[Discussion Trial] Daily Pokemon Design Critique

[Braixen]

Please Read: This thread is a trial to see if there is interest in this sort of thing! The idea is very similar to the Daily Pokemon Opinions (http://www.pokemoncrossroads.com/forum/showthread.php?2859-Daily-Pokemon-Opinions-1-1) thread, but it's geared towards commenting and critiquing the design of Pokemon. I will post a Pokemon daily for the next week (Monday April 7th to Sunday April 13th) and see what sort of response and interest this gets. So if you like the idea then post away, or leave some feedback. Alternatively if you do not like the idea then feel free to leave feedback as to why by either posting in this thread or sending me a private message/VM.


Daily Pokemon Design Critique


Leave your feedback regarding the overall design of this Pokemon. What would you change? Does it need improvement? How do you feel about the colour choices? Or is it just perfect?

Rate the Pokemon's design out of 10, and leave a comment or two explaining it. :) Have fun! Have suggestions for a Pokemon to discuss? Feel free to message me.


Delphox

http://fc07.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2013/282/4/5/delphox_by_xous54-d6pp43z.png

Render: http://xous54.deviantart.com/art/Delphox-405959183

My critique: I think the colours for Delphox are fantastic, and although my initial impression of the bipedal direction was poorly recieved I ended up appreciating it and really enjoying this Pokemon/evolution line. My biggest issues are the direction of the hair coming out of the ears and the length/puffiness of the dress. If I could tweak this design I would shorten the dress a bit and make it more elegant, and I would direct the ear hair downwards instead of straight out. Overall I do think it's a fairly pretty Pokemon design but small adjustments, imo, could have made it better. I know a lot of people dislike Delphox though!

8/10

[DarkNerd]

Eh, there's nothing really bad about Delphox, other than the feet, but design wise, I felt more could be done. While it's true, less can be more, and it is often the case with a lot of Pokemon, nothing really stands out besides the ear hair. That and the coloring of it's head, specifically where it shifts from yellow to white. It looks so off to me. I just... I'm not a big fan of that coloring. Shame, since I thing the face is one of the better things about this Pokemon. I love the warm, fiery color scheme that somehow remains calm, but the heavy usage of that burgundy like color... it just seems lazy to me, especially when it makes the orange fire symbols on her side seem tacked on and unnecessary.
This being said, it still gets across Delphox quite nicely. The color scheme is calm yet heated, it looks graceful and serene, and it has the giant ear fluff that is demanded as well as sending a warning that Delphox is not to be trifled with. Sadly, this means Delphox is just a satisfactory design. I see nothing special in it, but nothing too terrible either.
6/10

[Braixen]

Feebas!

http://cdn.bulbagarden.net/upload/thumb/4/4b/349Feebas.png/250px-349Feebas.png

What are your thoughts on Feebas' design?

I personally think this design is fairly well done. It works especially well when you consider Milotic and the Beauty option for evolution of course! But besides that I adore colours used for this fish. It's not overdone but it's not plain either, the detailing on the body is a great added touch as well. IMO the best part of Feebas is his tail fin though, I think they did well keeping him "ugly" (that's a horrible word haha) by putting cuts in the tail fin as opposed to leaving it full. It may not make as much sense from a mobility standpoint but it's a fantastic design choice.

7/10

[3m0d0ll]

Personally, I like Feebas' design. As Braixen said, the colors go well together, and they're also good, bland colors for a fish. It's sunken eyes and frowning mouth make it look "uglier." One thing I never liked, though were those triangular marks above its mouth. They always looked kinda like nostrils and that weirded me out cos he's a fish.

Overall, 7/10 since it's not the coolest looking thing, but it's good or what it's supposed to be.

[VeloJello]

I love this idea, jussaying.

Feebas is exactly what it's supposed to be - it's ugly. It has big, pouty lips, a dopey eye with a small pupil, and bland colors. It manages to do all of this without being completely revolting to the eye, which is nice. However, the blue and the brown look weird to me; maybe it's just taste, but the blue looks a little too similar in value to the brown. And I'll never figure out why its gills are near its behind - what kind of fish has gills on its butt? Overall, it's a strong design, but nothing extraordinary and nothing I really care about.

6/10

[DarkNerd]

I love Feebas' design. It is meant to look ugly but not hateable. It's brown and dirty, but not a contender for a rock type appearance. I love the the cheek bones especially. When people think beauty, one of the many idea are pronouncedcheek bones. Feebas has them, but in this case... not too pretty. And that is a perfect yet subtle hint as to what is to come. There is nothing I don't love about Feebas. Not a single thing. Except maybe it's fin. The on his head. That thing looks like it belongs on an electric type. There are so many other ways they could've gone with it, but they went with that. It's juts the piece of pyrite in the gold stack. That being said, that's all that's bad.
9/10

[Braixen]

Zorua!

http://fc00.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2011/091/d/4/d4cbb7c3034bc07220b4e2c8d29316b4-d3cxtpz.png
Sourced: http://www.deviantart.com/art/ZORUA-203132087

What are your thoughts on Zorua? :)

I think he's an absolutely fantastic design. The colour scheme is gorgeous and in all honesty he has the air of simplicity that a lot of people believe the later generations are lacking in. The only thing I occasionally am up and down about as far as his design is his eyebrows haha, I enjoy his sassy look but I think they could have been done a bit differently, or left out completely. Sometimes they just look like spots and it's confusing, occasionally they're too circular when I think they should be more oblong etc. Overall in my books he's a fantastic design!

9.5/10

[The-Hydra]

My rating: 6.5/10

Zoura has an okey-dokey design. Cute, but there's many unevolved Pokemon that outclass it in that department for me. I never thought of the spots above his eyes as eyebrows but now I do and I can't unsee it. Which makes it slightly less cute. I do like the colors though, so that gives him a little boost. I'm not a huge fan of the picture Braixen chose though, but my personal favorite Zoura is strangely the sprite from Black and White. It just looks perfect there too me. And that sprite boosts it from 6 to 6.5 for me.

Sprite:
http://www.pokestadium.com/pokemon/sprites/img/main-series/5/black-white/570.png

[Braixen]

Serperior

http://cdn.bulbagarden.net/upload/thumb/b/b7/497Serperior.png/250px-497Serperior.png

My thoughts: It's a fairly good design, I honestly don't have much I would change about it. I always liked his detailing and such and think his tail is absolutely adorable. Green is the obvious choice.. yellow looks nice, the only thing I find odd about the design is his neck area. He looks a bit royal with the addition around his neck but I feel as though it could have been toned down a bit! :P

7/10

What are your thoughts? :)

[3m0d0ll]

I love Serperior, for its functionality and design. The gold (a very majestic and rich color) matches his characteristically green coloring along with his personality. The projections around his head/neck remind me of a crown and cape, which also makes him appear to be more royal and dignified. One thing I don't like, though, are the curls in front of his eyes. I feel like it makes his face look too busy and that the curls near where his ears would be are enough. Aside from that thing, though, Serperior has a stunning design, so I give him a 9/10. :3

[VeloJello]

Ahhh I can't believe I missed Zorua! I love its simple design and rich color scheme, and it looks so cute and fierce, what with the eyebrows and its almost regal mane. The only thing that I dislike about it is the weird thing on its head - it looks like fire or the tip of an ice cream cone, and has nothing really to do with its typing or abilities. Overall, however, it's a very strong design, especially to someone like me who loves cute little canines. 8/10

Aaand now for Serperior. At first, I wasn't much for its design - the entire thing just rubbed me the wrong way, especially the ears. But after using it for a while, I've got to say that I'm seriously fond of the design. I love the dark green and yellow and white that they used, and the way all of its curves add to the flow of the design. The only thing I'd really change is darkening, desaturating, yellow-tinting, or any combination thereof, the light green. Other than that, Serperior is a gorgeous Pokemon with a lovely regal design. It's definitely one of my personal favorites. 9/10

[Braixen]

Starmie!


http://img.pokemondb.net/artwork/starmie.jpg

What can I say about Starmie? Well, the design makes sense of course as it is a seastar! I can't say I adore it, but I cannot say I dislike it either. It has the simplicity people always speak about of the Gen 1 Pokemon, and to be honest I think the gem in the middle was a good idea. It never appeared out of place for me, and I also though the colours wee flattering. Starmie may not be turning a lot of heads but it's definitely a design that didn't make me cringe. The colour scheme might be the best part of it, but I fear I am a bit biased against this type of predator! Starmie loses a bit of its points from me because I think a few small touches could have been added to it and it still could have kept its simplicity, such as golden tips on the arms that match the colour of the area surrounding the gem. Just my opinion though!

8.5/10


What do you think of Starmie? Gen 1 perfection, or Gen 1 unimaginative?

[VeloJello]

I've never really been much of a Starmie fan - not because I dislike its design, but because it just doesn't strike me as all that great. That said, it's a solid design - good color harmony, not too complicated, and a neat gemstone. That said, it looks a bit busy simply because it's got so many lines, and it certainly doesn't stand out much, but overall it's not bad. 7/10

[Braixen]

Drifloon!

http://img4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20130804180529/bradlykart/images/e/eb/425Drifloon.png

My thoughts: I think this Pokemon is near perfect. I may just be slightly biased but I think it represents its intentions extremely well. It's a good combination of adorable and unique and I rarely think non quadruped Pokemon are adorable. Beyond my person thoughts on this Pokemon I think the concept is fantastic, they took a balloon and gave it life with "arms" and "hair" in the form of string and clouds respectively. Although the colour choices appear slightly random I don't think it's a flaw that they stayed clear of the obvious colours (such as a blue palette).

9.5/10

What are your thoughts? Do you think this design is as fantastic as I said? Why or why not? :)

[Suicune's Fire]

I think drifloon are pretty cute. xD No complaints. 8/10.


~SF.

[Braixen]

Last one until I make a choice on whether or not to continue with these (will decide after my exams are over on the 18th).


Emboar







http://cdn.bulbagarden.net/upload/thumb/1/18/500Emboar.png/250px-500Emboar.png

Where to start. I'm not fond of this design at all. I think the colours are well chosen, and I do like the swirls on the middle of it but I dislike almost everything else. I don't like the shape, the fire placement, the tail, the eyebrows, etc. I would have made him a bit less "round", and have his body be defined more. The eyebrows aren't needed and the fire should have been more cape like or a bit more subtle. I don't mind his arms but I find them extremely "unpiglike" (new word!). I'd definitely scrap the entire design and start from scratch if I had the power to make that sort of choice before it was released, keeping only a few details.

1.5/10

Was I too harsh? Are there things you like about Emboar? Share your thoughts! Also if you'd like to comment on this thread and give input on it continuing let me know, I'd love to hear it either here, via VMs, or PMs. :)

[VeloJello]

Echhh, Emboar has always irritated me. It's not that it's super-ugly, it's just... mediocre. Part of my issue with it is that it's busy, and its many designs don't really work together well. On top, it's got flowy bits; around the middle, it's got spikes, heavy bits, and swirls; on the bottom, the foot designs just don't belong. The swirls conflict with the spikes, and the spikes conflict with the flow. Contrast is good, when used properly, but on Emboar it's just very distracting. That said, I do like the colors chosen for it, and it's a strong design from a silhouette standpoint. However, it's still got many flaws, leaving it with 4/10 from me.

[Pokemon Trainer Sarah]

I think this thread is a cool idea. I hope you continue it and that it gets more popular!

I don't like Emboar's design. I agree with you guys that there's just too much going on. It looks extremely top heavy as well. I think the fire collar thing is alright. The swirls are unnecessary and a bit too girly, for lack of a better word. They don't go with the rest of the design. The colour choices are rather bland for a fire type, always reds and blacks and oranges... but I guess that was expected. The tail is unexciting too, would have made more sense if it was curled like a pig. I give Emboar a 2/10. Never been a fan.

[Suicune's Fire]

Yeah, I agree with you guys--not about the complexity, but about the general not-impressed attitude I have towards it. I love tepig but not its evolutions, sadly. =/ I think they should have stuck to quadruped designs instead. =/ Like the fennekin line. xD 4/10 from me.


~SF.

[The-Hydra]

Not surprised with the ratings, Emboar isn't one of the most popular starters. Especially because it continued the chain of Fire/Fightings. But, that has nothing to do with design.

I personally like Emboar's design, although I don't think he looks like a fighting type, more like a Dark type to me. Maybe it's just because he reminds me of Ganon. Colors are some of my favorite, looks pretty epic, and he's a pig, one of my favorite animals. I think his face looks just fine, as it looks pretty intimidating. Overall, a pretty boss design. I give it a 8/10.

[TheoreticalSelkie]

Mixed opinions on this one eheheh.

I think that Emboar fitted the animal it's inspired from, which is the wild boar. It's pretty beefy and looks intimidating like a fighting type should, plus those arms are probably thicker than my waist. Colors are straightforward (There's only so many ways you can convey fire to be honest) but my one gripe about this design is that it doesn't stand out as much compared with better designs.

I'd rate it a 6/10. Not terrible, but not outstanding.