Welcome to Origin 
Gotta catch ‘em all…
With a full Pokédex of 386 different Pokémon species, it’s quite a demanding task to collect each one of them!
Pokémon games have some algorythms and mathematical types responsible for wild Pokémon appearances and the generation of their individual characteristics. However, we will first discuss the initial availability.
In each version of Pokémon games, there are various landscapes but only one master list. This master list is partially responsible for the high addictive and collective feeling of the game.
The fact is that every game has a list of creature species that are available in the version in question. So the only way for some Pokémon species to be available in a particular version, is for the player to trade Pokémon with a friend or buy another version.
So a Pokémon sometimes actually Originates from an altered version of the game. Currently, with only Kanto and Hoenn regions available in 3rd generation, there are 2 major lists of available Pokémon, one for FR/LG and one for R/S/E respectively. Between game versions in the same of the 2 above list groups, there are only slight variations in the availability list. In order to simplify things, I exclude some Johto Pokémon from Colosseum and Sevvi Islands and instead of writing down the available Pokémon, I will just write those that are missing from each version.
| Version | Version Exclusive Pokémon |
|---|---|
 |
Sandshrew, Sandslash, Vulpix, Ninetales, Bellsprout, Weepinbell, Victreebel, Misdreavus, Slowpoke, Slowbro, Slowking, Staryu, Starmie, Magby, Magmar, Pinsir, Azurill, Marill, Azumarill, Sneasel, Remoraid, Octillery, Mantine |
 |
Shellder, Cloyster, Scyther, Scizor, Ekans, Arbok, Oddish, Gloom, Vileplume, Bellossom, Psyduck, Golduck, Electabuzz, Elekid, Growlithe, Arcanine, Wooper, Quagsire, Murkrow, Qwilfish, Delibird, Skarmory |
 |
Seedot, Nuzleaf, Shiftry, Mawile, Zangoose, Solrock, Groudon |
 |
Lotad, Lombre, Ludicolo, Sableye, Seviper, Lunatone, Kyogre |
 |
Surskit, Masquerain, Meditite, Medicham, Roselia, Zangoose, Lunatone |
So after comparing the lists of missing Pokémon carefully (or version exclusives as they are usually called), you can easily understand that the only way for someone to catch ‘em all is to trade with each and every version or even buy them all!
Some critics say this is a way for selling more than one version to a gamer that wants to be a Master; the initial cause behind this, was that gamers would have to socialize, meet other trainers in order to -and as a result- generate interest, word of mouth, community and eventually sales of the game itself and the accessory needed for the trades. (Game Link Cable actually was sold with Pokémon artwork on packaging since Pokémon was the first game that used it in such an extend way)
Now that we analyzed the Origin of version exclusive Pokémon, it’s time to spotlight a Pokémon for further analysis and a suitable one would be a Version exclusive one…
Pokémon Origin : Lotad/Lombre/Ludicolo
Lotad (JP Hassboh) is a version exclusive Pokémon of the Hoenn region, available only in Sapphire, and although it will be available in the upcoming Emerald version as well, it is still a Pokémon of this category since it is missing from Ruby.
Lotad is a Water/Grass type Pokémon and its appearance and name is based on water lilies. Lot- most probably comes from the lotus water lily and the –ad from the lily pad.
As you can see in the photo on the left, the leaf of the Nymphaeaceae Lotus water lily (Victoria regia) floats on the surface of the water and actually looks like a Lotad in its ideal environment. It prefers clean, warm waters and although someone can have it in a pond in most climates, Lakes Victoria (Africa) is its ideal environment.
Lotad evolves into Lombre (water/grass) at Lv.14
Its name comes from the combination of the Nymphaeaceae Lotus and –mbre from sombrero which is an iconic Mexican hat. In its Hasuburero Japanese name this is more obvious.
Lombre thankfully managed to avoid Jynx’s fate of an extend public allegation as a racist stereotype, although on some forums, members discussed similarities with Mexican iconic stereotypes.
The joke is that actually Lombre has more things in common with the game character Kapp’n in Animal Crossing, than with anything close to mexican culture stereotypes; except for, maybe a hat
Kappa, except than referring to our very own letter of the Greek alphabet “Κ”, has strong ties with Japanese folklore. Kappa is a Japanese imp and actually quite a ferocious one.
Kappas inhabit watery environments such as rivers and ponds, therefore, they adapted by developing webbed limbs. In most depictions they appear humanoid, although there are other common monkey, tortoise and frog ones alike. Lombre for example, resembles more a frog-humanoid and Kapp’n from Animal Crossing is actually a tortoise-humanoid.
Myth has it that Kappa usually peek under women’s kimonos or steal crops while their ferocious appetites include, kidnapping children, rapping women, eating children or adults and performing vicious acts, actually draining blood, liver and entrails from someone’s anus!
As with the majority of Japanese imps, someone may befriend a Kappa or escape its rage through various offerings. Animal Crossing players might be aware that Kapp’n has a craving for cucumbers. Hence, by scribing his name on a cucumber and throwing it in the Kappa-infested waters, someone could calm it down or even make a pact with it.
With the aid of a water stone you can cause Lombre to evolve to Ludicolo (JP Runpappa), the final form of the Lotad family in 3rd generation at least…
Ludicolo’s name derives from the words ludicrous, meaning laughable or hilarious, and colocynth a tendril-bearing vine producing yellowish, green-mottled fruits. Colo might also be an alteration on loco meaning crazy in Spanish.
Whatever went wrong in the evolution chain of this Pokémon and made it a disco loving dancer is still a mystery under research. But it looks as if sound waves of dance music stimulate this Pokémon, hence making it stronger in battle. Despite a colocynth-shaped body, a duck’s beak, a Mexican sombrero hat and its dancing abilities, Ludicolo is one of the best annoyers around..
That was Pokémon Origin V, so put on a Sombrero and dance some disco classics untill the next article…
