Currently, I am a senior in high school. My journey through the video game world began on Christmas day, 2008, when my dad gave my sister and I a Wii with Mario Kart Wii. I immediately became attached to the game,and it will always have a soft spot in my heart. Ever since then, I have had a burning passion for playing video games, especially Pokemon. Every birthday or Christmas, I would only ask for a handheld or console. One year it was the PS3, or the DS, but always a game or two to go with it, nothing more. While I have been around video games my whole life and know so much about them, I am always open to hear about another perspective or point of view. As a writer, I hope you will like my posts as much as I like video games!
Here it is, my personal favorite Pokemon list. Here is the list for my top 10 favorite Pokemon. I probably spent over an hour arranging and rearranging this list. This is all opinion-based, so I’m not sorry if I didn’t include any of your favorites. Also, this list doesn’t include any legendary or mythical Pokemon
10: Inceneroar: I wanted to put a few more recent Pokemon, and this is one of them. Incineroar is by far the best of the three Alolan starters. It has the best design, and has the most use competitively. On my team in Ultra Moon it virtually carried during some the most difficult battles.
9. Arcanine: I’m going to be honest, Arcanine is one of the best looking Pokemon Game Freak created. It has been around forever, yet still remains an amazing and iconic design. Not only that, but it is still usable in competitive play, unlike many of the other Gen I Pokemon, who are passed by the new Pokemon that are added. Arcanine has stood the passing of time, and I think it is worthy of a spot on the list.
8. Haxorus: People may think that Haxorus looks ugly and weird, but I think it looks cool. Plus, its shiny is one of the best out of all Pokemon, so that’s something noteworthy. I also find it to be very strong in competitive, as it can easily shred through anything with its sky-high attack, and can outspeed with just one or two Dragon Dances. Haxorus is easily my favorite dragon type, and worthy of a spot on this list.
7. Quagsire: Looking at this Pokemon will brighten up your day. How can you not like Quagsire? Its derpy yet elegant look always put a smile on my face. Not only that, but it is the original water/ground type, so it only has one weakness. I used it on my team in Pokemon Gold, and it was one of the best on my team, as it did a lot of the heavy lifting in battles, which is why Quagsire is on the list.
6. Drapion: This was on my list for most underrated Pokemon, and it finished in second. Here, it is getting a spot on my list. I used it on my team in Black 2, and it was a great addition. Its typing of Poison/Dark makes it have only one weakness, and it has well rounded stats in Attack, Speed, and Defense. It’s under the radar, but its slick design and performance on the battlefield will put it on the radar.
5. Krookodile: I used this Pokemon on my team in White 2, but it’s not on the list for that. It is one of the best designs from Gen V, and it has great stats and abilities to go with it. My Krookodile had Moxie, so every time I knocked a Pokemon out, Krookodile’s attack would rise, which led to a lot of sweeping and easy battles for Krookodile. Single handedly, it knocked out all of Catlin’s Pokemon in the elite four battle with crunch, with maxed out attack from moxie. Its use in battle, as well as its great design, make it my favorite dark type.
4. Staraptor: My favorite of the generation early birds, this one by far has the best design. It looks so cool, and carried my team in Platinum. This is easily my favorite Flying type, and is in my opinion the best designed Flying type. Staraptor is a great memory, as well as a great battler, and is more than deserving than a spot on the list.
3. Blastoise: This might be controversial, but this is the best of the original starters. Charizard, no way. Venusaur, not even close. Blastoise has proved to me to be the best. Sure, Charizard may look cooler, but in using all three, Blastoise has proved time and time again to be the better option.
2. Spheal: this Pokemon is my mascot, and that’s why its getting on this list. It’s cute, it’s chubby, it’s derpy, and I love it. I even named myself in my Pokemon GO the Spheal deal after it, and I think as a mascot, it has done me well.
1: Sceptile: I think there’s no debate, no contest, no anythin, Sceptile is the best Pokemon. It is the first starter I ever picked in my first full playthrough of any Pokemon game, Pokemon Emerald. It was the start of a long journey through Pokemon, and it started with this Pokemon. It did everything for me, and did a lot of heavy lifting in Emerald. It looks the best of the three Hoenn starters, and its Mega Evolution looks even better. Sceptile is more than deserving to be #1 on the list, and #1 in my heart.
When it comes to Mario Kart vehicles, there are a lot of options. In some games, however, this options go down to just a few karts or bikes, as the meta by then is figured out. Here are the 10 best Mario Kart vehicles.
10: Rattle Buggy: You may think of this as a joke, but it’s not. I am seriously putting this kart on the list. In Double Dash, I found it very hard to play against the CPU. I tried every kart and every character I could. When I used the Rattle Buggy, it was very easy to handle, and even if I messed up, I would get back up to speed quickly with its high acceleration stat.
9. Pipe Frame: In Mario Kart 8, there isn’t exactly a clear meta. While there are a select amount of cars that are competitively good, there’s still no clear meta. I found that speed in Mario Kart 8 isn’t everything, and that is the only thing that the Pipe Frame lacks. It has great mini turbo, great handling, and it has a smaller hit box, which can be the difference between avoiding an item or getting hit by an item.
8. Streetle: Here’s another Mairo Kart 8 vehicle. When I got Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, I didn’t unlock the Pipe Frame yet, so I decided to use a similar vehicle to the Pipe Frame. The Streetle just beats out the Pipe Frame in mini turbo, and it has the best traction in the game. However, one thing that separates it is that it is the fastest vehicle in the game when racing underwater. After using the Streetle, I’ve never looked back, and it has become my go-to option in Mario Kart 8 since.
7: Egg 1: This is one of the karts from my childhood. I always remember going into Mario Kart DS with friends and always picking yoshi and the Egg 1. Not only is it a nostalgic kart for me, but it is a really good kart. It is one of the more ideal kart for snaking, a technique in which racers will drift and mini turbo from side to side on a straight track to get better speed. Its drift stat being quite low makes it easier to control snake paths on a straight-away, making the Egg 1 one of the best karts in Mario Kart DS.
6: Wild Wing: If you ask kart-mains what the best kart in Mario Kart Wii is, the answer is going to be the Wild Wing. While the Flame Flyer holds more kart world records, the Wild Wing is the better racer. It is one of the best designed karts in Mario Kart Wii, and every time I play online with a kart, it will always be with the Wild Wing.
5. Bullet Bike: This is one of the more interesting designs for a vehicle, but it had been done before in Double Dash. Despite this, I think it is one of the best designed vehicles. It is very fun to use, and it is very good to use. The only thing holding it back is its awful weight stat, as it will get thrown around the track into the nearest wall, or off the track.
4. Spear: I have the most fun with the spear. It is easily the hardest vehicle to master, let alone use in online play. However, one that has mastered techniques that it takes to win with the Spear is rewarded, as the fastest bike in Mario Kart Wii will reward the player with high placements if used correctly. The best Spear-racer I’ve ever seen is Tom (SwordOfSeals), and race in and race out, he proved that the Spear is a viable option.
3. Dry Bomber: One of funniest looking karts just happens to be one of the best karts to grace the Mario Kart world. The Dry Bomber is by far my favorite kart in Mario Kart DS, and my favorite kart in Mario Kart. This kart is everything you need. high acceleration, low drift, and handles like a dream, making the Dry Bomber a snaking menace on the track.
2. Mach Bike: How could this bike not make the list. People have been in debate over which bike is best in Mario Kart Wii, and it is extremely close. What the Mach Bike does different is it excels in everything it needs to in order to be a good vehicle in Mario Kart Wii. Speed, Drift, and Mini Turbo are all things that the Mach Bike does not lack. Its high drift stat makes tight turns an absolute breeze when using this bike, especially when using Peach, the character with the highest drift stat as a mid-weight character. However, the best mid-weight character in Mario Kart Wii is Daisy because she is the fastest mid-weight. Still, the Mach Bike has everyting a player needs to do well.
1: Flame Runner: No surprise here. Referred to as the Bowser Bike overseas, the Flame Runner is the best vehicle to grace Mario Kart. It holds the majority of world records on Mario Kart Wii, and has probably held a world record on that track if it no longer does. It does everything that the Mach Bike does, but better. The only thing that Mach Bike is better at is its drift, as the Flame Runner isn’t able to take turns as tight as the Mach Bike. When playing online competitive, there are only two bikes, and two characters present. Daisy and the Mach Bike, and Funky Kong and the Flame Runner. You would be at a disadvantage before the race even started if you didn’t use these two bikes.
There are a lot of tracks in Mario Kart, and it was very hard for me to sort out which ones I thought were list worthy. The difference between this and Pokemon is that I don’t like every Pokemon. I like almost every track in Mario Kart. Despite that, here are the 10 best Mario Kart tracks of all time.
10: GBA Bowser Castle 3: I kept thinking to myself what I should start this list with, and I came up with this track. Bowser Castle 3 debuted in Mario Kart Super Circuit on the Game Boy Advance in 2001, but came back as a remake for Mario Kart Wii. Personally, this is the track that I am the best at. It may be relatively flat and boring, but online races on this track were insane, as racers would often attempt a risky shortcut that was do or die, and that is why it receives this spot
9: Rainbow Road (3ds): I had to include one track from Mario Kart 7, and this is one of them. I haven’t actually played this track, but I have played its custom track online in Mario Kart Wii, and it is a great track. From racing around Saturn’s rings, to tricking off of the moon’s craters, to gliding left to right to avoid asteroids, this track has a very good design, and is deserving of this spot.
8. DK Mountain (Double Dash): This is the best track from Double Dash, but the remake from the Wii is not as good as the original. It is one of two tracks in Double Dash to feature a cannon, and best section of the original track is that initial decent down the mountain. What was done different in the remake is that section of the track was widened, which is unfortunate because that was one of the more fun parts of the track, as it led to being able to knock other duos off the track. I decided to include footage from both the original and remake to show the difference in the mountain section.
7. Wario Stadium (DS): This track was also remade in Mario Kart 8, and it might be just me, but the remake is just underwhelming in my opinion, so I’m going to focus on the original. Wario Stadium is a challenging course, and you have to know what you’re doing in order to win. What stands out to me besides difficulty is layout and design, and is one of those track that is just overall a great track.
6. Dry Dry Ruins (Wii): The first Wii track on this list. In my opinion, this is the best desert track of all desert tracks. Its design was great, and its layout led to a lot of front-running in races, but it was also easy to come back with a huge shortcut section at the end, as long as you have at least three mushrooms to boost you.
5. Delfino Square (DS): Another track that was remade for the Wii, and was remade very well. The best feature of the course is the design, with all of the piantas in the town square, and the towards the middle of the race with the market on the water with the shortcut. If you wanted to do well, you had to know what you were doing, as there are little opportunities to catch up, only the shortcut between the buildings close to the ramp at the end. Despite being a relatively flat track, Delfino Square had lots of great races, and its design is one of the best in recent memory.
4. Waluigi Pinball (DS): This track was also remade in Mario Kart 7 for the 3DS. I think what seals the deal is its incredible idea and design of racing inside of a pinball machine. Everything its great, the layout, the music, and the overall atmosphere makes this an iconic track in Mario Kart’s history.
3. Yoshi Circuit (Double Dash): This track has had two remakes, one for the DS, and one for Mario Kart 8. This is another track with an interesting design, as the course is shaped as a Yoshi. The track was great in both Double Dash and DS, but I think it was the best track in Mario Kart 8. It was given a super clean new look to go with the new graphics, and is just an iconic and great track to race on.
2. Bowser Castle (Wii): This is the best Boswer Castle of all time, and the reason is for its difficulty. It is easily on of this hardest tracks to race on, but that’s what makes it fun. If you know what you’re doing, you can front-run the entire race, but watch out. The infamous wall glitch will allow racers to skip through a huge section of the track, and can bring a player from last to first if done successfully. This leads to utter chaos and craziness in races, which is why it gets #2 on the list. I have decided to put two world record videos. One that uses the glitch, and one that does not just to show how much time it cuts off.
1: Grumble Volcano (Wii): The track was remade, but I’m not focusing on it because its remake was terrible. You knew this was coming. This is the most iconic, infamous track of all time. Home to two major glitches, Grumble Volcano is easily the best track I have ever raced on, and is home to some of the best races I have ever had. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, I’m going to leave a link to video that showcase these world records, as well as a world record that doesn’t use either of these glitches.
A new form can do a lot for a Pokemon. For one, it can give a boring, or even a fan favorite, a new re-imagined and remixed design. The main example is Alolan Muk. The original blob of purple sludge was given a new design and typing to go with it. That being said, here are 10 Pokemon that I would’ve given a Galarian form to.
5. Gyarados: This has always been a fan favorite. A classic Pokemon that has been in the game since Pokemon Red/Blue. In no way does Gyarados need a buff. In this current format, Gyarados is actually very good in competitive battling. However, I think that it would be nice if it received a different design. What I would do to Gyarados is give it a black/purple look, change its typing to Water/Dragon, and switch its physical and special attack stats to make it a predominately special attacker. The only problem I think this would have is it would be very unbalanced competitively, which is why it’s only fifth on the list.
4. Liepard: I think that Liepard has a lot of potential, and is in need of a buff, as well as a new design. What I would do to Liepard is change its typing to Ghost/Dark, and increase its Special Attack to around 110. For its design, I would give it a primarily red color, with purple eyes and purple back spots. I chose a cat pokemon because another cat like Pokemon, Meowth, has been given two forms, and they have both been terrible, and I thought Liepard would look good and compete better given a new form.
3. Flygon: This is a Pokemon I’ve talked about before, and I have been begging for a new anything for Flygon. It is a Pokemon that needs to have a buff of some sort. It was more deserving of a Mega Evolution that Garchomp in my opinion. What I would do is make it an Ice/Dragon type, making it available in the same area where you find Galarian Darumaka, in either Route 8 or 10. In terms of stats, Flygon would need to be a speical attacker if it is going to be an ice type, so I would switch its attack and special attack. For its design, it would be a combination of light blue and white. Flygon has a lot of potential, and a buff and new form will do a lot for it in the long run.
2. Vileplume: One of the original 151 Pokemon from Generation I, Vileplume is an outdated Pokemon. I have always liked Vileplume’s design, but its stats and Grass typing are what holds it back. If given a Galarian form, I would eliminate its grass type. I know it sounds bad, but for the design, I would make it a dead plant, which would make it a ghost type since its dead, or Ghost/Poison since it never ‘lost’ its poison when dying. I think it would be a different look for Vileplume, something it desperately needs.
1: Maractus: You probably don’t even know this Pokemon, as most forgot this Pokemon even existed. I did when I was making this list, and that is why Maractus could use a new form. I almost forgot that Zigzagoon and Linoone were Pokemon, and they got Galarian forms in the new game. Similar to Flygon, Maractus could have an icy look to it, like a frozen cactus plant, with icicles instead of cactus needles, and snowflakes on the top of its head instead of the pink flowers. For battling, I have an interesting thought, as it would have an ability called Cactics, similar to Galarian Darmanitan’s ability Gorilla Tactics. It would increase special attack by 50%, but would only allow for the usage of one move. Maractus is forgotten, but a new form will give it the spotlight it deserves.
There are a lot of vehicles in GTA Online, and some don’t get the love that they deserve. Here are the top 5 most underrated vehicles in GTA Online.
5. Seabreeze: This plane costs $1.1 million, or a trade price of $850,00 if you complete 36 Hangar Resupply missions. The Seabreeze is fairly fast, and it also has the ability to land in the water, as well as drop bombs. In addition to that, it is also very affordable.
4. Half-Track: This vehicle costs $2.2 million, or a trade price of $1.6 million if you complete the Half-Track M.O.C mission. The Half-Track becomes even better when adding the Quad Cannon upgrade via research. It is very hard to shoot the gunner out, and the Quad Cannon just rips through everything in its path. Missions such as Escort ULP, the Plane setup for Prison Break, and Rescue ULP for the Doomsday Heist.
3. Stromberg: This vehicle costs $3.1 million, or a trade price of $2.3 million by competing Act II of the Doomsday Heist. People don’t buy it for its underwater abilities, but the Stromberg is one of the best counters to the Oppressor Mark II. It is able to take multiple homing missiles, and has 30 homing missiles, which are Ruiner missiles, meaning they will almost always hit the intended target. Even though the missiles don’t have great range, the Stromberg’s armor makes up for it.
2: Savage: This helicopter costs $1.9 million, and has been in the game since the original Heists update in 2015, and is the only helicopter that has explosive cannons on it. In addition to its cannons, the Savage also has homing missiles. While the Savage is a bit slow, but its cannons will shred any close range opponent in a dogfight, making up for its lackluster speed. The bad thing about the Savage is that it it is hard for it to take out long range opponents, but its fairly good pricing for a helicopter gives it such a high ranking.
Special Mention: Molotok: My favorite jet didn’t make the cut. It is the second fastest jet in the game, and the easiest plane to land. The only problem is that it costs $3.6 million, but it is well worth the price.
1: Weaponized Tampa: This vehicle costs a regular price of $2.1 million, but you can get it for a trade price of $1.5 million if you complete the Weaponized Tampa MOC mission. This is the only vehicle on the list that you are able to use in heists. If fully upgraded with research, it will have dual MGs that are remote control, a rear mortar, and missiles that unfortunately do not lock on. The best weapon are the dual MGs, as they will cut through anything in its way in just a few seconds.
So there you have it. I know this may seem different, but a diversity in content was much needed. Let me know if you guys like it or not, as I am always open to feedback.
There are a lot of Pokemon, and some tend to not get the recognition that they deserve. So, here are the ten most underrated Pokemon.
10. Vivillon: Don’t get distracted by its appearance, because this Pokemon can dominate competitively, especially in NU. On top of being a good competitor, I think the concept of Vivillon having multiple forms for its wings is very neat. Speaking competitively, it has a nasty combination of Sleep Powder and Quiver Dance, making it a very deadly sweeper. What makes Vivillon better is its ability Compound Eyes, which buffs its accuracy, making a move like Hurricane very easy to use on this Pokemon. The reason it is getting such a low rating is if you send it out on Stealth Rocks, you will lose half of your health due to Vivillon’s typing of Bug/Flying.
9. Manaphy: On top of being my favorite mythical, Manaphy can compete with top tier OU Pokemon, and here’s why. It has a really great ability Hydration, which will cure it of any status condition while in the rain. I like to use a combination of Rain Dance and Rest, and once Manaphy falls asleep, it will wake right back up. Another strategy is using Tail Glow, which will more than triple its Special Attack. Manaphy is getting a low rank because it is already fairly used, but I don’t think it is used quite enough.
8. Cinccino: Really? Yes. I think Cinccino is underrated. It’s hidden ability Skill Link is very useful. Multiple striking moves, such as Bullet Seed or Rock Blast, will always hit the maximum amount of 5 times. With an above average speed stat, combined with Skill Link, Cinccino can dish out a decent amount of damage. Putting a King’s Rock for flinching is even better.
7. Araquanid: Now you’re probably wondering how Araquanid made the list. It is partly a personal pick, but Araquanid is a very underappreciated Pokemon. In lower tiers, it works as a great setup by having access to Sticky Web via egg move, and it also only has three weakness, one being Rock, which Rock is weak to Water. Araqanid also has great Special Defense, and while its defense isn’t the greatest, it does have access to Iron Defense. While it doesn’t have a great move pool, I don’t think it needs to because it only has three weaknesses, and the moves that it gets are fairly decent, such as Liquidation, Leech Life, Lunge, and a few others.
6. Roserade: I would say the only thing that holds Roserade back is its bad Defense stat, but other than that, Roserade is a great Pokemon. While it does having a fair amount of weaknesses, it is more than capable of dishing damage back out with its 125 Special Attack. It also has access to entry hazards such as Spikes and Toxic Spikes, making it a useful lead. It also has a good 105 Special Defense. Roserade can take special attacks, as well as dish special attacks back out.
5. Seismitoad: Seismitoad has a lot going for it, the first being its great typing of Water/Ground, only making it quad weak to Grass. Another is its great ability Swift Swim, doubling its speed in the rain. I have run teams before and put both Manaphy and Seismitoad on them due to how their ability utilize the rain so well. You can either run an offensive Swift Swimmer, or a defensive Water Absorber, both very good options, making Seismitoad very effective in the lower tiers.
4. Arcanine: I don’t ever see Arcanine being used in battles. When I played UU in Gens VI and VII, I almost always had an Arcanine on my teams. It has great Attack, and just decent stats all around. My favorite set on Arcanine is I’ll have it hold an Assault Vest and max out its Special Defense, and being an all out attacker, with Close Combat, and either Thunder Fang or Wild Charge for coverage against Rock and Water types. Another set I use is I have it hold Leftovers, with a Fire Spin/Morning Sun combination.
3. Ambipom: Here’s another surprising pick. The reason I put it up so high is because I am so familiar with Ambipom, as I have used it in every tier except Ubers, and it has thrived in every tier. It is one of the better leads in the game and I’ll explain why I think that. For me, I like Ambipom as a lead because I won’t have anything to lose. The worst thing could happen is I Fake Out and switch. Other than Fake Out, I’ll have Beat Up and Fury Swipes, with it holding a King’s Rock. Ambipom also has access to Skill Link as a hidden ability, but I prefer using Technician, which will increase low base powered moves by 50%. It is very similar to Cinccino, and while Cinccino may have a more diverse move pool, but Ambipom has a slightly higher Attack stat, and has access to Beat Up, which if you lead with Ambipom, it will hit a full six times.
2. Drapion: I love this Pokemon, and it has so much going for it. Its design is super sleek, and its typing and stats are excellent. Poison/Dark makes it only week to Ground, and it has average in Attack, and Speed, with above average Defense. It also has two great abilities, Battle Armor and Sniper, making it versatile, as you can use it as a defender, or a sweeper, as it has access to stat boosting moves such as Agility, Swords Dance, and if you really want to, Fell Stinger, which will nearly max out its Attack stat if you knock out the defending Pokemon. Another sweeper set is just a Choice Band, and all you need for coverage is Aqua Tail. Not only does Drapion have an underrated design, it is also underrated on the battlefield.
Special Mention. Mr. Rime: I think this Pokemon has a lot of potential with an interesting ability, and decent stats. The only thing that holds it back is it being an Ice type, which gives it a lot of weaknesses.
1- Durant: If you’ve seen other underrated Pokemon lists, Durant is going to be somewhere on the list. For me, it is the most underrated Pokemon. On some of my UU teams in Generation VI, Durant was an absolute beast at sweeping. It has good Attack, Speed, and Defense, and it only has one weakness of Fire with it being Bug/Steel. Its ability Hustle will increase its already high Attack by 50%, but lowers accuracy by 20%. What can be done to bring its accuracy back up is use Hone Claws which Durant can learn by TM, and that will up its Attack and Accuracy, making Durant have double Attack. I’ll usually run Iron Head for good STAB and flinching, as well as Rock Slide for coverage.
So there are the 10 most underrated Pokemon. If you have any feedback, let me know, as I am open to new ideas, as well as ways that my content can be better as a whole
Out with old, in with the new. Sometimes, change can be better for a game. Other times, changing and removing certain features from a previous game make its players miss those old features. Here are 10 times in which Game Freak removed the wrong features from its games.
10. Phenomenon Mechanic (Black/White, Black 2/White 2).
This feature was only in generation V games, and this is a personal pick. The phenomenon mechanic when a patch of grass shakes, a cloud of dust forms in a cave, or rippling water. If you step on it, you get wild encounter, you get a wild encounter with rare Pokemon, even as rare as Metagross. Even if you get an Audino (which most of the time you will in the grass) you can knock it out and get a lot of EXP. Coming across a dust cloud is even better, as it allows to pick up gems that boost the power of your Pokemon’s moves by 50%. And, games after generation VI do not include these gems, which I thought were fairly useful items, and made for interesting use in competitive battling.
9. Swarm Mechanic (Gen II-V)
This mechanic had been around in games from generation II all the way up to generation V, and while the swarming Pokemon were random, I liked the amount of variety it gave the player. I think that if this was added into Sword and Shield, it would have given the opportunity to make more Pokemon obtainable, which is what previous games did so you wouldn’t have to keep transferring Pokemon up to newer generations.
8. Safari Zone
I’m just going to put all of them together. They are all useful to the player, and gives the player so much more to do, especially in Heart Gold/Soul Silver with all of the variety and customization options that are available. When you customize the Safari Zone’s terrain and blocks you place in the terrain, it changes the Pokemon you are able to catch.
7. Horde Encounters (Gen VI)
These were only around during generation VI, and it made it much easier to catch shiny Pokemon. On top of having a better shiny rate, every Pokemon encountered in a Horde has a possibility of having its Hidden Ability, making it very helpful to people who are looking for good competitive Pokemon.
6. Game Corner (Gen I-IV)
While it was pretty luck based in most games with slots, the Game Corner would give you really nice prizes for getting enough coins, and had the exclusive Porygon. In HeartGold/SoulSilver, there wasn’t much luck, as the Voltorb Flip game was majority skill-based, and is one of the best mini games in Pokemon to date.
5. Difficulty Settings (Black 2/White 2)
These settings increased the AI, gave Pokemon held items, and increased their levels. Many of you may not remember this, but there were options to change difficulty settings in Pokemon Black 2/White 2 using the Key System. The Key System also had other features, such as being able to change the chamber in Clay’s Tunnel, Black City to White Forest (or White to Black) and being able to set the difficulty in a game. However, the problem with the difficulty setting (and many other keys) is that you had to beat the Elite Four in White 2 order to unlock them for Black 2, and then you had to transfer them to that game. Since Sword and Shield was just an absolute cakewalk for me, I think that difficulty settings would have been a nice feature.
4. Player Search System/PSS (Generation VI)
The Festival Plaza in Generation VII is inferior in every which way compared to the PSS. The PSS made it easy and efficient to make friends, as once you battled a passerby, they became your acquaintance, allowing you to make them your friend very esasily. And, if someone wants to battle you in the Festival Plaza, you don’t get a notification for someone asking to battle you, meaning that finding new people to battle in the game is hard, as the only friends I made in Gen VII were made on Discord.
3. Different Cities + Black Tower/White Treehollow (Generation V)
This is a bit of a surprise, but I thought that the idea was very unique and was done very well. Black City and White Forest are two of the best towns in all of Pokemon, and here’s why. It made you want to buy both games. They were so different, yet were so similar. In the original games, Black City had you battle trainers, and if you entered the Entralink, it was possible for you in Pokemon White to go to Black City, and talk to the trainers to get them to move to White Forest. They will then move to White Forest, and whatever Pokemon they had when you battled them, you would be able to catch that Pokemon’s pre-evolution in White Forest. For the second games, Black Tower/White Treehollow was an extra challenge, and when you were done, you could do it all over again by transferring keys from your other game to battle the Black Tower in White 2. The best part, is that you can keep going back and grinding levels. I have been battling the White Treehollow for almost 4 years trying to get all of my Pokemon to level 100.
2. Dex Nav (Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire)
You knew this one was coming. Dex Nav is a close second place, but it is number 2 on this list. I considered putting it #1, but Dex Nav had so many uses that I couldn’t help but put it so high on the list. In my opinion, Dex Nav is the best way to get the exact Pokemon that you want by chaining, and you chain by just searching for the same Pokemon over and over again until you get the perfect one. The longer you chain, the better the Pokemon. If you keep you chain long enough, you start getting better shiny odds, and I think that using Dex Nav is the best way to hunt for shiny Pokemon, as well as competitive Pokemon.
Surprise, surprise. I have probably spent over 150 hours in the Battle Frontier across all of my games. While Gen. IV offered less facilities than in Emerald, they were still great, my personal favorites being the Battle Factory(which appeared in both Gens), and the Battle Arcade. What was also so great about the Battle Frontier was its challenge. I remember having to win 20 straight games in the Battle Factory to Battle Noland in Emerald, and it took me forever. It took so long that I had memorized moves, abilities, and held items of every Pokemon, and then I finally won. But wait, that’s just for the first medal. The second medal takes 42 straight wins to get (I still haven’t gotten it). Personally, I think that the problem with these new games is their lack of challenge, and that it takes forever to progress in these games because of the “hand holding” that the new games do.
So, there you have it, the 10 best features that were removed from previous Pokemon games. If you have any feedback for me, it is more than welcome. I am a bit new to this scene, and I am always open to new ideas that will make my content better.
Dynamax and G-Max Pokemon and the are definitely interesting, as while it rerplaced Z-moves and Mega Evolution, it also opened new possibilities for competitive play, as it gives every pokemon a chance to shine rather than having to pick from the few Megas. While some Pokemon got the forms that they deserved, here are 10 more that deserved G-max forms as well.
10. Trevenant:
I think that Trevenant is a good competitive Pokemon, as it is able to regenerate health by using a Leech Seed, Horn Leech combination, with the addition of having the Hidden Ability Harvest, allowing it to keep using its berry over and over again. Trevenant’s weakness lies in its fairly mediocre typing, as being a Grass type gives it several weaknesses, and it doesn’t have much to cover those weaknesses, the best being Earthquake for Fire, and Drain Punch (which isn’t that good to begin with) for Ice. I think that a G-Max form would have given Trevenant the buff that it needed.
9. Bisharp:
This a personal pick, and that is the reason why it is so low on the list. Bisharp is already a very good competitive Pokemon, as it already has a very respectable 125 attack stat, and a good 100 defense, with the addition of having the Defiant ability, making it very useful to counter Intimidate, as it will double its attack upon its other stats being lowered. So why did I choose Bisharp if it’s already so good? It was one of the few Pokemon from Unova that was actually good, and its already sleek design could be made even better with a G-Max form. I think that the only drawback to having Bisharp be G-Max is that it would be so overused that it gets moved up to Ubers.
8. Whiscash:
Whiscash has been around for a while, and it is one of those Pokemon that I think deserves to have a bit of spotlight. It has the great typing of Water/Ground, giving it only one weakness, that being 4 times weak to Grass, so as long as you have Ice Beam on it, you’re covered. However, it is held back by its poor stat line, with a stat total of 468. If Whiscash was given a G-Max, it could open the door for many more possibilities.
7. Lanturn:
Lanturn suffers the same fate as Whiscash, only it has been in the game longer than Whiscash. Its typing is very unique, as water and electric make it weak to Grass and Ground. You will probably already have a water move on it, so Ground types aren’t an issue. However, its stat line is even worse than Whiscash, with it having higher HP, but lower in pretty much every other category. I think that Lanturn looks great, and its typing is great, but as soon as someone looks at its stats, they will most likely choose another Water type.
6. Quagsire:
The only reason I chose to put Quagsire above Lanturn and Whiscash is because I have such great memories of Quagsire carrying my team throughout HeartGold/SoulSilver. It suffers the same fate as both Whiscash and Lanturn, but not to such an extent. It has a great Hidden Ability in Unaware, which ignores the opposing Pokemon’s stat changes. So, if I used Amnesia, and my opponent used Nasty Plot, Quagsire will only take half of the damage. The only problems with Quagsire are its defense. I think that if it got a buff in both defensive stats by 25, it would significantly help. Another idea is giving it a G-Max form, with a move that would double both defensive stats.
5. The 3 Galarian Starters: I think that more could have been done to these three. I remember when the Gen III remakes came out, and all three starters had their own Mega Evolution. I don’t understand why these 3 can’t have a G-Max form.
4. Golurk:
This is another cool looking Pokemon to come out of Generation V. Golurk had everything going for it. It has a unique typing being the first Ground/Ghost type, it has a decent ability Iron Fist, everything about this thing screamed to me being Gen V’s Tyranitar. It looked like a physical defensive megaton looking Pokemon. I took one look at its stats, and I was so disappointed. It’s slow as molasses, and while its physical attack is really good, its defenses don’t make up for its combination of low speed and various weaknesses. A G-Max form would have given it a new look for an already cool-looking Pokemon, as well as the buff it much deserved
3. Alakazam:
I hate putting this Pokemon on the list. Alakazam holds a special place in my heart, and in my opinion, it is the best Pokemon to come out of Generation I. This Pokemon carried my Leaf Green team in the Elite Four Rematch. The reason I hate putting Alakazam on the list is because Game Freak brought a lot of old Pokemon back. For some reason, Alakazam, one of the most memorable Pokemon from Generation I, was not brought back. Who knows why, but I don’t like this decision. They decided to give Machamp, Alakazam’s ‘counterpart’ a G-Max form, and if I’m being honest, it doesn’t look that good. If its counterpart got a G-Max, Alakazam more than deserves a G-Max.
2. Obstagoon:
I really like this Pokemon. It has a very sleek design, and it was overall a great move giving Linoone an evolution. Obstagoon has everything going for it. Great abilities, decent stats, and a unique typing. While its typing is very unique, its typing is what holds it back, as it gives it a quad weakness to fighting. While Obstagoon has a great design, it has more potential with a G-Max form, and its G-Max form would have given it the buff it needs to be prominent within competitive battling.
Special Mentions: Malamar, Milotic, Runerigus, Ninetales, Vileplume, Passimian, Sigilyph, and Durant.
1- Flygon
Where do I start with Flygon? It has needed a buff since Mega Evolution came out. Flygon is the original Dragon/Ground type, and while Garchomp (another Dragon/Ground type) out-performs Flygon in every which way, I still like Flygon better, because it is the original Dragon/Ground type, and it looks better than Garchomp. One thing that made me mad was when Garchomp got a Mega Evolution that it didn’t need, and its Mega is acutally worse than its regular form, due to it getting a decrease in speed, and an increase in defense when Mega Evolving. When I saw that Flygon was returning in Sword and Shield, I wondered, is it getting a G-Max form? I got my answer, and it was no. It still hasn’t gotten anything since first appearing in Generation III. Flygon is a Pokemon with so much potential, and Game Freak is yet to maximize it.