Skip to main content

Several unreleased Pokémon found in ‘Gold’ and ‘Silver’ demos

Black and White: Double Ditto Takedown | Pokémon | Cartoon Network

The Pokémon series has been around for well over two decades at this point, and there are particularly monsters fans know inside and out. Ditto, for instance, has remained unchanged since it was first introduced, but tech-savvy fans have discovered that an evolved form of the copycat creature was originally planned for Pokémon Gold and Pokémon Silver.

Users on The Cutting Room Floor — a site devoted to finding cut content in games — used a demo version of Gold and Silver to discover several Pokémon that never made it into the game or any subsequent games. These include a fire-type starting monster translated as “Flambear,” and a water-type starter that appears to serve as the inspiration for Popplio from Sun and Moon.

Baby forms of existing Pokémon were also included, such as baby Vulpix, baby Tangela, baby Goldeen, and even baby Meowth — that’s right!

Pokémon who have never received evolved forms had them in the demo, as well, including Ditto and Farfetch’d, whose evolution was translated as “Madame.” Most of the designs are similar to the existing Pokémon we’ve seen before, but with slightly more or less bulk, depending on their form. Given that the game already included 251 monsters, this may have been for the best.

If you’re more interested in what’s coming to Pokémon in the future rather than what could have been, you have plenty to look forward to. The “free-to-start” adventure game Pokémon Quest recently released on Nintendo Switch and will come to smartphones later in June, and Pokémon: Let’s Go Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let’s Go Eevee! are releasing exclusively for Switch this November. The games combine open-world exploration and battling with the simplified capturing system using in Pokémon Go, and the games even feature connectivity. With the special Poké Ball Plus accessory, you can even play it without using a Joy-Con controller, and a second player can join in to assist you on your journey.

Pokémon: Let’s Go isn’t a replacement for the traditional “core” role-playing Pokémon game. Game Freak is currently working on that, as well, and expects it to release in the latter half of 2019. We can’t wait to see the new monsters available to catch.

Editors' Recommendations

Gabe Gurwin
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Gabe Gurwin has been playing games since 1997, beginning with the N64 and the Super Nintendo. He began his journalism career…
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet: The Indigo Disk is a true master’s degree program
A trainer stands in front of two Alolan Exeggutors in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet: The Indigo Disk.

After a rocky year, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet’s story is coming to an end next month. Its second DLC, The Indigo Disk, will conclude its bonus Hidden Treasure of Area Zero arc on December 14. That’ll close out the series’ most scrutinized set of games to date, which were lambasted at launch for performance issues and poor visual quality. The Indigo Disk certainly won’t reverse that narrative, but it at least has a shot at sending disappointed fans home happy -- especially after the underwhelming Teal Mask expansion.

Ahead of its launch, I got a hands-on preview with the upcoming DLC that showed me a bit of what to expect. I explored its new open-world area, saw some familiar monsters, and fought in one of the toughest battles I’ve ever had in a mainline Pokémon story. Every technical problem in the base game still reared its ugly head during my hour of playtime, but The Indigo Disk at least brings some high-level challenges to the mix that will test even the most seasoned competitive players.
Same problems, new challenges
The Indigo Disk picks up right after The Teal Mask’s conclusion (players will need to beat it to start the new DLC). In it, I’m sent to Blueberry Academy, which is a massive biodome floating in the middle of the ocean. It houses a round, open-world area split up into four distinct environments. One corner has your standard grassy plains, while another is a massive snowy mountain full of ice Pokémon. It’s significantly bigger than Teal Mask’s bite-sized open world, though the general design isn’t too different.

Read more
5 Pokémon spinoff series we want to return after Detective Pikachu
Key art from the 3DS game Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon.

Detective Pikachu Returns launched on Nintendo Switch earlier this month, continuing one of Pokémon's many spinoff series. It follows in the footsteps of Pokémon Snap, which received a long-awaited sequel on Nintendo Switch in 2021.
Seeing both of these side series receive brand-new games on Nintendo Switch has certainly left me hoping that other Pokémon spinoffs eventually make a comeback. Some deserve bigger and bolder games to explore some new concepts, while others could just use a fresh coat of paint on modern Nintendo hardware. Here are five Pokémon spinoff series that I hope are next in line for new installments.
Pokémon Ranger

The first spinoff series that needs to make a comeback is Pokémon Ranger, which hasn't seen a new entry since Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs in 2010. In this side series for Nintendo DS, players were the titular Rangers instead of Pokémon trainers and served as ecological Peacekeepers for regions exclusive to these games. They feature some of the wildest plots of any Pokémon game and feel different from most other Pokémon games because of their unique capturing system that has players drawing lots of rings around a Pokémon to tame them.
While the stylus-driven gameplay does heavily tie this series to the DS, a new entry could replicate that experience with motion controls or find a new design approach to taming Pokémon entirely. I grew up playing the Pokémon Ranger games in addition to the mainline series and loved the distinct gameplay experience and look at the world of Pokémon they offered. I'd love to see a developer make another attempt at exploring this concept on modern Nintendo hardware.
Pokémon Rumble

Read more
All new Pokémon in The Teal Mask DLC
A big green bear Pokémon in the teal mask.

Even though it isn't a new generation, The Teal Mask DLC for Pokémon Scarlet and Violet is still introducing a handful of new Pokémon to add to your Pokédex. Whether or not you've already been filling out and completing your collection in the base game, everyone is curious to see what new types, designs, and abilities a new set of Pokémon brings to the table. Here are all the brand new Pokémon you can find while exploring the Land of Kitakami and their types.
Every new Pokémon in The Teal Mask

Ogerpon (4 types)
Ogerpon is the newest Legendary to be added to the series, and is by default a Grass type. However, in keeping with the theme of masks, it will change its form and type depending on what mask it is wearing, such as the Wellspring mask, Hearthflame mask, and Cornerstone mask. By default, Ogerpon is wearing the titular Teal mask.
Okidogi
This is a dog-themed Poison and Fighting-type Legendary that is a Hero of Kitakami. This Pokémon has no evolutions.
Munkidori
This curious monkey is a Poison and Psychic-type Legendary that also holds the title of Hero of Kitakami. Munkidori has no evolutions.
Fezandipiti
The final Hero of Kitakami is Fezandipiti, the Poison and Fairy-type Legendary. As usual, this Legendary can't evolve.
Dipplin
A rare Grass and Dragon type, Dipplin is an evolution of Applin.
Poltchageist
You could probably guess Poltchageist was a Grass and Ghost type by its name and design. This Pokémon can evolve into Sinistcha using either an Unremarkable Teacup or Masterpiece Teacup.
Sinistcha
The evolution of Poltageist we just talked about, Sinistcha remains a Grass and Ghost type.

Read more