Okay I had a whole thing typed that was my review for the new Pokémon dropped in Indigo Disk, but tumblr ate it, so take 2
Starting with my favorite, Archaludon. It's a dragon, a kaiju, also a stapler remover, also a bridge with power cables inside. This is a really cool design overall and fixes what I dislike about Duraludon, and it's fun to play with. 9/10
Hydrapple fixes what I dislike about Dipplin, but does make Flapple and Appletun a bit obsolete. Regardless, it's a fun idea and concept- I love that 7 Syrpents (which I guess aren't individually pokemon on their own? Slowbro Shelder situation I guess) make up 1 pokemon. It's silly but fun. 8/10
Also these two are neat because the concepts tie into New York/ Unova if we look at it through lense of Archaludon's Sky Arrow Bridge being based on Brooklyn Bridge and Rainbow Bridge, and Hydrapple clearly being a Big Apple reference. Very creative
Onto the paradoxes
Raging Bolt is interesting. I prefer Raikou, and I'll be the first to admit that I do not give a shit about how many cultural or historical references are in a design, if it looks like shit its a shit design. But this design is pretty okay, and because of that I can appreciate ALL of the inspirations that went into its design.
First off, with the Beast Paradoxes drawing inspiration from dinosaurs, we have Raging Bolt as the Thunder Lizard- aka Brontosaurus. That alone is meat, but it's still pretty mammalian compared to Walking Wake- that's because there's references to something called a Questing Beast. In Medieval times, before the age of cameras or fact checking, a description of an animal far far away- such a giraffe- can get twisted abd distorted via several games of telephone until we get to a creature that combines the lower body of a leopard and deer and the neck and head of a snake- aka the Questing Beast. Raging Bolt plays a bit with all of these ideas in a pretty unique and fun way. 8/10
Iron Crown- admittedly the Justice Paradoxes suffer a bit from the same "just make it a robot" mentality that plagues other Violet Paradoxes, but the Swords of Justice got the better end of it, I'd say. Iron Crowns in particular actually fixes what I hate about Cobalion by adding segments to the legs and thus making them feel less like bipedal knees on a quadrupedal animal.
It's signature move, Tachyon Cutter, also looks so cool in action by making the horns HUGE and GLOWING. That's awesome imo. 8/10
And now the new paradoxes we knew were coming
Gouging Fire, Entei's Paradox. I'll say that I like it, although this is the least changed of the Beasts and is basically just Entei in a fancy hat. Hey, that's fine though.
The dinosaur Entei is based on is some kind of ceratopsian blend. I personally thought they'd go in that direction with a triceratops design, so I was close. The head dress piece actually gives me Ho-Oh vibes, in particularly the gold and greens, which could be purposeful and root the Beasts Paradoxes back to the Beast's master, Ho-Oh. Fun design, 8/10
Iron Boulder. This one imo is more of the "robot" angle but done in a very good way. I like Terrakion best out of the Swords to begin with, but only at certain angles in 2d (they murdered him in SV. Murdered. He looks like a cross eyed frog now.) Iron Boulder takes the bulky build of Terrakion and makes it work better in 3d by incorporating spherical and cone builds along its body and head.
It definitely looks the LEAST like a psychic type out if any psychic type I've ever seen, but that's fine. Like Iron Crown with its twin horns and Iron Leaves with its 3 blades, Iron Boulder has a cool looking sword move- his turns his two larger horns into ONE MASSIVE GLOWING BLADE. THAT'S REALLY COOL! 8/10
And now. The Boy
Terapagos is a cute design that becomes more elegant, refined, and Stellar as it becomes stronger. While I'm a bit disappointed at how they handled it in story after a year of build up, I do think the designs after it's base form are incredibly detailed and creative.
The type patterns on its shell actually shift and change smoothly to other types, and the Terastilized form is even more incredible by representing every type plus a hat version of its original form. Beautiful, yet imposing, and a tad silly. The dome is an interesting take that I believe might represent the world or perhaps even a larger turtle- the design could reference one of many World Turtle mythologies and possibly have it represent a planet in space, or maybe a Turtle floating in the ocean, perhaps it's even a reference to the Tale of Urashima Taro. If Terapagos was available in Blueberry Academy- which I think it started out that way in planning- it could even represent the Terarium itself. Perhaps a deeper story was originally planned but dropped- like the castles and gigantic tree of Crown Tundra.
Regardless, base form is a 6/10. Its cute but kinda pointless. The other forms though are 8/10 though for incredible execution, wonderful and pleasing use of color, and overall just being great.
This batch of new Pokémon is way better than Teal Mask's, let's be real. For the paradoxes, I'll say the Future ones got better after Iron Leaves, while Walking Wake was the peak for the Beasts. Ogerpon wins for cutest legendary with the best build up, but Terapagos definitely wins for best design. This batch is an everall 8/10
22 notes
·
View notes
Match Recording: Cera vs. Grusha
[Video ID: Cera, with her hoodie drawn tightly, overlooking the edge of the Glaseado Gym's arena.
Teko, leaving the Rotom Phone being used to record in midair, walks up to her: he's wearing a fluffy hoodie that looks suspiciously similar to that of Sans.
"...Woaaaahhh...You can see for like MILES up here! Awesome!" Teko says, amazed.
"It really is, isn't it? Of course, I wouldn't expect you to be able to focus long enough to realize that, but that's none of my concern." Cera says.
"Yo, check this out! ECHO!!!" Teko screeches, his voice bouncing back to him.
"...Of course you had to go ruin it." Cera sighs.
"Nice to see you again, kid." Grusha says, walking into frame. "Cera, right? This is, uhh...your fourth? Fifth try here?" he asks.
"Don't rub it in." Cera mutters angrily.
"Hey, I'm not trying to. You're persistent, at least. It's kinda admirable, you know?" Grusha says, shrugging.
"Look, it's not persistence. I'm going to win one of these times. You know what? It's probably gonna be this time!" Cera says.
"...that literally is what persistence is but okay-" Teko says under his breath.
"...Anyway. You ready?" he asks.
Both battlers assume position on the battlefield.
Cera looks back at the camera with a determined gleam in her eyes. Teko holds a thumbs up from behind the camera.
"...Let's do this." she mutters, turning back towards Grusha.
"Mizzter Blizzard's Snow Bowser Statue" begins playing from the Rotom Phone as the combatants send out their Pokemon: Cera sends out a Cyclizar and Grusha sends out a Frosmoth.
"Alright, Truck Freak, let's try and set up with Shed Tail!" Cera yells.
"Frosmoth! Set up Tailwind!" Grusha says.
The Cyclizar slams its tail on the ground repeatedly until the white part autotomizes itself, then returns to Cera to be recalled. The shed tail then grows back into a phantasmal copy of the Cyclizar.
Meanwhile, the Frosmoth flaps its wings repeatedly, causing a big burst of wind to blast the other side of the battlefield.
Cera sends out a Hydrapple. "Alright, Ghidorapple...try and set up with Nasty Plot!" Cera says.
"Frosmoth, follow up with Blizzard!" Grusha says.
The syrpents in the apple pop out and start conversing with the main one, chattering noisily. The Frosmoth flaps its wings again, summoning a large cloud of ice around itself, then blows it all at the Hydrapple in one mighty gust. However, the Cyclizar jumps in front of the Hydrapple, absorbing the attack before fading away.
"...Well played." Grusha admits.
"Heh heh...of course it is. Now's our chance, Ghidorapple! Hit it with Tera Blast!" Cera says.
"Frosmoth, try to counter with Blizzard again!" Grusha says.
The Frosmoth summons another snow cloud, but this time, the attack is blown off course. In the brief moment in between, the Hydrapple's main syrpent charges up a beam of Tera energy, and the two in the back charge up with it. They fire all at once, instantly knocking out the Frosmoth.
"Doin' good! Man, even with the type disadvantage, you're killing it!" Teko laughs from behind the camera.
"Impressive...Let's see how you do against this one." Grusha says, sending out a Beartic.
"Ghidorapple, try to use Fickle Beam!" Cera says.
"Use Icicle Crash before it can fire the attack, Beartic!" Grusha says.
The main syrpent charges up an orb of energy in its mouth, but the Beartic roars, and several icicles crystallize and form above the Hydrapple, bombarding it: when the dust clears, it's knocked out.
"...Spoke too soon." Teko says sheepishly.
"What, you have that little faith in me?! Honestly! We're NOT giving up that easily!" Cera says to the camera, indignant.
Cera recalls the Hydrapple and sends out the Cyclizar again.
"Truck Freak! Shed Tail, again!" Cera calls out.
"...Beartic, use Icicle Crash again." Grusha says.
The Cyclizar autotomizes its tail once more, and Cera recalls it. The Beartic roars again, sending a thin mist swirling up into the sky.
"...Ugh." Cera says, looking at the swirling cloud. "...This might put a wrench in my plan...Seregios, you're up!" she says, sending out a Hakamo'o.
The Beartic slams its paws against the ground, and the mist crystallizes into large icicles.
"...SEREGIOS, DODGE, NOW!!" Cera yells.
The Hakamo'o briefly looks above it, then nimbly dodges the icicles as they fall.
"Not bad...Beartic, use Earthquake...try to get rid of the Substitute." Grusha says.
"Alright, now's our chance, Seregios! Use Work Up!" Cera says.
The Hakamo'o slams its fists together, roaring. As the scales on its fists reverberate, it's surrounded by a faint red aura.
The Beartic prepares a sumo stomp-like motion, then slams against the ground, making a shockwave. The Cyclizar copy absorbs the hit, then fades.
"Let's put all of that training to use, Seregios...Drain Punch!" Cera says.
"...Counter with Aqua Jet." Grusha says.
The Hakamo'o's fist glows green as it charges towards the Beartic. It manages to land a punch on its belly with the glowing fist, but the Beartic charges, cloaked in water, and knocks it off its body after being hit. The Hakamo-o then stumbles back onto its legs again.
"It can't keep this up forever" Cera muses. "...Drain Punch, again!"
The Hakamo'o charges up its fist again, then dashes towards the Beartic. It sidesteps, but the Hakamo'o uses its momentum to spring back towards it, punching it in the face and knocking it out.
"THIS is what you've been worried about?! You're already halfway there, dummy!" Teko cackles from behind the camera.
"This is starting to heat up...Let's see how you fare against Cetitan." Grusha says, sending out a Cetitan.
"...This guy is what ended me last time...But it's not gonna happen again! Seregios! Work Up!" Cera says, confident, after faltering again.
Cetitan, Ice Shard!" Grusha says.
The Cetitan forms several orbs of icy energy on its horns, which then crystallize into ice chunks before launching themselves at the Hakamo'o.
The Hakamo'o is knocked back, bouncing across the ground, before staggering to its feet again.
"This is our last shot...Seregios, counter with Drain Punch!" Cera says hesitantly.
The Cetitan slams its feet on the ground, coating the arena with a thin layer of ice with a shockwave. It skates towards the Hakamo-o, building up speed, then begins spinning rapidly. The Hakamo'o braces for impact, as does Cera...
...
...But it refused.
The Hakamo'o catches the spinning Cetitan as one of its fists glows again. Its body glowing, its limbs and tail begin to grow longer, the scale on its head grows several more layers, and the scales on its body multiply, forming into long chains. The scale on the end of its tail splits, forming into a mace-like implement.
When the glow dies, it's evolved into a Kommo'o. It promptly launches the stopped Cetitan away with its glowing fist in a mighty uppercut. The impact produces several green orbs of light, which are absorbed into the newly-evolved Kommo-o. The Cetitan goes flying, bouncing across the arena: when it stops, it's been knocked out. The Kommo'o looks at its new hands, jingles its tail and scales, and roars triumphantly. Grusha's eyes widen in surprise.
"Nahhhhh...No freaking way..." Teko giggles in awe from behind the camera.
"S...Seregios...You're HUGE. All that fighting's finally paid off, huh, you little idiot?" Cera says, amazed. "...Well, I suppose I can't call you 'little' any more, but the other part is still true!"
"...Now this just got interesting! Time to see if this new partner of yours can take on Altaria!" Grusha says, intrigued, as he sends out an Altaria.
Teko grabs the Rotom Phone out of the air, briefly aiming the camera towards the ground, and "Battle Against a True Hero" starts playing when he points it back at the match.
"Woooo! Yeah! C'mon, you got this!" he cheers from behind the camera.
Grusha holds up his Tera Orb and throws it over the Altaria, engulfing it in Tera Crystals. The Altaria then bursts out of the crystals as an Ice-type.
"Moonblast was what took down Glaivenus the last time, wasn't it..." Cera says. Her eyes light up, and she spins her Tera Orb on her finger, then tosses it over the Kommo'o. It emerges from the crystals as a Steel-type.
"Wait, WHAT?! Since when was Seregios Tera-Steel?" Teko asks.
"Heh heh...What, you thought training was all I did yesterday? As much as I hate associating myself with you, Seregios did need a little extra something...so we went to the Treasure Eatery with Florian!" Cera chuckles.
"I've been saving up these Tera Shards for weeks...this is gonna be sweet." she says, grinning.
Grusha, realizing he's suddenly at a disadvantage, thinks for a bit. "...Altaria, try Ice Beam."
The Altaria charges up a beam of bluish energy in its beak, then fires it as a zigzagging ray of blue energy. The Kommo-o holds up the scales on its fist, getting knocked back a bit, but otherwise parrying the energy beam. It shakes ice crystals off the hand it used to block the attack.
"...You okay? Try Headbutt this time!" Cera says, attempting to mask her concern.
The Kommo'o hesitates for a bit, then nods at Cera.
"Wait, what are y-" Cera says.
The Kommo'o then rattles its scales rhythmically. As it grinds more and more scales against each other, the cacophony of clanging and grinding grows louder and louder, until it eventually reaches a breaking point, bursting out as a bluish shockwave that knocks the Altaria out of the air briefly. The Kommo'o pants in exhaustion from its performance once the ringing clears.
"...W-was that..." Cera says, before nodding in understanding. "It looks pretty roughed up...Let's END THIS with Drain Punch!" she roars.
"Altaria! Take it down with Dragon Pulse!" Grusha yells.
The Altaria charges up a multicolored orb in its beak, then fires it as a zigagging beam of energy. The Kommo'o sidesteps effortlessly as it charges. It makes a spinning leap towards the Altaria, smacking it with its tail and punching it in the face with a fist cloaked in green energy. The one-two combo shatters the Altaria's Tera Jewel as it falls to the ground, unconscious. The Kommo'o, roaring triumphantly, vigorously rattles the scales on its body as it looks back at Cera while its Tera Jewel dissipates.
"...W...we did it..." Cera says, processing her victory.
"...NYAHAHAHAHAAAAH!!" Teko cackles as the Rotom Phone shuts off the music. "That. Was. EPIC!! Damn straight, you did it!" he yells, running up to hug Cera. "Where was all of that when you were fighting ME, huh?!"
"U-ugh! Get OFF of me, you slobbering halfwit!" Cera says, trying to push Teko off of her.
"Never, you hear me?! NEVER! You EARNED this!" Teko laughs.
"...Well, I suppose it isn't so bad." Cera grumbles.
"...Gotta say, kid, that was an impressive showing. You got some real promise, you know that?" Grusha admits.
Teko reluctantly lets go of Cera, and the two battlers, along with the Kommo'o, meet in the middle of the field. Grusha flips Glaseado's Gym Badge to Cera like a coin, and she catches it.
"I can tell you've tried pretty hard to beat me, huh? You were pretty cool out there...How's it feel?" Grusha asks.
"Ahaha...Oh, you pitiable fool. I only had to try moderately hard to beat your sorry team!" Cera says.
"...yeah, right." Teko says, faking a cough.
"It was...somewhat enjoyable battling with you, though." Cera admits.
"Hey, you too. ...Say, I'm pretty sure this was the last badge you had to earn, wasn't it. You got any plans after this?" Grusha says.
"...Yep. Big ones." Cera says, looking out towards Mezagoza.
"Hey, you wanna head back down to Montenevera and grab something to eat? We GOTTA get something cool after this! Teko says, grabbing the Rotom Phone.
"...Works for me." Cera says as the video cuts out.]
0 notes