete Pokemon- and finally of course distributing it through the world in encounters and what have you.

Now, this is still a theory because, well, I didn't develop the game so I couldn't say how this went, and you have to assume what I just said up there is true for the next bit to make sense. Still, with the layout in the Index known to be (mostly) older than the Pokedex layout, as well as the confirmation everyone's buzzing about, I think that is a reasonable enough assumption to make.

Now, this gets interesting for 2 reasons. The first, I'll admit, is stretching a bit, but I think the second is quite hard to argue with in these conditions:

1. There's a distinct possibility "Cactus" made it into the game at some point- Not only does its index slot have a unique cry, on the "Popularity Vote" sheet, it actually trumped a few Pokemon that made it into the final game. Even if "Sleeper" is not Hypno, as is speculated, it still beat Nidoking, Scyther, and Diglett.

2. I will admit I'm not the first person to notice this, as user "Koolboyman" noted this in this very thread 8 years ago, but 5E and 5F fall within a sea of two-stage evolution Pokemon (ranging from Vulpix and Ninetails at 52 and 53 to Jigglypuff and Wigglytuff at 64 and 65, only interrupted by 2 more Missingno that are also likely to be a pair and Dratini/Dragonair who themselves were likely once disconnected from Dragonite) and have defined and similar cries, as common with other Evolutions- 5F's being lower pitched, as is often the case with a larger Pokemon in the second stage.

The conclusion would be that either these Pokemon had data assigned to their Index value but nothing further than that, or that their Pokedex-related info was blanked and recycled for use for a Pokemon later down the line- which would explain why some Pokemon near the bottom of the Index like Oddish and its line ended up so early in the Pokedex. No real way to tell how far it got, and unless someone gets their hands on a Prototype or something, no real way to tell, hence "an unknown degree". All I can say is- there was likely something there at some point. As for slots with no defined cry- far less likely to have ever been anything more than placeholder positions.

As for "why they would just leave cries", I think the best answer is simple: Pokedex data carries a big footprint. It takes up more file size, and in case of some sort of an error, leads to a scenario where a casual playtester or player would likely not notice something is wrong with their game as a Pokemon with a valid sprite, moveset, learnset, etc. appears when it's not supposed to.

On the other hand, an Index Number barely has anything left, with a defined cry being the only tell something was there. A scant presence like that would probably not even be noticed- especially by the same team who failed to notice bugs in the final product as obvious as "Focus Energy does the opposite of what it's supposed to". Even if they did notice that the indices still pointed to some valid data, it probably wouldn't be worth the effort deleting it unless they really wanted the index for something else- after all, an unused town and unused song point to cleanup in this game not being all that thorough anyway.

As far as an idea proposed by (I believe) Crystal_ that the slots used to test various cries- I feel like 5E and 5F's correlation work against that theory, and there would be several easier ways to test them (replace the cries of Pokemon you encounter at the start of the game, or test them with text box events via a debug NPC ala Mr. Chrono in G/S).

Also, the slots with a cry predate Muk- meaning likely they predate Biker teams that give Missingno its form- and I haven't tested it myself, but smart money says trying to load a Pokemon without a defined sprite or stats is probably bad juju.
 
Actually, some more name-only pokemon were revealed too. We don't actually know whether they're scrapped ones or just beta names for existing pokemon. I'll post an update as soon as I make up my mind xD
 

Pikachu315111

Ranting & Raving!
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All of these are fascinating and I'd love to see the explicitly-new ones brushed up and implemented for real. lord knows it'd make a return trip to kanto more interesting.
Crocky in particular!!
Well we kind of did.

Deer: Stantler if not Deerling family
Crocky: Totodile family (also Sandile family)
Cactus: Cacnea family if not Maractus
Jyaggu: Sherpedo

Of course, there are other deer, crocodilia, cactus, and sharks so if these beta Pokemon had anything unique about them then by all means make them into actual Pokemon (like Jyaggu could easily be made into a Goblin Shark).
 
Well we kind of did.

Deer: Stantler if not Deerling family
Crocky: Totodile family (also Sandile family)
Cactus: Cacnea family if not Maractus
Jyaggu: Sherpedo

Of course, there are other deer, crocodilia, cactus, and sharks so if these beta Pokemon had anything unique about them then by all means make them into actual Pokemon (like Jyaggu could easily be made into a Goblin Shark).
Yes! And we also have the "elephant" which might be a beta-Donphan
 
Well we kind of did.

Deer: Stantler if not Deerling family
Crocky: Totodile family (also Sandile family)
Cactus: Cacnea family if not Maractus
Jyaggu: Sherpedo

Of course, there are other deer, crocodilia, cactus, and sharks so if these beta Pokemon had anything unique about them then by all means make them into actual Pokemon (like Jyaggu could easily be made into a Goblin Shark).
I think connecting these designs to those designs is a little much. The base animal is the same but the designs are totally different. Crocky in particular is totally different in a way than, say, beta-clefairy vs final clefairy or beta-venusaur vs final venusaur vs actual final venusaur that isnt in a weird spineless form
Or to put it another way we still got a crocodile pokemon, but not Crocky. The deer in particular is physically more like a moose.
 

Pikachu315111

Ranting & Raving!
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Yes! And we also have the "elephant" which might be a beta-Donphan
Eh, Donphan never really satisfied me for an "elephant" Pokemon. A lot of its elephant aspects took a backseat in order to do the tire rolling gimmick. Honestly they just wanted an animal with a trunk or elongated nose, if Japanese culture wasn't transfixed with tapirs being baku they could have easily just made Donphan a tapir for what they wanted to do.

This also goes for Mamoswine, since it's not a mammoth elephant but a mammoth pig.

I think connecting these designs to those designs is a little much. The base animal is the same but the designs are totally different. Crocky in particular is totally different in a way than, say, beta-clefairy vs final clefairy or beta-venusaur vs final venusaur vs actual final venusaur that isnt in a weird spineless form
Or to put it another way we still got a crocodile pokemon, but not Crocky. The deer in particular is physically more like a moose.
As I said, if the design behind the those beta Pokemon is original enough there's plenty of sub-species with interesting traits they could adapt them into.
 
What's between Mankey and Diglett?
Sorry, I've never answered that, it's beta-Seel. We can sort of see it has Seel's original name "Pauau" パウワウ , and also the internal ID number is the same. The bulletins on the first image report quite clearly the presence of a Pokemon named "Pauau" too.

its design could be something like this, i love it so much ahahah



there are also other name-only beta pokemon in those pics, do you happen to have sharper hi-res scans? I'd be glad to analyze them.

particularly "BARUNDA" (a) (バルンダ, maybe PArunda), which is described as "fluffy" + other unintelligible characters might be an interesting one as it could refer to a beta-Growlithe/Arcanine (or a missingno. of course, maybe a Panda). Also the (a) after its name might imply the presence of a Barunda B.
Among the mysterious ones there's also "BARIRINA" and "BUU" (this one could be either Magmar or Electabuzz: Boober and Eleboo).

Another quite mysterious Pokemon is the Electrode-like one that seems to occupy Pikachu's ID slot (I don't believe it's Daifuku Pikachu though)

other beta names are Ducky (Psyduck), Gagaasu (Rhydon), Caravaggio (Blastoise), Ke*kupaan (Farfetch'd, *first kana not clear), Fungus (Parasect), Gyaoon (Tyranitar), Omuomu (Spearow), Maikoh ♂ (Nidoking) - Also some pokemon switched names with their evolution Sleeper (Drowzee), Coil (Magneton), Ghost (Gastly) and possibly even Venusaur had Ivysaur's japanese name (not confirmed though).

Do you have any idea about their etymology?
 
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This isn't pertaining to the original games, but the motherlode of possible leaks: a spaceworld demo of GS has beenfound & dumped and look at all these things https://tcrf.net/Proto:Pokémon_Gold_and_Silver/Pokémon
we even have japanese AND english names. Look at all these scrapped pre evolutions and evolutions and original designs
& if you're interested in non-pokemon things about the demo https://tcrf.net/Proto:Pokémon_Gold_and_Silver
The English names are fan-made for the purpose of a fan translation of the beta. They are not official in any way.
 
It's kinda incredible how many of the theories made itt are shat on because of that released prototype. Considering their absence from the prototype, it's doubtful Pokemon like Sneasel and or the Larvitar line ever got implemented in the Gen 1 games. At the very least, they didn't get off the drawing board.

But bringing it back to the OP, I could believe early on that 190 mons were planned but I don't think there's much reason to think that the 39 missing mons were all Johto Pokemon. Heck, Munna was evidentially considered for Gen 1, and that's a Gen 5 mon!
 
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It's kinda incredible how many of the theories made itt are shat on because of that released prototype. Considering their absence from the prototype, it's doubtful Pokemon like Sneasel and or the Larvitar line ever got implemented in the Gen 1 games. At the very least, they didn't get off the drawing board.

But bringing it back to the OP, I could believe early on that 190 mons were planned but I don't think there's much reason to think that the 39 missing mons were all Johto Pokemon. Heck, Munna was evidentially considered for Gen 1, and that's a Gen 5 mon!
I personally always thought the OP was bogus, and I feel vilified since we recently got not only a few teasers about some of the original 190 Pokemon that were left out(complete with pokedex numbers matching the index numbers of the MissingoNO. found in Gen 1's coding), but now a leak of the holy grail of beta ROMs, the Spaceworld 1997 Pocket Monsters Gold demo

But I will point out that a pure Dark type that shares the Japanese name of Sneasel and a few surface appearance traits with the final Pokemon can be found wedged between beta Suicune and beta Ho-oh
 

Pikachu315111

Ranting & Raving!
is a Community Contributoris a Top Smogon Media Contributor
This isn't pertaining to the original games, but the motherlode of possible leaks: a spaceworld demo of GS has beenfound & dumped and look at all these things https://tcrf.net/Proto:Pokémon_Gold_and_Silver/Pokémon
we even have japanese AND english names. Look at all these scrapped pre evolutions and evolutions and original designs
& if you're interested in non-pokemon things about the demo https://tcrf.net/Proto:Pokémon_Gold_and_Silver
WOW! That's all I have to say to this, at least without looking at each of the unused Pokemon...

https://tcrf.net/images/3/3d/PokeGoldDemo-front_153.png

So this was proto Bayleef... I don't see how it links Chikorita with Meganium. It completely changes shape and it's not like it's a cocoon, it changes from a dinosaur into a flower.

https://tcrf.net/images/d/dd/PokeGoldDemo-front_155.png
https://tcrf.net/images/d/dd/PokeGoldDemo-front_156.png
https://tcrf.net/images/d/dd/PokeGoldDemo-front_157.png
and
https://tcrf.net/images/d/dd/PokeGoldDemo-front_158.png
https://tcrf.net/images/d/dd/PokeGoldDemo-front_159.png
https://tcrf.net/images/d/dd/PokeGoldDemo-front_160.png

The demo/beta Fire and Water Starters, a fire bear and plesiosaur. The fire bear's final evo looks to be a combination of Flareon and Arcanine so I can see why they changed the line. As for the plesiosaur, maybe it was changed because they looked a bit like Lapras? Though I wouldn't be surprised if they reused parts of the designs for Samurott and Popplio. While I don't think the fire bear would have been much of a difference from Cyndaquil, the plesiosaur looks like it would have played differently from Totodile, possibly being more Special focused (and maybe Speed?). Though they probably would still be pure types, though wouldn't stop players from saying the plesiosaur should be part Dragon despite that typing being OP in the original GB era games.

https://tcrf.net/images/e/e9/PokeGoldDemo-front_162.png

Proto-Noctowl looks like a fat Pidgey who lost a leg to diabetes. Glad they changed it.

https://tcrf.net/images/c/ca/PokeGoldDemo-front_166.png
https://tcrf.net/images/3/30/PokeGoldDemo-front_213.png

Vulpix and Growlithe prevo? And yes, I know the Growlithe prevo was later on the list but they're version counterparts so only right if I talked about both now. Vulpix evo just looks like a three tailed Vulpix, like it's hard to imagine Vulpix getting a prevo since it looked as base as it could. That said, Growlithe prevo is just adorable and could see it working. Of course, I guess they weren't included as they probably didn't want to go overboard with the baby evos. And when later games released more probably was decided (for the best) that the Vulpix and Growlithe families were fine as they are. Though I do hope they use that Growlithe prevo someway else, hey, with all the dog Pokemon we got maybe have it be a prevo to ALL the dog Pokemon and it evolves via location or something.

https://tcrf.net/images/a/af/PokeGoldDemo-front_167.png
https://tcrf.net/images/d/d5/PokeGoldDemo-front_168.png

HA! Roselia, you thought YOU were the first Pokemon to get both a prevo and evo? Well turns out that honor actually goes to Tangela! Guess they wanted to answer what's under all those vines... and it's exactly what we thought it was. Seems like the evo has the similar idea what would eventually become Tangrowth, just a heavy coat of vines; though Tangrowth was made to look like a hairy caveman while this one is more of a stylized wig (maybe a powdered wig).

https://tcrf.net/images/b/bf/PokeGoldDemo-front_169.png

Proto Mantine? I don't see Mantine with the demo/beta sprites and it's translated name indicates its suppose to be a manta ray (or at least a flying fish of some kind). Looks like they were going to do a bird fish combination. Don't know why they decided against it, too generic? A manta ray that's also a kite I guess does feel more original. Kind of wish they kept this design and adjusted it for Mantine's prevo instead of that blob we got for Mantyke.

https://tcrf.net/images/c/c7/PokeGoldDemo-front_171.png

REALLY interesting. Qwilfish was originally going to get an evolution... and this evolution's design was then later used to make Whiscash! Not sure why it has that thunderbolt symbol on its head, Qwilfish is Water/Poison. Was it going to become Electric-type to reference a different kind of water mine?

https://tcrf.net/images/a/a5/PokeGoldDemo-front_172.png
https://tcrf.net/images/a/a5/PokeGoldDemo-front_173.png
https://tcrf.net/images/a/a5/PokeGoldDemo-front_174.png

Proto Pichu, Cleffa, and Igglybuff. From what we learned about Pikachu, looks like they tried to recreate its original design for its prevo, kind of glad they went with the more mouse design. Cleffa doesn't look much different except has that antenna, and Igglybuff has the opposite issue: it's the same but doesn't have that hair swirl on its head, lol.

https://tcrf.net/images/a/a5/PokeGoldDemo-front_175.png

"Um, this is Quagsire, it doesn't look much different then it does now". Here's why I'm including it: it's found by itself. Which means originally Quagsire was a standalone and Wooper was a later addition.

https://tcrf.net/images/2/21/PokeGoldDemo-front_178.png

I'm guessing a Goldeen prevo... yeah, we didn't need it.

https://tcrf.net/images/2/21/PokeGoldDemo-front_179.png

Another original standalone, Marill didn't evolve into Azumarill.

https://tcrf.net/images/2/21/PokeGoldDemo-front_180.png
https://tcrf.net/images/2/21/PokeGoldDemo-front_181.png

So they not only tried to add a shark Pokemon in Gen I, they also tried in Gen II! It's beginning to look like getting Sharpedo in Gen III was a miracle. Though we can see the beginnings of Carvanha and Sharpedo here. Carvanha began as an ocean sunfish (the fish that Alomomola is based on) while Sharpedo was a shark whose backend was chopped off and replaced with an anchor. We have a different species of fish evolving to a shark who was part ship.

https://tcrf.net/images/2/21/PokeGoldDemo-front_182.png

Random eel Pokemon, though is pretty spot on to be a proto Huntail.

https://tcrf.net/images/7/7c/PokeGoldDemo-front_184.png

Paras prevo. Makes sense design-wise, though Paras was already pretty weak so we didn't need this.

https://tcrf.net/images/3/3d/PokeGoldDemo-front_186.png

Proto Ariados was just a bitter Spinarak with a meaner face on its body. Guess they found the designs too similar to based Ariados on a differnent species of spider?

https://tcrf.net/images/5/55/PokeGoldDemo-front_188.png

This is either a Ditto evo or prevo. The fact I can't tell should be also the reason why it wasn't released, Ditto's gimmick doesn't really give it room for an evo or prevo. All it needed was Imposter to be complete.

https://tcrf.net/images/9/95/PokeGoldDemo-front_189.png

Doduo prevo? For those having a hard time seeing what it is, it's basically a nest with legs and three chick heads. Though if its suppose to be a Doduo prevo, what happens to one of the three heads? Sure, when it becomes Dodrio it gets it back, but what happens to it during the Doduo stage of life? These questions might be why it was never released... then again, Exeggutor sort of has the same problem as its three seeds short.

https://tcrf.net/images/d/d1/PokeGoldDemo-front_190.png

Standalone so Sunkern was added later (with its stats I can believe that...) and Sunflora looks to have been stuck in the ground. Guess they thought a flower with a face was too generic so gave it at least some leaf legs to walk on.

https://tcrf.net/images/6/61/PokeGoldDemo-front_193.png
https://tcrf.net/images/6/61/PokeGoldDemo-front_194.png

So this is interesting. Now I think we knew that Girafarig started with having a parallel reverse end. But then there's this Pokemon before it. Was Girafarig going to be an evolved Pokemon and these twin wisps being its basic stage? Quite a design jump, going from two wisp blobs to a double ended giraffe. They also look like they're Ghost-types, so was Girafarig going to originally be part Ghost-type (and Normal-type)? Especially notable since the demo/beta Pokemon don't include Misdreavus, meaning it might have been added later. Maybe when they decided to make Girafarig a standalone and Psychic-type instead of Ghost?

https://tcrf.net/images/1/1b/PokeGoldDemo-front_196.png
https://tcrf.net/images/9/99/PokeGoldDemo-front_197.png
https://tcrf.net/images/4/49/PokeGoldDemo-front_198.png

Meowth prevo and an alternate evolution line for it? Instead of its lucky charm it has... floating bits? Now I can understand the idea of giving Meowth a prevo since Pikachu got one, though this kind of makes it look like its a Psychic-type. Or, maybe it's meant to be a reference to what might have been an alternate evolution line? Instead of a lucky charm these cats got a bell and became Dark-type? Now we still got Umbreon, and maybe because of that they canned this idea. Still, maybe that's why Alolan Meowth was made Dark-type, to reference the alternate evolution line it never got.

https://tcrf.net/images/b/bd/PokeGoldDemo-front_199.png

If you thought Politoed looked too much like a frog right now...

https://tcrf.net/images/1/1e/PokeGoldDemo-front_203.png

Like with Proto Ariados, Proto Ledian also looked like its basic stage. Though at least Ariados was bigger, Proto Ledian looks more like a different form than an evolution. Whcih is probably why it got a redesign, for the better (well, "better" as much as Ledian could get).

https://tcrf.net/images/2/2f/PokeGoldDemo-front_204.png

Ponyta prevo, combined with Vulpix and Growlithe maybe they got cut because there was too many Fire-type prevos. Also this looks just like a smaller Ponyta, at least Rapidash gets a horn upon evolving to make itself look more than just a bigger Ponyta.

https://tcrf.net/images/7/7f/PokeGoldDemo-front_207.png

For all those who wanted the Shellder transformation when it attaches itself to Slowbro or Slowking to be an alternate evolution, looks like originally you were going to get your wish! Probably got canned for wanting Slowbro and Slowking to remain unique in a way.

https://tcrf.net/images/0/0c/PokeGoldDemo-front_208.png

Grimer prevo, though looks more like Diglett melted. Actually this could pass off more as a prevo for Ditto. Or be a Baby Digimon. But yeah, probably decided this was ridiculous as it's just a sludge puddle now.

https://tcrf.net/images/7/7f/PokeGoldDemo-front_210.png

Looks like Hydreigon wasn't the only Pokemon to have looked more like a tank originally. Guess they maybe considered this too on the nose of being an artillery based Pokemon so leaned more on the octopus aspect to avoid complaints from parent groups.

https://tcrf.net/images/7/75/PokeGoldDemo-front_211.png
https://tcrf.net/images/2/26/PokeGoldDemo-front_212.png

So, um, okay... I don't think proto Tyrogue and Hitmontop originally had anything to do with Hitmonlee and Hitmonchan. Looks like they were their own evolution line. Would explain why Tyrogue has such an odd evolution method, it was probably a later change they weren't planning on happening.

https://tcrf.net/images/b/bf/PokeGoldDemo-front_214.png
https://tcrf.net/images/6/66/PokeGoldDemo-front_215.png
https://tcrf.net/images/6/66/PokeGoldDemo-front_216.png

Well we had the Baby Digimon, now for the In-Training Digimon! Obviously these are the Proto Hoppip family. Hoppip and Skiploom look relatively the same minus the legs plus a tail. Cottonee probably would get the biggest change, becoming blue and given dandelion arms too.

https://tcrf.net/images/d/da/PokeGoldDemo-front_217.png
https://tcrf.net/images/d/da/PokeGoldDemo-front_218.png
https://tcrf.net/images/d/da/PokeGoldDemo-front_219.png
https://tcrf.net/images/d/da/PokeGoldDemo-front_220.png

Proto Prevo for Mr. Mime, Jynx, Electabuzz, and Magmar. So all the way back in Gen II were they thinking of giving Mr. Mime a prevo, which makes sense as it has the design which could go one step back. Proto Smoochum is a smaller Jynx (and also had a black face), Proto Magby was much more spikier (making it sort of look like Bart Simpson), but I think the most interesting here is Proto Elekid. My, that's certainly an interesting concept, I'll say more once I figure out what it's suppose to be. Smoochum and Elekids obviously got the better designs later, though this version of Magby is kind of growing on me (and at least being compared to Bart has to be better than being compared to a butt).

https://tcrf.net/images/3/3c/PokeGoldDemo-front_222.png

I mean, it makes sense. Oddish family got a new evo so it counterpart, the Bellsprout family, should get one too. I mean, Bellsprout was even getting a location based on it in Johto so of course it would get a new evolution, one that looks more like Bellsprout than Victreebel. Though, maybe this was too much of a step back, it now just looking like a giant Bellsprout while Bellossom looked like it's own unique Pokemon compared to the rest of the Oddish family. Sorry Bellsprout, but at least you still got Sprout Tower.

https://tcrf.net/images/e/e5/PokeGoldDemo-front_224.png

A seal with a fire ball, was this going to be a Water/Fire-type? Like with the Water Starter, it was probably recycled later to inspire the Popplio family.

https://tcrf.net/images/3/39/PokeGoldDemo-front_226.png
https://tcrf.net/images/a/aa/PokeGoldDemo-front_227.png

Electric tiger hamsters? Hmm, Gen II is the only gen without a Pikaclone (Pichu doesn't count), could this maybe have been the original Pikaclone attempt? Well, if it is, I can see why it was scrapped. There's just something about it that doesn't look right, they look like fakemons.

https://tcrf.net/images/2/2c/PokeGoldDemo-front_228.png

Mother goose? Or a swan? What's that it's holding? Wait, a bird Pokemon holding something... Farfetch'd evo?! Well, whatever it was, might have been recycled into Swanna (which would mean Ducklett is the Gen V version of Farfetch'd... I can see it).

https://tcrf.net/images/f/f5/PokeGoldDemo-front_229.png
https://tcrf.net/images/f/f5/PokeGoldDemo-front_230.png

Okay... actually are these two even related? First one is a voodoo doll with a giant pin stuck through it (sorry CAP, you didn't think of it first) and second is I think suppose to be one of those Chinese hopping zombies vampires. They sorta relate, and they have a similar head (bear? monkey?).

https://tcrf.net/images/4/40/PokeGoldDemo-front_232.png

Proto Blissey, you can tell because it has TWO eggs. Though I can understand why they might have changed it, sort of also looks like a Clefable evolution if you disregard the egg pouches.

https://tcrf.net/images/6/66/PokeGoldDemo-front_234.png

Proto Heracross? Pinsir evo? Was Heracross maybe originally a Pinsir evo but split into its own Pokemon later on?

https://tcrf.net/images/4/45/PokeGoldDemo-front_237.png
https://tcrf.net/images/e/e5/PokeGoldDemo-front_238.png

And you though Lycanroc was GF's first attempt of a werewolf, looks like they were thinking about it since Gen II. Probably also based on those myths where wearing the skin of an animal let you transform into that animal.

https://tcrf.net/images/6/67/PokeGoldDemo-front_239.png

Proto Porygon2, if you can believe it. Not sure how it went from bird to lion, guess because they wanted to play with the idea of the higher graphics design means spheres so made a lion's head to show that off? Guess they changed it to looking life Porygon to better reflect the advancement in graphics.

https://tcrf.net/images/1/19/PokeGoldDemo-front_240.png

Like with Tangela, they were thinking of a Lickitung evo since Gen II. Though this one looks a little bit too much like Slowpoke. Say what you want about Lickilicky, but you can at least say its an evo for Lickitung (though you'd think Lickitung would be ripe for a prevo).

https://tcrf.net/images/6/63/PokeGoldDemo-front_242.png

Proto Kingdra, which was just a Seadra with arms and wings. Guess they changed it into a Leafy Seadragon to give it more of a unique appearance?

https://tcrf.net/images/3/33/PokeGoldDemo-front_243.png
https://tcrf.net/images/3/33/PokeGoldDemo-front_244.png
https://tcrf.net/images/3/33/PokeGoldDemo-front_245.png

Proto Raikou, Entei, and Suicune. Well then, I guess it's settled, they're DOGS. At least originally they were, though we now know why they looked like canines in the Generations episode about them! Raikou looks like it was the original edgelord, Entei a happy doggy that's ON FIRE, and Suicune not sure what it's suppose to be. They also looked too normal, like they were going to release a dog version of Eevee and these were its evolutions. So I think it's for the best they gave them the much more complex design to make them look more mythical and grand.

https://tcrf.net/images/b/be/PokeGoldDemo-front_246.png

Believe it or not, this is Proto Sneasel. Like, wow, they pulled a 180 on it! Though it also kind of looks like Mienfoo, though both are based on weasel-like animals so that shouldn't be too surprising.

https://tcrf.net/images/1/11/PokeGoldDemo-front_251.png

The final surprise. Now, this demo/beta Pokemon is where Celebi is so was it originally going to be Celebi? Instead of a fairy it's a fox? And if it was, did they decide to save it later for Leafeon's design when Celebi was changed into a Fairy? Or, since a lot of the demo/beta Pokemon are mixed around so probably aren't in their right spots, was Leafeon suppose to be released in Gen II? Does seem odd Gen II onwards only released two Eeveelutions while Gen I had three, would make sense their original plans was to release a third Eeveelution and a Grass-type would make sense if you think about what type is missing from the original three.


The internet is having a fun time with this news!

And here's a post that goes into further details which explains some things, like that Ditto evo is Steel-type.

Think I'm gonna need to post all this somewhere else...
 
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WOW! That's all I have to say to this, at least without looking at each of the unused Pokemon...

https://tcrf.net/images/3/3d/PokeGoldDemo-front_153.png

So this was proto Bayleef... I don't see how it links Chikorita with Meganium. It completely changes shape and it's not like it's a cocoon, it changes from a dinosaur into a flower.

https://tcrf.net/images/d/dd/PokeGoldDemo-front_155.png
https://tcrf.net/images/d/dd/PokeGoldDemo-front_156.png
https://tcrf.net/images/d/dd/PokeGoldDemo-front_157.png
and
https://tcrf.net/images/d/dd/PokeGoldDemo-front_158.png
https://tcrf.net/images/d/dd/PokeGoldDemo-front_159.png
https://tcrf.net/images/d/dd/PokeGoldDemo-front_160.png

The demo/beta Fire and Water Starters, a fire bear and plesiosaur. The fire bear's final evo looks to be a combination of Flareon and Arcanine so I can see why they changed the line. As for the plesiosaur, maybe it was changed because they looked a bit like Lapras? Though I wouldn't be surprised if they reused parts of the designs for Samurott and Popplio. While I don't think the fire bear would have been much of a difference from Cyndaquil, the plesiosaur looks like it would have played differently from Totodile, possibly being more Special focused (and maybe Speed?). Though they probably would still be pure types, though wouldn't stop players from saying the plesiosaur should be part Dragon despite that typing being OP in the original GB era games.

https://tcrf.net/images/e/e9/PokeGoldDemo-front_162.png

Proto-Noctowl looks like a fat Pidgey who lost a leg to diabetes. Glad they changed it.

https://tcrf.net/images/c/ca/PokeGoldDemo-front_166.png
https://tcrf.net/images/3/30/PokeGoldDemo-front_213.png

Vulpix and Growlithe prevo? And yes, I know the Growlithe prevo was later on the list but they're version counterparts so only right if I talked about both now. Vulpix evo just looks like a three tailed Vulpix, like it's hard to imagine Vulpix getting a prevo since it looked as base as it could. That said, Growlithe prevo is just adorable and could see it working. Of course, I guess they weren't included as they probably didn't want to go overboard with the baby evos. And when later games released more probably was decided (for the best) that the Vulpix and Growlithe families were fine as they are. Though I do hope they use that Growlithe prevo someway else, hey, with all the dog Pokemon we got maybe have it be a prevo to ALL the dog Pokemon and it evolves via location or something.

https://tcrf.net/images/a/af/PokeGoldDemo-front_167.png
https://tcrf.net/images/d/d5/PokeGoldDemo-front_168.png

HA! Roselia, you thought YOU were the first Pokemon to get both a prevo and evo? Well turns out that honor actually goes to Tangela! Guess they wanted to answer what's under all those vines... and it's exactly what we thought it was. Seems like the evo has the similar idea what would eventually become Tangrowth, just a heavy coat of vines; though Tangrowth was made to look like a hairy caveman while this one is more of a stylized wig (maybe a powdered wig).

https://tcrf.net/images/b/bf/PokeGoldDemo-front_169.png

Proto Mantine? I don't see Mantine with the demo/beta sprites and it's translated name indicates its suppose to be a manta ray (or at least a flying fish of some kind). Looks like they were going to do a bird fish combination. Don't know why they decided against it, too generic? A manta ray that's also a kite I guess does feel more original. Kind of wish they kept this design and adjusted it for Mantine's prevo instead of that blob we got for Mantyke.

https://tcrf.net/images/c/c7/PokeGoldDemo-front_171.png

REALLY interesting. Qwilfish was originally going to get an evolution... and this evolution's design was then later used to make Whiscash! Not sure why it has that thunderbolt symbol on its head, Qwilfish is Water/Poison. Was it going to become Electric-type to reference a different kind of water mine?

https://tcrf.net/images/a/a5/PokeGoldDemo-front_172.png
https://tcrf.net/images/a/a5/PokeGoldDemo-front_173.png
https://tcrf.net/images/a/a5/PokeGoldDemo-front_174.png

Proto Pichu, Cleffa, and Igglybuff. From what we learned about Pikachu, looks like they tried to recreate its original design for its prevo, kind of glad they went with the more mouse design. Cleffa doesn't look much different except has that antenna, and Igglybuff has the opposite issue: it's the same but doesn't have that hair swirl on its head, lol.

https://tcrf.net/images/a/a5/PokeGoldDemo-front_175.png

"Um, this is Quagsire, it doesn't look much different then it does now". Here's why I'm including it: it's found by itself. Which means originally Quagsire was a standalone and Wooper was a later addition.

https://tcrf.net/images/2/21/PokeGoldDemo-front_178.png

I'm guessing a Goldeen prevo... yeah, we didn't need it.

https://tcrf.net/images/2/21/PokeGoldDemo-front_179.png

Another original standalone, Marill didn't evolve into Azumarill.

https://tcrf.net/images/2/21/PokeGoldDemo-front_180.png
https://tcrf.net/images/2/21/PokeGoldDemo-front_181.png

So they not only tried to add a shark Pokemon in Gen I, they also tried in Gen II! It's beginning to look like getting Sharpedo in Gen III was a miracle. Though we can see the beginnings of Carvanha and Sharpedo here. Carvanha began as an ocean sunfish (the fish that Alomomola is based on) while Sharpedo was a shark whose backend was chopped off and replaced with an anchor. We have a different species of fish evolving to a shark who was part ship.

https://tcrf.net/images/2/21/PokeGoldDemo-front_182.png

Random eel Pokemon, though is pretty spot on to be a proto Huntail.

https://tcrf.net/images/7/7c/PokeGoldDemo-front_184.png

Paras prevo. Makes sense design-wise, though Paras was already pretty weak so we didn't need this.

https://tcrf.net/images/3/3d/PokeGoldDemo-front_186.png

Proto Ariados was just a bitter Spinarak with a meaner face on its body. Guess they found the designs too similar to based Ariados on a differnent species of spider?

https://tcrf.net/images/5/55/PokeGoldDemo-front_188.png

This is either a Ditto evo or prevo. The fact I can't tell should be also the reason why it wasn't released, Ditto's gimmick doesn't really give it room for an evo or prevo. All it needed was Imposter to be complete.

https://tcrf.net/images/9/95/PokeGoldDemo-front_189.png

Doduo prevo? For those having a hard time seeing what it is, it's basically a nest with legs and three chick heads. Though if its suppose to be a Doduo prevo, what happens to one of the three heads? Sure, when it becomes Dodrio it gets it back, but what happens to it during the Doduo stage of life? These questions might be why it was never released... then again, Exeggutor sort of has the same problem as its three seeds short.

https://tcrf.net/images/d/d1/PokeGoldDemo-front_190.png

Standalone so Sunkern was added later (with its stats I can believe that...) and Sunflora looks to have been stuck in the ground. Guess they thought a flower with a face was too generic so gave it at least some leaf legs to walk on.

https://tcrf.net/images/6/61/PokeGoldDemo-front_193.png
https://tcrf.net/images/6/61/PokeGoldDemo-front_194.png

So this is interesting. Now I think we knew that Girafarig started with having a parallel reverse end. But then there's this Pokemon before it. Was Girafarig going to be an evolved Pokemon and these twin wisps being its basic stage? Quite a design jump, going from two wisp blobs to a double ended giraffe. They also look like they're Ghost-types, so was Girafarig going to originally be part Ghost-type (and Normal-type)? Especially notable since the demo/beta Pokemon don't include Misdreavus, meaning it might have been added later. Maybe when they decided to make Girafarig a standalone and Psychic-type instead of Ghost?

https://tcrf.net/images/1/1b/PokeGoldDemo-front_196.png
https://tcrf.net/images/9/99/PokeGoldDemo-front_197.png
https://tcrf.net/images/4/49/PokeGoldDemo-front_198.png

Meowth prevo and an alternate evolution line for it? Instead of its lucky charm it has... floating bits? Now I can understand the idea of giving Meowth a prevo since Pikachu got one, though this kind of makes it look like its a Psychic-type. Or, maybe it's meant to be a reference to what might have been an alternate evolution line? Instead of a lucky charm these cats got a bell and became Dark-type? Now we still got Umbreon, and maybe because of that they canned this idea. Still, maybe that's why Alolan Meowth was made Dark-type, to reference the alternate evolution line it never got.

https://tcrf.net/images/b/bd/PokeGoldDemo-front_199.png

If you thought Politoed looked too much like a frog right now...

https://tcrf.net/images/1/1e/PokeGoldDemo-front_203.png

Like with Proto Ariados, Proto Ledian also looked like its basic stage. Though at least Ariados was bigger, Proto Ledian looks more like a different form than an evolution. Whcih is probably why it got a redesign, for the better (well, "better" as much as Ledian could get).

https://tcrf.net/images/2/2f/PokeGoldDemo-front_204.png

Ponyta prevo, combined with Vulpix and Growlithe maybe they got cut because there was too many Fire-type prevos. Also this looks just like a smaller Ponyta, at least Rapidash gets a horn upon evolving to make itself look more than just a bigger Ponyta.

https://tcrf.net/images/7/7f/PokeGoldDemo-front_207.png

For all those who wanted the Shellder transformation when it attaches itself to Slowbro or Slowking to be an alternate evolution, looks like originally you were going to get your wish! Probably got canned for wanting Slowbro and Slowking to remain unique in a way.

https://tcrf.net/images/0/0c/PokeGoldDemo-front_208.png

Grimer prevo, though looks more like Diglett melted. Actually this could pass off more as a prevo for Ditto. Or be a Baby Digimon. But yeah, probably decided this was ridiculous as it's just a sludge puddle now.

https://tcrf.net/images/7/7f/PokeGoldDemo-front_210.png

Looks like Hydreigon wasn't the only Pokemon to have looked more like a tank originally. Guess they maybe considered this too on the nose of being an artillery based Pokemon so leaned more on the octopus aspect to avoid complaints from parent groups.

https://tcrf.net/images/7/75/PokeGoldDemo-front_211.png
https://tcrf.net/images/2/26/PokeGoldDemo-front_212.png

So, um, okay... I don't think proto Tyrogue and Hitmontop originally had anything to do with Hitmonlee and Hitmonchan. Looks like they were their own evolution line. Would explain why Tyrogue has such an odd evolution method, it was probably a later change they weren't planning on happening.

https://tcrf.net/images/b/bf/PokeGoldDemo-front_214.png
https://tcrf.net/images/6/66/PokeGoldDemo-front_215.png
https://tcrf.net/images/6/66/PokeGoldDemo-front_216.png

Well we had the Baby Digimon, now for the In-Training Digimon! Obviously these are the Proto Hoppip family. Hoppip and Skiploom look relatively the same minus the legs plus a tail. Cottonee probably would get the biggest change, becoming blue and given dandelion arms too.

https://tcrf.net/images/d/da/PokeGoldDemo-front_217.png
https://tcrf.net/images/d/da/PokeGoldDemo-front_218.png
https://tcrf.net/images/d/da/PokeGoldDemo-front_219.png
https://tcrf.net/images/d/da/PokeGoldDemo-front_220.png

Proto Prevo for Mr. Mime, Jynx, Electabuzz, and Magmar. So all the way back in Gen II were they thinking of giving Mr. Mime a prevo, which makes sense as it has the design which could go one step back. Proto Smoochum is a smaller Jynx (and also had a black face), Proto Magby was much more spikier (making it sort of look like Bart Simpson), but I think the most interesting here is Proto Elekid. My, that's certainly an interesting concept, I'll say more once I figure out what it's suppose to be. Smoochum and Elekids obviously got the better designs later, though this version of Magby is kind of growing on me (and at least being compared to Bart has to be better than being compared to a butt).

https://tcrf.net/images/3/3c/PokeGoldDemo-front_222.png

I mean, it makes sense. Oddish family got a new evo so it counterpart, the Bellsprout family, should get one too. I mean, Bellsprout was even getting a location based on it in Johto so of course it would get a new evolution, one that looks more like Bellsprout than Victreebel. Though, maybe this was too much of a step back, it now just looking like a giant Bellsprout while Bellossom looked like it's own unique Pokemon compared to the rest of the Oddish family. Sorry Bellsprout, but at least you still got Sprout Tower.

https://tcrf.net/images/e/e5/PokeGoldDemo-front_224.png

A seal with a fire ball, was this going to be a Water/Fire-type? Like with the Water Starter, it was probably recycled later to inspire the Popplio family.

https://tcrf.net/images/3/39/PokeGoldDemo-front_226.png
https://tcrf.net/images/a/aa/PokeGoldDemo-front_227.png

Electric tiger hamsters? Hmm, Gen II is the only gen without a Pikaclone (Pichu doesn't count), could this maybe have been the original Pikaclone attempt? Well, if it is, I can see why it was scrapped. There's just something about it that doesn't look right, they look like fakemons.

https://tcrf.net/images/2/2c/PokeGoldDemo-front_228.png

Mother goose? Or a swan? What's that it's holding? Wait, a bird Pokemon holding something... Farfetch'd evo?! Well, whatever it was, might have been recycled into Swanna (which would mean Ducklett is the Gen V version of Farfetch'd... I can see it).

https://tcrf.net/images/f/f5/PokeGoldDemo-front_229.png
https://tcrf.net/images/f/f5/PokeGoldDemo-front_230.png

Okay... actually are these two even related? First one is a voodoo doll with a giant pin stuck through it (sorry CAP, you didn't think of it first) and second is I think suppose to be one of those Chinese hopping zombies vampires. They sorta relate, and they have a similar head (bear? monkey?).

https://tcrf.net/images/4/40/PokeGoldDemo-front_232.png

Proto Blissey, you can tell because it has TWO eggs. Though I can understand why they might have changed it, sort of also looks like a Clefable evolution if you disregard the egg pouches.

https://tcrf.net/images/6/66/PokeGoldDemo-front_234.png

Proto Heracross? Pinsir evo? Was Heracross maybe originally a Pinsir evo but split into its own Pokemon later on?

https://tcrf.net/images/4/45/PokeGoldDemo-front_237.png
https://tcrf.net/images/e/e5/PokeGoldDemo-front_238.png

And you though Lycanroc was GF's first attempt of a werewolf, looks like they were thinking about it since Gen II. Probably also based on those myths where wearing the skin of an animal let you transform into that animal.

https://tcrf.net/images/6/67/PokeGoldDemo-front_239.png

Proto Porygon2, if you can believe it. Not sure how it went from bird to lion, guess because they wanted to play with the idea of the higher graphics design means spheres so made a lion's head to show that off? Guess they changed it to looking life Porygon to better reflect the advancement in graphics.

https://tcrf.net/images/1/19/PokeGoldDemo-front_240.png

Like with Tangela, they were thinking of a Lickitung evo since Gen II. Though this one looks a little bit too much like Slowpoke. Say what you want about Lickilicky, but you can at least say its an evo for Lickitung (though you'd think Lickitung would be ripe for a prevo).

https://tcrf.net/images/6/63/PokeGoldDemo-front_242.png

Proto Kingdra, which was just a Seadra with arms and wings. Guess they changed it into a Leafy Seadragon to give it more of a unique appearance?

https://tcrf.net/images/3/33/PokeGoldDemo-front_243.png
https://tcrf.net/images/3/33/PokeGoldDemo-front_244.png
https://tcrf.net/images/3/33/PokeGoldDemo-front_245.png

Proto Raikou, Entei, and Suicune. Well then, I guess it's settled, they're DOGS. At least originally they were, though we now know why they looked like canines in the Generations episode about them! Raikou looks like it was the original edgelord, Entei a happy doggy that's ON FIRE, and Suicune not sure what it's suppose to be. They also looked too normal, like they were going to release a dog version of Eevee and these were its evolutions. So I think it's for the best they gave them the much more complex design to make them look more mythical and grand.

https://tcrf.net/images/b/be/PokeGoldDemo-front_246.png

Believe it or not, this is Proto Sneasel. Like, wow, they pulled a 180 on it! Though it also kind of looks like Mienfoo, though both are based on weasel-like animals so that shouldn't be too surprising.

https://tcrf.net/images/1/11/PokeGoldDemo-front_251.png

The final surprise. Now, this demo/beta Pokemon is where Celebi is so was it originally going to be Celebi? Instead of a fairy it's a fox? And if it was, did they decide to save it later for Leafeon's design when Celebi was changed into a Fairy? Or, since a lot of the demo/beta Pokemon are mixed around so probably aren't in their right spots, was Leafeon suppose to be released in Gen II? Does seem odd Gen II onwards only released two Eeveelutions while Gen I had three, would make sense their original plans was to release a third Eeveelution and a Grass-type would make sense if you think about what type is missing from the original three.


The internet is having a fun time with this news!

And here's a post that goes into further details which explains some things, like that Ditto evo is Steel-type.

Think I'm gonna need to post all this somewhere else...
It actually isn't steel type. The dataminers have a google doc documenting everything in more detail including typing and evolution methods.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet...WNSl0UsD5yq_dI/htmlview?usp=sharing&sle=true#
There's quite a number of surprising typing decisions.

proto-leafeon being in celebi's position doesn't mean it was meant to be an event Pokemon, just that its internal position shoved it at the end. They were probably still in the process of adding Pokemon and didn't do any sort of reordering. until the end.
e: consider it more akin to chimecho's index positioning in gen 3
 
Aaaaand another couple of missingno. have been uncovered, 4 actually, but two are just too blurry.
They're visible in the document Tajiri gives Arino in the 2004 GCCX interview, stills from the video analysis here , lenghty article analysis here

missing134135.jpg

The first two are 134 and 135 the other two are 159 and 160 and they might've been Kotora and Raitora.
missing159160.jpg

I want that booklet.
zukan.jpg

Also it's not impossible that Gen 2 final mons were scrapped from the 1997 version and reconsidered for the final. Gyaoon (gen 1 scrapped pokemon, possibly a missingno.) is quite a proto-tyranitar .
 
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And if anything, the very early GS demo is exactly when they'd show up. Early stages is when they'd throw in everything they wanted to do in the last game before giving wider consideration to it.
 

Pikachu315111

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And if anything, the very early GS demo is exactly when they'd show up. Early stages is when they'd throw in everything they wanted to do in the last game before giving wider consideration to it.
Now I'm just imagining every gen's initial creation they include Kotora, Raitora, and the other Spaceworld Demo Pokemon thinking "okay, THIS will be the gen we finalize them" only to remove them for newer, interesting (to GameFreak) Pokemon, lol.
 
actually shinx zebstrika and togedemaru might be the results of the failed attempts to bring them back XD
uh I should also point out that the "proto-electrode" in the tajiri manga (missingno. 81) tab is now quite certainly identified with Baloonda, the original baloon pokemon, likely the original inspiration for Driftloon and some redundant version of Jigglypuff in the original 190 roster.
 
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they were these (this is the original author, the one we have to thank if we knew about those proto starters in the first place)
this one http://scrapped-pokemon.wikia.com/wiki/Beta_Raikou_/_Suicune
and this one https://omggirlsgame.files.wordpress.com/2015/09/tumblr_lvvow0bmzn1r64jmlo1_500.jpg
Note that Sugimori always stated that this last pic wasn't depicting real Pokémon but "an alternate universe like pokemon", you can totally see how fishy this statement is, while it's true those monsters weren't in the 1997 demo (that pic was published in april 1997), Tyranitar is definitely there. My current opinion is that Sugimori re-used Gen I and early Gen II proto-pokemon (even missingno?) that he thought had been scrapped for good, since Pokemon 2 was initially supposed to be the last game.
 

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