Pokemon Sun and Moon Regional Variants Trailer

Nintendo and Game Freak are at it again! They have just unleashed a brand-new trailer for Pokémon Sun and Moon that reveals something very new about these games. Turns out there are some older Pokémon in Alola, and they have been through some changes...some variations, as it were. Don't believe me, here's the trailer for proof!

The first regional variant is for Exeggutor. His Alola-based cousin has a very long neck and a tail with an extra head on it. I have to admit, it looks kinda neat. This variant makes Exeggutor look more like a walking palm tree. It's also now a dual Grass/Dragon. I imagine a Headbutt from this thing would hurt. That poor Dragonite.

The next Pokémon to get variants are Vulpix and Ninetales. In Alola, they took up living in the snowy mountains of Alola, and as a result, they have become Ice types. Well, Ice/Fairy in Ninetales's case. I also like that they have been subtly redesigned to reflect their new types. They're different, but recognizable. I hope we also get standard Vulpix and Ninetales, too. With Alola being based on Hawaii, and Hawaii being known for volcanoes, I can't imagine that there aren't the regular forms of them around, too.

Sandshrew and Sandslash also have gotten Ice-based variants. Well, they're now Ice and Steel. Honestly, I love the variants' look here. Sandshrew looks like an igloo, and Sandslash has spiky crystals for spines. It really looks awesome. I also like the subtle redesign of Sandslash's claws, with the addition of the little hooks on them. Very clever. And like with Vulpiz and Ninetales, I hope we can catch the standard forms, too.

More new Pokémon! This one is called Oricorio, and this one is really neat. This bird has four variations, all based on a dance. The Fire/Flying-type Baile Style appears to be based on flamenco dancing, the Electric/Flying Pom-Pom Style is based on cheerleading, the Psychic/Flying Pa'u Style is based on hula dancing (appropriate for a region based on Hawaii), and the Ghost/Flying Sensu style is based what I am thinking is a Japanese fan dance (again, appropriate. Hawaii has various Asian populations in it). Each style is native to a particular island.

Oricorio is a VERY clever reference by the designers, based on Darwin's finches. Charles Darwin observes that a species of finch all adapted differently based on the islands they lived on, which helped him form his theories on evolution. I LOVE when Pokémon gets clever like this.

We next meet the Rock/Flying Minior, a Pokémon that looks like a mix of the Moon and a starfish with spikes on the ends. Something kind of funny about watching it float around. It has an ability called Shields Down that takes away its rocky hide, revealing its core. The core can come in four colors, which makes me think that maybe like Oricorio, each island's Miniors have their own unique-colored cores. That would make sense.

We next meet Gumshoos, Yungoos's evolution. Many have joked that it resembles Donald Trump. I can see that. Considering its name is a pun on "gumshoe", which is a term for detective, I can see this one often used by cops on Alola.

Next is Fomantis, a Grass-type, and its evolution: Lurantis, still a Grass-type. Lurantis looks kind of like a praying mantis. It can use a move called Solar Blade, in which it brings down a column of green energy on an opponent's head. Ouch.

Next is Mudbray, a rather cute little Ground-type donkey-like Pokémon that is the pre-evolution of Mudsdale. Cute little guy.

It has been revealed we can ride Pokémon in this game! We've seen a bit of this in X/Y with riding the Rhyhorn. We can see that its possible to ride Tauros, Charizard, Sharpedo (I was expecting Lapras as a nod to the anime), and Mudsdales . That's really cool! I think this may replace the HMs, but I wonder, do we have to catch them, or can we hire them? I think it's the latter, considering we see harnesses on these Pokémon.

Next is the Island Challenge, which you undertake tasks given by Trial Captains, each based on Grass, Water, Electric, and Fire. I have heard some say these may replace Gyms, but to me, based on that there are four of these Captains, this may be Sun and Moon's take on the Elite Four, the four trainers you take on to become the Champion. This is also shown by the revelation that these captains have Totem Pokémon to fight. And they can summon help. That mixes things up.

And we have ANOTHER new mechanic: Z-Moves! These are special super moves, every Type has one, that can be used once per battle. And these Z-Moves look powerful and destructive.

This trailer has given me two impressions: That evolution may be one of the themes of the game, and that Game Freak is really trying to mix things up with these new games, which is good. It helps keep the formula fresh.