Pokémon's Biggest Pokédex Problem Was Already Solved By SMT's Fusions
The Shin Megami Tensei (SMT) series has solved the biggest problem involving the Pokédex in Pokémon. The slogan for Pokémon is "Gotta Catch 'Em All," but there is little incentive for players to catch all the Pokémon in each game. In fact, most of the game can be completed without even filling up the Pokédex. Shin Megami Tensei resolves this issue by using the Fusion mechanic to combine demons into powerful units. If Pokémon introduced Fusion into the game, fans would be more motivated to collect all the monsters.
In the Pokémon series, players set out on an adventure to catch and raise a strong team, in hopes to become the champion of the region. In each version, there are difficult Pokémon to obtain, which makes completing the Pokédex a challenging process. While some trainers may choose to collect all the Pokémon, others prefer to catch only their favorite monsters. The reward received for a full Pokédex, in almost all Pokémon games, is a diploma, congratulating the trainer. Each Generation after Black and White 2, also gives players the Shiny Charm, increasing the odds of encountering a shiny Pokémon. Fusion, on the other hand, offers players a better reason to collect the monsters in the SMT games.
Fusing in SMT combines two weaker demons into a more powerful unit. As they journey through the game, players will want to acquire as many different monsters as they can to utilize this mechanic to the fullest. Special Fusion, which was added in the newest game, requires the use of specific units as material, creating some of the best demons in SMT V. This method can also require up to four monsters as components depending on the strength of the resulting demon. When fusing, players can choose moves from each material demon to pass on to the new unit. Some moves use more or less MP, designated by a plus or minus, which is determined by the demon's race/clan. This process could be implemented into Pokémon to give players another reason to complete their Pokédex.
Not knowing which Pokémon are used to fuse new team members, would add an exciting and fresh element to the franchise. With 898 monsters and growing, it is understandable that there are some useless Pokémon in the games. Fusion would give fans a reason to capture these monsters, rather than just ignoring them. This feature could also allow for the combinations of fan-favorites, like Pikachu and Charmander, to create a Fire/Electric Mouse Pokémon. The Pokémon games need something new to shake up the cookie-cutter formula and Fusion could be the answer.
Players do not have much incentive to complete their Pokédex in the current games. However, Shin Megami Tensei's Fusion method gives fans a reason to hold onto weaker demons. By implementing this feature into the Pokémon franchise, trainers could turn under-utilized monsters into stronger team members, enhancing their experience.