With Pokémon X and Y now just a month or so away, it won't be very long until the entire world gets to discover a whole new region, with all new Pokémon - as well as all the old guard - on a 3D hand-held console for the first time. Surprisingly however, with so little time to go until the launch of the games, there's still a huge amount we don't know about the content of the games and the Pokédex within them - and of course, that makes the hardcore fans ever more impatient. Thanks to new leaks published by CoroCoro two days ago and since confirmed by Nintendo, however, we now have some more details to go on - so sit tight as we bring you up to speed:
Pokémon with multiple appearances
Although genders of Pokémon go back as far as the second generation of Pokémon games (and arguably to the very beginning of the whole franchise if you consider the Nidoran family), it wasn't until Generation IV - with Diamond and Pearl entering the scene - that Pokémon of different genders started taking on different appearances. However, in nine games up to now, very few Pokémon have taken advantage of this mechanic; many either appearing exactly the same in both genders; or having such subtle changes as to be almost indistinguishable.
While it's still possible for this to remain the case for the bulk of Pokémon being introduced in X and Y, two of the latest leaked Pokémon suggest some attempt to put more emphasis on gender differences. First, take a look at Meowstics:
Not only are the genders physically different, they learn different powers based on their gender as well. Male Meowstic learns the psychic-type move Miracle Eye, while the female version learns Extrasensory. It's not known if the same is true of this next example, however:
Male (left) and Female (right) Pyroar
Pyroar is a lion-like Pokémon in appearance; and like real lions, male specimens sport hair all around their neck. Unlike real lions, however, the female's hair grows merely from its head in a long, flowing line.
Then there's Furfrou, a Pokémon players can groom to their liking. Starting off as a basic white dog, different grooming techniques can turn it into one of two poodle-like variants; or cause its legs to grow orange fur:
(Ungroomed Furfrou extreme left)
Mewtwo's X Forme
Now here's a shocker. Newly revealed by Nintendo is a Mega Evolution for Pokémon's oldest legendary, Mewtwo. "But wait!", I hear you cry, "wasn't that revealed MONTHS ago?" Yes, but here's the kicker: there's TWO forms of Mega Evolution for Mewtwo! The one we've known about for a long time will only be available in Pokémon Y. However, for those of you who ignored Yveltal and have chosen to get Pokémon X instead, your Mega Evolution for Mewtwo has a very different look:
"Sorry, Pokémon Y Players! You can only get THIS version of me with Mewtonite X!"
Apparently, the revelation of this new Forme has already caused many fans to re-evaluate their choice of game just weeks before the worldwide launch - go figure, huh?
Other Mega Evolutions
A surprise new entry to the list of Pokémon getting Mega Evolution is Garchomp - if only because some fans believe it to be already a highly overpowered Pokémon. Like many Mega Evolutions, the appearance change is subtle, but very noticeable:
Garchomp (left) and Mega Garchomp (right)
Starter Evolutions
Finally, the Generation 6 starters of Chespin, Fennekin and Froakie have grown up; and we've finally got to see their first evolutions. Froakie becomes a longer and slimmer frog with human-like arms, called Frogadier; Chespin becomes a chubby hedgehog called Quilladin (after the "quills" - or spikes - of a hedgehog) and has been compared to a grass version of either Emboar or Darumakka; while Fennekin becomes a more human-shape fox called Braixen.
It's going to be one exciting month's wait...
