Skip to main content
Join The Community
- Join our community
11
Premium Benefits
24/7
Access Available
21K+
Active Members
Commenting
Join the discussion
Exclusive Articles Coming Soon
Member-only articles
Weekly Newsletters
Weekly gaming & entertainment news
Member Badges
Earn badges as you go
Exclusive Competitions
Members-only prize draws
Curated Deals Coming Soon
Tech and gaming deals worth grabbing
GET COMMUNITY ACCESS QUICK
For the quickest way to join, simply enter your email below and get access. We will send a confirmation and sign you up to our newsletter to keep you updated on all your gaming news.
By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
FIND OUT ABOUT OUR MAGAZINE
Want to subscribe to the magazine? Click the button below to find out more information.
Find out more
GET Community ACCESS QUICK

Join the GamesRadar community for quick access. Enter your email below and we'll send confirmation, and sign you up to our newsletter.

By submitting your information, you confirm you are aged 16 or over, have read our Privacy Policy and agree to the Terms & Conditions. Geographical rules apply.

Background
Welcome to GamesRADAR+ Community !
Hi ,

Your membership journey starts here.

Keep exploring and earning more as a member.

MY ACCOUNT

Badge picture
Earn your first badge
Read 1 article to unlock your first badge.
Keep earning badges
Explore ways to get more involved as a member.
Latest Games News

Latest Games News

Breaking gaming news and updates

Read Now
Latest Games Reviews

Latest Games Reviews

Expert verdicts on the newest releases

Read Now

See what you’ve unlocked.

Explore your membership benefits.

Explore
Member Exclusives

Stay Ahead with GamesRadar+

Get the biggest gaming news, reviews, and releases straight to your inbox.

Explore

Sign Out
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+
US EditionUS CA EditionCanada UK EditionUK AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Games
    • Game Insights
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • Big Preview
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
    • Genres
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
    • Franchises
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
  • Hardware
    • Insights
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Buying Guides
    • Computing
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
    • Accessories & Tech
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Video
    • Video
    • GR+ Replay - Submit Your Clips
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
  • Home
  • Games
    • View Games
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • Big Preview
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • View Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • View Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • View TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • View Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • View Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • View Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
  • Hardware
    • View Hardware
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Buying Guides
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • View Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Video
    • View Video
    • Video
    • GR+ Replay - Submit Your Clips
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
Trending
  • Nintendo Direct
  • Summer Game Fest 2026
  • Xbox Games Showcase
  • Future Games Show
  • New Games 2026
  • Best gaming tech
  • Submit your clips. Win prizes
  • SGF 2026 schedule
Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more


By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

You are now subscribed

Your newsletter sign-up was successful


Want to add more newsletters?

GamesRadar+

Every Friday

GamesRadar+

Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them.

GTA 6 O'clock

Every Thursday

GTA 6 O'clock

Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts.

Knowledge

Every Friday

Knowledge

From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon.

The Setup

Every Thursday

The Setup

Hardware nerds unite, sign up to our free tech newsletter for a weekly digest of the hottest new tech, the latest gadgets on the test bench, and much more.

Switch 2 Spotlight

Every Wednesday

Switch 2 Spotlight

Sign up to our new Switch 2 newsletter, where we bring you the latest talking points on Nintendo's new console each week, bring you up to date on the news, and recommend what games to play.

The Watchlist

Every Saturday

The Watchlist

Subscribe for a weekly digest of the movie and TV news that matters, direct to your inbox. From first-look trailers, interviews, reviews and explainers, we've got you covered.

SFX

Once a month

SFX

Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month!


Join the club

Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards.


An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
  1. Games
  2. JRPG

Pokemon Legends: Arceus fan theory may explain why Cyndaquil, Rowlet, and Oshawott were chosen as starters

News
By Hope Bellingham published 1 March 2021

Turns out these Pokemon go back further than we thought

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Pokemon Legends Arceus
(Image credit: The Pokemon Company)
  • Facebook
  • X
  • Pinterest
  • Flipboard
  • Email
Share this article
Join the conversation
Follow us
Add us as a preferred source on Google
Subscribe to our newsletter

The excitement of the 25th anniversary Pokemon Direct that took place last week is yet to wear off and has led some fans to begin speculating about the upcoming titles. 

According to a user known as u/ZeeGee009 in the Pokemon subreddit, the reasoning behind Pokemon Legends: Arceus' starter Pokemon can be traced back to 12th century Japan. Given the game's reveal trailer, that makes a lot of sense, as this game's version of the Sinnoh region belongs to a much older time period.

This theory points to the connection between the starter Pokemon: Cyndaquil, Rowlet, and Oshawott, their evolutions, and feudal Japan. u/ZeeGee009 firstly points to Rowlet having links to Archers due to its evolution Decidueye’s ‘Arrow Quill Pokémon’ status. They also point out that Oshawott’s evolution, Samurott, is “very clearly Samurai” focused.

Latest Videos From
Watch full video here:

As for Cyndaquil’s connection, which the Reddit poster notes took “a while to figure out”, they propose that not only is the Pokemon based on a honey-badger (which can be found in Japan) but that Cyndaquil’s evolution Typhlosion’s Japanese name is ‘Bakufu’, which can be translated to ‘Shogun’, which “were titles given to Military Generals in Feudal Japan.”

Pokemon Legends: Arceus signifies “a new approach" to making Pokemon games, according to the game’s developer Game Freak, and as you can see from our Pokemon Legends: Arceus trailer breakdown, it “looks to be the open-world evolution we've always dreamt of.”

You may like
  • A trainer looking out at the ocean during the trailer for Pokemon Winds and Waves Pokemon Winds and Waves: Everything we know about the next Pokemon game so far
  • A human ditto taking a picture with a Ivysaur and  Venusaur in Pokemon Pokopia. After 48 hours, I've realized Pokopia is my ideal Pokemon game and humans were the problem all along
  • Key art for Pokemon Champions Pokemon Champions: Everything you need to know about the Nintendo game

This wasn’t the only exciting thing announced at the 25th Anniversary Pokemon Direct, Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Pokemon Shining Pearl - which are remakes of 2006’s Pokemon Diamond and Pokemon Pearl - were also announced to be released in "late 2021."

While we wait for the release of Pokemon Legends: Arceus, take a look at what else Nintendo has on offer from our best Pokemon games list

Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
CATEGORIES
Nintendo Switch Platforms Nintendo
Hope Bellingham
Hope Bellingham
Social Links Navigation
News Writer

After studying Film Studies and Creative Writing at university, I was lucky enough to land a job as an intern at Player Two PR where I helped to release a number of indie titles. I then got even luckier when I became a Trainee News Writer at GamesRadar+ before being promoted to a fully-fledged News Writer after a year and a half of training.  My expertise lies in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, cozy indies, and The Last of Us, but especially in the Kingdom Hearts series. I'm also known to write about the odd Korean drama for the Entertainment team every now and then.  

Read more
A trainer looking out at the ocean during the trailer for Pokemon Winds and Waves
Pokemon Pokemon Winds and Waves: Everything we know about the next Pokemon game so far
 
 
A human ditto taking a picture with a Ivysaur and  Venusaur in Pokemon Pokopia.
Pokemon After 48 hours, I've realized Pokopia is my ideal Pokemon game and humans were the problem all along
 
 
Key art for Pokemon Champions
Pokemon Pokemon Champions: Everything you need to know about the Nintendo game
 
 
Mega Charizard X in Pokemon Champions.
Pokemon Pokemon Champions producer "really enjoyed" the Pokemon Stadium games, used them as a "reference"
 
 
The player character in Pokemon Legends: Z-A sits next to an Alpha Totodile in front of a cafe
Pokemon Pokemon Home compatibility finally lets you offload your shiny-stuffed Pokemon Legends: Z-A boxes
 
 
Pokemon Pokopia gameplay showing Ditty in human form, frowning in front of a lighthouse
Pokemon Pokemon Pokopia's hard-hitting maturity is the perfect way to celebrate 30 years of Pokemon
 
 
Latest in JRPG
Tales of Eternia illustration with three characters against blue sky
JRPGs After 26 years, classic JRPG Tales of Eternia returns: remaster coming this October
 
 
Shulk wielding the Monado in Xenoblade Chronicles Definitive Edition.
Xenoblade Chronicles Xenoblade Chronicles JRPG trilogy gets Nintendo Switch 2 editions this year, and the first one is out today
 
 
Final Fantasy Resonance
Final Fantasy Final Fantasy Resonance announced, "the first Final Fantasy game in HD-2D" from Square Enix
 
 
xenoblade genesis screenshot showing a pink haired girl
Xenoblade Chronicles Xenoblade Chronicles Genesis is coming in 2027, and it looks very different to Monolith Soft's last JRPG trilogy
 
 
Persona 6 teaser screenshot shows a green sky covered in dark trees, with a shadow falling over a mysterious statue.
Persona Persona 6 could release next year, Sega leaker hints not to "read too much" into the teaser's lack of release window
 
 
Square Enix/darcyleegray via Twitter
Final Fantasy Final Fantasy 7 Revelation has a "far bigger" open world map than Rebirth, says director
 
 
Latest in News
Ben Kingsley as Trevor Slattery and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Simon Williams in Wonder Man.
Marvel TV Shows Wonder Man director teases the "crazy journey" Trevor Slattery and Simon Williams could go on in season 2
 
 
Destiny 2 Monument of Triumph
Destiny Destiny 2 becomes Steam's top seller after the final update, as fans hope Sony might change course
 
 
Howard the Duck
Marvel Movies George Lucas once had a "brilliant idea" to make a special edition of Howard the Duck with Robin Williams
 
 
A crop of James Bond in 007 First Light
Action Games Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 actor Ben Starr auditioned for James Bond in 007 First Light
 
 
Ncuti Gatwa as The Doctor in Doctor Who season 2
Sci-Fi Shows Doctor Who showrunner makes shock departure and Christmas special canceled as sci-fi classic is set to be rebooted
 
 
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
Fantasy Movies Steven Spielberg explains why he turned down directing the first Harry Potter movie
 
 
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. Task Bar Hero Act Boss Chest earned from defeating Act 2 boss
    1
    How to get chests in Task Bar Hero
  2. 2
    The Xbox Wireless Controller X25 is neat, but I've tested a translucent green alternative that works with the Series X and your 2000s console
  3. 3
    Destiny 2 shoots to the top of Steam's top sellers as fans of the MMO jump in for the final update, hoping Sony and Bungie might change course
  4. 4
    George Lucas once had a "brilliant idea" to make a special edition of Howard the Duck with Robin Williams
  5. 5
    Does Big Walk have crossplay and how to join your friends

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • Terms and conditions
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Accessibility statement
  • Careers
  • About us
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...