Highlights
Pokemon's lore continues to expand with new regions and creatures, revealing strange and intriguing details.
A Pokemon multiverse is introduced, proposing the existence of parallel worlds and numerous iterations of the same regions. The Pokemon Adventures manga presents a more vivid and intense portrayal of the Pokemon universe, deviating from the lighthearted nature of the games and animated series.
Pokemon, despite its reputation for prioritizing gameplay over storytelling, has seen various attempts to delve into the intricate lore of its unique world throughout its decades-long existence. With the continuous expansion of new regions and over a thousand distinct creatures, it is only natural that fans would be filled with curiosity to uncover the history and lore behind these games. From unsettling Pokedex entries that expose the hidden darkness of seemingly adorable beings to the revelation of a Pokemon multiverse featuring alternate regions, there is an abundance of peculiar lore waiting to be explored and deciphered. It is highly likely that this list of captivating lore will continue to expand in the future.
The Pokemon Multiverse
Gen 6 of Pokémon introduced a controversial topic among fans: paradoxical Pokémon forms. Fans struggled to believe that Charizard and Mewtwo had Mega Evolution forms that were previously unknown to trainers in the Kanto region. Additionally, the sudden appearance of powerful Primal forms of Kyogre and Groudon in the Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire remakes raised questions. The reason behind these changes is simple in real life - Game Freak aims to constantly introduce new features to keep gamers engaged. However, the Delta Episode of Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire provides a deeper explanation for these alterations.
Exploring the complete story of the Delta Episode would be time-consuming, but the crucial point is when the character Zinnia mentions that her people speak of an alternate world similar to the one depicted in ORAS, but without Mega Evolutions. This revelation implies that the world of Ruby and Sapphire exists as a parallel universe to Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire. Furthermore, this concept extends to the addition of new evolutions, such as Dudunsparce and Probopass, that Pokémon has introduced over the years.
Hatterene's Dead Forest
Since its introduction in Pokemon Sword and Shield, Hatterene has been portrayed as a rather unfriendly creature according to its Pokedex entries. Its Shield Pokedex entry warns that being too loud around it could result in being torn apart by the claws on its tentacle, giving it the nickname of "Forest Witch."
In Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, the Psychic/Fairy type takes on a whole new level of creepiness. Hatterene's Violet Pokedex entry delivers a disturbing message, cautioning individuals about entering forests devoid of any signs of life as it may indicate that they have encroached upon Hatterene's territory. This description is unexpected considering the adorable Hatenna ends up evolving into such a eerie form.
To Kill A Poliwhirl
The Pokemon Adventures manga is known for its darker content compared to the video game series. While the games mostly steer clear of violence and blood, the manga shows a Poliwhirl being pierced through its swirl by a Fearow's beak in an earlier chapter. However, it is later revealed to be an illusion, so there are no deaths and the manga maintains its suitability for all ages.
Interestingly, Satoshi Tajiri, the original creator of Pokemon and current president of Game Freak, has mentioned that the Pokemon Adventures manga aligns more closely with his initial vision for the Pokemon world, in contrast to the more child-friendly depictions in the anime and modern games. Nevertheless, considering the overall direction of the Pokemon brand, the manga's brutal elements are quite striking.