No. 694: Palafin

Neo Spacian Aqua Dolphin
 
So I don't wanna spend more than 10 seconds on Zero Form, it's literally just Palafin but with a heart on it. What we really came here for is Hero Form.

I love the concept here. Dolphins are known to rescue shipwrecked people, so it's an easy leap from that heroic image to an actual superhero, and from there to this "alter-ego quick-change" gimmick. (let's just ignore the reality that dolphins are often aggressive and cruel irl) And the way that gimmick is incorporated into the battle system really well - you have to swap him out, so he can duck into a phone booth to change. Fun!

The problem comes in the execution of the design. Palafin looks like a dork. His goggles are screwed in too tight, looking like Kurt Angle on that one episode of TNA. Then his tail becomes an un-dolphin-like split so that he can stand up, which is pointless because he's a water type - they don't need to stand up. They can just levitate in the animations. (which would also be a very superhero thing to do!) Also, he's got fingers but not a thumb. This just looks wrong.

But the biggest mistake is in giving him this Dracula-esque collar. Spawn and Dr. Strange are maybe the only heroes who use that, so it's a very odd design choice - especially when you think about how it would ruin the hydrodynamic shape! And come to think of it, where's the cape? He's even got the fasteners on his shoulders, but no cape? Just a collar? It's bizarre, and looks stupid.

btw, I don't understand why this had to be a two-stage evolution Pokemon. idk if you can even call it dex padding, because they still had to make two distinct designs, but. It's one more weird oddity dragging down what should be a really fun Pokemon. I'm rating it lower just because of how disappointed I am.

 

Overall: 2/10

No. 963: Finizen

 Ecco the Dolphin was a trip and a half

It's sometimes shocking to find that such basic animal concepts as "dolphin" still haven't been covered by Pokemon, well into the 9th gen. Finizen does a fine job of it, I like the aquamarine colors. Maybe they could have spiced up the design more than they did, it's almost literally just a dolphin, but knowing the major gimmick coming up I understand playing this one safe.

As such, my only real critique is the eyes. I thought it had big eyes with big pupils, but actually it has bulging eyes and no sclera. And now I can't stop noticing it.

 

Overall: 7/10 

No. 962: Bombirdier

 Watch For Rolling Rocks

I hate Bombirdier. If it didn't have that bib, and was just a crane, I could actually dig it somewhat. Still a generic flying feathery asshole, but it would be fine.

Unfortunately, it has this dumbass bib, and it can't not have it, because that's its whole gimmick. It holds rocks in the bib like the stork delivering babies, and drops them on people. And honestly, a bird that specializes in rock-throwing could be cool! Maybe related to Sinbad's Roc, y'know? But instead, it's this crap.

If it was even a beard, that might kinda work! But it isn't. It's a goddamn bib that drags on the ground and the stupid freak trips over it all the time. And it has a random crease in it, even though it never makes sharp folds. I know it flies all the time in-game anyway, but I hate the execution of this concept so much.

 

Overall: 2/10 

No. 961: Wugtrio

 what if there were 3 of them

Not a fan of reversing the color scheme, the pink bodies make them look somehow obscene. And the fact that they all come out of the rock, which then slides around all over the place when they move, is awful. This is a Pokemon that was designed to exist as a static image, not a 3D model that moves through the environment, which you'd think would be the opposite of how they design them nowadays.

 

Overall: 3/10 

No. 960: Wiglett

happy Wiglett Wednesday to all who celebrate


I've said before that I like these Convergent Evolution Pokemon, and I view them as functionally identical to Regional Forms. In fact, I wish all Regional Forms could be separately categorized in the Pokedex, as if they were completely independent Pokemon (because they are).

But, as for Wiglett itself, I'm pretty sure I fought this thing in Yoshi's Island. Cute little fella, not much else to say.


Overall: 7/10 

Pokemon Gen 10 Revealed

What day is it? What year is it? Oh, it's February 27, 2026?

Why, that's the 30th anniversary of Pokemon! And they announced a new game!

 

I like two of the starters already, and the third isn't awful. Hopefully the rest of the dex shapes up well, but it's not releasing until 2027 so I still have time to finish reviewing Gen 9! 

No. 103: Grizzbolt

people said it was an Electabuzz ripoff but it's clearly a Zangoose ripoff

This guy kicks ass. He's like an electric Totoro with big-ass claws, and that's something I can get behind. Really solid proportions and classic Gen 1 design sensibilities. The only problem is that random black streak going into his cheek, it reminds me of how Yuji from JJK got a scar at the corner of his mouth at some point and it served to distract me every time I saw it. Wasn't even a cool scar. Made me wish he had a matching one on the other side of his mouth, because then it would look like clown makeup or something.

Overall: 9/10, no copyright infringement detected

No. 959: Tinkaton

Lil' Miss Trouble

 

When I caught a Tinkatink, and evolved it into Tinkatuff, and looked at the space in the Pokedex to see there was a third form, I immediately predicted its name would be Tinkaton and I was not let down.

Tiny girls with big hammers are scientifically proven to be awesome, it's as simple as that. I love how ridiculously huge the hammer is, and I like the design of it this time, too! It's neat how the core of it is still the rattle from when it was a baby.

In fact, I appreciate how the design aspects grew with each stage of this line: the hair goes from a tiny tuft, to a ponytail, to twintails. Tinkatuff adds metal flanges at the hip, and now Tinkaton has 4 of them. The teeth grow over time, too. It's just really pleasing consistency.

And again, it cannot be stated enough, Tinkaton rocks. I think it's awesome that it knocks Corviknights down out of the sky. Gigaton Hammer is a based move. And her pose when sleeping is adorable.


Overall: 10/10

No. 958: Tinkatuff

Ruff 'n' Tuff

Tinkatuff fixes the proportions of Tintatink, but has the problem of so many middle evolutions that I'm just waiting for the final form.

Also I don't really like that hammer design, the way the metal is wrapped without any support, won't it just bend completely the moment you try to use it to hammer anything? It needs crossbar support to hold the sides up.

But still, Tinkatuff herself is well-designed.


Overall: 7/10

No. 957: Tinkatink

in the pink

 

the concept of a baby running around with a rattle made out of metal, whacking things and causing trouble, is terrifying. Little poopy pants babies should not be trusted with heavy dangerous objects. I think we should put Tinkatink in timeout until she can learn to behave.

Design-wise, my issue here is that Tinkatink is too abbreviated. Like, this line is always going to be gremlin-mode, but the absolute lack of a torso here looks really weird compared to the size of the arms.


Overall: 3/10