It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. Some of you may recognize that as a quote from Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities (1859), but I could think of nothing more apt to describe 2016. For the Pokémon community it was certainly a standout year and perhaps the best we could have hoped for in honor of the series’ 20th anniversary. The rest of the world fared much worse however, and it is hard to overlook the political changes that have no doubt touched many fans across the world.
Pokémon Go
Many doubted that a mobile Pokémon experience, featuring augmented reality no less, could capture the feel of the series and deliver something worth playing—myself included—but the end result was something that would make 2016 the year Pokémon made its comeback.
While not the most avid player myself, there was something definitely surreal about seeing the creatures pop up around me and also made exercise a little more fun. The same ‘Gotta Catch ’em All’ philosophy from the handheld games carried over to the real world and the game was hard to put down if you saw a rare Pokémon lurking nearby.
Hopefully it will find continued success in the next year and keep Pokémon firmly in the spotlight. Can’t hurt to grow the fandom, right?
Pokémon Sun & Moon
Phew. Now we know what it must feel like for a mother to wait 9 months just to see what her baby is going to look like. We were teased mercilessly by PR with new screenshots and trailers, just to know that there were still months away from having the game in our hands.
And how did it do once it was in our hands? Pretty damn well I’d say. Perhaps the thing I enjoyed the most was that Alola feels like the first region to be alive. The Pokémon introduced weren’t too bad either, with Ultra Beasts providing an interesting new angle.
What wasn’t the best? Z-moves. Not a fan, sorry. Especially painful after Mega Evolutions were shelved after just one generation. If I were to run for president, I’d definitely base my campaign on “A Mega Evolution for All”.
PokéJungle
This year was a good one for the site. Another good year; most new generation years are. We hit 20,000 Twitter followers in February of this year and now we end at 32,000. I thank each and every one of you that puts up with me.
I’ll also take a moment to be perfectly honest: running this website is not always easy. In many ways this year was one of my most stressful. I greatly admire people like Serebii, because they can effortlessly (or at least give the appearance of effortlessness) update their site and continue to document every nook and cranny of each Pokémon game that has been released.
I can’t, it is not my specialty. My talents lie in getting people excited for what’s next; what’s here is already dead and gone. Some of you may have noticed that the site posts decreased dramatically in the next month and I suppose I will be honest about why. For some reason I always have spikes in my depression after new games are released. I think it has to do with the emotional investment I put into news coverage pre-launch and then the emptiness of post launch.
Hope to be running again in full speed for 2017. Love you all. PJ.
Next year:
My top 3 games from 2017
3. Splatoon Switch. It added so many new stages, weapons, and modes. I love how there was much more local multiplayer options!
2. BotW. Exploring the world was amazing! It felt so alive, there was no empty lonely spaces in the world. Also had a great story.
1. Stars! It added so many great features and fixed every flaw that sun and moon had. Easily the best Pokemon title yet.
all switch games 😉
Haha that’s the point! I have high hopes for this thing.
me too! seeing that resident evil 7 is rumored to be on it makes me more excited
I can’t wait to see the launch titles!
Excuse me! Stars is going to be a Switch/3DS combo!
I dont think gamefreak would waste their time making a switch and 3ds port. The graphics would have to be drastically different meaning more costs, you dont want a true HD pokemon game dont you
Ubisoft still makes Wii and xbox versions for Just Dance, why shouldn’t Nintendo?
comparing Just Dance to Pokemon lol. you’re funny
I’ll boycott GameFreak if the 3rd game for the same gen isn’t on the same place.
ok you do that. have fun 😉
They never made 3rd gen games on different consoles so why should they stop the tradition?
they stopped many Traditions lol
IKR They wont do that, Just like that time when they didnt remove gyms in sun and moon
Or the time they didnt do a traditional 3rd game for gen 5 and 6
So there won’t be a 3rd game after all thank heavens, I preferred a Gen 4 remake on the 3DS anyday.
nah that will totally be on the switch
I doubt it, never have remakes been on separate devices than the original games.
Why put it on 3ds when u can play the originals on it?
Because Nintendo doesn’t ever change things right? Z was a super amazing game wasn’t it?
I don’t care about your pessimistic trash, I’m defending the 3DS. If they make Gen 4 remakes or Stars on the Switch I’ll quit Pokemon, I refuse to buy another ridiculous console that takes up a lot of space.
It was nice having you in the community while it lasted buddy
I’m being sarcastic, your expecting Pokémon, a game that sets patterns only to crush them the next generation, to stay the same
youll have to buy it sooner or later bud. Not all future pokemon games will be on the 3ds, so make sure you make some space
I just want one last game on the 3DS, and still, how will it work on the Switch, it’s not exactly as portable as the 3DS or the GBA.
its suppose to be portable lol
What did you plan to do when gen 8 rolled around? Boycott it then?
I’ll buy a new console then but at least keep Gen 7 on the same thing, that’s what they’ve done. And no, I don’t want any sarcastic comments on differing traditions, this is different than actual in-game features.
¯_(ツ)_/¯
Sadly I despise Splatoon, too many cheating swines.
Zelda seemed interesting but I lost interest, more hyped for that new Mario game.
Pokemon Stars I’m super hyped for but I’m praying that it’s either a 3DS/2DS game or duo-Switch and 3DS. If it’s Switch only i’ll protest against the Switch host a revolution.
what do u have against the switch. and you see how hyrule warriors legends turned out we shouldnt have dual games anymore
I’m against it because it looks very expensive and it’ll just kill my Wii U. I refuse to make my Wii U perish, most of my favourite games aren’t returning onto the Switch, that’s why I wish for a Stars on the 3DS.
its gonna be cheap nintendo even said it
It’ll cost a thousand dollars in Canada
what? what makes u think that
Everything is expensive here.
ok and its not gonna be that much….
The WiiU can’t go on forever. It’s been bad for Nintendo. You should want the switch and want for it to do well.
Hey do you think they’ll market it as a hybrid or make another handheld? I’m a little worried about this.
its gonna be marketed as a hybird
I certainly hope so. They need the full development staff IMO.
How does one cheat at splatoon?
They be professionals
Makes sense. 😛
how is that cheating then 😛
Wait… the year has already passed??
Wow that was fast
Time flies when you’re having fun.
If so then that was the best year of my life
Haha it will be!
There’s a time and a place for mucking around!
I especially loved the mega flygon
I’m playing through sun and am on Sophocles trial
He asks
“Do you like festival plaza?”
…. I have some select words for him….
XD Be brutal.
XD
Look, I don’t dislike Sophocles… but I want to say more than no… I FREAKING HATE IT
I’m still trying to get to 30 on it…
I like it, but it could use A LOT of improvement
-Better interface for the touch screen. It’s really not all that easy to trade/navigate
-Ability to rank up your current booths by recommending them to people like in join avenue
-Ability to buy and order booths from a catalog rather than the random chance one of your people has it or sophocles recommends it to you.
Actual working multiplayer would be nice too
i hope Pokemon brings GSC VC
yessssss
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/9b63927b7bfdd2e668d275a5d61b006bf944d3e344671053a1d8041b1562b7c9.jpg
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/4074f4e18dbaada0b37c42bc046438b35e3f8a67bbef21cc38c7c39fc77a2837.jpg
I never actually got this wrong to see but… wow XD
So personal games that I’m looking forward to in 2017:
3. Fire Emblem: Mobile. I just really want to see how it turns out and if its fun. It’ll probably not be that good long term, but its still Fire emblem so I can’t knock it.
2. Persona 5. Other the Egor going threw puberty and terrifying me when I heard him for the first time I can’t wait for this game. fantastic voice cast, the game looks great, the new teddy is adorable, and one of your party members uses what is effectively Japanese Robin Hood as a persona, which is kinda great(I think at least.)
1. Final Fantasy 14: Bloodstorm. I can’t express the hype I have for this expansion. From going to a new land, the edition of Red mage as a class, swimming(and likely Blitz ball, the greatest minigame in final fantasy ever), fighting Omega who will be both part of the main story and the main raid of the expansion, returning to Ivilice(no idea how to spell it but its the world of ff12 and the tactics series), Umatsu, the god of final fantasy music himself, composing the main theme and still knowing only about half of its features as of this point. It without question is going to be my game of 2017 for certain and I can’t wait to see what crazy journey we go through in what is likely a Chinese inspired region.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/6d370f81c6c855143410feaabfda7745b1cd2ee4791bc6557e9e74da0973cf73.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/eff0be73e1051bfc9cf6a05739db0433edee818e596a39fdd651524018ba9c99.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/396aebba131adf67ee4d921ad7944ccd45c0f7cbcdbb5e15545fb3d9205b9575.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/06cc626fb0d6e36b4ea3f20e1bbf2a299bbc4fefea266726849ab56c2cf628ce.jpg
I love this game
Where is that from?
If you purposely get things wrong in the Sophocles trial you get some dialogue
Ooooh I thought you were doing some sort of mischievous act.
Ummm
You know, hacking, checking through the dialogues in the game’s files, that kind of stuff.
Ah
This trial is so underrated :/
It’s a little lazy TBH.
Yeah it was easily the worst
I’ve sped through this trial I forgot to check for any secrets.
When I restart the game, I’ll have to explore this trial XD
You should xd
Why restart? You’ll lose all your Pokemon!
Just sayin if I ever do, besides I can store my mons later on Pokebank
Oh I thought you meant NOW
Nah, still trying to fill my Dex so it will be a long time before I would even decide to
Definitely a good year for pokemon. This is year was all pretty normal. I dont really care for celebrities, so i guess all thatvdidnt affect me. And although pokemon was just making out with Kanto I still appreciatedd all they did. Sun and moon were amazing games that rejuvenated my joy for the series. Im kinda sad this is the last day of pokemon20, it has to grow up. Im glad I could be a pokemon fan. Now to look toward next year. And the question is: Will it be a lame pokemonless 2015 or another hype Pokemon year?
I wouldn’t think that we would have another pokemonless year after a new gen, those are usually inbetween.
Probably not as Gen 4 remakes/Stars seem to be very likely games.
Today has been quite a good day for me Pokedex wise.
I am now at 99% with the only 2 Pokemon left to get are Silvally and Necrozma. Both of which I’ll go after and obtain after I’ve worked out what nature I want them to be (if you’ve got an ideas, hit me up!)
Also traded a Tirtouga for shiny Type: Null which I didn’t even realise it was shiny cause it’s not an obvious palette change.
Bold is a good nature for Necro
So this happened. (make sure you’re reading the chat too)
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7pokebankanythinggoes-508824616
Gentlemen I need a sec
I am building a team for my acquaintance William
This is what I think would be good for a beginner
Primarina @ Assault Vest
Ability: Torrent
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
– Scald
– Moonblast
– Ice Beam
– Shadow Ball
Mimikyu @ Normalium Z
Ability: Disguise
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
– Shadow Sneak
– Play Rough
– Wood Hammer
– Splash
Mudsdale @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Stamina
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
Impish Nature
– Earthquake
– Heavy Slam
– Rock Slide
– Low Sweep
Lycanroc @ Focus Sash
Ability: Steadfast
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
– Accelerock
– Crunch
– Stealth Rock
– Taunt
Raichu-Alola @ Choice Specs
Ability: Surge Surfer
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
– Thunderbolt
– Volt Switch
– Focus Blast
– Grass Knot
Komala @ Leftovers
Ability: Comatose
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
– Facade
– Rapid Spin
– Play Rough
– Wish
Thoughts, pros, cons?
Bank is close to being out and this loses to rotom and azumarills
Also psychic is better than shadowball on primarina.
Ok he REALLLY sucks but shows enthusiasm for battling
That Mimikyu should not run splash, go swords dance. It can be used more than once and it gains the use of an item.
Ok done
😀
Ok this team has a bunch of flaws but I dunno, I like the ZSplash
But i may switch the Komala
How did halas crabominable survive and outspeed my dragon danced zygarde complete form? This game is cheating.
Probably played some Just Dance.
Anyone still alive?
Nope not me.
Maybe i am, maybe im not
Nope ☠️
what is living anymore
No switch = no reason to live
Watch some major celebrity die in January 1st just to show people that it’s a number that means nothing. 😛
Welp I just saw somewhere near my house there is a Charizard in GO but too lazy to walk there through a major road way. I also see two Pikachu and Vulpix and caught a Bulbasaur.
Ooh, so lucky. I would’ve gone for it in a heartbeat.
Ugh I’m trying to make up a new team, this is what I have so far:
lvl 100 Shiny Alolan Raichu
lvl 64 Shiny Bruxish nicknamed HaroldFlower (in training)
lvl 100 Shiny Mimikyu
lvl 100 Primarina named Mizu
lvl 98 Tapu Koko named Cocoa
Lvl 91 Tapu Lele named Esprit
I want to add Lunala to the team but it’s so hard dot choose who I want to get off!
I decided to put Mimikyu away, Lunala has better stats than it.
Nah I’ll keep Mimikyu o for a while
Is this for competitive or…? I need for details.
For fun
Oh then it’s fine as is.
How are your pokes so high leveled? It’s taking me forever to level up. Tho I haven’t played much lol. Are you just doing elite four?
Yes and a few of them I got by RGTS.
Why can’t we fire up The PokeJungle Tourney again to fill the gap?
Also the Rotom Dex looks like the switch Pokemon Stars for Switch confirmed
Wait what happened to PJT’16?
I guess you could say that the PJL tourney was PJT’16 this year. xD
Yeah but like I want another tourney that doesn’t give me responsibilities
Heres my tourney
There is no tourney
*claps*
Haha, now you’re trapped! >:)
First full moon of 2017 is Jan 12th
Jan 12th is the switch event
Moon is associated with the latest pokemon games
Pokemon stars on the switch confirmed
WAIT HOLD UP JUST ONE SECOND
Are we ever getting the Bayonetta and Corrin amiibo? I need to finish my set!
Smash Switch Release bruh
Oh makes sense. Along with another thousand amiibo for alt costumes.
Finally back from Disney! Went up there with 5 of my friends, was quite an experience (fitting 6 people on 2 beds, 16+ hours in Magic Kingdom, and more)
Pokemon related insert to make this on-topic: I was able to catch two holiday Pikachus there!
So lucky! I was supposed to go there over summer but my mom couldn’t get off work that long. 🙁
Aww that’s a shame. Although we were able to fit everything into 3 days (2 for travel, 1 for the park). It was really fun though, I’d do it again any day!
Glad to hear! Hopefully I can go someday, I imagine it’d be a blast.
I’m just got back to my hotel from Magic Kingdom! Hah
How funny!
I lazily used cutouts but here’s my original team https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/6f2a2ecd57765b1d258f38c92f5b91c306a8b2968bcee2a1948de870feab2385.png
This is my exact team just swap out Lunaala for Mimikyu, Lycanrock for Day and Araquanid for Alolan Raichu
This is my 2nd team post-game https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/20332ed7bb0ee542c787a30177f7ef8d13e336a7a9925edac062722af72fbc04.png
And now, mil last one. Note: Raichu and mimikyu are both shinies https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/fe3fac5c1d3991d9a23889ec2233db15c2cd8f505010f43e8e4f5b2274349f9f.png
Gen 2
http://cdn.bulbagarden.net/upload/thumb/4/4f/Pok%C3%A9dex_GSC.png/250px-Pok%C3%A9dex_GSC.png
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51l1okbfkuL._SY445_.jpg
Gen3
http://img.webme.com/pic/p/pokemondiamante-digital/pokedexpddjoen.png
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7d/Nintendo-Game-Boy-Advance-Purple-FL.jpg/250px-Nintendo-Game-Boy-Advance-Purple-FL.jpg
Gen4
https://nscene.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/sinnoh_pokc3a9dex.png
http://jscustom.theoldcomputer.com/images/manufacturers_systems/Nintendo/DS/876432NintendoDS.png
Gen 5
http://cdn.bulbagarden.net/upload/thumb/1/1b/Pok%C3%A9dex_BW_art.png/200px-Pok%C3%A9dex_BW_art.png
https://support.apple.com/content/dam/edam/applecare/images/en_US/iphone/featured-content-iphone-transfer-content-ios10_2x.png
Gen 6
http://cdn.bulbagarden.net/upload/thumb/5/59/XY_Pok%C3%A9dex.png/200px-XY_Pok%C3%A9dex.png
https://support.apple.com/content/dam/edam/applecare/images/en_US/ipad/featured-content-ipad-icon_2x.png
(could alsobe a Wii U game pad)
Gen 7
http://cdn.bulbagarden.net/upload/thumb/3/36/479Rotom-Pok%C3%A9dex.png/160px-479Rotom-Pok%C3%A9dex.png
https://cdn0.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/7312781/NintendoSwitch_hardware2.0.jpg
Pokemon for iOS.
You know what? That could be lol Obviously it’s not one to one,but the two hands on Rotomdex could be seen as the Joycons lol
Gen 6 and 7 seem like a stretch.
I kinda see it being influenced by that
Speaking of pokedexes… Pokedex 3D Pro was the worst 15 dollars I have ever spent
Got a new icon for switchmas!
RedRat Switchmas EastGovnah
RedRat SwitchGovnah
Switch Red Govnah Rat
Govnah Red Switch Rat
rad
emshtI and StormStar
Its not hme and PK Freeze
Mesh it and bloodrat
bird, rat and girl
the next hero of overwatch a girl with a Robotic Bird and Robotic Rat
Bastion and Junkrat
Yes they fused
It was a robot and a weird skinny guy in a trenchcoat the whole time
Nintendo switch hype!
This happened
https://www.reddit.com/r/nintendo/comments/5l7vl7/what_do_you_think_the_chance_of_getting_a_hitler/
OMG IM CRYING
When we were all confused on Necrozma on its design and what it’s form will be, this makes so much more sense for me:
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/d2c9d0c211e3729f3547be6e3129251fb246f78e7e46867fb679b31d5db73ca0.jpg
If this is Necrozma’s form in Stars, I will literally pay the person who thought of this ten bucks.
make it $10.01 *throws penny in*
It’s a better deal
I disagree. Look at necro’s abdomen thing. It looks like a dragon’s head.
I guess, but in terms of Stars it makes sense because:
– Necrozma has been underground, similar to a scorpion
– Scorpio is a constellation, and people did speculate originally that a scorpion would be the third legend (for Marshadow before everyone realized it was a event legend)
– The massive arms make sense to be the claws of a scorpion, and the faceplate looks like it could be too.
I think it will have a new form. I’ve also seen people thinking it’ll be a dragon. Scorpion is also a good guess.
Dragon Scorpion?
Scorpion Dragon?
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/4e12519d178e4ec9739ba76e1703993450f94e9b9403d64ff1d058316f534042.gif
Drapion? It is a scorpion dragon after all, even though it’s not a dragon type (then again, neither is Charizard).
Even better
OOOO
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LbSd2q0NBk
The Triple Stryke
Automatically become one of my fav legends if this happens
ughhhhh i hate this this thing with a capital Salt
yet another Psychic Legend/Myth that those jackass Psychic Monos mooch on
super bulky with A RIPOFF OF MAH SOLID ROCK
and they JUST HAD to give it Stealth Rock JUST HAD TO, they could’ve made it Psychic/Rock to compensate for the crystal prism theme but nope, just nope
I was expecting it to be a dual type as well, being either Dark/Psychic (It’s overused and not a good typing, but it fits the whole “death” part of its name) or Rock/Psychic (as you described it), but it’s odd seeing a 3rd legend without a secondary typing.
they are just determined to make Sun and Moon an everlasting misery for me
I bet Stars will be better for you Earthen
Fat chance
what could they possibly add at this point, literally alternate forms of legends
there is no chance in all seven layers of hell they’ll add real new pokemon at this point
Well there is the possibility of move tutors making the new Pokemon better, maybe even making Mudsdale and Palossand great. But that’s what I think, anyway
well you thought wrong
Mudsdale can only be improved by Stealth Rock and i don’t give a crap about the Sand Castle it doesn’t hold up against anything
Ok then
It always had a bit of an incomplete look to me. This is an awesome concept.