Mahalo to the Alolan Forms!

One of the most disappointing things that a PokeFan has to deal with is the painfully long wait in between generations. The crusty cherry on this hot mess is for sure when the Pokemon Company releases new information, which is seriously lack luster.

The Alola Region

And no frankly, I do not buy into pathologically animated descriptions and reviews on other Pokemon blogs and YouTube videos that have their respective creators, pardon the phrase, jumping around and shitting themselves with excitement over things that, quite frankly, fail to hit the mark.

But trust you me, I have been waiting with baited breath for something to get me all fired up for Generation 7 because until now, I have been sourly on the fence as to my minimized enthusiasm about Alola; simmering in my own angst.

The starters, the player avatars, the rumour that Gyms aren’t coming back, the onslaught of bullshit Grass types (arguably one of my least favourite types – apart from my Sceptile, who is an active member of my Competitive Team) and the overall choppy aesthetics of the game (I thought that post XY and ORAS, the developers would go forward – guess not) were all superbly less than ideal.

That is to say until, (and thank fuck for this), a new creative element - the Alolan Forms have been confirmed!!

Alolan Forms

I cannot articulate how much I love the direction that GameFreak has taken with this. Giving the exhaustive list of Pokemon that we already know and adore, alternate forms locked on in-game regions is absolutely genius!

Never to nitpick the sensibilities (or lack thereof) of a fictional universe, it is so unbelievably refreshing that the concept artists finally gave in to their own ‘Pokemonverse’ science.

Yes dammit, a Grass type like Exeggutor will be more powerful in a region known for more sunlight and yes a Ninetales will adapt to a snowier climate if it was forced through it. Furthermore a long grieving Marowak will take on the attributes of a Fire type after years of being victimized by other Grass and Ice types. Yes, yes and yes!

I personally, had always been a huge fan of these slight form changes to begin with. Pokemon are an amazing class of creatures synonymous with evolution, and/or the ability to change in lieu of their surroundings.

Castform's Weather Issues

3 Shades of Burmy

Whether it be Castform who shuffles through its Sunny, Rainy and Snowy form depending on the weather to Burmy who changed form into its Plant, Sandy and Trash Cloaks owing to its battle location – this aspect of the game has always been an underrated delight - It goes above and beyond and truly adds another layer of customization into the game that is notorious for becoming repetitive after a while.

Don’t trust me? Ask the millionth Zubat you find circling your head in a cave.

The subsequent type changes, the moveset changes, even the individual stat changes will bring so much more into the game while simultaneously reintroducing the audience with their long lost PokeDex alumni.

A Marowak spectre

Alolan Meowth

I don’t know about you, but I never touched a Mawile until Gen 6 gave it a powerful Mega. And now I am elated that I can look forward to training an Alolan Sandslash and an Alolan Meowth (and therefore, Persian).

Good job GameFreak, there might be hope for the Alola region yet!

For a more extensive look into Pokemon Form mechanics, please skim through this brilliantly comprehensive wikipage: http://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/List_of_Pok%C3%A9mon_with_form_differences