Pokemon GO’s Rediscover Kanto Event Echoes a Franchise-Wide Problem

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As a gamer with over two decades of Pokemon fandom under my belt, I must admit that the “Rediscover Kanto” event in Pokemon GO was a delightful trip down memory lane. However, as a seasoned player who has seen every generation come and go, I can’t help but feel a tinge of frustration at the continued focus on Generation 1 Pokemon.

In 2024, the Pokemon GO game delighted its fans by boosting the appearance of Gen 1 Pokemons during the “Rediscover Kanto” event. While this trip back to the past was enjoyable initially, players started to grumble as the months passed, feeling that the increased spawn rate of Kanto Pokemons was becoming permanent. This persistent emphasis on Gen 1 Pokemons, at the expense of others, is a trend that has been annoying fans in both the main games and the mobile spinoff for quite some time.

Rediscover Kanto’s Spawn Rate Changes Explained

In April 2024, the “Reveal Kanto” event was unveiled in Pokemon GO, aligning with a major update that rolled out new user-friendly features and revamped the appearance of in-game ecosystems. This update also featured an enhanced Pokemon spawn rate in the wild from Generation 1, along with a higher Shiny probability for the original starters: Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle, as well as Kanto-themed Special Research tasks.

Despite the initial announcement stating that the increased spawn rate of Kanto Pokemon was only temporary, lasting from April to May, it seems that these Pokemon have become more prevalent in the game. Now, six months past the event’s unveiling, players are still finding more Kanto Pokemon than any other generation in the wild. This has caused some frustration among fans who fear that the Kanto Pokemon will continue to outshine the new additions from Galar and Paldea when they are introduced in 2025, leading them to share their concerns on platforms like Reddit through complaints and humorous memes.

The Focus On Kanto Pokemon Is A Franchise-Wide Trend

Indeed, it’s true that a large number of Pokemon enthusiasts feel a sense of nostalgia towards the Kanto games, often those who initially encountered these games in their childhood. However, the excessive repetition of the initial 150 Pokemon, with the complete Pokedex now encompassing over a thousand creatures, can be irksome to some, especially when they find Pokemon like Rattata or Mankey to be uninterestingly monotonous in design. This issue was exacerbated when these Generation 1 Pokemon were again featured in games such as “Let’s Go Pikachu” and “Let’s Go Eevee,” or continued to receive new trading cards and physical merchandise.

Regional Phenomena Often Focus On Kanto Pokemon

As a diehard fan, it’s evident that the influence of first-generation Pokémon is profoundly apparent in the regional phenomena unveiled across later games. Take, for instance, Mega Evolution from Generation 6 and Gigantamax from Generation 8; they exclusively featured Mega or G-Maxed versions of original generation Pokémon. Even in Generation 9’s Tera Raids, numerous first-generation Pokémon were reintroduced to the game, despite the Pokedex already being heavily focused on Kanto.

It’s quite apparent that Charizard, a well-known Pokemon like many others, experiences an overwhelming presence, especially when compared to other popular ones such as Charizard. Despite Charmander’s evolved form being a fan favorite from the initial generation, some supporters argue that it’s excessive for Charizard to have two Mega Evolutions, a Gigantamax version, and a significant role in Generation 8, serving as Champion Leon’s signature Pokemon.

In the upcoming year, there’s hope that Pokemon GO will address the ongoing issue. The Dual Destiny season is set to highlight Pokemon from the Unova region, while hints of new Galar and Paldea creatures have been dropped by Niantic. Additionally, Pokemon Legends Z-A, focusing on Kalos, is slated for release in 2025, and it would be fitting to have a related event in Pokemon GO. It remains uncertain if the developers will respond to fan feedback by adjusting the wild Pokemon spawn rate again to counter the Kanto overpopulation, but even without this change, they can emphasize Pokemon from other generations to ensure that 2025 is significantly less Kanto-centric compared to 2024.

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2024-12-26 23:54