Unused Pokémon in the 1997 ''Pokémon Gold'' and ''Silver'' demo

The 1997 demo featured an entirely different set of fire starter Pokémon (top row) and water starter Pokémon (bottom row).

The Pokémon Gold and Silver demo is a prototype version of the 1999 video games Pokémon Gold and Silver, that was presented at Nintendo Space World in 1997. The demo features 251 Pokémon species, around 40 of which did not appear in the final games and at least 29 of which are significantly different from their final designs.[1] Because the demo was not officially translated, all of the unused Pokémon species are only known by their Japanese name.

Seven of the game's nine "starter Pokémon" have different designs and names than they do in the final work. The Pokémon Gold and Silver demo also features ten additional "baby Pokémon", such as unevolved versions of Meowth and Vulpix. The 25 other Pokémon that were cut from the demo include both entirely new Pokémon and evolutions of existing generation I Pokémon. Several other Pokémon, like Pichu and Entei, also sported entirely different designs in this old version of the games.

Background

Pokémon Gold and Silver were released for the Game Boy Color in 1999.

The Japanese-language Pokémon Gold and Silver demo was presented at Nintendo Space World on November 15, 1997, over two years before the final video games were released. The games were stil fairly early in development, but four ROM images for the games was leaked during this presentation: two debug versions of the game and two versions that have been modified to work on normal Game Boy hardware and most emulators.[2] These ROM images were only rumored to exist until an anonymous person going by the name "@__" posted a download link to them on the "Pokémon Reverse Engineering Tools" (PRET) Discord server on May 26, 2018.[3] The demo was quickly shared with members of the website The Cutting Room Floor. The ROMs were analyzed and translated, and The Cutting Room Floor went on to release a spreadsheet containing all the information they had discovered, which includes a list of Pokémon species, Pokémon "moves", items, non-playable characters, maps, and music. The demo has a massively larger world map than the final game, and includes around 100 unusued and changed Pokémon designs.[2]

Earlier in May 2018, Pokémon artist Atsuko Nishida revealed that the popular creature Pikachu was originally supposed to have a third evolution, named "Gorochu".[4] Also, Pokemon creator Satoshi Tajiri happened to reveal four unused designs that would have been included in the original Pokémon games.[5]

While cut content is not uncommon in video games, the volume of cut content in the Gold and Silver demo has been described as "overwhelming". Matthew Byrd, writing for Den of Geek, stated that a lot of design work had gone into the Pokémon that were eventually cut, suggesting that Game Freak might have taken them out during the testing phase due to balance issues.[6]

"Starter" Pokémon

Each Pokémon game features a set of three "starter" Pokémon, each of which can evolve into a different species twice. Chikorita and its final evolution Meganium appear very similar in the demo as they do in the final game, but the seven other starter Pokémon all look completely different.[7] Chikorita's first evolution in the demo, named "Hanamogura" (literally: "plant mole") is much more flower-like than its final design, resembling a floating lotus blossom.[8] The Fire-type starter is completely different from the Cyndaquil-line in the final game. The fire starter looks very similar to Pikachu, but eventually evolves into a rough-looking Ninetales-like creature.[7]

The Water-type starter in the Pokémon Gold and Silver demo resembles a seal and is named "Kurusu". Its final evolution, "Aquarius", looks like a cross between Samurott (introduced in Pokémon Black and White) and Primarina (introduced in Pokémon Sun and Moon).[8] Both Den of Geek and Eurogamer have suggested that Kurusu's design may have been the basis of Primarina's pre-evolution Popplio.[6][9]

Pictures of Hanamogura and Kurusu had been spread online before the major leak of the demo.[10]

Japanese name English name Type Note
Happa Chikorita Grass Unchanged
Hanamogura Bayleef Grass Different from its final design
Hanaryuu Meganium Grass Unchanged
Honooguma Fire
Borubeaa Fire
Dainabea Fire
Kurusu Water
Akua Water
Akueria Water

Baby Pokémon

Pokémon Gold and Silver includes a number of "Baby Pokémon"; pre-evolutions of existing Pokémon from Pokémon Red and Blue. The demo features many more baby Pokémon than the final game did, as it includes unevolved versions of generation I Pokémon Meowth, Vulpix, Ponyta, Tangela, Goldeen, Grimer, Growlithe, Paras, and Doduo. A baby version of Mr. Mime is also present in the demo, and such a Pokémon was eventually released in Pokémon Diamond and Pearl as "Mime Jr.", albeit with a significantly different design.[9] The full list of cut baby Pokémon are:[11]

Pokémon Evolution Note
Baririina Mr. Mime A different baby version of Mr. Mime was eventually released in Pokémon Diamond and Pearl (2006).
Betobebii Grimer
Gyopin Goldeen
Hinaazu Doduo
Koonya Meowth
Mikon Vulpix Unlike Fire-type Vulpix, Mikon is (seemingly erroneously) a Water-type.[11]
Monja Tangela
Para Paras
Puchikoon Ponyta
Pudi Growlithe

Cut Pokémon


The 25 cut species (not-including the original seven "starter" and ten "baby" Pokémon listed earlier) are:[11]

Pokémon Type Pre-evolution Replacement Note[11]
Animon Normal Ditto Ditto (Metamon) was intended to evolve into Animon after using a "Metal Coat" item.[12] Anime News Network described Animon as "a conehead that screams at you."[13]
Berurun Dark Rinrin
Bomushikaa Fire/Water A flaming seal.
Gurotesu Water/Steel An unusual-looking eel-like Pokémon.
Haneei Water/Flying
Ikari Water Manboo 1 Ikari is reminiscent of Carvanha and Sharpedo from later generations.
Jaranra Grass Tangela Tangrowth (2006)
Kotora Electric A cute electric tiger.
Kyonpan Ghost A mix between a panda and a Jiangshi[14]
Madaamu Flying Farfetch'd
Manboo 1 Water
Nameeru Normal Lickitung Lickilicky (2006)
Norowara Ghost Appearing as a creepy bear doll with a nail struck through it, Norowara somehow evolves into Kyonpan at level 1.
Purakkusu Insect Pinsir
Raitora Electric Kotora
Riifi Grass Eevee Leafeon (2006)
Rinrin Dark A cat-like Pokémon.
Shibirefugu Water Quilfish
Taaban Water Taaban appears to be a stand-alone version of the creature attached to Slowpoke's tail.
Tsubomitto Grass Weepinbell Evolution into Tsubomitto is triggered by the use of a specific item.
Tsuinzu Ghost Girafarig A pair of conjoined ghosts.
Urufuman Ice A small fluffy wolf
Waaurufu Ice

Other notable design changes

Cleffa and Pichu are two baby Pokémon that were completely redesigned after they appeared in the 1997 demo.

Several Pokémon that were included in the final version of Pokémon Gold and Silver had significantly different designs in the 1997 demo:

  • Girafarig was originally designed as a two-headed giraffe, explaining its palindromic name. Its two-headed Ghost-type pre-evolution "Tsuinzu" spurs questions regarding the nature of Girafarig.[13]
  • The prototype versions of Pichu and Cleffa featured simplified and rounder designs. Pichu resembles a Mameshiba bean, while Cleffa resembles a star with an antenna.[8]
  • The design for Porygon 2 in the demo is significantly different from its final design. The creature resembles a small lion with several spheres surrounding its face. Porygon 2's original design is very similar to that of Pon de Leon, the mascot of Japanese doughnut joint Mister Donut.[8]
  • The final version of Pokémon Gold and Silver features the fish Pokémon Remoraid, with evolves into an octopus named Octillery. in the Gold and Silver demo, the two Pokémon were styled after a gun and tank respectively, strengthening the connection between the two designs. Remoraid was likely based on the triggerfish.[15]
  • The three "Legendary Beasts" Entei, Raikou, and Suicune were all changed a lot from their prototype design. Fans took notice of Suicune in particular, because the creature strongly resembles Nina's chimera, a tragic character in the Fullmetal Alchemist series.[16]

References

  1. ↑ "Proto:Pokémon Gold and Silver/Pokémon". The Cutting Room Floor. Retrieved 2018-10-09.
  2. 1 2 Patino, Martin (2018-06-01). "Leaked Pokemon Gold and Silver Beta Demos Show Features Cut From Final Games". Game Revolution.
  3. ↑ Jones, Camden (2018-08-01). "How Hackers Are Preserving Gaming History". Game Informer.
  4. ↑ Sato (2018-05-03). "Pikachu Originally Had A Second Evolution Called 'Gorochu' With Large Fangs And Two Horns". Siliconera.
  5. ↑ Watts, Steve (2018-06-01). "Old Pokemon Demo Reveals New Unused Designs". GameSpot.
  6. 1 2 Byrd, Matthew (2018-06-04). "Pokemon: The Gold and Silver Pokemon We Almost Got". Den of Geek.
  7. 1 2 Rossignol, Derrick (2018-06-01). "Uncovered Pokémon Demo Reveals Creatures We Never Knew About". Nerdist News.
  8. 1 2 3 4 Oxford, Nadia (2018-06-01). "10 Pokemon That Never Were - A Tribute to the Pokemon That Died Inside the Pokemon Gold Beta". US Gamer.
  9. 1 2 Phillips, Tom (2018-05-31). "20 years later, fans uncover never-before-seen Pokémon left on the cutting room floor". Eurogamer.
  10. ↑ Grosso, Robert (2018-04-15). "The Six Worst Designed Pokemon of Generation 2". TechRaptor.
  11. 1 2 3 4 Van Winkle, Dan (2018-06-04). "What Are the Weird, Never-Before-Seen Pokémon the Internet Is in Love With?". The Mary Sue.
  12. ↑ Kleinman, Jake (2018-06-01). "Leaked Pokémon Demo Reveals We Almost Got an Evolved Form of Ditto". Inverse.com.
  13. 1 2 Loveridge, Lynzee (2018-06-01). "Beta Pokémon Gold Reveals a Whole New World of Monsters". Anime News Network.
  14. ↑ Renadette, Brian (2018-06-01). "Old Pokémon Gold and Silver Demo Discovered; Prototype Pokémon Unveiled". mxdwn.com.
  15. ↑ Jackson, Gita (2018-06-01). "One Unused Pokémon Concept Was Just A Gun". Kotaku.
  16. ↑ Peters, Megan (2018-06-03). "'Pokemon' Fans Cannot Unsee This Tragic 'Fullmetal Alchemist' Connection". Comicbook.com.
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