Pokemon starters are often a mixed bag. Some go down in history as adorable critters with little comparison, while others are just a bit wank. 𒐪But for the first time in several generations, it seems that all three of the starting creatures are absolute bangers in Scarlet & Violet.
Sprigatito is a beautiful grass-type kitten who the internet has alre🐻ady transformed into a stoner thanks to the weed leaf-esque pattern adorning its head. I’ve already seen so much art of the creature sm🐽oking a blunt and even transforming them into a high school girl taking hot rips from a bong.
Cl🦩assic cat memes placing Sprigatito into the position of existing felines have also graced the online sphere, igniting creativity and causing a collective reaction that is easy to get swept up in. They’ll likely evolve into a sexy cat lady oཧr a buff bodybuilder or something, so we should treasure this wholesome appearance while it lasts.
Quaxly is a duck. That’s pretty much it, and I think the simplicity of its design is why so many are downright smitten with them. They look like Donald Duck, sporting a fabulous mop of blue hair and a loving expression that shows they are clearly here to have a grand ol’ time. I like to think the hair is a hat instead, and it will fall off as they’re waddling into battle and there will be awkward yet adorable moments where it’s forced to pick it♔ back up.
Fuecoco is a wholesome dinosaur boy who melts my heart, a fitting reaction given he’s a fire-type. His eyes are filled with innocen✱ce, while his gaping maw is ready to let out a massive roar or a loving yelp as he rushes towards his trainer for a loving cuddle. He’s so cute, sporting a pair of little arms that resemble a Tyrannosaurus Rex with wispy hair and a slice of plastic cheese slapped onto his chest. I’ve seen images of him screeching valiantly into the sky alongside Totodile, establishing themselves as dinosaur homies of the highest order.
When Pokemon Sword & Shield were announced I don’t remember seeing this level of excitement around the starter trio. Many of us🀅 were smitten by them, but I didn’t have a hard time deciding who I wanted to choose when the game’s launch rolled around. With Scarlet & Violet, I desperately wish there was a way to recruit all three of them into my party instead🎃 of pulling one into my arms as they are forced to evolve all on their lonesome.
I think Sprigatito, Quaxly, and Fuecoco are also reminiscent of Ruby and Sapphire’s designs in some ways, meaning they have tickled a nostalgic n𝔍erve around the friends and players who exist within my social media echochamber. Because of that, the enthusiasm is super infectious. Part of me enjoys the excitement around Pokemon announcements and designs more than playing thꦜe games themselves, partly because there is more creativity in these interpretations than anything Game Freak has cooked up, acting as a springboard for players to take what they love about each new game and morph them into something special.
I’m not a huge fan of the protag designs this time around, but we’ll be able to customise🔯 them anyway, so complaining about their bland vanilla❀ design feels pointless. So long as the starters kick ass, that will be enough to pull me in. Bring them on.
