As revolutionary as Paradox Pokemon were forPokemon ScarletandVioletin adding to thePokemonmythos, the gimmick felt partially one-sided, as the future forms introduced inPokemon Violetseemed too similar to one another and lacked creativity. Though Game Freak’s latest ninth generation pushed the envelope with new ideas for the series, the Paradox Pokemon exclusive toPokemon Violetseemed to be less developed than those included inPokemon Scarlet, leaving fans uncertain why the disparity exists at all. While ancientParadox Pokemon took several prehistoric and fossilized influences, future forms seemed to all lean on the same cyber aesthetic.
The uncanny similarities between all the current future Paradox Pokemon are hard for players not to notice. Not only do they all share the naming convention of “Iron”, but they all look and feel as if they were robots and not actual Pokemon. As a result, while the future forms might differ in terms of typing and small design details from their originals, they don’t have the same contrast that ancient Paradox Pokemon do. If rumors regarding future DLC forPokemon ScarletandVioletare true, then Game Freak will have an opportunity to reshape future Paradox Pokemon for the better.
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Future Paradox Pokemon Were Limited By Design
The opportunity to “discover” a new phenomenon of Pokemon that were completely alien to the traditional Pokedex is one way of engaging players both new and old. So given how Paradox Pokemon were presented in bothPokemon ScarletandViolet, it’s clear that the new Gen 9 gimmick was a likely throwback to theUltra Beasts ofPokemon SunandMoon. This seems best reflected in Paradox Pokemons' codenames, which don’t directly link them to their original Pokemon and instead treat them as the anomalies they are. But whilePokemon Scarlethas a range of creative names,Pokemon Violetis stuck with its Paradox Pokemon all being “Iron.”
However, this undervalues the future Paradox Pokemon twofold. Firstly, “Iron” implies a Steel typing, much like many Pokemon moves from Iron Tail to Iron Defense, but only the future Donphan “Iron Treads” actually has Steel as one of its dual types. The rest are therefore misrepresented as non-Steel types, indicating that “Iron” isn’t to reflect their types, but their designs like those seen inTyranitar’s “Iron Thorns"or Volcarona’s “Iron Moth.” Secondly, several “Iron” Paradox Pokemon are mechanical carbon copy designs of their originals, demonstrating a lack of ingenuity in creating futuristic visuals.
The Future of Future Paradox Pokemon
Though it seems inevitable among players thatPokemon ScarletandVioletwill receive DLC in the near future there’s no guarantee that Paradox Pokemon could be expanded much further from where they currently are. Current leaks seem to strongly indicate that Paradox forms of Suicune and Virizion could be introduced in the DLC, but other leaks also indicate that athird legendary Pokemon will be connected to Gen 9’s Terastalization. But while there is hope that future Paradox Pokemon could have another chance to impress players, any new additions or changes would need to avoid the same pitfalls of design.
For instance, thanks to the fans, a number of inspired Paradox forms have cropped up following the release ofPokemon ScarletandViolet. In contrast to the official future forms, these fan-made creations take the designs beyond just turning a Pokemon into a cyborg, with examples ranging fromTorkoal being turned into “Iron Fission"as a nuclear reactor to Inteleon channeling Iron Man vibes as “Iron Stealth.” Though certain conventions carried through like “Iron” or the cyber style, it’s clear the concept has untapped potential Game Freak has yet to touch.
Pokemon ScarletandVioletare available now for Nintendo Switch.
MORE:Pokemon Scarlet’s Paradox Pokemon Have One Major Weakness Compared to Violet’s
