Summary
A sequel toPokemon Legends: Arceusis all but confirmed after the success of the title breathed new life into the series' formula. While recent rumors point towards thisPokemon Legends: Arceusfollow-up taking place in a past version of the Unova Region, it could head somewhere more iconic. APokemon Legends game set in Kanto’s past seems like a no-brainer given the popular status of Gen 1 among fans, and it would give players a chance to explore the region with a brand-new set of starters.
Pokemon Legends: Arceusshakes up the series' formula in more ways than one, but the way it gives players the choice of three starters taken from previously established gens is a fun twist on the starter selection mechanic. It’s likely thatother entries in thePokemon Legendsserieswill also take this approach, remixing the choice of starters from generations outside of each region’s home game. With this formula in mind, there are already a handful of good candidates that could end up as part of the starter trio for aPokemon Legendsgame set in the Kanto Region.
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The Pokemon Most Likely to Be Starters in a Legends Kanto Game
It’s safe to assume thePokemon Legendsseries won’t be repeating starters from game to game, meaning that Rowlet, Cyndaquil, and Oshawott are off the table as thestarters forPokemon Legends: Arceus. SincePokemon Legends: Arceusdoesn’t use any of the Gen 4 starters for its setting in Sinnoh’s past incarnation as the Hisui Region, it’s likely aPokemon Legendsgame set inKanto would avoid using Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle for its starters. With these restrictions in place, it becomes easier to narrow down potential starters for this type of game, but there are a few other factors to consider.
There is some evidence to support the presence of the Gen 3 starters in the Kanto Region, as players can receive one of these three starters from Steven Stone after defeating Red inPokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver. While it’s implied that Steven Stone brought these mons from the Hoenn Region, perhaps one or more of them were once native to Kanto and thus could thrive there when reintroduced. The best candidate out of these starters is Treecko as it is said to thrive in captivity, making it a natural fit for a more populated region like Kanto. It could help bridge the gap between humans and Pokemon, which is a major theme ofPokemon Legends: Arceus.
As this game would likely follow the trend of being set in the region’s past, it’s possibleChimchar would be a good Fire type startercandidate. While monkeys can be found in mountainous regions of Japan today, they were more commonly found in locations all around the country in the past prior to urbanization. Chimchar’s inclusion would further support the theme of conflict between human civilization and nature. Monkeys also pop up in a many Japanese folk tales, making a game centered on legends of the past the perfect place for a monkey Pokemon like Chimchar to be a starter.
Sticking with the theme of Pokemon based on animals that were common to the real-life region in the past, Popplio would make a great Water type starter candidate. Although they are now extinct, Japanese sea lions were common sights along Japan’s coastline in the past, but supposed sightings are still made today. This would be the perfect chance to givePrimarinaa new regional form that could become Ghost type in reference to the fact that these sea lions were hunted to extinction for their fat.
Pokemon Legends: Arceusis available for Nintendo Switch.
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