It's not often that we get to see behind-the-scenes looks at original concepts or early designs, but Pokémon designer James Turner has given fans of the series a small treat on social media.
Turner, who recently served as art director on Pokémon Sword and Shield, has shared a couple of his designs from 2006 Wii title Pokémon Battle Revolution. The two characters made their way into a portfolio of his which he compiled a little later in 2009, as seen at the bottom of each page.
It turns out that Turner was responsible for several fan-favourite designs from the game.
Do you have fond memories of this game on Wii? Let us know in the usual place...
Comments 13
Weird, it’s for a Gen 4 game, but looks a lot more like the Gen 3 art stylistically.
I know many people didn't care for Battle Revolution but I loved that game so much. I had so many different teams I made on my old copy of Pearl and it was fun seeing them on the big screen. I also enjoyed the challenge, especially after beating the game once and a many more opened up afterwards.
I really liked Battle Revolution. I can see why people didn't, but my expectations were that it would be an "expansion pack" for D/P and it didn't disappoint on that front. The art direction was also really good.
@BeefsoundMagnus Can also confirm for both Stadium games.
@Cinaclov
Yep, had fun with it as an Addition
Imo Stadium was better.
@Cinaclov That's certainly an interesting way to look at it. I think if you didn't have experience with the Stadium/Colosseum games beforehand, it possibly would have landed differently. I didn't hate Battle Revolution. Just felt a bit underwhelmed by it.
I loved the variety (even if only 6) of choices of cool characters' design in this game
Had more fun customizing them than actually fighting
Bit blurry, but does anyone else remember the original trailer for Pokemon Battle Revolution?
https://youtu.be/uzpwF7oZZKU
I hope one day we can get a Pokemon game as visually ambitious as that Wii title was supposed to be.
I understand that this is the last mainline-style spinoff Genius Sonority developed before getting sent to the backseat as a puzzle game developer.
Don't get me wrong. The Pokémon puzzle games GS has made were good. But when you consider that the team was formed by former Square Enix members that helped in developing Final Fantasy games, one must wonder if SwSh would have ended up an aesthetically different kind of game than what it is today. The Let's Go and SwSh games felt like they where coding exercises that didn't really push the limits of the Switch, and the Let's Go games looked prettier.
@Munchlax seeing how it's concept art, it's possible this is earlier than the portfolio date suggests. But yeah that's clearly based on May's clothes there.
Interesting how the character's clothing style seems to represent the first 3 gens more, whearas the faces and body structures seem to resemble the style used for trainers from XY onward. Seeing this now, in retrospect, I wonder if the art streamlining through the past three gens has been a result of Turner's transition from artist to taking the lead position.
@RPGamer Same. My art looks vastly different but much of my learning how to draw people was done trying to draw characters designed by Ken Sugimori and James Turner
I remember buying this game after loving Coliseum and being confused that the plot wasn't on the back of the case or mentioned in the manual. It wasn't until I got home and played it that I realized that there was no story mode I felt so disappointed but eventually started to enjoy it for what it was, though I still probably wouldn't have brought it if I knew
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