Well, it looks like those images shared with us by some random guy on 2ch were legitimate-- the Pokemon we were shown to evolve from the Starters ARE what Tsutaja, Pokabu and Mijumaru evolve into.
I'll do them in Dex order, so Tsutaja's is first:
Jyanobii
Type: Grass
Abilities: Overgrow
One of the strongest evolutions, despite all the "its kind of like Treecko and Grovyle" stuff. I do have to say though that it has fallen favour to one of the other Starters that I'll be getting into soon. So just wait there.
Chaobuu
Type: Fire/Fighting
Abilities: Blaze
I can't frikking believe I called it... I honestly frikking can't! That it THREE TIMES... THREE damn times we've had a Fire-type Starter turn out to be a part Fighting-type Pokemon. WTF!? It would make far more sense if Mijumaru's evolutions turned out to be part Fighting-type, because it MAKES SENSE! In a moment, just look at the pose Mijumaru's first stage evolution has. Don't you think it looks more like a Fighting-type Pokemon?
Pokabu's evolutions are the biggest disappointment of the Fifth Generation for me, because I was expecting a LOT better. I mean, just look at the things' chest-- doesn't Infernape have something like that on it?
Futachimaru
Type: Water
Abilities: Torrent
Futachimaru is the one Pokemon that has made me do an almost-complete 180 in opinion about a Pokemon. The way Mijumaru was shown in the Best Wishes trailer (giving us a nice little spoiler where its Ash who is using it, thus essentially meaning Ash gets one) is just badass and makes it look really cool. This picture is much the same and makes Futachimaru look absolutely awesome. My only issue is the final stage evolution-- I'll keep hoping its different, but I've not really seen a clear enough picture of it to actually have a full opinion on it. But I like it WAY better than Pokabu's line, that's for damn sure.
Anyway, pages 8 & 9 of CoroCoro will be talked about in the NEXT update. I promise, this time. I just wanted to talk about the Starter Evolutions just ONE more time before going onto some of the cooler Pokemon of Black & White.
-RenegadeFox
Okay! So the 'moment we've been waiting for' is 'finally arrived'. I am, of course, talking about the Starter Evolutions finally being leaked. Or supposedly. I'll note that these are all just rumours as of now, and will likely be shown in the upcoming Pokemon Sunday episode if they are real, though I have to say, Pokabu's and Mijumaru's supposed evolutions seem to be on those board things they use in the show.
I dunno, maybe its just me...
If you'd like to see the images, just have a look on PokeBeach's article on them, because I'm too lazy to upload them myself~
First, we'll talk about Tsujata's evolutions; the first stage evolution was one we pretty much knew about already, with them being shown on a 'beta' image along with Kibago and Koromori, though they had not been confirmed at that time. I do have to say though that if this final stage evolution is correct, then this will mark the first time a Starter Pokemon has evolved into a form without arms and legs. Though I have to say, if these are legitimate, then its a Starter that remains to look pretty cool throughout.
Next, we've got Pokabu's evolutions. Seriously my least favourite Starters based on the appearance of them. It also unfortunately gives me the feeling that at least the final stage evolution might be yet another Fire/Fighting-type Pokemon... which sucks. Heck, even the fist stage evolution has some signs of being Fighting-type, too... but maybe I'm looking too much into it. But based on appearance, Pokabu is the weakest, if these are real.
Finally, the sleeping wonder, Mijumaru's evolutions. For all intents and purposes, Mijumaru doesn't look very impressive as a Pokemon, but when Ash used one against a Yanappu in the Best Wishes Preview, it kind of changed my opinion on it a little-- that preview made it look a lot cooler than it looks, don't you think?
Anyway, as with Tsutaja's first stage evolution, Mijumaru's was unofficially announced back when Kibago and Koromori were leaked on the 'beta' artwork. You couldn't see it as 'clearly' as Tsutaja's, so this 'new artwork' is very much appreciated. It looks alright, but its final stage evolution looks really insane. That is probably the biggest change in a Starter Pokemon I've ever seen. Where Mijumaru and its first stage evolution look like sea otters somewhat, the final stage, if it is real, looks nothing like a sea otter. Seriously. Its madness. The shell on its head is a little weird, too...
Oh, Yanappu apparently has two Pokemon similar to it; Hiyappu, which is a Fire-type, and Baoppu, which is a Water-type. They are effectively the same Pokemon, just with different types and, of course, the 'object' on its head is different, where Yanappu's is like a tree or bush; it could be guessed that they will be relative to their types, but nothing has been shown of them, other than a screen shot where only Baoppu can be somewhat seen.
PokeBeach also note that they could be gimmicky Pokemon used to to promote the triple battle feature announced in the games, which they also note that Plusle and Minun were essentially the same. Not much of a fan of the 'monkey trio, though...
Anyway, that's it for this update-- not had much time to talk about much else, mainly because I've been busy with other things going on. I'll certainly get into talking about the games more, and if I get a job, maybe I can talk about them while I play, too! But that seems pretty far off, at the moment...
-RenegadeFox
To view the Starters to make your decision, look here:
Serebii.net Gen. 5 Pokemon List
Well, as every Pokemon fan has been, I've waited the length of time it has taken for them to finally reveal the Starters of Pokemon Black & White. (lol, in typing that, I almost put 'Black & Blue')
I was a little disappointed though, when I saw the silhouettes released and that disappointment followed through into the final product, once the full colour Starters were released.
Tsutaja, the Grass Snake Pokemon
I will go out to say that Treecko is a good Pokemon, but they didn't really have to 'replicate' it like they 'kinda did' between Torchic and Chimchar; where they're standard Fire-types to start off with, but turn into Fire/Fighting-types in their following and Final evolution stages. I wasn't, and am still not, a big fan of Chimchar's line, partly for that reason.
I wouldn't be surprised if Tsutaja actually turned out to be a previously scrapped design for Treecko that they brought back, though at the same time, I kind of doubt the possibility...
Pokabu, the Fire Pig Pokemon
Pokabu brings something never before seen in a Fire-type Starter line, other than the first evolution of Cyndaquil, Quilava; a quadruped. With the exception of Treecko, its kind of always seems to have been the intention to make Starters of the Grass-type the ones that walk on all-fours, which is okay, I guess. But its always good to change things up a little.
With that, the changing of how a Pokemon stands is really only novelty art; quite honestly, the design isn't that good. Why does it have rabbit ears, for one. That's just really weird...
Mijumaru, the Sea Otter Pokemon
This was the one I, deep down, expected to be the Water-type Starter the moment they released the silhouettes of them. It reminds me of Piplup, which is what made me expect it to be so, and unfortunately, I was right... but hey, otters are awesome, right? Except this one. The design looks kind of quirky and the 'shell' pattern on its belly made me think for a second that it was an -actual- shell.
People have actually already started calling it 'Piplup's distant cousin' or other such terms where I've been and I just certainly hope that its final evolution is better.
My Opinion
Well. The one I personally like would be Tsutaja, mainly because though it is similar to Treecko, it is the better designed Pokemon of the three. My opinion on the Starters in general is pretty low though, and I'll wait to see what comes of the next update about these Pokemon, in the form of evolutionary forms.
Future Gen. 5 Pokemon Announcements
Since I like the designs of Zorua and Zoroark, I'm still holding hope that maybe the other Pokemon in this world have good designs. Again, only time will tell if that's true...
-RenegadeFox
