Game Freak has forgotten how to make good shiny Pokemon

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Originally published on December 22, 2022

For numerous Pokemon enthusiasts, the pursuit and accumulation of shiny Pokemon continues to captivate them for countless hours beyond the game’s narrative conclusion. This endeavor proves to be a more arduous task than filling a Pokedex due to its need for perseverance and dedication that truly embodies a seasoned Pokemon master. Encountering one by chance during your adventure offers an exhilarating surprise, particularly if you’re unaware of the concept of shinies as an unsuspecting child might be.

Even though I’d been playing Pokémon games starting from Generation 4, it wasn’t until Generation 6 (Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire) that I stumbled upon my first ever shiny Pokémon. As I worked diligently to complete my Pokédex, I discovered a radiant Raikou and barely caught it. That encounter sparked my interest in shiny hunting, and I’ve been dabbling on and off with it since then. By the end of 2022, I had accumulated close to 300 distinct shiny Pokémon. The latest games have introduced some unexpectedly potent methods for hunting shinies, making the pursuit significantly easier.

In Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, there are some notable issues with shinies. The absence of an audiovisual signal when one appears makes them more challenging to locate, which isn’t inherently negative, but it diminishes the excitement of discovering one. Memorable moments from Pokémon Legends: Arceus for me were often triggered by that sudden shiny sound interrupting my current task.

The main flaw with the shiny Pokémon of Scarlet and Violet is that many of them are extremely dull or uninteresting.

As a devoted fan, I must say, Pokémon like Meowscarada, Maushold, Dachsbun, Armarouge, Ceruledge, and Bombirdier are absolutely fantastic, but it’s a bit disappointing that they don’t transform much when they become shiny. For instance, Meowscarada, Dachsbun, and Bombirdier lose their vivid colors, making them appear more ailing than radiant with their drained palettes. Maushold’s torso shifts from a very pale blue to an even lighter shade of yellow, while Armarogue and Ceruledge – two Pokémon that really stood out for their visual appeal in this generation – only see minor tweaks to their eye color.

Here are just a few instances, I could point out plenty more that seem unremarkable because they don’t offer much value for your effort. These types of eye-catching items can be found in earlier generations – Gengar and Garchomp being the most notorious examples – and there are some fantastic designs in Gen 9, but no generation has had as many duds as this one.

As a devoted gamer, I can’t help but notice a shift in the design quality of Shinies over time. Here’s my take on why that might be: In the early days, like Gen 2, Shinies weren’t actually designed by creators; they were essentially generated algorithmically. Although each one was coded individually within the game, designers didn’t have any say in their appearance. So, it’s possible that with more intentional design input, we’re seeing a change in the overall aesthetic of Shinies.

As a dedicated gamer, I’ve been following the evolution of shiny Pokémon closely, especially since I’m part of the Game Freak team and have been designing Pokémon since the beginning of Generation 5. The most significant change in creating shiny forms came with the introduction of the Ultra Beasts in Generation 7. Previously, for the first five generations, the color schemes of regular Pokémon seemed to dictate their shiny counterparts. For instance, purples turned green, oranges became blues, and whites mostly stayed white. This pattern suggests that an algorithm was at work behind the scenes.

Since Gen 7, it appears humans have played a larger role in determining Pokémon with a shine, which has had its pros and cons. For instance, when Turner talks about Ultra Beasts, they’re somewhat inconsistent as to whether they surpass what an algorithm might generate.

Nihilego transforms from immaculate white to unsettling yellow, while Guzwole’s colors reverse, resulting in two impressive shines. Pheremosa maintains its white on the upper body and fades into black midway – another success for the human designer. Unfortunately, the other designs could use some improvement.

Kartana receives a vibrant deep-blue mark on its midsection, which is beneficial; however, the yellow transforms into white, which isn’t ideal. Maintaining the bold orange around its head is advantageous, but the white that covers most of its body remains unaltered, which could be improved. Yet, one might argue that since it was predominantly white initially, the algorithm may not have produced a significantly different outcome.

Buzzwole, unlike other entities, maintains a consistent color scheme in red and black. However, there’s a lot of room for versatility with this design. You could have swapped the colors, creating a fresh, edgy look; you could have switched it to vibrant blue for a peculiar and eye-catching effect; or simply intensified the red to create a fiery orange hue. Yet, surprisingly, most of its body remains unaltered, and it sports odd lime-green accents on its limbs, which seems rather perplexing as a design choice.

It appears that Celesteela and Xurkitree share similarities, yet their designs for Shiny Pokemon may suggest a lack of understanding regarding the unique qualities that define the greatest ones.

Exceptionally radiant Pokémon often bring about remarkable alterations in their appearance. These transformations aren’t bound by lore consistency or adherence to the initial concept of the Pokémon; they simply need to be aesthetically captivating and evoke a sense of uniqueness.

Aegislash’s gold and silver standard form gives it the appearance of a noble weapon fit for a honorable monarch, yet the shimmering transformation renders its metal black with vivid red accents, resembling a blood-stained blade wielded by a sinister knight. This alteration completely transforms its design into something fresh and unique, making it an enticing target to seek out.

Regardless of whether Aegislash was crafted by a human or a machine, what truly matters is that there seems to be an absence of something extraordinary in the Generation 9 roster. Shinies I would deem impressive fall short of this mark. Although Skeledirge’s transition from orange to pink is appealing, the predominant white skeletal design remains unchanged, preventing it from making a significant impact.

It appears that the designers who hold more influence over the appearance of shiny Pokémon are focusing too much on preserving the original essence of their creatures, which contradicts my long-held belief about what shinies should represent. When you invest a significant amount of time to achieve a 1 in 4096 chance, the result ought to be rewarding. However, games like Scarlet and Violet make me question if it’s worth the effort given the abundance of appealing shiny Pokémon in other games that I could instead pursue hunting for.

Let’s rejuvenate those stunning designs by infusing them with novel excitement! Discard minor adjustments, approach it with a refreshed perspective, and surprise me with an innovative twist on an already impressive design.

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2025-04-16 17:48