Pikachu was originally part of a three-stage evolution
May 6, 2018 6:39:43 GMT -5
nocturnal YL likes this
Post by Evie ❤✿ on May 6, 2018 6:39:43 GMT -5
In an interview with Atsuko Nishida (the designer of Pikachu) in Japanese newspaper Yomiuri on May 2nd 2018, she revealed that Raichu was originally going to evolve into another Pokémon called Gorochu. This name is probably based on ごろごろ (onomatopoeia for the sound of thunder).
There is no sprite (sprites were usually designed first during Red/Green's development) or artwork for it, but it is described as having "large fangs" and "two horns".
Additionally Pikachu was originally designed with a long daifuku (Japanese rice cake with bean jam) with ears in mind.
www.siliconera.com/2018/05/03/pikachu-originally-second-evolution-called-gorochu-large-fangs-two-horns/
On the subject of other unused Pokémon:
It's not too surprising that there are Pokémon like this which didn't make it to the game. The MissingNo. are placeholder data (except for its data from the 'base data structure' including sprite, starting moves, types, base stats etc., which is invalid data) for 39 Pokémon (151+39=190 Pokémon), with likely a few of the MissingNo. being deleted data as evident by special unused cries belonging to 9 MissingNo. It's also supported by Zog from Smogon apparently interviewing Shigeki Morimoto about it (however with just a claim the veracity of that is unknown).
Before this, many more Pokémon were designed for Capsule Monsters sketches.
Another three interesting cancelled Generation I Pokémon are a design for a Pokémon resembling Dragonair, a Pokémon called Kasanagi, Kasanagi's evolution and Nyosuka which were posted on Game Freak's official website circa 1997, and more for other generations are listed by Bulbapedia below (including the infamous Honooguma, Kurusu from Pokémon Gold and Silver trial demo and various others at Space World 1997. However the only artwork for Honooguma and Kurusu are unofficial from a website named Hakuda/伝説のスターブロブ2)
bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/List_of_unused_Pokémon_and_character_designs
Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire akin the original Red/Green have two unused cries as well. There isn't any information on which Pokémon these may have belonged to, but Shellos and Gastrodon were originally planned for Generation III, and from old artwork it appears elements of Blaziken and Latias were originally one Pokémon.
tcrf.net/Pok%C3%A9mon_Ruby_and_Sapphire#Unused_Pok.C3.A9mon_Cries
Also maybe worth stressing:
In Japanese versions of Pokémon Gold, Silver, Crystal there are various placeholder items named "カビチュウ" (Kabichuu), a combination of "Kabigon" (Japanese name for Snorlax) and "Pikachu". With the above article revealing Kōji Nishino (the source of various Snorlax jokes) liking cute things this might very well be a developer in-joke.
In the English (and other non-English European versions if I remember correctly) versions, the placeholder items are named "Teru-Sama" instead, which may be a reference to Teruki Murakawa who worked on the US and European versions.
There is no sprite (sprites were usually designed first during Red/Green's development) or artwork for it, but it is described as having "large fangs" and "two horns".
Additionally Pikachu was originally designed with a long daifuku (Japanese rice cake with bean jam) with ears in mind.
www.siliconera.com/2018/05/03/pikachu-originally-second-evolution-called-gorochu-large-fangs-two-horns/
On the subject of other unused Pokémon:
It's not too surprising that there are Pokémon like this which didn't make it to the game. The MissingNo. are placeholder data (except for its data from the 'base data structure' including sprite, starting moves, types, base stats etc., which is invalid data) for 39 Pokémon (151+39=190 Pokémon), with likely a few of the MissingNo. being deleted data as evident by special unused cries belonging to 9 MissingNo. It's also supported by Zog from Smogon apparently interviewing Shigeki Morimoto about it (however with just a claim the veracity of that is unknown).
Before this, many more Pokémon were designed for Capsule Monsters sketches.
Another three interesting cancelled Generation I Pokémon are a design for a Pokémon resembling Dragonair, a Pokémon called Kasanagi, Kasanagi's evolution and Nyosuka which were posted on Game Freak's official website circa 1997, and more for other generations are listed by Bulbapedia below (including the infamous Honooguma, Kurusu from Pokémon Gold and Silver trial demo and various others at Space World 1997. However the only artwork for Honooguma and Kurusu are unofficial from a website named Hakuda/伝説のスターブロブ2)
bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/List_of_unused_Pokémon_and_character_designs
Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire akin the original Red/Green have two unused cries as well. There isn't any information on which Pokémon these may have belonged to, but Shellos and Gastrodon were originally planned for Generation III, and from old artwork it appears elements of Blaziken and Latias were originally one Pokémon.
tcrf.net/Pok%C3%A9mon_Ruby_and_Sapphire#Unused_Pok.C3.A9mon_Cries
Also maybe worth stressing:
In Japanese versions of Pokémon Gold, Silver, Crystal there are various placeholder items named "カビチュウ" (Kabichuu), a combination of "Kabigon" (Japanese name for Snorlax) and "Pikachu". With the above article revealing Kōji Nishino (the source of various Snorlax jokes) liking cute things this might very well be a developer in-joke.
In the English (and other non-English European versions if I remember correctly) versions, the placeholder items are named "Teru-Sama" instead, which may be a reference to Teruki Murakawa who worked on the US and European versions.
