Pokémon Legends: Arceus' Worst Starter Evolution Is Also Its Ugliest
After being heavily rumored and then leaked before launch, the Pokémon Legends: Arceus final starter evolutions are Hisuian variants, but one of them sticks out as the worst and ugliest of the bunch. The designs for the new Hisuian forms of Decidueye, Typhlosion, and Samurott have all drawn criticism for either being boring or questionable. While all three forms leave something to be desired, one in particular is not only the overall worst, but also the ugliest.
Criticism for the final evolutions of the starters began after copies of the game leaked online, prior to its official release on January 28, 2022. Between the three options for starters in Pokémon Legends: Arceus, Typhlosion received the most online attention due to its low-key design. Despite being mocked for the absence of its cool features, Typhlosion wasn't necessarily criticized for being ugly.
Compared to its original design, Hisuian Samurott hasn't been changed too much aesthetically, outside of its coloration. Samurott's new colors make for a boring alteration, but it still maintains the edge and prowess it exudes normally. While Typhlosion and Samurott's changes are more on the boring side, Hisuian Decidueye's is uncomfortable, cementing it as the ugliest of the three.
Typhlosion and Samurott's Hisuian forms may not exude aesthetic innovation from Game Freak, but Decidueye's design changes cement itself as the ugliest of the three. Pokémon Legends: Arceus' Hisuian Decidueye removed many of the cool features of the original design, and while none of the new aesthetics are particularly egregious on their own, the combination of them all makes the bird look awkward and borderline uncomfortable to look at. In its debut in Pokémon Sun and Moon, Decidueye was instantly appealing due to its large wings and green feathers that wrapped around its head.
In its new design, the green feathers have been replaced with an awkward red and orange bowl cut with spikes that obscure its face. A collar of red also hides the bottom part of the bird's head, making the facial features difficult to see. The usually long wings now fall at the hips, and a strange nodule rests between its legs, making Decidueye look more uncomfortable than stunning. Whereas the new coloration of Samurott in Pokémon Legends: Arceus fits it new Water/Dark dual type, Decidueye's new aesthetics lean too heavy in its new Fighting type, forgetting the green colors that made it stand out. Now memorable for the wrong reasons, most of the bird's features are located in the upper half of its design, making it look stubby and tall at the same time.
While Game Freak showcased more innovation in updating Decidueye's design compared to its counterparts, and the nods to Japanese period dress are appreciated, it ultimately ends up being the worst starter evolution in Pokémon Legends: Arceus. Typhlosion was mocked by fans for its low-key appearance and Samurott looks like a simple color swap, but Decidueye's new design stripped away all the defining features of the original. The bird's new typing of Grass/Fighting also isn't unique within the game, leaving the starter choice easier than other Pokémon titles.