For many Pokémon fans, the names and faces of the series' ever-growing collection of monsters are forever imprinted in our minds, and especially the 'classic' set of Generation 1 creatures that debuted in Pokémon Red and Blue. Of course, the new release of Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! has only enhanced that nostalgic love in recent times, but let's take a moment to look at how different those fan-favourites could have been.
A Japanese television show recently aired sprite-like illustrations of several Generation 1 Pokémon. Some of these early designs are very similar to the final product, with creatures like Staryu, Blastoise, Pinsir, and Tentacool being almost identical to their modern day looks. Some, however, look drastically different; Scyther (top row, middle) seems to have a much larger back and body - almost quite dinosaur-like in shape - and Gyarados looks like an absolutely terrifying, nightmare-inducing worm of destruction (middle row, fourth from the left).
Elsewhere, other images show early designs for the famous opening cutscene for the games, where Nidorino and Gengar battle it out in the spotlight. These images have been seen before, but in case you were unaware, the series was originally planned to be called Capsule Monsters and featured very different-looking Pokémon taking part in that first fight.
Earlier this year, a whole bunch of scrapped Pokémon designs that were set to appear in Pokémon Gold and Silver were also found.
So, what do you think about these early designs? Will that Gyarados now forever haunt your dreams? Let us know below.
[source polygon.com, via twitter.com]
Comments 41
I wouldn't mind if they brought back that Gyarados design for a new monster...
'Mon isn't an abbreviation.
It looks like a giant lamprey rather than a dragon.
@AlexOlney I thought it was a baby Khezu from Monster Hunter at first.
I would pay good money for a book of all these!
I don't see a gyarados in any of the pictures. ...?
These dot matrix renders are very beautiful considering their old technical limitations of the time and I love the concept art too.
We’ve come a loooong way in terms of video games and their advances over the years and I remember when I was a small boy, playing the GameBoy Pocket on the way home from a long family trip one night. I kept raising the device over my head so I could use the car’s headlights driving behind us to illuminate the screen. (Nintendo didn’t add backlit screens until years later..) Just thinking of simpler times back then makes me feel all warm and mushy inside.
Good times, gooooooood times.
@AlexOlney it kinda looks a bit like a giant armoured leech of sorts. Kinda icky but definitely a cool idea.
This makes me want a Scyther x Charizard breed of Pokémon. Don’t ask why.
@Trajan second image, fourth row, second monster down.
That Gyarados looks terrifying. Scyther and Lapras are pretty goofy, though.
Also, who's Omega? It almost looks like a proto-Aggron.
What's the Pokemon in the bottom left corner? Looks like a robot or something, really weird.
@TeethInDarkness Same light source tactic here. Then there was the contraption accessory for GameBoy with the lights and magnifier 😂
@TeethInDarkness Thanks.
Looks like some sort of sandworm than a gyarados.
@Krisi @Bolt_Strike
Yeah, no idea on that one. The name translates to 'Omega' as you pointed out, but that doesn't really get us any further. Perhaps it was scrapped entirely?
@ryancraddock @Bolt_Strike @Krisi It looks a lot like the Blastoise it's next to, but robo-fied. Maybe they were considering digimon-like form changes even in the early days. Omega Blastoise?
@PolarExperience Like a winged Kabutops? Terrifying.
@Bolt_Strike I thought it's Rhydon.
Dated 1990?? Wow.
Tangela looks like a tangrowth without arms. Gayrados looks like an earthworm as well. Interesting 🤔
I could imagine that Gyarados pokedex (with grammatical errors, English is not my first language): "It is said that there lives a gigantic worm-creature undernearth the surface. Once every hundred years, it is said to devour a whole city and go down again leaving no trace behind." And it would be even more creepy knowing that it evolves from Magikarp:D
I'm still upset that they changed some designs over the years. Vaporeon used to look more 'fishy'
@LeChuck I have been seeing 'Mon' alot lately, it's stupid. Is it so hard to type out Pokemon?
Lovely Designs!
wow i saw this on twitter the other day. had no idea those were supposed to be scyther and gyarados. anybody have any idea what the one next to Blastoise was/is?
Capsule Monsters? Isn't that what the monsters were called in Lufia II: Rise of the Sininstrals?
Gyarados looks like a giant sea worm... They should utilize that in the next Pokemon game.
Capsule Monsters sounds like a horrible spinoff commissioned by 4Kids.
@Krisi It defitnetly has shades of Aggron to it. Which makes me wonder if its look were inspired or recycled from this design.
I too want to see one with that original Gyrados design. That looks wacky and awesome.
I'd love to see more nightmare fuel Pokemon like that Leechados. Game Freak has at least touched the subject with creations like Guzzlord.
@JackEatsSparrows: I still recall the nights where I'd play my GBC while glued to the nightlight in my room. Unfortunately mom grew wise and started checking in on me. There was no door to my room (it was up in a loft), so I'd have to listen for her coming up the stairs. XD Getting caught meant no Game Boy for a few days.
My luminous GBA SP made it easier, but the glow could be seen from downstairs sometimes. I started playing it under my sheets.
@Samsamsam It would be more like:
#810 Shai-Hulud
HT: 1,364' 6"
WT: 3,610,524 lbs
This Arrakis-born sandworm is highly prized for its production of the spice Melange. It has been known to swallow entire spice mining facilities whole.
@Bolt_Strike I think it's a deleted Pokemon.
I also noticed that Cloyster is called Shellder.
@Trajan More like a Lamprey.
@DonBugen HE WHO CONTROLS THE SPICE, CONTROLS THE UNIVERSE!
@JackEatsSparrows
Indeeeeeed.
https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/000/550/192/169.jpg
@Crono1973 fans have used that term for awhile now though. I even hear it out loud all the time, not just typed.
I wish magikarp evolved into that nightmare, imagine the shock upon seeing it turn into that!! Gyrados currently is sorta intimidating but also sorta derpy. This definitely is a design I would’ve been okay with.
#WormGyarados4Gen8
@AlexOlney I think it looks a bit like eelektrik
I think Omega might have been an early design & name for Garuura/Garuler/Kangaskhan. It looks like Kangaskhan without the baby in its pouch. It can't be Rhydon because it's #20, while we know that Sidon/Rhydon was #01 in Capsule Monsters.
Kangaskhan for 20?
Me thinks the worm Gyrados seems to have been incorporated into the Eelektross line.
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