Let’s Talk About Pokemon - The Forces of Nature
641: Tornadus
Here we are, at yet another set of Pokemon that have collected a lot of fandom ire. This time though, I... don't have many words to defend them on. I thought nothing of them when they were first leaked, and think even less of them the more I really got into them.
But Tornadus at least has a distinction in the fact that it's the only pure Flying type in the game, currently. Which is fitting for a thing in control of heavy wind storms. Sadly, though, this apparently makes it far more inferior compared to its two companions since it doesn’t have as much move diversity, and everything else about it is pretty unimpressive. And it's a problem all three of them have, in that they're all palette swaps of each other with slightly different hairdos. The only major distinction they have from one another are their tails. And while the tails are some neat imagery with how they're wrapped around their body, Tornadus's tail just looks haphazardly designed. “Oh, a wind elemental? Better lazily put swirls on top of swirls.”
And also they're muscly men. That's not a huge negative against them since here it feels a bit more fitting as deity figures than just. Things that are awkwardly human-looking are running around like wild animals. But still. There's plenty of design elements angles that feel like they got to waste here.
Personal Score: 4/10
Not a winner, nah.
Therian Form:
Come Black and White 2 though, and the genies received alternate “Therian” forms, which are all the genies but as more animal-like beings. Which almost feels like an apology for how the three were the same sprite but with some different spots on top in the first Black and White. These forms are basically why I'm gonna opt to skip out on redraws this time. I think my redesign attempt at Machamp kinda proved I shouldn't be touching these folks, but at the very least these Therian forms kinda redesign the three to be at least passable for me. Which seems like a fair way to approach that. I don’t care enough to “fix” the genies, but these Therian forms kinda bump these up to at least be passable anyway.
Anyway, rather predictably, Therian Tornadus becomes a giant bird. But I can't help but kinda like how stupid of a bird it looks. It looks relatively average silhouette-wise, but then you see the garish green and purple with that absurd looking tail, combined with that awkward man-face it keeps even as a bird. It really makes it look more like a mythical deity, and I kinda wish that was a design feature that carried over to the other Therian beasts.
Personal Score: 7/10
Look at this gaudy mess. I love it.
642: Thundurus
And like I said, these Pokemon are just palette swaps of each other. Blue Tornadus here is an Electric/Flying type, donning a more spiky and striking tail. I'm sure they're mean to call raijin to mind as well.
Personal Score: 4/10
Second verse, same as the first.
Therian Form:
...Look, I said these Therian forms bump them up to be at least passable, haha.
And then Blue Tornadus becomes...this? I'll admit, I've no solid clue what this is meant to be. But my best guess is a Dragon. But otherwise, this thing looks absolutely ridiculous. Just looks at it. That cartoony muzzle. The yaoihands with the skipping of leg day. Topped off with a righteous mustache and hairdo. What an idiot.
Personal Score: 6/10
All joking aside, it's a coolish creature. If... really silly looking the more longer you stare at it.
645: Landurus
Yes, I know this is technically going out of Pokedex order. But dammit. My OCD is more angry about them being separated than it is about skipping two Pokemon for now. I don't even know WHY they decided to do it that way. Especially with regional dexes being a thing, cause it's most likely because Landurus is only accessed via postgame while most of the other Legendaries are available before the end of the game. But still. Augh!
Anyway, Red Luigi here is interestingly, Ground/Flying type. Apparently meant to control earth and is a god of making soil very farmable. And yet it's the leader over a creator of tornadoes and lightning storms. Okay then.
Personal Score: 4/10
Aw jeez who woulda saw a 4/10 coming?
Therian Form:
And out of the Therian forms, Red Luigi's is easily the least interesting of the three. It's just some four-legged monster thing. A tiger I suppose. I know you already had Terrakion and Bouffalant but. Why not a bull or buffalo? I'd say those represent land better than a tiger does. Eh.
Maybe, just maybe, they had the inkling of an idea fo Tapu Bulu even all the way back then and wanted to save that idea for a better Pokemon
Personal Score: 5/10
The only slightest of upgrades.
Overall:
Yeah, a miss all around here, I'm afraid. The Therian forms are notably nicer, but none of them hit it off much better. Just more drops into a bucket that already had too many damn Legendaries in it.
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