#and this is coming from someone who loved diamond and crystal and Unova

[wp100]

finally picked up pokemon shield after months of not playing it and i really enjoy it this time

think i was just not into pokemon at the time, when i was first playing it and trying to get into it. it's not that bad, really. not the BEST pokemon game, but it's alright for what it is

[terrific-togekiss]

Pokémon Champions and overall Journey Themes

Pokémon. A franchise met with much praise and adoration for many years.

Catching your favorite pocket monsters, while capturing the hearts of many.

Today we're going to look and analyze at an aspect of the main games that many is familiar with: Champions.

The last victory before the main journey is over. A culmination of everything the player has been through over the entire main game. And here we're talking about what the Pokémon Champions really symbolize in the games and how they hold up the overall themes of the game.

Pokémon Red, Blue and Yellow

Starting with Blue in Pokémon Red, Blue and Yellow.

As the first games of the franchise, it's only natural that the champion is someone the player knows.

With Blue, Gen 1 is the first Pokémon games. So, of course since Pokémon is a personal journey it ends with you the player facing someone of a personal relationship.

You went on this journey. You saved Kanto from Team Rocket. You caught many Pokémon of various shapes, sizes, colors and personalities. You filled up the Pokédex. You traveled across the lands.

Now it's time for one final challenge before your journey is over.

And there's the man who reminds of where you began. Your own best friend as the champion. If both journeys are coming to end, so is this friendly rivalry the two of you have had since the start.

The main theme of Gen 1 is to remind fans how Pokémon is ultimately a journey you set off on yourself.

Pokémon Gold, Silver and Crystal

Now let's move on to the Johto region in Gen 2. Pokémon Gold, Silver and Crystal share close connections to the Gen 1 games, being seen as a bit of an add on.

Lance is a Dragon master, Gen 2 was about respecting old legends and learning from those before you, so of course the champion has a team of dragons and ancient Pokémon.

Team Rocket returns and does not respect any of the old legends, as seen with messing with the natural habitat, angering a shiny Gyrados and caring more about themselves.

Silver, the son of Giovanni is also reflective of this as he tries to take on his dad's old crime group before forging his own path.

Lance embodies none of these characteristics and teaches the player to respect all before you, but never lose sight of what awaits you.

We ultimately forge our own paths.

Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald

In the Gen 3 games Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald, Team Magma and Team Aqua both have plans for changing the overall environment of the entire Hoenn region.

Both Steven Stone and Wallace have Pokémon closer to the the natural world, showing the player to never forget Pokémon origins, and not grow obsessed with how phenomenal the world as a whole is.

Pokémon Diamond, Pearl and Platinum

With Cynthia in the Gen 4 games of Diamond, Pearl and Platinum, she's the first champion to have a team not regulated by one type. You, the player, are a literal small town Pokémon trainer that goes on to do great things in contrast yet likeness.

Cynthia is humble in who she is and was most likely in the same position as the Player. Showing how anyone can do great things and go on to do great things. No matter where they came from.

Pokémon Black and White

With the Gen 5 game Pokémon Black and White: Alder is very old and N, someone much younger, beating him is meant to reflect Team Plasma's goals and ushering in a new age. Alder being beat is meant to show the old ways are done. N winning is the Truth, his future of no more Pokémon battling is what he deems ideal. As the overall theme of Black and White is Truth and Ideals.

The player beating him and Team Plasma, is meant to show how hollow Truth and Ideals are, when on a journey of power than self discovery.

Pokémon Black 2 and White 2

This carries over to Pokémon Black 2 and White 2: Team Plasma has split into two groups. One believes in the old goal of people and Pokémon coexisting peacefully, while the other wants to take over Unova. The latter, Neo Team Plasma is trying to hold onto N's ideals, while the former is the truth behind what Team Plasma always planned on.

Iris going from a Gym Leader in one version of the previous games to champion holds onto this theme, while rejecting it; this is the last 2D Pokémon game, so what is being carried over?

Fun. No matter what paths we take, what roads we travel, what struggles we face, Pokémon is all about having fun.

N lost sight of why Pokémon would want to stay with their masters, but realized in the end, through the protagonist that maybe humans and Pokémon may live in harmony one day.

Fun adds meaning to life and helps take our minds off of what we face in our day to day lives. It's the Truth of why so many love Pokémon, creating an ideal world building enrichment in our lives.

Pokémon X and Y

Moving on, in the Gen 6 games X and Y, Diantha is a fashion model and embodies beauty in yourself and finding it in others. Team Flare wants beauty to be immortalized. Diantha disagrees with Lysandre and rejects his offer early in the game, understanding nothing lasts forever and beauty becomes hollow if it does.

The player beating her and than beating AZ is meant to show how something is beautiful not because it lasts: how we feel towards it does. As seen with with AZ and Floette. Even decades later, they still hold the same love they hold for each other.

Team Flare is shown throughout the game to be a group of flamboyant criminals, that while emphasizing immortal beauty: all look the same.

As everything must fade away at some point and nothing truly lasts forever. But that's not exactly bad thing. It's a reminder of appreciating things in the here and now.

Pokémon (Ultra) Sun and (Ultra) Moon

With Gen 7, since something is done differently here, but the player still beats the Elite Four and shows how anyone can stand tall, but true knowledge never ends. As seen with being able to defend your position as champion.

When one reaches the top, what's left when you've learned all there is to learn and being number one?

Start all over again. The other side of the mountain is the beginning and every journey starts all over again.

This idea is also instilled in the challengers, as for the first time the player can defend their title as champion and teach the same lesson to them.

Pokémon Sword and Shield

In the Gen 8 games, Leon basically embodies the pressure society puts on you when you become famous and needing to live up the expectations of your family (or otherwise supporting them). He's one of the first who makes an explicit effort to keep "you kids" out of danger until it becomes impossible. He even takes an entire HIT for the player during the Eternatus incident. He breaks the trope of ten year olds being expected to handle everything, while adults help in smaller ways.

And why does he care so much? Pressure.

How fitting and ironic since this is the first console Pokémon games, with Gen 7 being the last handheld ones.

Moving on, Leon understands the pressures of the player going on a journey, as he was in the very same position himself.

Societal pressures are ultimately pointless: you decide what defines greatness and how others can follow your example. As seen with Leon looking out for the player. Not to be blinded by the light, but to follow it.

Thanks for reading everyone! I look forward to what Gen 9 may do this.