Aussie Pokemon fans are about to cream their poke-balls, because an artist has created an entire Australian Pokemon universe called Pokemon: Yeah Nah edition.
VivInk Studios are hard at work on Ailuri, (a hand-drawn, 2d game slated for a 2020 Steam and Nintendo release that you can check out here) but one artist has taken time out of his busy schedule to pour a Furphy all over the Pokemon Universe.
With the Australian Pokemon all looking worthy of official canon, it’s no surprise that VivInk Studios’ twitter feed is going gangbusters.
G’DAY. With the hype of #PokemonSwordShield right around the corner, care to have a look at an Aussie Pokemon game, Pokemon Yeah and Pokemon Nah?
Set in the region of Straya, players will experience the unique land of down unda.This thread will have art for Yeah and Nah! 🇦🇺🦘 pic.twitter.com/olDqXQUD5a
— VivinkArt (@VivinkArt) November 14, 2019
Welcome, this is the Straya region. (STRAI-YAAH) A vast, sunburnt country with an arctic baseline. Players can choose their starting town, which are the ones named! The gameplay experience adjusts so the sandbox-styled region’s progression is non-linear. pic.twitter.com/OcksYKS9Hx
— VivinkArt (@VivinkArt) November 14, 2019
The cities in the “Straya” map are loosely based off Brisbane, Darwin, Sydney and Melbourne, and theoretically gives players the opportunity to start in their favourite city.
Not only are the Pokemon designed to perfection, but VivInk Studios are also good for a pun. Many props must go to naming an Australian water Pokemon “Bondiver.”
Meet Pladdle, the too-good-to-be-real Platypus Pokemon 🌊 Pladdle and their evolutions are helpful Pokemon with a beaut’ of a mullet. They can be found saving tourists from beaches and reminding people to “slip, slop, slap”. pic.twitter.com/YEjvVzWBnH
— VivinkArt (@VivinkArt) November 14, 2019
Even the humble bin chicken gets a shout out.
Now for the Pokemon of the Straya Region, here’s the bin chicken, Ibin!
But it’s not all it seems, this thing evolves into a 2m tall nightmare called Huntsmare that truly gives the horrifying wildlife in Australia justice. It’s based off a real spider, I swear. pic.twitter.com/od4liW7cmW
— VivinkArt (@VivinkArt) November 14, 2019
They’ve also been kind enough to throw out further detail on a few select designs:
Concepts for the sleepy, party snake, Scorcht and it’s evolutions. Look at the way Venolistic shoots 🔥 from it’s back. It’s like fireworks!
Would you choose Scorcht as your starter? If so, could you handle it? pic.twitter.com/RvnxfJaSbS— VivinkArt (@VivinkArt) November 14, 2019
People can’t get enough of Pokemon mashups and Pokemon: Yeah Nah Edition is no exception. Particularly when Nurse joy has arguably the most patriotic of all the Pokemons…
Not everything is out to get you in Pokemon Yeah and Pokemon Nah. Meet Gallopoli, the Nurse Joy’s companion for the Straya region.
A dedicated Pokemon that will truly never give up when trying to help other Pokemon and people.I’ll be posting up concept sheets in the replies! pic.twitter.com/RbYhNh5jr3
— VivinkArt (@VivinkArt) November 14, 2019
…Unless of course Steve Irwin became a playable trainer.
The 15th of November is #SteveIrwinDay and I had to celebrate with something. He’s an absolute legend, the perfect candidate for the Champion and Professor of the Straya region. 🐊 pic.twitter.com/OMi0ml2Kq2
— VivinkArt (@VivinkArt) November 16, 2019
Unfortunately it appears this will only be concept art at this stage. But alas, one can dream for the next Pokemon release to be a VivInk Studios creation. Here’s hoping, but I guess you can’t always pikachus how it goes.