u/Anxious_Spite_8767

We know for a fact that pokemon with rouge mega evolutions don’t have a trainer. That’s what makes them rouge in the first place.

Maybe this was a Camerupt that was released on the rooftop?

Honestly I feel like they should have just swapped the locations of Victreebel and Camerupt in the first place. Easier to imagine a Victreebel getting up there instead of a Camerupt.

I currently have 30/50 of the Bubbly Basin exclusive pokemon at environment level 5 without time skipping. Most of the Pokemon I’m missing are either from evolution lines or are already greyed out on my pokedex so I have a good idea of what’s the final roster. Overall, I can say I’m happy with who they chose as part of the pokedex. It’s a solid mix of fan favorites, staple sea creatures, and some not so popular pokemon that could use some love.

The only two pokemon I would possibly take out are Wiglett and Wugtrio. Diglett and Dugtrio are already in the base game so their inclusion feels redundant considering the limited slots. There is no shortage of hype pokemon. If they wanted to include a Generation IX pokemon, I think that Finizen and Palafin are better representatives.

Personally, I’m surprised Goldeen and Seaking didn’t make it in given the oriental style buildings of the area. Plus, it’s a Kanto pokemon part of Misty’s team. Speaking of Kanto, I’m surprised Krabby/Kingler and Tentacool/Tentacruel didn’t make it in either. I think we can confirm at this point they have no plans of completing the original 151.

Another omission I’m surprised by is Mantyke and Mantine. They felt like a shoo-in since they’re non-fish aquatic creatures. Perhaps they didn’t like how they would have to include Remoraid and Octillery as well?

Quite possibly (and literally) the biggest omissions are Wailmer and Wailord. You’re telling me we’re exploring the ocean and we don’t get to see a whale?

Also surprised we didn’t get new fossils for the Bubbly Basin. I thought that would for sure happen but I guess not lol.

I feel like it’s easy for Gen VI pokemon to get overshadowed in Z-A. It feels so easy to just not use any during the game.

I like having a group of 6 pokemon I keep for the entire story. I know you don’t have to have a full team of megas but I feel like I’m playing with a handicap when I do.

A good chunk of the newly-introduced mega evolutions are for pokemon outside of Gen VI.

The Kalos starters are not available for a good chunk of the game. You get to encounter one each as part of a sidequest but their gender and nature are already set. If you don’t have online, that’s another mega you cannot have.

Talonflame gets no mega but Staraptor does. You get access to a Pidgey around the same time as Fletchling. You also have the option of getting a Charmander later on in the game too.

They gave Floette a mega evolution but only Az’s and this one (understandably) can’t be accessed until after the main story. Florges gets no mega.

Meowstic’s mega is DLC exclusive. Can’t get the mega during the main story.

Pyroar gets a mega but its mega is available near the end of the story after fighting Griselle.

Aegislash has always been a solid pokemon without a mega but it’s incredibly frustrating to use with how its ability is implemented in this game. The game isn’t lacking in ghost types either. Gastly and Sableye are available so early with Banette and Chandelure also being options later into the game.

Barbaracle has to compete for a slot due to being part water. Feraligatr and Greninja are already both water types. Mega Barbaracle loses the water typing in favor of the fighting type but again, it has overlap with a bunch of other pokemon like Emboar, Chesnaught, Lucario, etc.

Heliolisk doesn’t have a mega so if you need a good electric type, the game gives you a myriad of options including a shiny Mareep.

This is the area in front of the storage space Chef Dente gets stuck in during the main story.

In the morning, the area is adequately lit up but at night, it seems a little too dark for my liking. There are antique chandeliers in the ceiling but the light doesn’t quite reach the ground.

I tried fluorescent lights but I don’t like how harsh the whiteness of these lights are.

Ideally, I want a light source that doesn’t clash with the aesthetic of the area I’ve built.

Seeing as the game takes place in Kanto, I think that the Omanyte and Kabuto lines are almost guaranteed.

I would be pleasantly surprised if Lileep and Anorith both make it in as well.

The biggest shock though would be the Galar fossils. Dracovish being in would make me ecstatic.

Just talk to Bruno before the vote out?

I don’t buy the excuse that she didn’t want to jeopardize Rosa’s position in the game. Lake clearly didn’t trust Spencer’s words at all and she obviously knows that Bruno is very impressionable and would listen to her. All it would take to avoid Bruno’s elimination would be a single conversation with Bruno. Once she confirmed the facts with Bruno, she could discuss this with Rosa and Rosa would listen to her.

Bruno definitely had a lack of agency for himself but I low-key blame Lake as well for not really doing anything to change things.

I am aware that this is probably an unpopular opinion.

When the games first came out, I remembered people hating Hop and glazing Marnie. However, I’ve always found that confusing and now I’m even more confused upon playing the game once more in 2026.

Hop is a fleshed-out rival. We know his ambition of becoming the next champion after his brother. We saw him grapple with his losses vs the player and Bede. After the main story, we see him insecure and struggle with what to do with his life.

On the other hand, Marnie is pretty much a nothingburger of a character. She has no character arc like Hop or Bede. She has a good relationship with her brother and willingly accepts the position of Spikemuth gym leader after the main story. Her only true role in the story is to be the object of affection of Team Yell. In fact, I have a strong feeling that if Hop was a girl and Marnie was a boy, the perceptions on these characters would be flipped.

Some common criticisms thrown at Hop:

1. Hop is too nice

Bede is functionally the asshole rival. We even have Avery/Klara in the DLC. Why do you need Hop to be an asshole to you as well? Plus, why does Marnie get a pass from not being an asshole?

2. We battle Hop too many times

Isn’t battling one of the core mechanics of a pokemon game? Why is it such an issue that you have to battle your rival more? Plus, his team keeps changing so it’s not like you’re fighting the same pokemon every time.

3. He thinks he can be champion after losing so many times

Again, why is this an issue? No one complained when rivals like Blue and Barry constantly claimed they will beat you next time or that your win was just a fluke.

Yes, this was one of the most BS ways a team has lost a challenge. Yes, the team getting mad at Spencer for “losing” the challenge also made 0 sense.

But also, the challenge itself was just flat out boring???

The idea to go back to the original setting of the show should have been exciting and fun. They managed to do that when they returned to the carnival. I was hyped only for me to end the challenge with the thought ”wait that was it?”.

Here, it’s just animals being threats to the contestants - most of which, the fans avoided by sheer luck. They encountered a non-hostile goat and a sleeping lion. They didn’t really have to do anything aside from run to the finish line. It didn’t feel like much of a challenge on the part of the fans. It almost felt like they didn’t really participate in it at all. Plus, Sam is just good with the goat for no apparent reason???

I kinda wished they reused that challenge in season 2 where they were dropped off in the wilderness and had to make it back just navigating it on their own. Could be retooled for a team-based version and could give more time for the teams to interact and beef with each other since they would have to decide between resting and pushing through to the finish line.

I’m glad the fans won this time but it just didn’t feel earned at all like last week’s challenge.