No. 027: Sandshrew

He's built like a brick house!

I like sandshrew. And I'm not sure why.

It's like, Sandshrew isn't one of the pokemon you think of when you think of "Pokemon". He's not super cool, or super cute, or has a big presence in the anime, he's just kinda there.

I like to think that Sandshrew doesn't really talk much, he just sits there and is fine by himself. When friends come over, he hangs out, but its not like he has to be in the center of attention all the time. He's fine either way. He's not a horrible pokemon, stat-wise, for a pre-evo. But he's not great either.

Sandshrew is moderation personified. If he had a slogan, it would be "Oh, yeah, I guess so, huh. Whatever."

Overall: 8/10

No. 026: Raichu

Man, I'm just missing days right and left here. Need to get back on track.

And who better to get back on track with than the loveable Raichu?

He's not as cute as Pikachu, but he's possibly cooler. That whip-like tail with a lightning bolt on the end is badass.

It's his ears that get me, though. They just look dopey. If he'd had long bunny-ears like Pikachu, then he'd be perfect. And also he's orange. Hmm. that's two strikes.

Still awesome, though.

Overall: 9/10

No. 025: Pikachu

Wait, who is this again? I don't remember this one from the show...

Oh, yeah. Pikachu. I think I saw it once or twice. Didn't it do some sort of electric thingie, where - okay, I can't keep that up.

Everybody knows Pikachu. Even people who don't play pokemon or watch the show know Pikachu. Even people who don't play video games and don't watch TV know Pikachu.

He's more famous than most famous people in the world, and with good reason. His design totally works.

1. cute rabbit ears
2. trademark lightning bolt tail
3. some rodents store nuts in their cheeks. Pikachu stores electricity.

Pikachu is not only THE electric type pokemon, he's THE pokemon, period.

overall: 10/10

No. 024: Arbok

Spell it backwards.

You get kobrA, which isn't even a word. what the hell.

Anyway, as any grade schooler can tell you, the cobra is the coolest kind of snake. So, Arbok gets points just for that.

Then, it actually looks threatening. Not many pokemon do, but Arbok does. It looks like it just might take a chunk out of your leg. Plus, the hood design is a nice touch.

Again, taking the classic pokemon route: take a cool animal (cobra), make is strange (purple), add something crazy (... pattern?) Okay, so it doesn't follow through like it could, but it's still pretty awesome.

Overall: 8/10

No. 023: Ekans

Spell it backwards.

Ekans is a snake. That - that's pretty much it. It has a rattler tail, which is cool, and it's purple, but it has no fangs.

None.

I'm not sure what to think about Ekans. I guess it's kind of like Ratatta in that way, it gets the job done well enough, but nothing special really.

I still think it should've had fangs...


Overall: 5/10

No. 022: Fearow

Fun Fact: Fearow was a broken S-tier threat in the early days of competitive pokemon!

actually, no, he's wasn't. I just made that up.

But unlike Raticate, Fearow doesn't need bullshit to make him interesting. Fearow is a unique bird pokemon, which is, well, unique.

He is more like an albatross or something than a hawk, and he has a very distinctive beak. Maybe he's like a heron?

The point is, Fearow looks like a pokemon, not like an actual animal. He could be cooler, sure, but as far as bird pokemon go, he's pretty good.

Overall: 7/10

No. 021: Spearow

Spearow's just a cooler Pidgey, right?

No. Spearow is just another pidgey. He is more shaggy, and meaner, but still. still a lame bird that looks like the cousin of that other lame bird, and is often found in the same patched of grass as that other lame bird.

screw Fearow. He is not cool, not even.

Now, if there WAS no Pidgey, and Spearow was the only little bird pokemon, then he'd be more acceptable. But seeing as how Pidgey DOES exist, and they were too lazy to even change the goddamned color scheme, and seeing as how in the anime all Spearows are JERKS...

Overall: 2/10

No. 020: Raticate

He's the Greatest Criminal Mind!

Heeeeeeeeere's... RATIGAN!

Just kidding.

I thought that maybe referencing the Great Mouse Detective would make Raticate more interesting, but it didn't work.

Raticate is just a fat rat, and that's that.

Overall: 4/10

No. 019: Ratatta

Even Ratatta doesn't know how to pronouce his name.

I mean, is it Rah-tah-tah, or ra-tah-taw, or ra-TA-ta, or ra-ta-tat, or what?

Like Pidgey, he is the other primary weak wild pokemon. Unlike Pidgey, I can actually stomach Ratatta. This is because he isn't just a regular animal put in a game.

Rats aren't purple, and they don't have hairy, curly tails. But his main redeeming factor? He's not as omni-present as Pidgey.

In short, he's everything I'd expect of the first enemy you meet: weak, passable yet forgettable design, and stays in the first couple routes.

Overall: 5/10

No. 018: Pidgeot

Hey, Pidgeot! Just like the name sounds, Pidgeotto, but not as much!


wait, what?


That's a bigger Pidgeotto. Look, its hair is bigger, its tail is bigger, its wings are bigger. Why does is have a smaller name? this is freaking stupid.

It should go Pidgey --> Pidgeot --> Pidgeotto.

That would make sense.

Well, besides that, Pidgeot finally makes a bird look cool, what with that long-ass hair and all. I guess I really can't complain much here, except for the stupid, stupid name evolution...

Overall: 6/10