A new piece of digital fan art for Pokémon-inspired DIY pendant lamp.
Pokémon is one of the most popular franchises in gaming, with over 100 mainline and spin-off games coming from the IP since its debut in the mid-1990s. Perhaps the most recognizable and fondly ed games, however, came during the Game Boy and Game Boy Advance generation, which saw the release of smash-hit titles like Pokémon Red and Green, Pokémon Yellow, and Pokémon Emerald. Released just after Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, Emerald borrowed many mechanics and staples from previous games while adding various features and enhancing the visuals with adaptations like animated Pokémon sprites. While modern games have become known for their interesting 3D Pokémon designs, the use of the classic 2D, pixelated graphics continues to inspire fans to create unique, retro-themed art.
Some of this retro magic has been recaptured through short animations from Reddit itzaspace. The piece follows the female player avatar as she rides her bike up a hill, calling back to the core bike-riding mechanic from Pokémon Emerald. As she rides past, various Pokémon can be observed, including Jigglypuff, Wingull, and the Hoenn starter Pokémon Mudkip. The looping GIF is depicted in a classic, pixelated style that is highly reminiscent of the graphics from the original game.
This piece from itzaspace is proof that not all fan art needs to be highly detailed or realistic to be worthwhile. While photorealistic Pokémon art like the creepy 3D Gengar model will always be impressive and visually interesting, creations like itzaspace's are able to bottle nostalgia in a powerful way. Even for those who never played Pokémon Emerald, this piece is aesthetically pleasing. It also gives modern players a glimpse of what pixelated graphics in a new Pokémon title could achieve, as the art style has evolved past the simple colors and limited animations of earlier games in the Pokémon series.
Looking at this fan creation, some players may feel disappointed that the Pokémon franchise has seemingly abandoned this vibrant and charming art style in favor of more contemporary 3D graphics. While it is a matter of preference, the stylish, enthusiastic graphics from the Pokémon Emerald era will always be iconic and memorable, and likely continue to play a part in the 3D art direction for future games in the series.
Source: itzaspace/Reddit
