It’s been observed that each new generation of Pokémon incites to critics complain about how much the designs suck, especially compared to the first-generation characters, long considered the gold standard.
Today, the Internet met the three starter Pokémon for the upcoming Sun and Moon games and immediately gave the poor li’l cuties more than enough reason to run screaming back into their pokéballs.
Here they are! The three first-partner Pokémon in #PokemonSunMoon, launching for #3DS on 11/18. Who will you choose? pic.twitter.com/xs54pRT9SJ
— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) May 10, 2016
Look at this misbegotten creature. It’s called Rowlet, clearly created while its designer was craving a delicious cinnamon roll:
https://twitter.com/TBSkyen/status/730116150818934784
It’s a total nerd that’s gonna get bullied:
i want to shove that owl nerd into a locker
— Ted Cruz Burner Account (@PontiusPyrite) May 10, 2016
And that’s the best one! People actually kind of like it!
https://twitter.com/Nibellion/status/730068295156682752
Litten, the catlike fire-starter, has suffered a bunch of obvious “it’s lit!” jokes and one very undignified comparison to Shadow the Hedgehog.
https://twitter.com/Babylonian/status/730050893849104386
https://twitter.com/Babylonian/status/730049040180617216
if one more person says 'haha Litten is LIT 🔥🔥' i'm going to fly to japan and destroy all the pokémon you don't deserve them #PokemonSunMoon
— Daniel Howell (@danielhowell) May 10, 2016
Games not out for 6 months but I've already picked my starter. #oops #pokemon #Litten pic.twitter.com/LeBnA5YwMp
— T ™ (@Dont_tlk_2_me) May 10, 2016
The new sea lion Pokémon, Popplio, has taken the biggest bashing, and is far, far behind the other two in popularity polls. But again, that’s nothing new. Remember what happened to Oshawott, the water starter from Black and White? It’s an accepted part of the canon now, but it was heavily dumped on by armchair Pokémon designers when it debuted.
#PokemonSunMoon summed up pic.twitter.com/Lzk17paVqk
— techagent – alt account (@techagentold) May 10, 2016
https://twitter.com/NotMikeTweets/status/730139449556762624
https://twitter.com/Avianite/status/730112531503718405
I couldn't possibly fathom why people hate Popplio. pic.twitter.com/QefdmnvGxG
— Patrick (@PhantomRoxas) May 10, 2016
https://twitter.com/Darth_Cregula/status/730140555116720128
everyone acting like popplio is so unproblematic when there’s RECEIPTS of bullying 👀👀👀🐸☕️ pic.twitter.com/eOWDmoSajX
— leo garcia, who is looking for work ☻ (@hiyaleo) May 10, 2016
Everyone hating on the Water starter reminds me of this. Literally Gen 5 all over again. pic.twitter.com/JSYBbV4RAA
— Zalman (@enterzalman) May 10, 2016
@Avianite Hey, remember when we shat on Oshawott for its design, six years ago?
— Osi D. Moff 🇩🇴🦨🇲🇽 (@MofetaFromBklyn) May 10, 2016
Over on video games forum neogaf, someone compared all three of the “disappointing” new Pokémon to that most disappointing of Sunday comic strips, Garfield. This burn is extremely sick and should be treated by a doctor immediately.
o m g https://t.co/tZfdd4XQzB pic.twitter.com/gpCvFCBi6M
— Zalman (@enterzalman) May 10, 2016
We could at least wait until we see their evolutions to pass judgment, though, right?
Naaaah.
Meanwhile, brands struggle—as per usual—to turn the Pokémon reveal into #marketing #content. Big ups to Arby’s and to the nation of Canada for particularly forced attempts.
https://twitter.com/mushbuh/status/730059032376004608
the debate is over; i will brook no dissent. @Canada @Pokemon pic.twitter.com/tWimuL3YVI
— Anthony Oliveira (@meakoopa) May 10, 2016