Pokemon Pokopia is already a massive success for the first Switch 2 native Pokemon game in the series, and fans are hoping this is a good sign for what’s to come with Gen 10, Pokemon Winds and Waves. While only time will tell whether Pokemon Winds and Waves will manage to live up to the standard set by Pokopia, there is already a strange connection between these games, and it has everything to do with Pikachu. Now, before I get into it, it’s important to note a few things. I very much like Pikachu. It may not be my favorite Pokemon or close to it, but I’ve been playing these games since I was a kid, so Pikachu is simply iconic for me.
I’m a grown woman in her thirties, and yet I cried when I learned that Ash and (more importantly) Pikachu were leaving the anime after such a long time. I don’t even watch the anime regularly. So, while Pikachu may not be my absolute favorite, I do have a lot of love for the Electric critter. Not only that, but I adore Pokemon Pokopia‘s Peakychu — it’s a clever name, it’s an adorable-looking version of Pikachu, and it has an eye-watering background story. However, this gave way to something that Pokemon Winds and Waves is taking to the extreme with new Pikachu variants and names, and this is something I strongly dislike.
Nintendo Switch Online Subscribers Have Until March 18 to Claim Pokemon Pokopia Free Download
Nintendo Switch Online subscribers can claim a new free download inspired by Pokemon Pokopia, with even more on the way too.
Pokemon Winds and Waves Have Gone Too Far With Pikachu Variants
Pokemon Winds and Waves leaks pointed to a strong theme of weather-based moves and Legendary mons, to the point that the Gen 10 box Legendaries are leaked to be a “wind grandpa and wave grandma.” I have no idea how this will actually turn out in the game, but it’s probably no coincidence that we have two more variants of Pikachu called Windychu and Wavychu, with the former being a male Pikachu and the latter a female, as can be seen from their tails.
Drag weapons to fill the grid
Drag weapons to fill the grid
EasyMediumHard
Aside from their potential ties with the Legendaries, Mr. Windychu and Ms. Wavychu are actual characters in Gen 10 that players will interact with and who will be part of the overall adventure in Pokemon Winds and Waves‘ region. I actually like the idea of Pokemon being part of the story, but these two are just Peakychu two times over, all in the span of two games. Whereas Peakychu could be written off as a convergent species of Pikachu, as convergent Pokemon keep parts of the original’s name and have a similar sound to it, Windychu and Wavychu are very much showing this is a trend rather than a one-time gimmick.
The convergent species in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet were:
- Wiglett: A Water-type version of Diglett
- Wugtrio: A Water-type version of Dugtrio
- Toedscool: A Ground/Grass-type version of Tentacool
- Toedscruel: A Ground/Grass-type version of Tentacruel
The concept of convergent Pokemon, originally called “regional fakes” by early Gen 9 leaks, was also interesting because of the opposition of types: Diglett’s Ground-type becomes Water, Tentacool’s Water becomes Ground, and its Poison-type becomes Grass. However, Peakychu is still Electric-type.
Pikachu’s New Forms Are Repeating The Worst Sin of Pokemon Sword and Shield
My issue is that the names could be a bit too ridiculous and on the nose if this trend picks up, and I really hope it doesn’t. It diminishes the value of convergent species by using random names for Pikachu, and if they are not proper new forms but just cosmetic variants, I don’t really see the value in changing the name all the time. Pokemon Pokopia‘s new forms all do this, and while I’m up for it in a spin-off game or even occasionally in mainline games, I don’t think it’s a good idea to make this concept all-encompassing.
I mean, come on. Mr. Windychu and Ms. Wavychu sound comically bad to me, and potentially worse than my least favorite characters in the series ever, which were Sordward and Shielbert. The names, the stories, the designs, they never really appealed to me in any way, and I thought they were an unnecessary addition — especially considering Gen 8’s not-so-great plot and “villain” reveal. One of the reasons why I think Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are some of the best Pokemon games ever is that they attempted to have a more meaningful, profound story at their core, and they succeeded.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet’s Story Already Feels an Impossible Standard With Windychu and Wavychu
So, to go from Arven’s tragic story, Team Star’s struggles with bullying, Namona’s insecurities and loneliness, to Mr. Windychu and Ms. Wavychu feels like a slap in the face to me. I do love Peakychu, and I think there are merits to the idea, but to make this a trend for Pikachu and possibly other mons will most likely lead to overuse and saturation of what makes some Pokemon unique and cool. Imagine yet another Charizard form that is called “Memoirizard,” and it’s an old Charizard requiring help to recall the events of a story. Theoretically, something like this could also work, and it has the potential to be fun; it’s world-building after all, but it’s also a bit forced and unnatural.
In the Pokemon Winds and Waves Teraleak is the so-called “majin” battle gimmick, which allegedly makes some Pokemon stronger and distorted by weather. If this is the case, having a Pokemon as a big part of the story with a made-up name its trainer gives it is perfectly fine and natural for the series, but adding tanned versions of Pikachu with human clothing and calling them Mr. Windychu and Ms. Wavychu feels very off to me. I guess we’ll see, but so far, I’m not impressed, pleased, or entertained.
Pokemon Pokopia
- Released
-
March 5, 2026
- ESRB
-
Everyone / Users Interact, In-Game Purchases
