I’ve had a hard time connecting with the newest Pokémon revealed in Sun and Moon. Most of the releases, from Litten to Komala, just seem like rehashed versions of animals and pocket monsters. I don’t know if I’m becoming cynical in my old age, longing for a simpler time with only 151 Pokémon, or that this new generation is such a disappointment.
From clarksdales to laies, every single Sun and Moon reveal has left me to believe that cuteness trumps originality. I know Aerodactyl or Voltorb weren’t the greatest gifts to human culture since Michaelangelo, but at least they were different. It isn’t helping that the Pokémon Company is pushing Alolan versions of Pokémon I love, bastardizing my most beloved childhood friends into palm tree monstrosities.
I was ready to shrug off Pokémon Sun and Moon before the game even hit store shelves, until Tuesday morning. During the weekly Pokémon reveal ritual , where the Pokémon Company throws in a bunch of new Pokémon and the internet loses their minds, we got our first look at the evolved forms of all the starter Pokémon. Torracat and Brionne were cute, but nothing out of the ordinary. I’d trade a Charmeleon or a Wartortle any day for those plain-ass evolutions.
Dartrix, the evolved form of Owlett, is an entirely different story. When I first saw this magnificent beast, I knew I was in love. It’s like if HootHoot went through an emo phase in high school and then had to transfer to Hawaii. Nothing about it makes any sense: why does it have hair covering it’s eye, is that even hair? It’s dapper, special and unique, something I can’t say about any many other Pokémon shown off this year.
Without a doubt, Dartrixx is my new favorite Pokémon. Move over Qwilfish, Nosepass and Magmortar, there’s a new Pokémon on my phone’s home screen.
