20 for 20: My Favorite Pokemon

It wasn't easy picking my top 20 Pokemon, you know. I could have made an entire list out of generation two Pokemon alone! In the end, I three main factors determined my picks:

1. Nostalgia
2. Design
3. Usage

I added a few Pokemon on the list that served me well in battle, but my list mostly consists of designs I've always liked from older generations that make me feel warm and fuzzy inside. So then, let's begin!

I heard you like Pokemon...

So we're going to release a new game every year for three years in a row! I guess Nintendo thinks letters are colors now. And the starters continue to get stupider. But on the bright side, it looks like they've spent the whole budget on the Pokemon models. They look good.

Check This Out: Pokewalls

I've been sitting on this one for a while and I don't know why. This chick by the name of MapleRose makes these incredible minimalist Pokemon wallpapers. She's been putting out one a day since January 2011, and she ain't generation biased either. If you've got a favorite Pokemon, she's got a wallpaper of it... or she will. She takes requests! Go grab a sweet new background right now!

Pokemon: Win or Fail? 144-152

• Name: Cobalon
• Number: 144
• Type: Steel/Fighting
• Species: Iron Will Pokemon
• Looks like: some sort of an antelope thing with boots
• Awesome factor: 7/10
• Trivia: Its glare can make other Pokemon obey. It is calm with a heart of steel. It has the defense of all fighting types. 

Cobalon is similar to Raikou, Entai, and Suicune in concept. It's part of a trio of what I call "legendary dogs"(though they aren't really dogs), all of which are half fighting type. This trio appears to be based off the Three Musketeers. As far as the design goes, it's not bad at all but not extraordinary.

WIN

Pokemon: Win or Fail? 127-143

• Name: Crimgan
• Number: 127
• Type: Dragon
• Species: Cave Pokemon
• Looks like: a dragon with a scraggly head and holly wings
• Awesome factor: 6/10
• Trivia: Its head is harder than a rock. It is the only prue dragon type that does not evolve. 

I'm not sure what's up with this guys head and wings. I really like him except that his wings look like holly (especially from the back with those red scales) and his head looks really unnatural. He does grow on you, though. Plus he holds the distinction to be the only non-evolving dragon.

WIN

Pokemon: Win or Fail? 111-126

• Name: Riguree
• Number: 111
• Type: Psychic
• Species: Brain Pokemon
• Looks like: a robo alien
• Awesome factor: 8/10
• Trivia: They mysteriously appeared in the desert 50 years ago. (hmmm...)

There has never been a Pokemon like Riguree before. He's obviously based off some sort of alien, yet he looks kind of robotic as well. Though he's not a steel type, he doesn't look completely organic to me, like he's some sort of alien android. The colored nubs on his hands are certainly interesting (though they remind me of jelly beans) and I wouldn't be surprised if they glow in the dark. 

WIN

Pokemon: Win or Fail? 94-110

• Name: Kaburumo
• Number: 094
• Type: Bug
• Species: Ringside Pokemon (?)
• Looks like: a larva with a wrench head
• Awesome factor: 4/10
• Trivia: This Pokemon will evolve only if you trade it for Chobomaki, another bug Pokemon.

Another kind of cute little guy. He looks like an excited baby bug. Not sure why the the top of his head looks like a wrench, though. It's a bit strange, but overall descent design. 

MEH

Pokemon: Win or Fail? 78-93

• Name: Chilarmy
• Number: 078
• Type: Normal
• Species: Chinchilla Pokemon
• Looks like: a chinchilla (off to a good start!)
• Awesome factor: 5/10
• Trivia: Its tail is used as a broom. It evolves via a shiny stone (wtf is that?)

Awww, isn't this guy adorable? I just want to give him a big 'ol hug! Anyway, his design is alright. Reminds me a bit of pikachu actually (which, let's admit it, is also adorable but simple). Not sure it's the kind of Pokemon I'd want to take into battle, though. It's just too damn cute to get beat to a pulp in a fight.

MEH

Pokemon: Win or Fail? 62-77

A few notes before today's Pokemon. I am rating these Pokemon based on originality, creativity, and uniqueness of  design and concept. That's the "awesome factor". My personal opinion will be reflected, though, and that's something that really can't be avoided. While I like the desert crocodile family overall, I feel like the first two aren't as up to par as the last one. "Meh" does not mean bad, it means solid but not spectacular. Just thought I'd clarify. Now on to the Pokemon!

Pokemon: Win or Fail? 46-61

• Name: Kurumiru
• Number: 046
• Type: Bug/Grass
• Species: Sewing Pokemon
• Looks like: a worm with a leaf on its head
• Awesome factor: 5/10
• Trivia: It produces silk from its mouth, hence "sewing Pokemon". 

Here we have this game's worm Pokemon. As far as I'm concerned, it looks just as good as any other worm Pokemon. I've never been particularly excited over the design of any worm Pokemon, so he gets a middle-of-the-road score. He wouldn't look out of place, though, in any other generation.

MEH

Pokemon: Win or Fail? 30-45

• Name: Dangoro
• Number: 030
• Type: Rock
• Species: Mantle Pokemon
• Looks like: a bunch of rocks stuck together
• Awesome factor: 1/10
• Trivia: It looks vaguely like a bomb-omb.

Dangoro is obviously meant to be this game's geodude, which means you'll see him every five seconds in caves. What a sorry replacement. He looks like a pile of rocks. I can't tell if that hole in the middle is supposed to be an eye or a mouth or what. 

FAIL

Pokemon: Win or Fail? 15-39

• Name: Choroneko
• Number: 015
• Type: Dark
• Species: Ill-natured Pokemon
• Looks like: a pretty decent cat Pokemon
• Awesome factor: 6/10
• Trivia: n/a

It seems like every generation we end up with a new cat Pokemon. I happen to like this design better than skitty and about 100x more than glameow. Choroneko has kind of an oldschool feel to it that reminds me of the original 151. 

WIN

Pokemon: Win or Fail? 0-15

Because December is apparently Pokemon month, I will attempt to analyze the designs all 156 new Black & White Pokemon for you, the reader. But most importantly I'll tell you if they win or fail.

I apologize ahead of time for the black boxes that cut off the bullet points, and for the outlines in some of the pictures (they go away if you click on them). That's just the way it is!

Pokemon fans are more creative than the developers.

You see those abominations there? Those are the new starters for Pokemon Black and White. I know, right? We've got a snobby lizard thing, a pig-rabbit, and my personal favorite: a clown-otter with a snowball for a head. Yes, these guys are awful, just awful. Worse than I could have imagined. Worse than a lot of people imagined, actually. You see, when this image was released a few days ago, it sent the Pokemon community into a mad frenzy trying to decipher what they might look like. And guess what, the fan's creations are better. Here's an idea Nintendo, for the next Pokemon game, how about you let the fans design the monsters? My favorites of the fan monsters are below.

Pokemon?

So Fuzunga's article got me thinking of pokemon and to make a long story short I stumbled across this and laughed out loud. Then cringed.

Fix It! Things I'd like to see from Pokemon Black and White that aren't likely to happen

Okay, so this post is not quit life-altering, but it is game-changing. Pun intended. Enjoy.

Judging from the recent images of the two games, I'd wager they very only slightly from every other Pokemon game. I could be wrong, but judging by the history of Pokemon games it'll probably be more of less the same damn thing with new, even lamer, monsters. So strap in and get ready for a long ass article with all sorts of stuff I'd like to see in the next Pokemon games. As a side note, I'd been wanting to do articles like this for a while. I was thinking of a feature where I discuss how to fix old, tired franchises. The new Pokemon games gave me a good excuse.

First images of Pokemon Black and White

The first images of Pokemon Black and White have surfaced via Japanese magazine scans. And it looks... mostly the same. That's pretty much what I was expecting. It looks like they've taken the 2.5D thing more into the third dimension, though. I do find it odd that this game is coming out this fall on the DS rather than next spring on the 3DS. Anyway, while you wait for your next dose of Pokemon, enjoy these vague, semi-blurry shots.

Pokemon Black and White

Coming soon...to Japan

Christmas Roast: Super Smash Brothers Brawl

A new feature and holiday tradition here at Installation 04: the roast.

SSBB Character Analysis: Lucario

Today's review is on one of my personal favorite characters. Where going to be looking at Lucario, one of the new Pokemon from the Diamond and Pearl series. To sum it up Lucario, he is pretty much the definition of a balance character, "the jack of all tricks master of none."








Pros:
-Fairly strong
-Good recovery
-Has projectiles
-Has a counter move
-Becomes stronger as percent damage increases on him

Cons:
-Standard moves are sluggish
-Counter hard to pull off
-Extreme speed (recover move) does no damage
-Starts off with weaker attacks since he has no percent damage on him from start of the match.

Lucario is a really interesting characters. His moves are copied from other characters, but each move he has comes from a variety of characters, so he is not just another clone in Brawl *cough*Gannondorf*cough*. Like i said before, Lucario is the prime example of a balance character. e has projectiles, a good recovery, and even a counter move! These three things make him equally balanced in his ranged, recovery, and fighting areas. Another bonus to fighting as Lucario is that the more damage he takes, the more damage and knock back his attacks do. Lucario does really well against most characters, and there are few characters which actually have an advantage over him.

However, even the most balanced of fighters have their weaknesses. Marth can easily upset Lucario with his faster speed and longer reach. Also, fast balance characters with strong smashes like Captain Falcon or Lucas can hassle the legendary Pokemon. What really upsets me about Lucario is that even though he has a counter, it's the hardest counter in the game to which makes it not as seful as Marth's or Ike's counter. Another disappointing aspect of Lucario is that even though his recovery is pretty good, it does no damage at all. Also Lucario players will always start of with a disadvantage at the beginning of a match since their damage output will be lower than most characters (see Lucario's pros & cons for reason).

Summary: I extremely balanced fighter whom as he battles becomes stronger instead of weaker. Has very few foes that are strong against him, but those whom are strong against him will make playing him difficult.

Counter with: Ness, Lucas, Captain Falcon, Marth

Do not use against: Pickachu, Kirby, Ike, Bowser

Final Review:

Learning curve: 7- Lucario can be a above average character to master especially with his counter

Power: 7- Lucario has fairly strong smashes

Speed: 4.5- Some say he is average speed but in my opinion Lucario falls just slightly under average speed

Recovery: 5: Would be higher if it actually did damage

Throws: 7- Lucario has some pretty powerful throws

Overall: 8.0