Regional Pokemon like Wiglett Expand What it Means to Be a Series 'Mascot'

gamerant.com:

The drip feed of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet information continues as they draw toward release. Game Freak's marketing strategy for the ninth Generation of Pokemon games is different, but may play to their strengths. Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are meant to be an open adventure like the series has never seen before, so it makes sense to maintain a sense of discovery for as long as possible. Even if this seems to have contributed to more leaks and rumors than ever, the results may still be worth it in the end.

While it has been a while since a major trailer released, another short video showcasing a new Pokemon has been released for the Diglett lookalike Land Eel Pokemon, Wiglett. This new creature is the first in a line of Pokemon that leaks have referred to as regional fakes. Even though they look like existing Pokemon, they have just evolved similar traits due to shared circumstances. There will likely be more creatures calling back to previous generations, and combined with existing regional variants, it feels like Pokemon's past is more in-focus than ever.

How the Next Pokemon Legends Game Could Improve Regional Variants

The Pokemon franchise has pursued a number of experiments to make its old roster feel new again. The first came in Generation 6 with Mega Evolutions, granting a number of Pokemon extra forms that could theoretically be their next evolutionary stage. There was a noted bias toward Generation 1 Pokemon in this set, and that trend would continue through most instances of renewing old Pokemon. Sun and Moon's Z-Moves included some attacks that could only be used by specific first and seventh Generation Pokemon. Even Super Smash Bros. employs a disproportionate number of Pokemon from the first couple of