Fuecoco
Fuecoco | |
---|---|
Pokémon character | |
![]() Fuecoco artwork by Ken Sugimori | |
First game | Pokémon Scarlet and Violet (2022) |
Voiced by | EN: Zeno Robinson JA: Daiki Yamashita |
In-universe information | |
Species | Pokémon |
Type | Fire |
Fuecoco, known in Japan as Hogator (Japanese: ホゲータ, Hepburn: Hogēta), is a Pokémon species in Nintendo and Game Freak's Pokémon media franchise, and one of the first three Pokémon players may choose at the beginning of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. Since its initial appearance, Fuecoco has appeared in multiple games in the series, including Pokémon Go and the Pokémon Trading Card Game, as well as various merchandise.
Classified as a Fire-type Pokémon, Fuecoco is the first stage of an evolutionary line, eventually becoming Crocalor and later Skeledirge, gaining the secondary typing of Ghost in its final form. It is one of the three Pokémon available at the start of Scarlet and Violet, alongside Sprigatito and Quaxly. Fuecoco has been met positively, primarily for its cute and appealing design.
Conception and development
Fuecoco is a fictional species of Pokémon created for the Pokémon franchise. Developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo, the series began in Japan in 1996 with the release of the video games Pokémon Red and Blue for the Game Boy.[1] In these games, the player assumes the role of a Pokémon Trainer, whose goal is to capture and train Pokémon. Players use the creatures' special abilities to combat other Pokémon, and some can transform into stronger species through a process called evolution via various means, such as exposure to specific items.[2]
Fuecoco is a small red crocodilian Pokémon.[3] It is one of the three Pokémon players can obtain as their first in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, and it can evolve into Crocalor (アチゲータ, Achigēta, Achigator) and Skeledirge (ラウドボーン, Raudobōn, Laudbon) after gaining enough experience. It and its evolutions all have the elemental attribute of Fire-type, which determines their strengths and weaknesses, while Skeledirge has a secondary Ghost-typing it gains when Crocalor evolves into it.[4] Fuecoco is voiced by Zeno Robinson in the English dub of Pokémon Horizons: The Series,[5] while it is voiced by Daiki Yamashita in Japanese.[6]
Appearances
Fuecoco first appeared in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet as one of the three Pokémon available for the player to select as their first Pokémon, alongside Sprigatito and Quaxly.[4] If the player chooses a different Pokémon, Fuecoco will either be owned by the player's rival Nemona[7] or by the academy Director Clavell,[8] depending on which is chosen. Fuecoco also appears in other games, such as Pokémon Go[9] and the Pokémon Trading Card Game.[10][11] In the anime, one of the main characters in Pokémon Horizons: The Series, Roy, catches a Fuecoco.[12] Fuecoco and its evolutions have been used in promotion material for the series, with plushes being produced.[13]
Critical reception
Fuecoco has received positive reception, having become a fan favorite due to its "goofier design and big happy smile" according to Fanbyte writer Imran Khan.[14] In a Famitsu reader poll, Fuecoco was voted the second best starter from Scarlet and Violet.[15] Another popularity poll put Fuecoco as the fourth best Pokémon available in Scarlet and Violet, as well as the most popular Scarlet and Violet starter.[16] An Inside Games poll also ranked it as the most popular starter in Scarlet and Violet, with Inside Games staff noting that readers found it stupid and cute.[17] Esquire writer Josh Rosenberg regarded Fuecoco as his favorite Pokémon in Scarlet and Violet, praising its design and expressing his cute aggression- a desire to affectionately squeeze cute things- for it.[18] Den of Geek writer Matthew Byrd called Fuecoco "objectively cute," feeling that, in combination with its Fire-typing and strength, would enable it to make it more popular.[19]
Hindustan Times writer Paurush Omar responded positively to Fuecoco in Pokémon Horizons: The Series. They stated that its singing ability and cuteness contributed to the its overall likability and popularity. In addition, they felt that its "childlike disposition" made it relatable, saying that it crying over losing its food would "make anyone's heart melt."[20] Kotaku writer Sisi Jiang agreed, calling Fuecoco the "breakout star" of Pokémon Horizons, noting how its appearance in the anime has led to fans picking Fuecoco as their favorite. They stated that the positive reception was due to both its cute appearance and its singing ability.[21] Fellow Kotaku writer Ashley Bardhan felt that it was the best starter, attributing its popularity to its design, personality, and power.[22] Similar to fans not wanting Sprigatito to stand on two legs when it evolved, there was also a fan reaction for people who wanted Fuecoco to not stand on all fours when it evolved.[23]
Fuecoco has been noted for its strength in the games "Nuzlocke" challenges, a popular fan-challenge wherein a Pokémon cannot be used after it is KOed. It has been noted for its strong type combination and moveset being powerful against many important trainers in the game, allowing for the challenge to become notably easier due to its presence alone. This has led to popular Nuzlockers and content creators, such as Pokémon Challenges, to suggest that players ban it from use to make runs more interesting.[24][25][26][27]
References
- ^ Hilliard, Kyle (December 25, 2016). "Pokémon Red & Blue – A Look Back At The 20-Year Journey To Catch 'Em All". Game Informer. Archived from the original on October 1, 2023. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
- ^ Allison, Anne (May 2006). Millennial Monsters: Japanese Toys and the Global Imagination. University of California Press. pp. 192–197. ISBN 9780520938991.
- ^ "The best crocodile Pokémon in 2024". Pocket Tactics. January 10, 2024. Archived from the original on May 15, 2024. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
- ^ a b "'Pokémon Scarlet and Violet' Starter Evolutions, Explained". Inverse. August 29, 2023. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
- ^ McMullen, Chris (January 15, 2024). "All English Dub Voice Actors & Cast List for Pokémon Horizons". The Escapist. Archived from the original on January 15, 2024. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
- ^ "Fuecoco Voice Actors- Behind the Voice Actors". Archived from the original on May 15, 2024. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
- ^ "How to beat Nemona in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet". Eurogamer.net. November 19, 2022. Archived from the original on February 25, 2024. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
- ^ "How to beat Director Clavell in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet during a Challenge from Cassiopeia quest". Eurogamer.net. November 18, 2022. Archived from the original on November 15, 2023. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
- ^ Budhathoki, Diwas (September 4, 2023). "Pokemon GO: How To Get Fuecoco, Crocalor, And Skeledirge". Game Rant. Archived from the original on March 17, 2024. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
- ^ Comments, Theo Dwyer | (December 21, 2022). "Pokémon TCG Japan: Scarlet & Violet Ex Preview: Fuecoco". bleedingcool.com. Archived from the original on May 15, 2024. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
- ^ Comments, Theo Dwyer | (February 13, 2023). "Pokémon TCG Japan: Triple Beat Preview: Fuecoco Art Rare". bleedingcool.com. Archived from the original on May 16, 2024. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
- ^ Edmundson, Carlyle (May 14, 2023). "Pokémon's New Male Hero Unlocks Fuecoco's True Power in the Perfect Way". ScreenRant. Archived from the original on July 27, 2023. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
- ^ Baird, Scott (August 26, 2022). "Official Pokémon Scarlet & Violet Starter Plushes Available Now". ScreenRant. Archived from the original on October 23, 2022. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
- ^ Khan, Imran (August 2, 2022). "What Your Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Starter Choice Says About You". Fanbyte. Archived from the original on December 19, 2023. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
- ^ Liu, Stephanie (November 17, 2022). "Famitsu Survey Says Sprigatito is Most Popular Pokemon Scarlet & Violet Starter". Siliconera. Archived from the original on May 15, 2024. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
- ^ Troughton, James (December 27, 2022). "Pokemon Scarlet & Violet Poll Reveals Fuecoco Is Most Popular Starter". The Gamer. Archived from the original on January 2, 2023. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
- ^ "『ポケモン スカーレット・バイオレット』御三家はだれを選んだ?ニャオハ、ホゲータ、クワッスの人気が明らかに!【アンケート結果】". Inside Games. November 23, 2022. Archived from the original on March 11, 2024. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
- ^ Rosenberg, Josh (November 22, 2022). "The 2022 Esquire Gaming Awards". Esquire. Archived from the original on January 5, 2023. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
- ^ Byrd, Matthew (November 18, 2022). "Pokémon Scarlet and Violet: Every Starter Ranked Worst to Best". Den of Geek. Archived from the original on May 15, 2024. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
- ^ Omar, Paurush (May 9, 2023). "Move over Pikachu! New fan favorite Fuecoco steals the show in new Pokémon Scarlet and Violet anime". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on May 15, 2024. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
- ^ Jiang, Sisi (May 8, 2023). "Fuecoco Is The Breakout Star Of The New Pokémon Scarlet and Violet Anime". Kotaku. Archived from the original on May 15, 2024. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
- ^ Bardhan, Ashley (November 28, 2022). "Fuecoco Is The Best Pokémon Scarlet And Violet Starter, Unless..." Kotaku. Archived from the original on May 15, 2024. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
- ^ Onappa (January 17, 2023). "『ポケモンSV』"ニャオハ立つな"に続く「クワッス踊るな」「ホゲータ座るな」―御三家に要求された「立つな踊るな座るな」の3コンボ". Inside Games. Archived from the original on March 16, 2024. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
- ^ Phillips, Tom (November 24, 2022). "Pokémon Nuzlocke fans think Fuecoco is too easy". Eurogamer. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
- ^ Cryer, Hirun (November 24, 2022). "Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's Fuecoco is "the most broken starter in Nuzlocke history"". GamesRadar+. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
- ^ Murray, Sean (November 24, 2022). "Pokemon Scarlet & Violet's Fuecoco Is Apparently The "Most Broken Starter In Nuzlocke History"". TheGamer. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
- ^ "Some Pokemon fans say Fuecoco breaks Scarlet and Violet Nuzlocke runs". For The Win. November 25, 2022. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
External links
- Fuecoco on Pokemon.com
- Fuecoco at Bulbapedia, a Pokémon wiki