A debunked image that appears to depict an open-world return to the Kanto region ofPokemon’s first-generation games has left fans with a sense of longing.
April 1 is a dangerous day to trust anything you see online, so many Reddit users came in skeptical when apost appeared Saturdayclaiming that the Japanese version of the Pokemon franchise’s official website had posted an image depicting several 3D Pokemon, all from Gen-1, frolicking around a waterfall. The image shows a large Gyrados poking its head out of a stream as Starmies, Goldeens, Poliwags, and a Magikarp swim by; Pidgeys and a Fearow in flight, and Dodrios, Growlithes, Vileplumes, and a very sleepy Snorlax peppered across the shore, all while a trainer looks on, flanked by partner Pokemon Pikachu and Eevee.
Quickly pointed out to be a fake by many Redditors, several have made the convincing observation that the image seemed to have been created using assets fromPokemon Legends: Arceus, which wasn’t a fully open-world game but still introduced large-scale areas and new mechanics for sneaking up on and capturing fully 3D-rendered Pokemon when it released in January of last year. “you may’t fool me OP, I have a calendar,” wrote user zernoc 56, regarding the April Fools' Day prank. “Cool art though, wish it wasn’t a joke.”
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While the game isn’t real, a lot of fans of the series were excited that the potential exists, asPokemon Scarlet & Violetpulled off the first fully-realized open-world Pokemon game last fall, despite abug-filled launch, and Legends: Arceus was able to provide a similiar experience just a few months prior. “Legends of arceus [sic] is legit my favourite Pokémon game. It’s everything I dreamed of as a kid,” commented user Vakulum. “Just need to wait another 15 years now for a remake that might actually look awesome and makes the world more alive.”
Overall, the regret over the image being a fake seems less a cry for Gen-1 nostalgia and more like a commentary on longtime fans' disappointment with the series, despite itscontinually stellar sales numbers. Said Reddit user Staalone, “I love how having a decent looking Pokémon game with graphics that don’t look like a gamecube game is considered an April fool’s joke instead of being the reality.”
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