Starter Pokémon are some of the most likely to make an impression on their trainer. More than any other Pokémon, they tend to grow alongside you — the game developers know this, which is why a lot of care goes into the Pokémons’ designs. Pokémon Sun & Moon’s trio of Rowlet, Litten and Popplio might be the finest starter group in a long while, and the thought put into their designs is extremely present in their final forms. Thankfully, the Pokémon Center understands this and has released larger plushes of Decidueye, Incineroar and Primarina to help capture what makes each of them special.
I’m a Rowlet fan through and through so Decidueye was the first one I had to check out. The detail for its cloak and body were great, though I do wish I could get a clearer view of its face. Still, that concealment is right in line with the Arrow Quill Pokémon, so I can’t complain too much. Best of all, its wings were posable to an extent, with some reinforced interiors to stay in place. It also lets you set up its bow stance to an extent, adding a little extra detail to an already dynamic plush.
Incineroar, on the other hand, might be my least favorite of the three. Conceptually, this heel tiger wrestler has a lot to like about it, but all in all I just can’t get on board. Ironically, its plush felt the most huggable of the three due to its beefier limbs and broader chest. That said, it couldn’t pose or articulate like the others, so there’s no way to set it up for a Darkest Lariat.
For the encore performance we have Primarina, who manages to share the spotlight with Decidueye in terms of overall quality. The starfish hairpiece actually shines a bit, and the detail present in its hair and tail were spot on. You can move its flippers as well, giving you the option to raise them up for a more operatic stance. They weren’t quite as bendable as Decidueye’s wings, but they did end up feeling more sturdy when moved into new positions.
All in all, I think it’s a great lineup of plushes. Even Incineroar has things to like about it — but the added posability of the other two definitely sets them apart from the feline Pokémon. Alongside that, these new additions are quite a bit taller than existing plushes from Sun & Moon, with only Lunala’s wingspan appearing on the same level in terms of overall size.
Decidueye, Incineroar and Primarina are 3,200 yen each in Japan’s Pokémon Center stores, though if brought overseas I’d expect them to go for about $32.99 (thanks to existing, comparable products). Let us know what you think of all three and whether or not you’ve got a favorite!
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Written by Ricky Berg
When he isn’t writing for Nintendo Wire, Ricky’s anticipating the next Kirby, Fire Emblem, or if the stars ever align, Mother 3 to be released. Till then he’ll have the warm comfort of Super Smash Bros. to keep him going.
