Casually looking at new Gen 4 betas
It was a long night and I'm half awake, so I'll just share some casual thoughts about the new Gen 4 betas that just came out. Gen 4 is like the omega to Kanto's alpha. It's part of the core of the series, so Gen 4 betas are the best betas.
I'll use the images jadeazora posted. Here's their first post explaining where these come from, because I don't want to do it. I want a nap.
WHAT THE HECK IS that alien sea monster on the left? Gotta be something that was just plain cut. But you know, my first thought was that it might be related to Manaphy. Weird if so.
Hey, it's Yellow Gastrodon, neat! And a Delibird evolution that would have fit right in. It has that slightly over the top design that would have fit with Togekiss, Lickylicky, or Magnezone.
Not sure which evolution stage this is supposed to be, or if there were still separate stages at this point in development, but I really like this design for Glameow/Purugly. There's a lot more white that makes it more of a tuxedo cat - wait, has Purugly been a tuxedo cat all along? Weird. Glameow's moon shaped ears are definitely an improvement on these horn shaped ears though.
There was a time when I'd definitely point at this and go "Beta Furfrou!" but clearly this fur is cloud/cream based, and this is more of a Water Pokemon based on a poodle, rather than the literal, it's-just-a-poodle that Furfrou is supposed to be. This could even be a Beta Slurpuff.
Also, the first stage reminds me of the Growlithe preevo from the Spaceworld Demo.
Is this Beta Luxray, or some kind of lion Pokemon that was cut? I'm convinced it's Beta Luxray. The colors and spots on the hind legs make it look more like a lynx than the actual Luxray. The sphinx-like hood draws your attention towards its forehead and eyes, really representing that X-Ray concept. This version would totally be a Psychic Pokemon, and probably lean more toward the Sphinx idea.
Why couldn't we have gotten THIS Luxray? Was it not cool enough without a big spiky mane? Maybe the shift came when they wanted to be more literal about the X-Ray concept and make it an Electric type, and Electric types do more traditionally go with yellow, black, and blue.
And then there's the bear. Was this an early idea for an Ursaring evolution, or an early form of Bewear? The second picture where the bear has glowing eyes that cut through the darkness reminds me more of Bewear.
I appreciate how this Palkia's wings stick out more, making it look like more of an angel or deity. This Palkia feels less fierce and more like it just hatched and it's still learning to walk. Little Palkia chicky.