Pokemon GO continues to prove that, as one of the franchise’s more unusual generational gimmicks, Ultra Beasts deserve another chance in the spotlight in a game that makes the most out of these bizarre but fascinating Pokemon. Alongside other new features (like regional variants) introduced in Gen 7’s Pokemon Sun and Moon and their Ultra counterparts, Ultra Beasts radically changed how players viewed the games by implying Pokemon was another gaming multiverse. But while the recent Pokemon Scarlet and Violet games attempted to replicate the Ultra Beasts’ success with the likes of Paradox Pokemon, these extradimensional Pokemon remain unrivaled and in dire need of a comeback.
Between the latest Pokemon GO Ultra Beast raids and research events and Pokemon games ranging from Scarlet and Violet to Pokemon Legends: Arceus exploring ideas about space, time, and alternate dimensions, it seems that these underutilized Pokemon can still play a part in the larger series. Unfortunately, even with the substantial amount of lore added in Pokemon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, Game Freak has seemingly put Ultra Beasts on ice for the foreseeable future. However, if the once-retired Mega Evolutions can return in Pokemon Legends: Z-A, then there may still be hope for Ultra Beasts.
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Five Years Later, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet’s Paradox Pokemon Might be Ultra Sun and Moon’s Legacy
Years after they were released, Ultra Beasts seem to be coming back in the form of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet’s new Paradox Pokemon.
How Ultra Beasts Reshape the Pokemon World
As far back as Pokemon‘s earliest games, players have been speculating about the true scale of the franchise’s universe, with infamous examples including potentially alien Pokemon like Clefairy, Deoxys, and Elgyem, as well as claims that Arbok was the first-ever regional variant. But theories about a Pokemon multiverse seemed purely fan-made until Gen 7 introduced Ultra Beasts, Ultra Wormholes, Ultra Space, and more. These changes recontextualized several other Pokemon games, such as connecting Giratina’s Reverse or “Distortion” World to Ultra Space or suggesting that Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire‘s Looker and Legends: Arceus‘ Ingo fell through Ultra Wormholes.
In addition to this, other key details introduced during Gen 7’s games raise some arguably stranger questions regarding Ultra Space and Ultra Beasts. For instance, while Pokemon fusions are highly uncommon, Sun and Moon feature an even rarer human-Pokemon fusion between Lusamine and Nihilego. Moreover, Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon established that entire societies existed in Ultra Space at some point, with cities such as Ultra Megalopolis and partner Pokemon like Poipole. The significance of these and many other world-changing details suggests that Pokemon‘s strange Ultra Beast gimmick needs deeper exploration in future games.
Ultra Beasts Offer An Alternative to Legendary, Mythical, and Paradox Pokemon
Since Ultra Beasts are no longer classified as Legendary Pokemon and are more comparable to groups like pseudo-legendaries, they provide Game Freak with a means of introducing powerful Pokemon that are more unique and distinct from most others. Also, while Scarlet and Violet‘s Paradox Pokemon take on a similar role to Ultra Beasts, being based on existing Pokemon from either the past or the future arguably likens Paradox Pokemon to regional variants. Therefore, only Ultra Beasts offer the best of both worlds, enabling Game Freak to create odd, otherworldly Pokemon like Celesteela, Guzzlord, and Xurkitree while continuing to explore Pokemon‘s long-running interdimensional canon.
Ultra Beasts Could Be Perfect for a Pokemon Spin-Off
Despite the untapped wealth of potential Ultra Beasts and Ultra Space might have, it’s understandable that Game Freak might prefer to develop new ideas for its mainline games to keep Pokemon fresh for players. However, as has since been revealed for Legends: Z-A, there’s nothing to prevent Ultra Beasts from returning in a future Pokemon Legends or other spin-off game. Legends: Z-A breaks the mold by returning to a largely abandoned mechanic; in the same vein, Ultra Beasts could be expanded on in a new modern game inspired by Gen 7 which dives into Ultra Wormholes and Ultra Space’s mysterious, untold history.