Starters

Okay, this may seem odd given how much I like pokemon, but I am not a fan of starter pokemon. Well, I guess not all of them are that bad, but the concept of them rather annoys me.

First off, let's discuss their catchability. Three pokemon in a region are gathered by a pokemon professor and a trainer is given one. As far as the games go, this is the only way to possibly get any of them. So why can't you find this mythical Oshawott nature reserve and go to town on them safari zone style?

And if they don't show up in any location naturally that you can get to, why can so many other trainers own these guys? Gardenia owns a Turtwig, and it's clearly not her starter because it's not her strongest pokemon. Where did she catch it? Why won't she share this secret with me so I can save the cost of a second game in order to catch 'em all? Gardenia, why have you forsaken me?

Secondly, there's the choices. We have three: a grass, a water and a fire. Why these three? Why, of all the pokemon in the world, did you endeavour to catch three otherwise uncatchable pokemon just to give them to children? I would have had just as good an experience if I was given a Bellsprout instead of a Venusaur. They are functionally identical.

And why these exact types? Could a ghost type be so bad? I get the functionality of a water type means you'd be rather silly to not get one, but fire is mainly good due to it's power and grass has no functionality what so ever. It just serves to fill your team.

And don't tell me that choices vary between games, because Bianca gives the same choice to you that she got two years ago, and didn't mention a word about it being identical to her scenario.

And how come nobody else seems to have the restrictions I do? Okay, one person has a little more restriction, but he picked just to one up me. Or picked before something better than me with who knows what restriction. That Joey kid has a rattata, and I bet you he didn't have to bother with some silly "Rattata or Pidgey" scenario. Actually, I know he didn't. He would have picked the Pidgey.

Then there's the focus people seem to give these Pokemon. They get special moves and attention everywhere. There's fanart devoted to them for the specific reason that you weren't allowed to start with Magnemite. There is nothing special about them, but because you have to start with them, they are the best things in the world.

I reckon that, if Mudkip was just a normal pokemon and not a starter, the whole meme would be made about Diglett. Which would be the actual best thing ever, let me tell you.

And due to all the attention we give these guys because "HEY, STARTER!", they can very easily become the most overpowered member of the team. So many players have had a single level one hundred starter and maybe a legendary at about level fifty, but nothing else except HM slaves and space filler. I started having an even team around about Emerald after my Sapphire was nought more than "Ode to Blazekin ft. Kyogre".

Now to specific annoyances. Fire types. Let's ignore the fact that no responsible man of science would give a teenager a small demi-dragon with a lit flame on it and the power to produce more without secretly hating the child's mother (which is unlikely, given all the sex between them (I have said it, it must be canon!)). Let's instead talk about secondary typing.

Why do we have so many secondary types? We have had one Fire type without a secondary type, and he's one of my favourite pokemon ever. There has also been one Fire Flying, which is the worlds favourite pokemon ever. Sort of understandable, as I'd get one too during my play through if I didn't have much else.

The others are Fire Fighting. This has seen so many jokes I'm at a loss for original commentary about them all. Although generation five seemed to love fire fighting types so much it made Darmantian as well, but seemed to make a pokemon that visually fits Fire Dark the actual starter in order to avoid going from ape to ape.

Here's my suggestion for a starter system that people will like. Safari zone. You divide up a region into certain sections, with a little "zone" indicator for each. One will be a warm looking mountain, one will be a dense forest, one will be a lakeside and others will be decorative. A little opening spiel could be given about how the suppliers were being held back and the kid would have a more limited selection but would be allowed one free catch. It's obvious where to go to choose, and it makes it more interesting.

Then, later in the game, you can pay to use this place again. The pokemon types will have increased, but you'll be perfectly capable to catch the other ones again. No random choice, no lack of habitat, no stringent restrictions and plotholes in others having them. It's just you having a chance at more starters.

And then, you can have a second game. I'd complain about challenge mode's implementation, but this is easier. Your sponsor could visit you after you beat the elite four and suggest you try again, see if you can hold your title. Everyone will look at the champion and try harder to beat them, making the strength difficulty better. Suggesting to retry the challenge, he'll take your pokemon into a box you can't access until you beat the elite four. He gives out TMs after a set checkpoint, which will restrict your move set until it's reasonable.

Dialogue will change, and the villain plotline will have to be replaced in order to keep the story length, but you still get to keep your original story intact, and fans will feel even more badass for the reputation actually existing.

Oh, and remember the incoming pokemon? The second catching fest will also give you one free pokemon, but your options increase greatly. What's not to like?