Following last week’s big announcement of Pokemon X and Y being released for Nintendo 3DS, a few extra details have trickled out. So here’s a recap of all the new info.
Legendary Names
Say hello to Xerneas (zurr-nee-us) and Yveltal (ee-vell-tall). The names of these two Legendary mascot Pokemon, along with their pronunciations and physical stats, were revealed this week. But even cooler was that it was revealed with the official artwork for the pocket monsters by Pokemon character designer, Ken Sugimori.
This may be the first time I can think of that we’ve actually received official pronunciations for Pokemon, and it’s long overdue. Since few Pokemon even have obvious puns in their name (especially the Legendary Pokemon) it’s gotten harder to know how to pronounce them until they show up in the anime.
More (Complex) Pokemon
There will obviously be new Pokemon in X and Y, as we’ve already seen the three new starters and two legendaries, but how many will there be in total?
In a 4Gamer interview with The Pokemon Company President and CEO, Tsunekaz Ishihara, he said the total number of Pokemon will exceed 700 after the release of this game. With 649 known Pokemon currently in existence, that means we’ll get at least 51 new faces, but I doubt it will be that few. Taking into account the fact that most Pokemon have 1 or 2 evolved forms, that would only leave us with about 20 new Pokemon to capture and raise – not very exciting for this hugely anticipated game. My guess is that we can expect about 100 new Pokemon in total.
Ishihara also said we can expect more complex kinds of Pokemon. Could that mean we’ll see new type combinations? Or perhaps new, more subtle abilities that will have an impact on competitive play?
Starter Types Confirmed
Finally, it was confirmed today that the three starter Pokemon, Chespin, Fennekin, and Froakie will be pure Grass, Fire and Water types respectively.
I’m not sure this is really news, since everyone could pretty much tell their types from looking at them, and the only dual-type starter in the history of the series is Bulbasaur. The real question I have is what types they will evolve into.
We’ll probably have more news popping up every day for a while, so check back next Pokemon Monday for another rundown of X & Y news.
Sources
Official Pokemon X / Pokemon Y Homepage
Official Nintendo Magazine
Pick up any tidbits of info I missed? Have you decided which starter you’re going to pick? Tell us in the comments below!
January 14, 2013 at 1:50 PM
Im scared to think what pokemon will look like if Sugimori ever gets in an accident or something.
January 14, 2013 at 3:43 PM
Let’s just hope “more complex” doesn’t mean triple types or four-stage evolutions; gotta draw the line somewheres. Think we’ll get any evolutions for existing Pokémon? Or, dare I hope, an evolution linking Luvdisc to Alomomola?
Even the anime and the console games contradict themselves with pronunciations: Raikou, Bonsly, and Arcanine, to name a few, have all been pronounced two different ways.
I think of Ken Sugimori as a Japanese Walt Disney: his name may be on it, but he might just oversee the design rather than do most of it himself. At least now we’re finding out others have a hand in Pokémon designs, like James Turner here in the U.S.
January 14, 2013 at 8:58 PM
Yeah, I agree. And the Post-Walt Disney Disney movies dont exactly have the same feel either in my opinion. for the most part.
January 14, 2013 at 4:12 PM
I remember seeing in another interview that the battle system is going to be a lot deeper, so I’m just hoping “complexity” means more avenues for strategy: an opening up of the types of teams you can make, and maybe the number of feasible Pokemon you can select for you competitive teams.
January 14, 2013 at 5:40 PM
Am I the only one hoping for a two-stage starter? Just to mix it up a bit? I understand the disadvantage of it but it could be possible to have that pokemon evolve in between the 2nd and 3rd stages of the other starters and even out power-wise.
January 14, 2013 at 6:04 PM
I don’t think the concern is so much the stat difference, but more of the fact that these are the Pokemon you spend the most time with (most likely in your party from the beginning till end). So I think people like having the 3 stages just to keep it fresh and exciting throughout the adventure.
However, that doesn’t mean I disagree with what you’re saying. I think any kind of change could be good and interesting. But they would probably need some other gimmick (maybe different forms?) so you don’t get bored of your best friend starter.
January 14, 2013 at 8:56 PM
I don’t think they should mess with the starter formula at all. Im all up for change, but there are some things that are just staples of the series that shouldn’t really be messed with. Having 3 evolution starters that start out as fire, water, and grass to me is like having 8 gym leaders or 5 members of the Pokemon league. Not exactly necessary, but sill big attributes to Pokemon games in my opinion.
January 15, 2013 at 10:34 AM
I think part of the reason to keep the starters simple is they represent not only that game’s generation but the rock-paper-scissors game mechanic in its most pure form. (The burden of being an icon is a heavy one.)
January 15, 2013 at 12:18 PM
I’m kind of playing Devil’s Advocate here, but wouldn’t it be the same Rock/Paper/Scissors dynamic if they made the starters Rock/Flying/Fighting instead of the usual?
January 15, 2013 at 1:40 PM
I think the fire/water/grass was a good choice in types, just because of the feel. Theyre all elements of nature. Youre not only picking a pokemon, youre choosing an element. I get an avatar (the last airbender) kind of vibe from that. I always picked fire types because fire is cooler than water or grass. I dont know how to explain it any further, but i like it. Also, each generation is represented by their starters. i think its cool that every gen has fire/water/grass starters, but theyre all their own regions variations of that idea. idk. Flying/rock/fighting would work, but i just wouldnt be able to get into it.
January 16, 2013 at 4:44 PM
There’s a theory floating around (I don’t buy it) that they are adding two new types: Light and Sound: http://cheezburger.com/6967666432
If true they’d probably have to go back and retype (not the first time) older Pokés like Chatot and the Whismur/Loudred/Exploud line.