Fans of the Pokemon games have created a wide array of tributes to their favorite titles over the years, but some of them have taken a step further and made their own Pokemon games. Now, the developers of the new upcoming fangame Pokemon Flux have unveiled the three new starters players can look forward to befriending in a game made by fans, for fans.
Pokemon Flux is a very new fan game, its official Twitter account having been made within 24 hours as of writing, but the concept of Pokemon fans inventing their own Pokemon and Regions for them to inhabit is almost as old as the franchise itself. There are a lot of great Pokemon fan games and ROM hacks available to play, with this being just one addition to the ranks.
According to developers @JVgamedev and @voluntarytwitch on Twitter, Pokemon Flux will take place in the fan-made Altera Region, and the fire, water, and grass-type starter trio this time around will be Mozz, Chiklit, and Findolf. Mozz appears to be a leafy, green, terrestrial moth and is described as having a mysterious power--it's also the only dual-typed starter, being both bug and grass type. Chiklit is a little red bird with a very large, crested head that can't fly very well yet. Findolf is a four-legged, vaguely canine creature with a dolphin's distinct head, dorsal fin, and tail that gets around on land as easily as it does in the water. These slick designs are as memorable as some other iconic Pokemon fan designs.
Also present in the initial announcement posts are the silhouettes of what appear to be three trainers--a masculine figure with wild short hair and an open vest or jacket standing behind Mozz, a slightly feminine figure with what seem to be long braids and a sunhat standing behind Chiklit, and an androgynous figure with a bag, a pair of unseen glasses, and a huge anime cowlick standing behind Findolf. Whether these individuals are Pokemon Flux's trainer designs, Gym Leaders, members of the local criminal organization, or something else entirely is currently unclear. Whatever the case, both the Altera starter trio and these human silhouettes would fit right in with an official Pokemon game while bringing their own fan-created Pokemon flavor to the table.
The Pokemon Flux starter designs have been positively received so far, but several fans have expressed reluctance to pre-emptively declare a favorite until the later evolutions are released. Many Pokemon fans prefer to hold back and examine an entire evolution line, leading them to pick starters like Turtwig, Cyndaquil, or Mudkip specifically to get their preferred final evolution. Other fans immediately began worrying that Nintendo would force the team to drop the game, though not all Pokemon fan games draw the company's ire. At present, it seems that Pokemon Flux is off to a good start.
Pokemon Flux is currently in development.