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Top 25 Pokémon Countdown 2011: #1

The Tanooki — Sun, 06 Mar 2011 01:00:09 +0000

It’s time to journey across the Unova region! Pokémon Black and Pokémon White have already launched in Japan and across Europe, and they’ll officially become available in North America tomorrow morning. In celebration of the next generation of games, Tanooki staff have re-casted their votes for the top 25 Pokémon of all-time. For the launch of Diamond and Pearl, our list spanned the first three generations’ 386 Pokémon. This time, voting has been opened to all 649 Pokémon spread out over all five generations… but have the rankings changed?

We’ve been counting down the updated top 25 all week, and it all leads down to this last Pokémon. You’ve all got your predictions, you’ve all got your favorites, but do you know which creature gathered (by far) the most votes in order to appear just after the break?

#1 Mew

Who’s That Pokémon?
Known as the New Species Pokémon, Mew is said to possess DNA with the genetic code of nearly all existing Pokémon to date, and may possibly have been the primordial ancestor that seeded all Pokémon life on the planet. As a result, Mew has the ability to learn all moves attainable via Technical Machine, Hidden Machine, and tutoring, as well as the ability to transform into other Pokémon.

An ancient, South American Pokémon, Mew was long thought to have become extinct. Recent sightings and scientific evidence, however, have confirmed that Mew’s rare appearances are explained by the simple facts that it can use transform as well as render itself invisible to the naked eye. Many people assume their sightings of Mew are merely mirages, but it turns out that Mew will appear to those with a pure heart and strong will to encounter Mew.

In the video games, Mew is only obtainable natively in Pokémon Emerald — and even then, the map needed to find it was only available to Japanese gamers. Everyone else had to rely on distribution events in order to obtain a Mew, including such events as the Toys ‘R’ Us distribution in 2006 to promote Lucario and the Mystery of Mew and the more-recent Wi-Fi distribution in celebration of the 10th Anniversary of Pokémon Gold & Silver.

In the anime, Mew has made a number of significant appearance, starting with its role in Pokémon: The First Movie, Mewtwo Strikes Back. Floating in a body of water and sealed in a protective bubble, Mew awoke and emerged to fly off on an adventure. It found its way to Mewtwo’s fortress, coincidentally where Ash Ketchum, Misty, Brock, and other Pokémon trainers were being held against their will as Mewtwo, a cloned Pokémon genetically engineered from Mew’s DNA, took the trainers’ Pokémon in order to create a superior clone army. Despite Mew’s playful and seemingly immature behavior — Mew became distracted and started chasing its tail as Mewtwo was giving it a speech — Mew was shown to possess excellent intelligence, wisdom, and battle strategies as it easily matched Mewtwo’s power. The stalemate was interrupted when their powerful attacks petrified Ash Ketchum.

Why did we pick it?
With high-ranking votes from every Tanooki contributer, Mew has once again claimed the number one spot on our top 25 Pokémon list. There was some controversy when Mew won last time we did our top Pokémon list, but as we explained before and will do again, there are many reasons why Mew deserves to win this spot, even multiple times!

In the Red and Blue generation there were 150 Pokémon total that could be caught between the two games, but Nintendo included a unique addition to the roster: An ultra-rare, 151st Pokémon that could only be obtained through exclusive Nintendo events and distributions. Single handedly, Mew promoted the social aspect of the franchise. Mew encouraged fans to meet up at these events, share their love for the games, and be rewarded with this legendary addition to their parties. Since then, the distribution of otherwise unobtainable Pokémon has become a staple and fan-favorite part of the franchise.
–Joey

To us early Pokémon fans, Mew was our first glimpse at life outside the standard 150 creatures, and we loved that glimpse. To see that “#151″ blew my mind the first time I laid eyes upon Mew,but I also yearned for more of this new life form.

Just as Mew was revealed, Pokémon card mania was sweeping the world and as many of you know by now, I was seriously addicted. I not only collected the domestic cards, but I often found myself buying several Japanese booster packs at a cool $9 each. My favorite series to blow my limited funds on was the Japanese Fossil series, since the Japanese series had a certain card that the English Fossil series lacked- Mew.

I attempted for months to score some Mew goodness (only one pack of an entire box had Mew, if you were lucky), with absolutely no luck. But on one balmy April afternoon at the local card shop, I felt rather saucy and decided to lay down all my money for what only turned out to be only 2 Fossil booster packs. The Pokéstars must have been aligned that day, because in my final pack I discovered the holy grail of Pokémon cards at the time, Mew. Talk about childhood memories!
–Matthew

The perfect Pandora’s Box Pokémon, Mew was the one Pokémon in the first generation that the majority of us couldn’t have. Thus, we all wanted it, and I’m one of those who REALLY wanted it. After all, when that PokéRAP said there were “150 or more” to see, at the time, that was a direct reference only to Mew.

I’ve always been a huge fan of psychic Pokémon. I’ve also been a huge fun of Pokémon that pack more punch than their appearances let on. With base stats of 100s across the board, Mew may have looked fragile and graceful, but its power rivaled those of other psychic powerhouses such as Mewtwo and Alakazam.

The Mew event at Toys ‘R’ Us was enough for me to fork over the cash to finally play a third-generation Pokémon game, after being away from the series for so long. I picked up Pokémon Emerald and headed out to the toy store to obtain my very first Mew. It was absolutely worth it.
–Christian

It probably didn’t take a psychic to predict this one, at least for those of you who were around last time. After the entire week’s worth of Pokémon, we now have a fully revised list of The Tanooki’s 25 Favorite Pokémon of All-Time. While we did consider Unova Pokémon for this list, you can decide for yourselves whether or not we should have included more: Pokémon Black & White officially go on sale in North America tomorrow morning!

Thank you for following along with us, counting down these Pokémon all week. We hope you’ve enjoyed the list, and we wish you all the best as you all begin your quest to become the Unova regions greatest Pokémon Master!

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Top 25 Pokémon Countdown 2011: #3-#2

The Tanooki — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 03:00:15 +0000

March 6th will bring the North American release of both Pokémon Black and Pokémon White for the Nintendo DS, and we’ve decided to re-cast our votes and update our list of the Top 25 Pokémon of All-Time! Last time around, Mew came out on top, while you readers voiced your surprise that the famous Charizard was nowhere to be found. This time, voting has been opened to all 649 Pokémon spread out over five generations… but has anything changed?

We’ve got three spots left on the list. There are bound to be plenty of opinions as to who should get those three spots, especially after we reveal two of them tonight. Who made #3 and #2? You’ll have to click on to find out!

#3 – Arcanine

Who’s That Pokémon?
Bearing a species name of “Legendary Pokémon,” Arcanine has some pretty big shoes to fill. Fortunately, the 6-foot tall evolved form of Growlithe more than fits the role.

Arcanine are actually of Chinese origin, and were admired by all the people for its beauty, pride, and regal appearance. People naturally found themselves attracted to the movement of Arcanine, which were capable of running through fields at speeds that could cover over 6,200 miles in a single day. Their grand manes had the power to enchant others, and their barks are said to convey a sense of majesty that make people grovel before the mighty Pokémon.

In the anime, Arcanine and — more commonly — Growlithe are often seen as police dogs partnered with the lovely Officer Jennys. More notably, Arcanine was an integral member of Gary Oak’s teams, seen used against both Ash Ketchum and Giovanni.

Why did we pick it?
You know how people generally fall into two camps, dog lovers and cat lovers (with everyone ignoring the snobby animal avoiders with allergies)? Well the decision of which party to vote for in Pokémon is made much easier thanks to Arcanine. Not only is he man’s best friend, he is also as big as a horse, incredibly snuggly and playful, and can breathe fire. This makes Arcanine more useful than anything in our modern reality. Think about it, he can carry you to work, cook you dinner without raising your energy bill, entertain the kids, eat the whiny neighbors, and destroy your enemies in style. In has even been said that anyone who hears Arcanine’s bark is immediately overcome by the majesty of the sound and has no choice but to grovel. Sounds like you can add lounge singer and god-king to that list of talents. Forget the Elite Four, Arcanine for president. If you don’t believe me, just flip on the telly and watch the original anime’s introduction song, wait until about 20 seconds in, and admire the magic of a full sized beast strutting across a grassy plain with the grace of a ballet dancer.

#2 – Jolteon

Who’s That Pokémon?
Aptly named the “Lightning Pokémon,” Jolteon naturally collects the charged ions in the surrounding air to then shoot out 10,000-volt bolts of lighting. The electricity is enough to make Jolteon’s hair stand up straight, and these charged needles can then be launched out at opponents.

Not surprisingly, Jolteon’s mood changes often and abruptly. These sensitive Eevee evolutions can become very sad or very angry without much notice. The rapid changes actually help to charge its power.

Despite being Generation I Pokémon “native” to Kanto, Jolteon are still very rare in not only the games, but also in the anime and other forms of Pokémon media. Since Eevee need Thunderstones to evolve into Jolteon, they simply don’t appear as often.

Why did we pick it?
Narrowing down the list is the electric type of the Eevee evolutions: The one and only Jolteon. Personally, Jolteon has always held a soft spot in Joey’s heart, considering that Jolteon was the first holographic card he ever owned. Aside from personal sentiments, this Pokémon has a lot going for it. After over a decade of games, Jolteon is still is one of the fastest Pokémon trainers can collect. When Jolteon enters the battle, you can pretty much be assured that its attack will strike first. Rounding out this speed is an impressive special attack, ensuring that electrical-based attacks will strike swift and fierce against any opponent.

Those picks must have been quite a shock! Be sure to check back here tomorrow night as we reveal#1 favorite Pokémon of all-time on the eve of the North American launch of Pokémon Black and White, coming March 6th! Be sure to leave some comments below regarding your thoughts on these picks, and your predictions for best Pokémon ever!

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Top 25 Pokémon Countdown 2011: #6-#4

The Tanooki — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 04:00:51 +0000

We’re getting into the home stretch of our Pokémon countdown: Tonight we look at our picks for #6 through #4! Head on past the break to find out which Pokémon splashed onto our list, and just in time!

#6 – Starmie

Who’s That Pokémon?
Starmie is the evolved form of Staryu. They will always grow into the symmetrical geometric shape shown here, no matter where they are raised. By rotating its second star, Starmie can propel through water, out of water, and even briefly through the air. In addition, the gem located at its core will occasionally glow brilliantly in all the colors of the rainbow — speculated to be a means of communication with the furthest reaches of outer space.

In the anime, Starmie’s most notable role was as part of Misty’s team, seemingly as one of her more powerful Pokémon as well as one of her most useful — Misty often calls upon Starmie to ferry her through water. In the games, Starmie currently retains the shared distinction of being the fastest water Pokémon in the game, matched only by Sinnoh’s Floatzel.

Why did we pick it?
Psychic, Thunderbolt (or Thunder, if you prefer), Blizzard, Hyper Beam, Recover, Hydro Pump, Rollout, Toxic, Confuse Ray. These are all moves that Starmie can potentially learn, making it one of the most versitile (and unpredictable) Pokémon in the game. You can imagine crafting a team composed entirely out of these little guys, each with a different strength and all independent power houses. You could power Russia with that many power houses in one place, assuming none of them accidentally power house each other, inevitably causing a chain reaction that would lead to a massive explosion, crippling the nearby landscape with deadly poké-radiation. While it’s true there may be nothing nobler than the mind, there is nothing Chernobler than a group of Starmies turning on each other. On top of that, Starmie has the cool guy at the bar in sunglasses effect. You can’t really tell where he is looking, which instantly makes him more attractive, mysterious, and free to check out all the Poké-ladies. Just stay away from Jynx Starmie — trust me, that beast comes with baggage. I can tell by looking at her. In fact some even go as far as to say she’s… jinxed? Too easy? Ah, what do you know.

#5 – Dragonite

Who’s That Pokémon?
It takes quite a bit of effort to evolve a Dragonite all the way from a little Dratini (and from lengthy Dragonair, whom Dragonite is shorter than). Dragonite is worth it, though. The pseudo-legendary Dragon Pokémon is highly intelligent and rare, and they are usually only seen by humans when they are flying over vast oceans — rescuing drowning people at speeds that allow it to circle the planet in less than a day. It is rumored that a colony of Dragonite all live together on a secluded island somewhere.

In the games, Dragonite is a popular staple in the metagame, and is to this day one of the most powerful dragons in its class. It has since been joined by the very similar Salamence, though many players will still opt for Dragonite on account of its bulk and movepool. In the anime, Dragonite is first seen as a messenger, coming to invite Ash & Co. to Mewtwo’s Castle in Pokémon: The First Movie — Mewtwo Strikes Back. In addition, another Dragonite is shown to be one of Professor Oak’s own personal Pokémon.

Why did we pick it?
What’s not to love about Dragonite? It’s cute, cuddly, yet oh so devastating. Dragonite makes a great addition to any trainer’s party due to the fact that this Pokemon can learn a wide variety of powerful elemental moves through Technical Machines. Personally, my Dragonite knows both Thunderbolt and Flamethrower, giving it a tactical advantage against most types of Pokémon. A third-level evolution, Dragonite also boasts some impressive stats to back up a varied move set. Lance of the Elite Four was well aware of the power that this Pokémon packs, as later on in the series his party includes multiple Dragonites to wreak havoc on unsuspecting trainers. Dragonite has been a favorite since the first generation of games, and for many reasons you will still find this Pokémon in many trainers’ parties.

#4 – Celebi

Who’s That Pokémon?
Celebi is the Time Travel Pokémon. Rarely seen by humans, Celebi is the guardian of the Ilex Forest, where a shrine was built in its honor. Perhaps this is because Celebi has the power to make trees, flowers, and all plant life flourish and grow with life. Celebi’s name is even derived from a word meaning “beauty.”

In the games, Celebi was only obtainable in Pokémon Crystal by using a special item — the GS Ball. Ever since the third generation’s reboot, however, Celebi has had the infamous distinction as being arguably the rarest event Pokémon, at least until the past year’s Celebi distribution across Japanese movie theaters, North American GameStop stores and mall tours, and various video game retailers across Europe. Taking this new Celebi to the Ilex Shrine will reveal backstory for Silver and Team Rocket, and will give players access to Zorua in Unova.

In the anime, it is revealed that one of the Celebi is the reason that Ash got to see what Professor Oak was like when he was younger. The Celebi from the latest movie comes to Crown City, where it brings prosperity to the plant life. It also eventually helps to reunite Zorua with Zoroark, who has been captured from the Unova region.

Why did we pick it?
Maybe it’s an obsession with psychic Pokémon, or maybe it’s just a fascination with time travel… but Celebi is truly worthy of “legendary” status. This elusive Pokémon can navigate through the fourth dimension, influence the growth of plant life of entire forests, pack a huge punch in battle… and yet it’s always seen acting so playfully and fairly modest as it goes about its business. On top of that, it’s been near impossible to obtain one for use in the games. From the release of Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire through the recent release of the Zoroark movie, we’ve seen countless distribution events worldwide for Mew, Jirachi, Manaphy, and so on. Celebi was the only one with extremely limited distribution, so for many gamers, Celebi was the holy grail. The one Pokémon missing from the Pokédex. It was almost impossible not to want to obtain one.

That’s unfortunately all we have time for tonight. Be sure to check back here tomorrow night as we continue counting down our favorite Pokémon all the way down to our #1 all-time favorite on the eve of the North American launch of Pokémon Blackand White, coming March 6th! Be sure to leave some comments below regarding your thoughts on these picks, and your predictions for the rest of the list!

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Top 25 Pokémon Countdown 2011: #10-#7

The Tanooki — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 05:00:49 +0000

We’re honing in on the end of our list. Tonight, we take a look at our picks for #10 through #7. After that, there are only a handful of Pokémon left standing in between us and Saturday evening’s pick for our #1 Pokémon of All-Time! Head on past the break to find out which Pokémon made the razor leaf cut!

#10 – Manaphy

Who’s That Pokémon?
Manaphy is Sinnoh’s Mew. It’s Celebi. This Seafaring Pokémon is a purely water-type legendary Pokémon. In the games, Manaphy is only obtainable through the delivery man, either in the form of an egg from the Pokémon Ranger games, or directly as an event Pokémon. Despite its legendary status, Manaphy can in fact breed, but only with a Ditto. Even more mind-boggling, Manaphy’s offspring are Phione — a Pokémon that resembles a mini-Manaphy, but will never evolve into one!

In the anime, Manaphy was the star of the ninth movie — Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea. Manaphy’s egg was captured while floating through the sea and eventually hatched in May’s arms. Known as the “Prince of the Sea,” Manaphy was said to instinctively know the location of the Sea Temple and its treasure: the Sea Crown. In fact, all Manaphy have a sort of internal homing sensor that innately draw Manaphy back to it.

Manaphy’s signature move, Heart Swap, allows it to switch stat changes with its opponent (or partner) in the games. According to the anime, Heart Swap can literally swap the souls and bodies of people and Pokémon.

Why did we pick it?
When Manaphy hatched in May’s arms, it immediately imprinted May as its mother. It loved and clung to May so much that it would cry whenever anyone else tried to hold it. Even when Manaphy suddenly disappeared and everyone had assumed it left to go fulfill its destiny to find the Sea Temple, it turned out that Manaphy was simply searching for and retrieving May’s lost bandana.

In addition, that particular Manaphy is one of the few Pokémon to have been shown verbally speaking a human language. No telepathy needed for this little bundle of awesome. If Manaphy didn’t tug at your heartstrings before, maybe the fact that its only words were “happy” and “love you” (when speaking to May) will do the trick.

#9 – Togekiss

Who’s That Pokémon?
Togekiss is known as the Jubilee Pokémon. Wild Togekiss tend to visit and reside in areas where people and Pokémon are living in peace and harmony. They bring blessings and gifts of kindness to those regions, while staying away from areas full of conflict and strife.

In the anime, a Togekiss was raised by Princess Salvia, Dawn’s royal doppelgänger, to be proper and elegant. Upon competing in the Arrowroot Contest with Salvia, Togekiss realized its love for contests. Seeing this, Salvia entrusted Togekiss to Dawn and allowed it to travel with her and eventually compete in the Sinnoh Grand Festival. Togekiss made its currently last appearance on the show when it helped Dawn to locate her Piplup, who had run away crying when it realized that Ash, Brock, and Pikachu would be leaving them to return to Kanto. Togekiss landed in front of Piplup and comforted him in its wings.

Why did we pick it?
*wipes forehead* Well this should be an easy one. Just take all of the reasons that Togepi made our list yesterday, multiply them by two evolutions, add in the ability to fly, and anyone can see why Togekiss deserves to be on this list. Not only that, but Togekiss is a Poke-Santa of sorts, bringing gifts of kindness and sweet blessing to areas of peace. I’m not kidding. “Don’t fight with you sister! Otherwise Togekiss won’t come down and snuggle you to sleep tonight!” is a common phrase in households across the land. Did you think that “kiss” in the name was just a coincidence? Well think again, it’s a potential reward to all the do-gooders out there letting their friends Magikarp slowly splash their Geodude to death for the sake of getting that little tyke some experience (I’m aware splash doesn’t do any damage, but for the sake of the comparison, bare with me). If this cake wasn’t quite tasty enough for you, Togekiss isn’t all fluff and friendship. He also come equiped with a dangerous duo of astronomical special attack and special defense. That is called icing, people. Delicious, fluffy, beat-you-down-if-you-aren’t-careful, icing.

#8 – Charizard

Who’s That Pokémon?
Charizard is the final evolution of Charmander, one of the Kanto options for a beginning trainer’s starting Pokémon. The fire from its breath is hot enough to melt solid boulders and accidentally start large forest fires, and it goes without saying that such searing heat will cause an opponent unbearable pain. If Charizard becomes enraged enough, even the flame on its tail will become so hot that it will glow with a whitish-blue color.

Ash’s Charizard evolved quickly from when Ash first found it abandoned in the rain. Leveling up quicker than Ash could gain experience, Charizard began to disrespect Ash and disobey his commands. Oftentimes, he would breathe hot air on Ash’s face. Eventually, Charizard and Ash relearned how to work together, and Charizard became one of Ash’s most powerful partners. Its Seismic Toss became its staple finishing move, as it clutched tightly onto its opponent to heights of nearly one mile above the ground before pounding back onto land.

Why did we pick it?
You can all sleep soundly tonight: Charizard has made the list at number eight. The final evolution of Charmander (one of the original starter Pokémon), Charizard has maintained quite a following even after all these years. In the first series of the Pokémon Trading Card Game, Charizard was undoubtedly the most sought-after card, at one point selling for hundreds of dollars on eBay. Charizard also made the crossover to Super Smash Bros. Brawl a few years ago as the heavier, but hard-hitting third playable Pokémon for the Pokémon Trainer character. One of the most iconic Pokémon in the game, Charizard is a force to be reckoned with.

#7 – Meloetta

Who’s That Pokémon?
Melo-who? Known as the Melody Pokémon, little Meloetta is Pokémon #648 and is located in the National PokéDex well beyond the range of even the Unova Dex. It is this generation’s Shaymin, and can change between two formes — the Aria Forme and the Pirouette Forme — simply by using Ancient Song.

Artwork by Jiayi.

Like Jigglypuff, Meloetta’s song has effects on those within earshot. Unlike Jigglypuff, those effects involve a mystical control over the listener’s feelings. Meloetta has been known to inspire people through its songs, and has been attributed to the creation of several famous musical and artistic works in the Pokémon world.

When Meloetta assumes its Aria Forme, it possesses a Normal/Psychic typing. In this forme, its vocals are unrivaled as it sings beautiful and moving melodies. Upon using its Ancient Song move, Meloetta takes its Pirouette Forme (of Normal/Fighting typing) in which it can perform elegantly beautiful dance routines. No matter what Meloetta is doing, it remains immune to Ghost attacks.

Why did we pick it?
Based on the mythological Muses, Meloetta is the poster-Pokémon for the Fine Arts. You can just envision Meloetta performing in the lead role in The Darkrai of the Opera as a Chandelure (#609) comes crashing down, can’t you? Unlike its closest regionally-orphaned predecessor, Shaymin, Meloetta is completely unobtainable in Pokémon Black and White — she’s our “Christine,” if you will. I’m sure eventually we’ll get a movie with Meloetta in it, and an event download to go along… but until then, Meloetta is just a voice that’s calling out to us.

The best part? She can more than hold her own in battle! While her Aria Forme comes with not-too-shabby special attack and special defense, Meloetta becomes a little Femme Fatale in her Pirouette Forme. Boasting the game’s only Normal/Fighting typing, Meloetta will gracefully strike at her opponents with deadly speed and attack base stats of 128 each. Close Combat with that kind of power, plus STAB? Run.

That’s the end of the show for tonight. Be sure to check back here tomorrow night as we continue counting down our favorite Pokémon all the way down to our #1 all-time favorite on the eve of the North American launch of Pokémon Blackand White, coming March 6th! Be sure to leave some comments below regarding your thoughts on these picks, and your predictions for the rest of the list!

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Top 25 Pokémon Countdown 2011: #15-#11

The Tanooki — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 03:00:07 +0000

The list continues where we left off, starting out with #15 and counting down through #11. We’ll reveal a little bit more of the list each day for the rest of the week, leading to our current pick as our favorite Pokémon of all-time on Saturday evening! Head on past the break to find out which Pokémon made the razor leaf cut!

#15 – Ho-Oh

Who’s That Pokémon?
Ho-Oh is the Rainbow Pokémon. Partially based on the legendary Persian Huma, Ho-Oh flies around the world continuously without rest as its vibrant, seven-colored wings grace the skies, trailed by an awe-inspiring rainbow. Ho-Oh has the power to resurrect the dead — as it did to the Raikou, Entei, and Suicune that perished in the Brass Tower — while its feathers can bring happiness to anyone who bears one.

In the anime, Ho-Oh serves primarily as a symbol of Ash Ketchum’s journey. Despite being a second-generation Pokémon from the Johto region, the mythical bird was seen by Ash at the end of the very first episode of the series. His PokéDex was unable to identify Ho-Oh, informing him that the world has many more Pokémon that have yet to be discovered. Ho-Oh later appeared in the skies again and subsequently encouraged Ash to continue his journey to the Hoenn region.

Why did we pick it?
Ho-Oh largely remains a question mark, effectively a true “legendary” Pokémon. In the continuity of the games, it resembles the Chinese phoenix, Fenghuang, and will only appear to a trainer possessing the Rainbow Wing. In the anime, Ho-Oh is rarely seen and serves, as mentioned, as a symbol of Ash’s continuing journey to be the world’s greatest Pokémon trainer. A teaser trailer for the 13th Pokémon movie briefly showed what seemed to be a battle between Ho-Oh and its polar opposite, Lugia, but Ho-Oh was once again denied the spotlight as that movie eventually became Zoroark: Master of Illusions. With such a aura of mystery surrounding Ho-Oh, it’s no wonder why many people remain fascinated by it.

#14 – Togepi

Who’s That Pokémon?
Togepi, the Spike Ball Pokémon, is a symbol of luck and happiness. Joy is literally said to fill the shell of Togepi’s body, as it is collected from the kindness, joy, pleasure, and compassion radiating out of all that surround it. This happiness will be shared with any person who can somehow manage to make a sleeping Togepi stand up.

Togepi is one of the first Generation II Pokémon to appear in the anime, when it hatched from an egg that was found by Ash and cared for by Brock. Upon hatching, it first saw Misty and assumed she was its mother. In the games, Togepi doesn’t learn any significant damage-dealing moves until it levels into the 40s, however its Metronome move can be learned fairly early on and can pack quite a punch.

Why did we pick it?
Togepi was one of the flood of “baby” Pokémon introduced in Generation II, which meant it was adorable from the get-go. Misty’s Togepi in particular would often wander off on its own, prompting concern in Pikachu who then felt the need to follow Togepi and keep it out of trouble. Togepi would always blissfully and unknowingly walk through dangerous situations without hesitation, while Pikachu’s stress levels went through the roof.

Eventually, Togepi became permanently linked to Misty’s character, just as much or even more so than her Staryu, Starmie, and Psyduck. Since Misty’s departure, the show has seen replacement characters such as May, Max, and Dawn come and go. Even Brock no longer travels with Ash. However, Togepi will always remind us of Misty. PokéShippers FTW.

#13 – Gengar

Who’s That Pokémon?
The Shadow Pokémon, Gengar, was the final evolution of the only line of ghost Pokémon in the original Red, Green, Blue, and Yellow games. In the anime, when Ash had trouble with Sabrina’s psychic Pokémon, he sought out a ghost Pokémon and spent some time with Gengar, as well as Gastly and Haunter.

While Gengar can be malicious as it likes to place curses on others and drain their life forces, many times they are just trying to have fun. Gengar like to come out at night and stalk both people and Pokémon by hiding in their shadows. Gengar, as the “shadow,” might then walk faster and overtake the owner of said shadow, simply to mess with their heads.

While still a speed threat in the games, Gengar suffer from the ghost/poison typing… effectively weakening them to attacks from the psychic Pokémon they were intended to beat.

Why did we pick it?
The simple fact that Gengar has the most michevious smile on the planet bumps him up our list. It’s like the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland and Slimer from Ghostbusters world have joined forces to ruin your day just for the fun of it. Don’t think Gengar stops at some pananormal activity, he also helps you gang up on the smelly kid with a measely Haunter. Poor smelly kid, no one wants to trade with you. I’m not laughing at you, I’m laughing at you with my Gengar. My Gengar that knows hypnosis and dream eater and would consider consuming your soul, if it weren’t so smelly.

#12 – Bulbasaur

Who’s That Pokémon?
Bulbasaur is the Seed Pokémon, in more ways than one. Serving as a permanent bookend to a PokéDex that now spans 649 Pokémon, Bulbasaur is one of the three starter Pokémon options for trainers in Kanto. The seed on Bulbasaur’s back is capable of photosynthesis and can store energy for Bulbasaur, reducing the need to physically eat on a regular basis. The seed continues to grow as it soaks up the energy of sunlight, at least until Bulbasaur is ready to evolve into Ivysaur.

On the anime, both Ash and May have owned a Bulbasaur.

Why did we pick it?
The three original starters hold places very dear in many hearts across the world, and while the debate over the best one will likely rage on until the end of time, you can’t argue with the fact that all of them are awesome. This little green guy comes Bulba-soaring onto our list equiped with the extra bit of sass that it takes to make it out there in (Poké-region of your choice). Anyone who watched the original TV series knows that Bulbasaur has the grit, determination, and spunk of Shawn Johnson going for gold in Beijing. Also, guess who is number 1 in the PokéDex? That’s right, Bulbasaur. Try and pretend that isn’t relevant.

#11 – Squirtle

Who’s That Pokémon?
The backs of Squirtle harden shortly after birth, creating the turtle shell that defines many of this Pokémon’s characteristics. Squirtle can retract itself into its shell to protect itself or to tuck itself in for an attack. In addition, Squirtle’s streamlined shell allow it to swim at intensely high speed through the water. Squirtle can shoot high volume jets of water from its mouth, as should be expected of water Pokémon.

In the anime, Squirtle served as the starter Pokémon for Gary Oak. The only “wild” Squirtle were a group that had been abandoned by their trainers. This “Squirtle Squad” initially disliked human trainers and would pull pranks on them. Eventually, however, the squad would save a town from a fire and become the local firefighter squad. The leader Squirtle chose instead to depart from its comrades and join Ash’s team of Pokémon, befriending Pikachu and Bulbasaur. Squirtle eventually rejoined the Squirtle Squad, but fans got their water-Pokémon fix when May obtained a Squirtle of her own.

Why did we pick it?
True confession: I (Joey) have had a Squirtle Pokémon card in my wallet for for several years now. As fans are well aware, Squirtle is one of the three starters from Pokémon’s first generation of games making it the first Pokémon a significant number of trainers ever owned. In other media, Squirtle was one of the three playable Pokémon in Super Smash Bros. Brawl for the Pokémon Trainer character. Early on in the Pokémon anime on television, this Pokémon was also featured in a trouble-making gang known as the “Squirtle Squad” in a particularly memorable episode. For these reasons, and many more, Squirtle has earned a spot at number eleven on our list.

That puts the splash on tonight’s list. Be sure to check back here tomorrow night as we continue counting down our favorite Pokémon all the way down to our #1 all-time favorite on the eve of the North American launch of Pokémon Blackand White, coming March 6th! Be sure to leave some comments below regarding your thoughts on these picks, and your predictions for the rest of the list!

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Top 25 Pokémon Countdown 2011: #20-#16

The Tanooki — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 05:00:46 +0000

We continue this week’s countdown after the break, where we take a look at our picks for #20 through #16. As usual, we’ll reveal a little bit more of the list each day for the rest of the week, leading to our current pick as our favorite Pokémon of all-time on Saturday evening! Which five Pokémon grace our list today? Click on to find out!

#20 – Lugia

Who’s That Pokémon?
Lugia is known as the Guardian of the Seas. The Diving Pokémon, as it is called, appears when storms brew and uses its abilities to calm those storms. Ironically, Lugia possesses enough power to cause a 40-day storm with the flaps of its own wings and so chooses to live at the bottom of the sea in order to protect the above world from devastation.

According to a Shamouti prophecy, if the harmony among Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres was ever to be disturbed, they and their legendary might would wreak destruction upon the world. A Chosen One that would then help to awaken Lugia and raise it from the depths of the great ocean waters in order to save world. Melody, a girl from Shamouti in the Orange Islands, performed Lugia’s Song at the Shamouti Shrine, helping Lugia to calm the legendary bird trio.

Why did we pick it?
The mascot of Pokémon Silver and its DS remake SoulSilver, Lugia earned a spot on this list as one of our favorite Legendary Pokémon. Prior to the the release of SoulSilver, Lugia was only available to owners of the DS games through promotional events making this Pokémon rare and in high demand. Lugia also stared in an important role in the second Pokémon feature film, Pokémon: The Movie 2000, and appears several times in the anime on television. As the fabled leader of the legendary bird trio, there are a lot of reasons to like Lugia.

#19 – Jirachi

Who’s That Pokémon?
Jirachi sleeps for a thousand years at a time. When sung to with a voice of purity, the Wish Pokémon will awaken from its slumber for a period of seven days. Any wishes written on the notes attached to its head will be granted. Jirachi will then go back to sleep within the protection of a crystalline shell.Should Jirachi sense significant danger, it will fight and defend itself — without awakening.

In the anime, Jirachi’s awakening coincides with the passing of the Millenium Comet, visible from the Pokémon World for seven nights at a time every thousand years. Jirachi absorbs energy from the passing comet and slowly releases that energy back into the land, keeping the ecosystem in balance.

In the video games, Jirachi is one of the very few Pokémon that cannot be found naturally. During the Game Boy Advance era, Jirachi was available to a limited number of players via local distribution at Pokémon Center stores around the world and special downloads from GameCube discs. Since the release of the Pokémon games for the Nintendo DS, Jirachi has become more widely available thanks to wireless and Wi-Fi distribution.

Why did we pick it?
Jirachi is the Hoenn equivalent of Mew, Celebi, Manaphy, and Victini. It’s also the closest thing in the Pokémon world to a resemble a “genie” Pokémon… at least until the Unova games. It’s a minuscule twelve inches in height and two-and-a-half pounds in weight, and somehow this little guy can command the powers of the universe to grant any and all wishes asked of it… provided the wish is made by someone pure of heart. Like each of the “cute” legendaries, Jirachi also comes with a fantastic backstory, something which some of the countless legendaries in the newer games sadly lack.

#18 – Rhyperior

Who’s That Pokémon?
Rhyperior is the final form of Rhyhorn, and is known as the drill Pokémon. Weighing at over 600 pounds and sporting a carapace that can withstand volcanic eruptions, Rhyperior will intimidate all who encounter it. Interestingly enough, Rhyperior packs even more punch thanks to the holes in its palms: by placing rocks (or even Geodude) in those holes, Rhyperior can flex its muscles to shoot those rocks (and Geodude) out at targets like a high-speed missile.

Why did we pick it?
You have to applaud Rhyperior for sticking to his guns. Why mess around with all these silly special attacks and defenses? That half of the Poké-battles is best left to leaf eaters and the velcro shoed. Rhyperior has some of the highest HP, attack, and defense in the entire game. Which means his engine is running on unfiltered, unadulterated, 100 percent pure diesel hatred. They can fire rocks directly out of their palms, making Spider-Man look like… well.. like Spider-Man. Throw him in a volcano? He doesn’t care! Hit him with a bus? Hope you have insurance. Say one bad word about his mother? Well, no one has gotten back to me on that one. Because. They. Are. Probably too scared.

#17 – Alakazam

Who’s That Pokémon?
Alakazam’s brain grows continually from birth to death. This presents a problem for Alakazam, whose muscles are actually very weak. To cope, Alakazam uses its psychokinetic powers to support the weight of its head and even to move its legs around.

With an IQ of 5,000, the Psi Pokémon’s brain is capable of outperforming a supercomputer. By closing its eyes, Alakazam can actually heighten its other senses and use its powers to the extreme. In fact, these powers were said to create the spoons that Alakazam clutches in its hands, which — subsequently — greatly increase its psychic ability even further.

Why did we pick it?
Boasting one of the highest special attack stats in the Pokémon series, Alakazam’s psychic abilities are rarely matched. The final evolution of the elusive Abra, Alakazam is a powerful ally in any trainer’s party. Alakazam is also unique in that it was one of the earliest Pokémon to evolve in a special way. In the first generation of games, Alakazam was one of a handful of Pokémon that only evolved during a trade, encouraging trainers to try out the trading dynamic that the franchise is now well-known for.

#16 – Snorlax

Who’s That Pokémon?
While Snorlax are supposed to be found in mountains, they can often be found deep in forests, conveniently blocking pathways. Their busy schedule consists almost entirely of eating and sleeping, as a Snorlax weighs over half a ton and yet manages to eat almost its own weight in food each day and can be found snoring away pretty much any other time. According to Snorlax’s Pokédex entry, it is such a docile Pokémon that little children will come to play on its large belly. In the anime, Snorlax remains a part of Ash’s reserves, spending most of its time back at Professor Oak’s lab (which saves Ash quite a bit of money on food). Snorlax was called upon several times for crucial battles, including some against his former rival, Gary.

Why did we pick it?
I’m convinced that Snorlax was Japan’s way of poking fun at Americans. Or at least Milwaukee. Poor Snorlax was also forced to be the gaming cliché equivalent of that pesky boulder blocking your path in several of the games. Snorlax might get the shaft with respect around the Pokéworld, but we embrace our big, burly, and adorable Snorlax around these parts.Think about it this way, which would you rather snuggle up with at night- the alarmingly skinny and rock hard Kabutops, or the super soft and snugly Snorlax? That’s what we thought.

Alright, with Snorlax out of the way, that’s a load off! Be sure to check back here tomorrow night as we continue counting down our favorite Pokémon all the way down to our #1 all-time favorite on the eve of the North American launch of Pokémon Black and White, coming March 6th! Be sure to leave some comments below regarding your thoughts on these picks, and your predictions for the rest of the list!

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Top 25 Pokémon Countdown 2011: #25-#21

The Tanooki — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 05:00:32 +0000

After the jump, we’ll start the countdown out with our picks for #25 through #21. We’ll reveal a little bit more of the list each day for the rest of the week, leading to our current pick as our favorite Pokémon of all-time on Saturday evening! Continue reading past the break to get this PokéParty underway, and be sure to check back each evening as the countdown continues!

#25 – Heracross

Who’s That Pokémon?
Heracross, the Single Horn Pokémon, was introduced to Pokémon fans in the Johto games and is known for its “Herculean” strength. While its physical capabilities make it a force to reckon with in the forests, Heracross tend to be docile; avoiding fights and preferring to search for tree sap in peace. In fact, they love plant juices so much, they can occasionally be found trying to drain nutrients from the backs of Bulbasaur.

Why did we pick it?
Realistically there isn’t a cooler Pokémon in the dex to hang out with, especially once you get past that thick shell and really get to know Heracross. While he is a fighting type, he’s a lover at heart, and more than anything just wants to eat some tree sap. Mind you, he could bulldoze that tree, but he doesn’t. He’s better than that. He could maul you with that deadly exoskeleton horn he has going on, but he would rather use it to flip some burgers on the barbecue and just hang out. Worried about coming back home, finding that your friends have changed, and that you barely know them now? How convenient, Heracross never changes. Forget third evolutions, this poké-beast doesn’t even need one a second one. Heracross takes all those Pokémaniacs who just couldn’t bring themselves to have a Pinsir on their team (due to him looking like a big giant jerk) and gives them another chance to have an awesome bug pokemon that isn’t afraid to throw some elbows.

#24 – Pikachu

Who’s That Pokémon?
Just as last time, this mouse Pokémon needs no introduction, but here’s one anyway. Pikachu is the next “elemental” Pokémon in the Kanto Pokédex following the three starter Pokémon and their evolutions, meaning it was a prime candidate for Ash’s starter on the anime (in order to keep the show neutral). As a result, Pikachu skyrocketed to fame and became one of the world’s most popular cultural icons during the turn of the century. Pikachu has been a part of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and has even had a biological protein named after him.

Why did we pick it?
Out of all of the Pokémon on our top 25 list, Pikachu is the most iconic. This cute and cuddly electric mouse was the starter Pokémon for Ash Ketchum in the popular television series and he has essentially served as the franchise’s mascot, especially during its early years. Pikachu has also been featured in numerous games outside of the main Pokémon titles, including the popular Super Smash Bros. series. While the roster of Pokémon has grown a lot since Pikachu first came on the scene, he still stands out as a fan favorite.

#23 – Mamoswine

Who’s That Pokémon?
Mamoswine is the final evolution of Swinub. Its thick, brown fur is intended to protect it from snow and ice. Ironically, its twin tusks are made purely of solid ice. Unlike other ice-type Pokémon, Mamoswine is weak to water but not to rock, due to its secondary ground-type. On the anime, Mamoswine became a staple in many of Dawn’s Pokémon Contest performances and battles.

Why did we pick it?
Just look at that name: Mamoswine. I dare anyone to try and come up with a name better than that. I’ll give you a hint, there is only one, and its Piloswine. But guess what? Mamoswine already tried that, got tired of it, and has moved on to bigger, better, more blizzard-y things. There is a Mamoswine on record that was frozen in solid ice for 10,000 years and — when it was excavated — merely shook off the remainder of the ice crystals and resumed kicking ass 100 centuries later. You can’t fight science. Combine that with some sweet base stats and a dangerous type combination and you have a real primitive power house on your hands.

#22 – Tyranitar

Who’s That Pokémon?
The Armor Pokémon, Tyranitar, is said to possess — in a single one of its hands — the power to cause the ground to shake, the mountains to crumble, and rivers to be buried… all to make its nest. As a result, mapmakers thrive on the need for area maps to be redrawn wherever Tyranitar may be. In battle, Tyranitar are said to have impenetrable skin. The same can be said of them outside of battle, as Tyranitar are known to be insolent and indifferent about other Pokémon and other people.

Why did we pick it?
Making its debut in the Gold/Silver generation, Pokémon #248 is one hard-hitter. Boasting high base attack stats, Tyranitar is able to inflict a large amount of damage on even the toughest of foes with a single hit. Being a rock type also grants Tyranitar a formidable defense, making this Pokémon a fearsome opponent. To top all that off, Tyranitar just looks so darn cool.

#21 – Lucario

Who’s That Pokémon?
Lucario are known as Aura Pokémon. They can only evolve from Riolu after achieving maximum happiness, which means those Lucario partnered with trainers tend to be very loyal. In battle, Lucario are extremely versatile, sporting a damaging movepool that spans nearly all 17 typings (all except grass and flying), and includes the ability learn moves such as Psychic, Ice Punch, and Dragon Pulse. In the anime, Lucario are shown to have a great sense of pride, justice, and compassion.

Why did we pick it?
Lucario deserves a spot on this list because he is a definite fan favorite, and rightfully so. As a Steel/Fighting Pokemon, Lucario is resistant in some way to more than half of the various attack types, and is weak to only three of them. Lucario has also starred in several of the Pokémon films over the past few years, and was a playable character in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. With hard-hitting attacks, a powerful type advantage, and a well-rounded defense, Lucario is undoubtedly one cool cat. Er… dog.

That just about wraps it up for tonight! Be sure to check back here tomorrow night as we continue counting down our favorite Pokémon all the way down to our #1 all-time favorite on the eve of the North American launch of Pokémon Black and White, coming March 6th! Be sure to leave some comments below regarding your thoughts on these picks, and your predictions for the rest of the list!

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Reminder: Follow The Tanooki on Twitter or suffer the consequences

Rhody Tobin — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 19:04:18 +0000

Hey, you love us all here at The Tanooki, right? Of course you do. We’re awesome. Well, if you’re not doing so already, you can follow us on that Twitter thing all the kids are talking about these days! Not only that, but pretty much all of us are on Twitter independently as well! A whopping six of us are here in LA, and we’re all on Twitter, including Holly Green, Jason Leavey, Pete Betcher, Joey Levin, Christian Ponte, and me! The lovable Rhody! You can even follow the whole slew of us by following the official The Tanooki Staff Twitter list. Remember, it is absolutely impossible to overdose on The Tanooki.

The Tanooki on Twitter

Review: Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time

Joey Levin — Fri, 28 May 2010 18:47:04 +0000

Today marks the theatrical release of Disney’s film adaption of Ubisoft Montreal’s classic Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time. With a budget of $200 million, the film is one of the most expensive video game movies ever made. Additionally, it was produced by Jerry Bruckheimer who is well known for his work on popular television shows like CSI and high-grossing films like Top Gun, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Black Hawk Down. If the movie is successful, Disney seems fully prepared to make Prince of Persia into a multi-film franchise, but does the first installment live up to all of its potential? Read our full review below the break to find out!

Before seeing The Sands of Time, I have to admit that I had gotten a little caught up in its pre-release hype and had high hopes for this movie. The trailer had me pumped to see the film, and I had searched the internet for news about the movie’s production. Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time is also one of my favorite third-party titles from the last generation of consoles, and I’m usually very pleased with work produced by Bruckheimer. Plus, as an avid gamer, I have long awaited the arrival of a truly good video game movie adaptation. Unfortunately, Prince of Persia is not that film.

The plot for the movie loosely follows the story from The Sands of Time game. Jake Gyllenhaal as Prince Dastan comes across a strange dagger while leading the Persian army on a siege against a supposed enemy of Persia. The Prince doesn’t think to much of the artifact until he discovers that it has the ability to rewind time for its user by releasing enchanted sand once the jewel on its hilt is pressed. Later on the ruler of the city that Persia has attacked, Princess Tamina (played by Gemma Arterton), joins up with the Prince and reveals that the sands of time used to power the dagger is stored within a massive hourglass below the city.

Without spoiling too much more of the plot, the Prince eventually realizes that he was deceived by someone close to him, and that their true intentions were to obtain the dagger and use the sands of time to change the course of history in pursuit of the Persian throne. Everything leading up to that point, including Persia’s campaign against the city at the start of the film, has been manipulated by this person in an effort to obtain the dagger and gain access to the hourglass. The Prince must now join forces with the dagger’s chosen guardian, Princess Tamina, in order to stop the power of the sands of time from falling into the wrong hands, which could generate a massive sandstorm that would devour the entire world.

While the basic plot taken from the game is a relatively simple one, one of the biggest flaws of the film is that it places too much emphasis on less-important aspects of the story, and breezes over others that I felt were key. What’s more, seemingly random characters and scenarios are thrown into the mix, making the final product feel choppy and unsatisfying. A perfect example of all this can be found in a scene about half-way through the film. Dastan and Tamina are roaming in the dessert on the run from the Prince’s betrayer, when they are attacked by a caravan of bandits. In literally a split second the Prince inexplicably befriends and makes a deal with the bandit leader to trade the Princess for his freedom, and in the next minute of screen time they are shown watching over an ostrich race that the bandit is hosting while Tamina serves the audience refreshments. I wish I could say that the previous sentences were taken from a bad Mad Libs, but unfortunately it is a perfect demonstration of the random and sporadic way in which the film moves the plot forward.

One of the other weaknesses in the film is the fact that many of its minor characters feel shallow and poorly developed. An example of this is Seso played by Steve Toussaint. When he is first introduced to the audience he is described as being very gifted at throwing knives. This fact is literally and unnecessarily repeated at least five more times throughout the course of the film, and although he plays a key role in moving the story forward that’s about all that we ever learn about him. While good films make audiences relate to the characters on screen and understand their motivations, in The Sands of Time, audiences are quite literally just told, “Hey! This guy is really good at throwing knives. We really are going somewhere with this, we swear!”

While I had many complaints about the film, it does get some things right. The special effects look great, as they should in any film with a budget as large as this one. In particular, scenes involving the use of the dagger of time’s rewind ability look visually outstanding. My only issue was that this should have been used more throughout the course of the film. I left the theater feeling that there was a lot of untapped potential for exciting ways in which characters could have used the dagger itself. The action sequences are also entertaining, and The Prince shows off some thrilling acrobatic stunts that he has become well-known for. Fans will even recognize some of these stunts as exact reproductions of acrobatic animations found within the Prince of Persia games.

As the titular prince of Persia, Jake Gyllenhaal does a fairly good job portraying the character on screen, but I feel that he doesn’t ever really make the character his own. The Prince feels much more likable as a character to audiences in the games than he does on the big screen. Leading lady Gemma Arterton, on the other hand, was by far my favorite part of the entire film. Not only do the writers present enough of her back story to make her the most well-rounded and sympathetic of all the film’s characters, but Arterton herself is… well, let’s just say very easy on the eyes. Sadly, her performance just isn’t enough to save the film as a whole.

As far as video game film adaptations go, Prince of Persia is one of the better ones that I have seen. Unfortunately, this is a very mediocre standard of comparison, and I left the theater feeling disappointed with the final product. The potential was there for a good film, but it is lost within a spastic mess of a plot, unlikable characters, and occasional cheesy dialog. If you make it out to theaters to see this film, expect to see some state-of-the-art special effects and exciting action sequences, but don’t expect a movie with a real heart. Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time isn’t terrible, but it’s very forgettable.

Final Score:

2 Stars out of 5

Mario Music of Golden (and Galactic) Proportions

Christian Ponte — Mon, 17 May 2010 16:00:49 +0000

You could say that video game music is becoming much more epic as the years go by. A growing number of MIDI possibilities are at the disposal of game composers, and the number of streaming, fully orchestrated soundtracks is continually increasing. There are those that say newer game soundtracks are less memorable, because soundtracks for sequels and franchises seemingly rehash old music, while soundtracks for new IPs seem to be very contemporary, ambiguous, and often only ambient. However, I would disagree with anyone that says new video game soundtracks can’t be just as memorable or even better than the soundtracks of old, as I’m going to turn to a recent adventure of everyone’s favorite plumber to help demonstrate my case.

The music from the first Super Mario Galaxy takes some of the best traits in Mario music, which are then redefined and augmented in a process that ups the presentation to a level unparalleled by any other Nintendo game currently available. There are no doubts in my mind that many of you consider the music of Super Mario Galaxy to be one of the most impressive and memorable video game soundtracks in recent years. Today, we’re going to look at the music a little more objectively, revisiting a concept I used over three years ago to illustrate a musical phenomenon that seemed to pop up in music from the Zelda series. I hope it both boggles your mind and challenges you to listen to video game music in new ways. Read on, my friends!

For those that weren’t around last time, here’s a brief summary of what the Golden Ratio (a.k.a Phi), the natural and mathematical phenomenon behind this article, is and why it has significance. If you think of the length of a line segment as being equal to 1.0, there lies a point at approximately 0.618 where the ratio of the smaller segment to the larger segment is equal to the ratio of the larger segment to the whole, as illustrated above. For clarification, Phi is actually approximated at 1.618 (where the relationship of .618 to 1.0 is the same as 1 to 1.618), but I’ll be using its reciprocal of 0.618 because I find it easier to multiply by 0.618 rather than to divide the whole by 1.618. As long as the proper number is used with the proper operation, either can be used, as Phi is merely representative of a relationship between two numbers.

Why the big fuss? Well, it’s a mathematical phenomenon, as demonstrated by the Fibonacci Series of Numbers above, that seems to be found in many aspects of nature such as the structures of plants, animals, and even chemical compounds. In addition, it has been applied to visual artwork such as paintings and architecture, and many believe that the human mind subconsciously perceives anything that exhibits the Golden Ratio in any notable fashion as an object of beauty. It’s considered natural symmetry. In music, the theory lingers that compositions designed (both intentionally and unintentionally) with forms that stress the Golden Ratio are aurally more pleasing to the ear and mind. The most significant example is Béla Bartók’s “Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta,” which lacks hard proof that Bartók consciously used the Golden Ratio, but nonetheless is littered with chord, rhythms, and structures echoing the Golden Ratio and the Fibonacci Series of Numbers.

That should do it for a crash course on the Golden Ratio, though remember that this is all just theory. Mario composer Koji Kondo doesn’t consciously use the phenomenon in his compositions, though it continues to pop up in his work. We’ve already seen some prime examples of the ratio in music from The Legend of Zelda and other games from tha franchise, so let’s turn around and launch right into the music (YouTube recordings from Artictoc) that helped propel our favorite plumber out into the heavens.

“Good Egg Galaxy”

One of the first fully orchestrated songs you’ll hear upon playing a game of Super Mario Galaxy is the theme from Good Egg Galaxy. It’s peppy, majestic, and has that “Go get ‘em!” feel to it. For this one, we need to recognize right away that this piece is meant to be looped. When you hear it as it is in-game, you’ll realize that it just starts repeating endlessly until Mario (controlled by you) triggers an event such as encountering a boss, losing a life, or something of the sort. That spot in the music where the loop begins will mark the end of our measuring sample, and is located 52 measures into the song, or at roughly 1:22 into the recording above.

Now that we have determined the 52 measure chunk we need to look at, we can break it down into three sections. The first section is a two-bar brass fanfare followed by lengthy string melody, which lasts a total of 18 measures (or 17.75 measures, if you’re picky and notice the flute’s single pick-up quarter note before measure 21). Next, we introduce the woodwinds, evident by the flute melody that starts in measure 21. While the flute doesn’t hold the melody for the whole 16 measures, this section technically does last for 16 measures and can be broken down into smaller, four-measure phrases. The key one here is when that fourth smaller phrase begins – after the flute melody ends, the timpani enters, and the strings dominate the crescendo into the next section. Finally, we have a 16 measure section featuring a forte (“loud”) string melody to close out the loop.

If we take those 52 measures and use our special ratio to find the Golden Section, we should hope to find something significant happening roughly 32.14 measures in. Since we’re measuring in musical units, this is interpreted as 32 whole measures being completed and something happening within the first quarter note of the 33rd measure. Remember that crescendo and timpani entrance that I mentioned was sort of a big deal? It happens right at measure 33 (about 51 seconds in).

Now, to make things even more exciting, let’s take a look at the Golden Section OF the Golden Section. Multiply 32.14 by 0.618 and we get 19.86. Or, take the original 52 measures, and find the Golden Section from the end. 32.14 measures from the end. Same point? Same point. This is called the Negative Golden Section, and the 19.86 means that if we’re lucky, something important happens at the end of measure 20 (since the 19.86 means we don’t yet have 20 full measures), just before measure 21. Remember that flute pick-up note we said comes in right before measure 21? There it is, 32 seconds in!

“Gusty Gardens Galaxy”

In addition to Good Egg Galaxy, Gusty Gardens is another one of the game’s locations that managed to get a truly grand accompanying track. In fact, it’s so special that many parts of this piece show up in various other arrangements throughout the game. For example, the “A” theme from Gusty Gardens (the oboe melody near the beginning) can be found in a beautiful piano solo towards the end of the game, titled “Birth.” The “B” theme (the string melody around 1:26) recurs in the “Purple Comet” theme as well as the game’s title track, both of which we’ll look at on the next page. It’s a clear indication as to how iconic the themes in this piece were meant to be.

The music for Gusty Gardens is another looped song, so we won’t be looking at the entire recording above. The main portion of this piece begins at about 10 seconds into the YouTube clip above, and last for 64 measures until about 1:51 seconds into the recording. If you do the math, we should end up with a Golden Section at 39.552, or the end of measure 39 heading into measure 40 at about 1:13 into the recording. At this point, the cornet (trumpet) is joined by the oboe in a playful musical sequence in which the same musical idea is repeated a major third down as part of a transition into the next major section. (The sequence then begins continuing down an additional third, before interrupting the sequence to wrap up the transition.) This in itself doesn’t seem like a particularly important point in the song, but let’s take a look at the Negative Golden Section and see if there’s any connection.

The Negative Golden Section should occur at measure 24.448, meaning in the first half of measure 25. In the clip above, this can be heard at 48 seconds into the song, where we hear a very prominent string climax on a half note (essentially the entire first half of measure 25). But wait! If you continue listening from this point, what do you hear? That string climax is the start of a short musical idea, which is then repeated it a step down, and then begins continuing down again before wrapping up this segment. Didn’t we have something like this before? That’s right, it’s another musical sequence! It looks like sequences are the big aspect for this particular piece, which becomes evident if you go back and listen to the entire thing.

So far, we’ve looked primarily at structural Golden Sections by taking the length of a piece or loop and broken its duration down according to the Golden Ratio. Let’s continue on and see what else we can find in Super Mario Galaxy!

Continued on Page 2…

The Tanooki’s Daily Recap – April 19, 2010

Christian Ponte — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 04:59:38 +0000

Just a reminder: if you want to receive updates on our news posts wherever you are, be sure to follow us on Twitter! We’ve also got a large stash of swag and goodies that we’re considering holding contests for on Twitter and on the site… assuming Matt sends them over to me.

Here’s the recap for today, the most popular of which seemed to be the Marvel vs. Capcom 3 post. There were several other stories from the day, so be sure to read them all!

General News
Leading UK game retailer adds DLC warning to used game copies
Kamiya wants Nintendo to want new Star Fox
Ubisoft ditches game manuals for “greener” option
7-Eleven stores to offer used games

Game News & Media
Weekly Nintendo Shop Update: April 19, 2010
Crackdown 2, video documentary “Nothing is Sacred”
LittleBigPlanet 2 unofficially revealed?
Development on Addicube set to begin
LittleBigPhiladelphia level is awesome, and historic
Marvel vs. Capcom 3 revealed at Capcom’s Captivate event?
Bionic Commando 2 also confirmed at Capcom Captivate event
Arkham Asylum 2 to be “darker” than original

Society & Culture
Prince of Persia gets LEGO-fied

The Tanooki’s Daily Recap – April 18, 2010

Christian Ponte — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 04:59:24 +0000

By the time you read this, I’ll probably have been dozing off for a couple hours. I decided to call it a night thanks to nature reminding me that spring has arrived, but I’ll be back by morning. Hopefully.

In the meantime, you can read up on the posts from today, listed below:

General News
Demand for WoW and MW2 raises Activision’s forecasts
Two more gone from Infinity Ward
Media Crate: Japanese sales figures for April 5 – April 11
Xbox 360 failure rate at 42% according to new survey
Sony closes door to its PlayStation Room

Game News & Media
Direct feed versions of Pokemon Black/White screens
Time Travelers site opens, concept art goes public
Galaxy 2’s storyline and Peach’s letter translated
Magazine covers earn Assassin’s Creed II a Guinness Record
Super Mario Galaxy 2 gets some multiplayer action
Pokemon Black/White footage from Pokemon Sunday

Society & Culture
Marle joins the cast of Chrono Trigger models
New trailers for the 13th Pokemon movie

The Tanooki’s Daily Recap – April 17, 2010

Christian Ponte — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 04:59:32 +0000

This photo showed up on forgetomori the other day, showing what’s supposedly a time traveler towards the bottom right caught in a 1940s photo. People are claiming that his sunglasses, camera, and screen-printed t-shirt didn’t exist at the time… what do you think?

Personally, I’m not swayed, and the site linked above does a pretty good job of arguing against the time traveler theory. Perhaps these are the kinds of things we’ll be dealing with in Level-5′s new game?

General News
Amazon lowers white DSi price to $129

Game News & Media
New EA Sports MMA screens are bloody and bruised
Rumor: Konami readying new Castlevania titled “Harmony of Despair”

The Tanooki’s Daily Recap – April 16, 2010

Christian Ponte — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 04:59:31 +0000

General News
Get LOST with this gaming console skin
Pokemon and Final Fantasy top NPD Report for March

Game News & Media
Galaxy looks overcast with new Cloud Mario power-up
UFO title Abduction Action! gets trailer
Bayer develops video game for hemophilia awareness
Even more Super Mario Galaxy 2 screenshots
Lost Planet 2, the Final Episode trailer

The Tanooki’s Daily Recap – April 15, 2010

Christian Ponte — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 04:59:23 +0000

General News
3D gaming coming to PlayStation Network in June

Game News & Media
Cammy coming to Street Fighter iPhone for free
Descent decending for WiiWare release

The Tanooki » Tanooki

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