Beta No. 232: Happi

Happi Happi Joi Joi~

It's proto-Blissey! That's about all you need to know, really.


Though it's odd, since Chansey and Blissey put their faces up high on their egg-shaped bodies, it gave the appearance of age. Compared to Happi, who looks "younger" just because the face is larger compared to the body. Odd choice for an evolution.

The one thing I like here is how it's wearing dual egg holsters, like it's about to quick-draw some yolk. And that giant heart seems on-the-nose (this Pokemon has a lot of HP and healing moves!!) but it's better than just being a big featherey egg, at least.


Overall: 4/10

Beta No. 230: Pangshi

He hopped... then he hopped... then he hopped again!!

OK now we're cooking with fire! For those who don't know, a Jiangshi is a Chinese vampire, basically. They're reanimated corpses, but rigor mortis has set in and they're so stiff they have to hop around to move, holding their arms outstretched. The paper talisman affixed to their head are either (ineffective) magical seals, or essentially the address of the deceased's proper burial ground, which the body is attempting to return to. It depends on the myth, of course.


And fusing that concept with a panda, for the sake of a pun, is GENIUS. This artwork here kinda misses the point, a Pangshi would most likely not be able to sit down like this, but hey. Undead hopping panda, what more do you want? I really wish this one had been real.


Overall: 9/10

Beta No. 229: Kurstraw

I love that voodoo that you do so well.

More Ghost pokemon? Sign me right up. Gen 2 was miserable on this count, we only got Misdreavus. A voodoo doll makes for a great base.

Also, it reminds me of the animation for the move Curse, dontcha think? Which was always strange, that's the purpose of a ???-type move that works differently for Ghost-types? Because it's a neat gimmick move, but doesn't really deserve being so special in its classification.

Back to Kurstraw, I like it a lot! Not doing much besides just being a straw voodoo dummy with ears, but that's enough for me.


Overall: 7/10

Beta No. 228: Madame

enormous bitch energy

Madame is the cancelled evolution of Farfetch'd, who always stood out as an odd duck (ha) without much purpose in the game, who only became more irrelevant as the years passed and the gutters clogged and overflowed up with Normal/Flying losers. That outstretched hand looks like she's throwing up a gang sign. I gotta be honest - I thought Swanna was the bitchiest bird ever, but madame has it beat.


Which makes it funny that the artist here decided to make it a cool ninja duck, or something. And credit to them, it does look kinda cool! I wouldn't mess with a pissed off duck in a mask, reverse-gripping a leeksword. But seems like clearly the opposite direction Gamefreak was going. All in all, it's still just a duck with a leek, but both takes give it personality. And I can respect a duck with personality.


Overall: 7/10