A new generation of Pokémon games always means new features and other improvements to the long-loved Nintendo series of critter-collecting and battling, but we all know what everyone really wants: new Pokémon!
The X and Y versions , out today for the Nintendo 3DS, add 68 new creatures for fan to collect, trade, and force to fight each other until one loses consciousness. While that’s a smaller number of new additions than any we’ve seen in the main series before, you’ll still find plenty of gems among the newcomers. Below are my five favorite new Pokémon from X and Y, chosen either for their usefulness, appearance, or for just being kind of weird and amusing.
Honedge is a sentient sword, which sounds more like something out of the Castlevania series, but it makes for a pretty cool Pokémon. It has both Steel and Ghost types, and it can evolve two more times. Its final evolution is especially cool, since it can switch between sword and shield-based offensive/defensive stances. But, most importantly, it’s a freaking sentient sword. You know what would be cool? A Pokémon bird who looked like a Mexican luchador wrestler. OK, no one probably ever said that before, except for the wonderfully crazy guy at developer Game Freak who created Hawlucha. Not only is he Flying and Fighting-type, but he actually has a move, Flying Press, that is both types simultaneously, meaning you can use the same attack to exploit a lot of different weaknesses. Unfortunately, Hawlucha doesn’t evolve at all. Too bad, I would have liked to see a Hawluchamania or Hawlmachoman or something. Dinosaurs are awesome. I think we all agree. So why has it taken this long for someone to finally make a Pokémon that was basically a Tyrannosaurus Rex? Well, Tyrantrum finally fills that terrible void in my life, and it was well worth the wait. This hulking monster is Dragon and Rock-type, and you can get him easily just by playing through the story (you resurrect his adorable original form, Tyrunt, by reviving a fossil). I also like the fact that he’s a dinosaur with a beard. He’s some sort of sage dino. Classy stuff. Flabébé is another Pokémon with the new Fairy-type, and its pretty freaking tiny and adorable. Just look at the way it hugs that little flower! Dawwwwwww. You can also catch one pretty early in the game, so it’s a great Pokémon for anyone trying to see how the new class of pocket monster affects the dynamics of battling. Also, the color of the flower it flies around on actually comes in a few varieties (blue, red, and yellow). Most importantly, its name is a lot of fun to say. Klefki is so stupid, it’s awesome. It’s literally a keychain. Yes, it’s a metallic ring with a bunch of keys dangling of it. And then someone threw something resembling a face on it and called it a Pokémon. However, its dual Fairy/Steel-type configuration is pretty handy, since it negates Fairy’s usual weakness to Steel moves. Besides, what better way to embarrass your opponents than by beating them with a flipping keychain?