Playing Heartgold brought back memories. Memories of how awesome it was to be 8 years old. :bounce: But I noticed something happening througout the entire games.
Generation II Pokémon are actually very underused in their own games. Pay attetion and you will notice that gen I Pokémon are widely used in Johto. Which is logical and understandable, seeing that Johto and Kanto are close to each other geographically (and to a lesser extent, culturally). But the fact is that gen II Pokémon should and could be used more often and by more Trainers.
What puzzles me the most, is that the Johto Gym Leaders are no exception to that. Actually, only half of them use at least one gen II Pokémon. And this is what I will focus on. I'm going to list the GLs and the Pokémon they use, and add the possible alternatives that come to my mind.
1. Falkner, Violet Gym Leader
Team: Pidgey, Pidgeotto
Alternatives: Hoothoot
As Hoothoot is available on the early routes, it's actually possible even from a player's view. I don't see why Pidgey couldn't be replaced with it. (Note: in the anime, Falkner does have a Hoothoot.) Pidgeotto is fine, and there are also no other alternatives i could think of.
2. Bugsy, Azalea Gym Leader
Team: Scyther, Metapod, Kakuna
Alternatives: Spinarak, Ledyba
The only Bug-type Gym to date and it didn't live to it's potential. Metapod and Kakuna really aren't that great, especially compared to Scyther. I'd keep him, but replace the cocoons with Spinarak and Ledyba. If I go even futher, Heracross would be a possible alternative for Scyther. It can be found right in Azalea, so why not? But why the cocoons for a GL?
3. Whitney, Goldenrod Gym Leader
Team: Clefairy, Miltank
Alternatives: Snubull
She is the first Johto GL to use a gen II Pokémon (a Miltank as annoying as herself :bash: :banghead: :boom
, but Clefairy could easily be replaced with a Snubull. Cute Clefairy is so overdone and obvious. That's probably just the reason that secured it a spot on Whitney's team. Whitney really likes cute.
4. Morty, Ecruteak Gym Leader
Team: Gastly, Haunter, Haunter, Gengar
Alternatives: Misdreavus
I understand the usage of the standard Ghost-type trio, as their type isn't very common. But why two Haunters? One could be replaced with the rarely used Misdreavus. The fact it's the only gen II Ghost-type would just make it more logical.
5. Chuck, Cianwood Gym Leader
Team: Primeape, Poliwrath
Alternatives: Hitmontop, Heracross
Chuck is a dissapointment anyway. OK, Poliwrath, a part Water-type, is logical - Cianwood is an island. But Primeape? It is better than, say, a too obvious Machoke, but the sole existence of Hitmontop and Heracross makes it obvious this Gym (and it's leader) could be a lot better.
6. Jasmine, Olivine Gym Leader
Team: Magnemite, Magnemite, Steelix
Alternatives: Skarmory, Foretress, Scizor
Jasmine's team is actually pretty much fine the way it is. There is just one thing: one of the Magnemites could be replaced with one of the offered alternatives, I think the best would be Skarmory.
7. Pryce, Mahogany Gym Leader
Team: Seel, Dewgong, Piloswine
Alternatives: Swinub, Sneasel
Let's say I'd keep the Dewgong, but replace Seel with Swinub. If I were to replace Dewgong as well, Sneasel wouldn't be half-bad of a choice.
8. Clair, Blackthorn Gym Leader
Team: Dragonair (Gyarados in HG and SS), Dragonair, Dragonair, Kingdra
Alternatives: ?
This is a tough one. In GSC, Clair has three Dragonair on her team. In the remakes, one Dragonair made room for a Gyarados. There are still two Dragonairs, but I guess there are no alternative Pokemon (not true Dragon-types, at least) to replace one of them. A Dragonite is a possibllity, but it would have to be way underleveled. And it could be a bit too powerful.
And that's it. Hope it wasn't too long to read. What do you think about this topic? How do you feel about my choices?
Generation II Pokémon are actually very underused in their own games. Pay attetion and you will notice that gen I Pokémon are widely used in Johto. Which is logical and understandable, seeing that Johto and Kanto are close to each other geographically (and to a lesser extent, culturally). But the fact is that gen II Pokémon should and could be used more often and by more Trainers.
What puzzles me the most, is that the Johto Gym Leaders are no exception to that. Actually, only half of them use at least one gen II Pokémon. And this is what I will focus on. I'm going to list the GLs and the Pokémon they use, and add the possible alternatives that come to my mind.
1. Falkner, Violet Gym Leader
Team: Pidgey, Pidgeotto
Alternatives: Hoothoot
As Hoothoot is available on the early routes, it's actually possible even from a player's view. I don't see why Pidgey couldn't be replaced with it. (Note: in the anime, Falkner does have a Hoothoot.) Pidgeotto is fine, and there are also no other alternatives i could think of.
2. Bugsy, Azalea Gym Leader
Team: Scyther, Metapod, Kakuna
Alternatives: Spinarak, Ledyba
The only Bug-type Gym to date and it didn't live to it's potential. Metapod and Kakuna really aren't that great, especially compared to Scyther. I'd keep him, but replace the cocoons with Spinarak and Ledyba. If I go even futher, Heracross would be a possible alternative for Scyther. It can be found right in Azalea, so why not? But why the cocoons for a GL?
3. Whitney, Goldenrod Gym Leader
Team: Clefairy, Miltank
Alternatives: Snubull
She is the first Johto GL to use a gen II Pokémon (a Miltank as annoying as herself :bash: :banghead: :boom
, but Clefairy could easily be replaced with a Snubull. Cute Clefairy is so overdone and obvious. That's probably just the reason that secured it a spot on Whitney's team. Whitney really likes cute.4. Morty, Ecruteak Gym Leader
Team: Gastly, Haunter, Haunter, Gengar
Alternatives: Misdreavus
I understand the usage of the standard Ghost-type trio, as their type isn't very common. But why two Haunters? One could be replaced with the rarely used Misdreavus. The fact it's the only gen II Ghost-type would just make it more logical.
5. Chuck, Cianwood Gym Leader
Team: Primeape, Poliwrath
Alternatives: Hitmontop, Heracross
Chuck is a dissapointment anyway. OK, Poliwrath, a part Water-type, is logical - Cianwood is an island. But Primeape? It is better than, say, a too obvious Machoke, but the sole existence of Hitmontop and Heracross makes it obvious this Gym (and it's leader) could be a lot better.
6. Jasmine, Olivine Gym Leader
Team: Magnemite, Magnemite, Steelix
Alternatives: Skarmory, Foretress, Scizor
Jasmine's team is actually pretty much fine the way it is. There is just one thing: one of the Magnemites could be replaced with one of the offered alternatives, I think the best would be Skarmory.
7. Pryce, Mahogany Gym Leader
Team: Seel, Dewgong, Piloswine
Alternatives: Swinub, Sneasel
Let's say I'd keep the Dewgong, but replace Seel with Swinub. If I were to replace Dewgong as well, Sneasel wouldn't be half-bad of a choice.
8. Clair, Blackthorn Gym Leader
Team: Dragonair (Gyarados in HG and SS), Dragonair, Dragonair, Kingdra
Alternatives: ?
This is a tough one. In GSC, Clair has three Dragonair on her team. In the remakes, one Dragonair made room for a Gyarados. There are still two Dragonairs, but I guess there are no alternative Pokemon (not true Dragon-types, at least) to replace one of them. A Dragonite is a possibllity, but it would have to be way underleveled. And it could be a bit too powerful.
And that's it. Hope it wasn't too long to read. What do you think about this topic? How do you feel about my choices?