Rival Speculation and Discussion

[Meophist]

Considering that the starter Pokémon now have their elemental attacks at level 5, from the best we can tell, does anybody else think they might be drastically changing how rivals work, if not removing the system entirely?

 

[Johnny Boy]

Re: Rival

All I'm hoping for is that the rivals are truly antagonistic this time around like Blue and Sliver were. That way they can truly give you the drive to kick their asses. That and I'm just getting sick of the childhood friend rivals.

 

[venusboi79]

Re: Rival

I mentioned this in another thread, but I'd like for there to be two rivals; the opposite-gendered player option as a friendly rival, and another more antagonistic rival (who's the same regardless of your gender choice). Something like HGSS, but with more battles and less "let me teach you" from the friendly rival.

 

[Hidden Mew]

Re: Rival

I'm hoping that the rivals in this generation will have really solid development like the rival characters in the fifth generation did. They introduced some of the best rival characters in years in my opinion, so I'd like to see that continue with this generation. I'd be fine with either a friendly childhood rival or going back to a more antagonistic rival as long as they stand out and get some good development over the course of the storyline.

 

[Achrom25tic]

Re: Rival

I really liked Silver's development, so I'm hoping to get something like him from these games: a jerkass who's still interesting, and who gets better over time. Also, an actual rival--I want equal wins and losses, not someone to curbstomp every time they show up. But they can't be stronger than me, the player and the rival should be equal in strength.

 

[El_]

Re: Rival

In truth Gen 5 did have an antagonistic rival akin to Blue/Silver in the form of N. He functioned and felt a lot more like a rival throughout the game than he did as the Team Boss, save for possibly the final battle.

Bianca & Cheren I think were also good childhood rivals with great development. So Gen 5 had a bit of everything in that respect, and I wouldn't mind if Gen 6 repeated this so long as the development is just as good as before.

 

[Thyme]

Re: Rival

What if the gender you won't choose gets an important role in the plot.
Good idea?

 

[Naoto]

Re: Rival

I kinda hope they have to rivals like in Black and White, that way you can fight against both starter Pokemon.

But if they make a single rival again, let's make the rival a girl this time! Bianca and May are the only female rivals!

 

[Hidden Mew]

Re: Rival

What if the gender you won't choose gets an important role in the plot.
Good idea?

If it works better than when they tried that with Brandon/May, then it could work. I think I'd prefer new characters being your rival instead of the gender you don't choose taking that role, especially when they could possible do more with the personalities and development for new characters than for the trainer that you didn't choose to play as.

 

[Meophist]

Re: Rival

I think a no-rival system can be interesting, or at least, a rival that doesn't use the other starter Pokémon.

 

[Team Gaara]

Re: Rival

Judging from a screenshot on the official site, it appears as if the character you don't choose will be in the game.

 

[SUP3RN0VA]

Re: Rival

I really liked Silver's development, so I'm hoping to get something like him from these games: a jerkass who's still interesting, and who gets better over time. Also, an actual rival--I want equal wins and losses, not someone to curbstomp every time they show up. But they can't be stronger than me, the player and the rival should be equal in strength.

That would depend on how well you train your Pokemon.

 

[Hidden Mew]

Re: Rival

I think a no-rival system can be interesting, or at least, a rival that doesn't use the other starter Pokémon.

I wouldn't want to see no rivals in the game, especially after enjoying so many rivals from the previous generation. Though, the idea of a rival character who doesn't use the starter Pokemon that has an advantage over whatever starter you choose does sound potentially interesting. If they could tie it into some special connection the rival has with his first Pokemon and maybe it use it to expand on this bonding system that they've hinted at, then I'd be more up for that. I don't know if they would get rid of that tradition though, especially when they often use the rival battle as a means to help introduce basic battle concepts for new players.

 

[Meophist]

Re: Rival

I think a no-rival system can be interesting, or at least, a rival that doesn't use the other starter Pokémon.

I wouldn't want to see no rivals in the game, especially after enjoying so many rivals from the previous generation. Though, the idea of a rival character who doesn't use the starter Pokemon that has an advantage over whatever starter you choose does sound potentially interesting. If they could tie it into some special connection the rival has with his first Pokemon and maybe it use it to expand on this bonding system that they've hinted at, then I'd be more up for that. I don't know if they would get rid of that tradition though, especially when they often use the rival battle as a means to help introduce basic battle concepts for new players.

The rival is unlikely to have an advantage over the player, particularly since in XY, the starters seems to start with a move that's super-effective, and it would be difficult at minimum to overcome such a disadvantage. It's more likely that such a rival would have the Pokémon that's at a disadvantage, but it's been making me wonder if Game Freak has thought of another way of doing things.

That's why the idea of no-rival has come to me. Either that, or maybe a rival is introduced later than the previous games. I'm not really sure what the plan is, but if the starters start with their elemental attacks, I don't think it's going to be traditional.

 

[TerraTF]

Re: Rival

Considering that the starter Pokémon now have their elemental attacks at level 5

Likely not true. The screenshots never reflect the final games. Remember the HGSS Demo? Todadile had Ice Fang at level 22 I believe? Doesn't learn it until 60s Feraligatr

from the best we can tell, does anybody else think they might be drastically changing how rivals work, if not removing the system entirely?

I'm kinda liking the idea of 2 rivals in this one

 

[Hidden Mew]

Re: Rival

The rival is unlikely to have an advantage over the player, particularly since in XY, the starters seems to start with a move that's super-effective, and it would be difficult at minimum to overcome such a disadvantage. It's more likely that such a rival would have the Pokémon that's at a disadvantage, but it's been making me wonder if Game Freak has thought of another way of doing things.

That's why the idea of no-rival has come to me. Either that, or maybe a rival is introduced later than the previous games. I'm not really sure what the plan is, but if the starters start with their elemental attacks, I don't think it's going to be traditional.

It would be difficult to overcome that disadvantage for a first battle, but I think I would see Game Freak doing that over not having the rival start off with the starter Pokemon that has an advantage over whatever Pokemon the player chooses. They've always had a rival character like that in the games, with the exception of Yellow. Although, a rival being introduced later than in the previous games sounds interesting, but I don't know if they'd go with that either. I'm still hoping that they'll have two rivals to cover both of the other starter Pokemon that the player doesn't choose. I always felt bad when the third Pokemon that wasn't chosen is just left in the lab.

 

[Faye Scarlet]

Re: Rival

If the rival is as well-written as Hue in B2W2, I would love the rival. Seriously, Hue is the best Rival ever IMO, and I hope we can get someone similar in this game. Jerk rivals are a terrible cliche, and I don't miss Blue or Silver at all, so I hope the rival is better than that.

 

[Hidden Mew]

Re: Rival

I don't mind jerk rivals if they're handled well like I think Silver was, although I agree that they are cliche. I wouldn't mind having another rival character who can balance out being relatively friendly and then being more competitive in battle like what I think they did with Cheren and Hue.

 

[SUP3RN0VA]

Re: Rival

If there is a new type, and our starter Pokemon do in fact start with an elemental attack, then perhaps the rival will not use another starter Pokemon, but a possible early Pokemon with the new Type. It would introduce the new Type to us quickly and show us what it could do if it was your rival's main Pokemon.

 

[Chiss]

Re: Rival

If the rival is as well-written as Hue in B2W2, I would love the rival. Seriously, Hue is the best Rival ever IMO, and I hope we can get someone similar in this game. Jerk rivals are a terrible cliche, and I don't miss Blue or Silver at all, so I hope the rival is better than that.

Hugh was a good rival, but if they give the next rival a tragic backstory like him I hope it will be more traumatic then "OMG, my sister's Purrloin got stolen!"