Featured Image Credit: The Pokemon Company
Topics: Pokemon, Nintendo, Nintendo Switch 2
Pokemon Pokopia has been a breath of fresh air for the franchise, and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed reclaiming the Kanto region with the help of my favourite Pokémon.
That said, not all ‘mon are welcome in my bold new world. Sacrifices have been made in the name of progress, including some fan favourites I just know will get people arguing in the comments.
Without further ado, here are 10 Pokémon I’ve had to banish from region, and why.
Despite being a common early acquisition when I replay the OG Pokemon games I’m afraid Bellsprout just doesn’t make the cut in Pokopia.
Bellsprout can only grow plants, but that's Bulbasaur's job. In the end, Bellsprout offer little to the society I’m trying to build and if I’m frank, they’re also quite an eyesore.
Pokémon Black & White’s starters never really did anything for me, but I’ve got a particular hatred of Snivy and its evolutions.
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Its snooty nature just rubs me the wrong way, so when we met again in Pokopia I promptly escorted them out of my town.
Typhlosion has never been the same since its scrapped lore leaked online. It read - “A long time ago, when the boundary between Pokémon and humans was unclear…”. Hm. In it, a young girl is tricked by a shape-shifting Typhlosion into thinking that he’s a human. Eventually, she apparently has a child with him and she’s called his wife. Yikes.
While the cut-content is not reflective of the evolved starter in any way, it has unfortunately killed my desire to keep them around. Typhlosion is also a Pokémon that lost a lot of its aura when the games shifted from 2D sprites to 3D, it never quite recovered.
Poliwrath is the superior evolution for Poliwhirl. It’s not an opinion, it’s a fact. While I know there are plenty of Politoed fans out there, as far as my Pokopia game is concerned, it can hop to another pond.
This was never a good Pokémon. A weak design, little utility and a lacklustre evolution. Be gone.
Yes I know, Peakychu is very cute but outside of the main story, what does she actually bring to the table?
That said I did thank them for turning the power on by building them a cosy house on their own island, so I’m not entirely heartless.
Much like Snivy, this one’s attitude just rubbed me the wrong way.
Dartrix talks a lot of game for a Pokemon that can be easily replaced with almost any other Grass-Type. He makes a mean salad though I'll give him that.
This one actually hurts me physically because I do like Torkoal, but the whole saga of having to lead him out of Rocky Ridges’ mines had me shouting at the screen.
I laid out a delightful little path for him to follow but did he follow it? No. If that’s how you want to be Torkoal, enjoy your exile.
I’ve never been fond of Zubat (too many Supersonics will do that to you) but in many ways I think sending him away is actually doing him a favour.
Despite my best efforts to make Bleak Beach a tropical paradise it’s never been enough to earn Zubat’s affection.
They continue to complain that it’s too bright for their liking. In the end I just stuck them in a cave somewhere and haven’t thought about them since, until now that is.
To top off our list we have, to no one’s surprise, Mr Mime. I’ve only ever met one Pokémon fan who’s told me Mr Mime is her favourite Pokemon but I’m sorry, he has to go.
I know I’m not alone in that sentiment either as I’ve seen countless tweets and videos of players locking him away in a prison cell, or sealing him into a tomb beneath the ground.
Personally I condemned him to the furthest edge of the map, and I still see his harrowing silhouette on the horizon sometimes.