Looking Back at Pokemon's Ultra Beasts, the Strangest Gimmick in the Franchise

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The Pokemon franchise has had a long history, and despite the release of numerous titles, it has managed to continually capture the attention of gamers. One of the ways it has done this is by staying true to its core formula while carefully introducing new gimmicks and features with every new release to keep things fresh. Consequently, over the years, players have been treated to Mega Evolutions, regional variants of Pokemon, and Z-Moves, all with varying levels of success. Perhaps the most interesting gimmick to ever appear in the Pokemon series is the Ultra Beasts.

Introduced in Pokemon Sun and Moon, Ultra Beasts are strange, extra-dimensional Pokemon. They stand out in every way from typical Pokemon, including with their designs which make them appear alien and otherworldly. Ultra Beasts are weird, but when one investigates them deeper, it becomes apparent that they are quite thematically relevant to Pokemon Sun and Moon. Though not all fans fell in love with the Ultra Beasts, they remain some of the most memorable Pokemon of all time.

After Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, Regions Need to Find New Inspiration

In Pokemon Sun and Moon, players visit the Alola region where they meet several new characters, including Lillie and Hau. Players cross paths with some new Pokemon, many of which have adapted to Alola's unique environment. One of the strangest Pokemon players see is Cosmog, a creature that looks like a cosmic cloud. Although Cosmog is hard to understand, it is a cute creature, and Lillie takes good care of it and names it Nebby. Using Nebby's powers, Lillie's mother opens Ultra Wormholes which connect to Ultra Space, the realm where the Ultra Beasts reside. Once the Ultra Wormholes are opened, the Ultra Beasts are