Pokemonturns 25 this year. Over the course of the quarter of a century since the release ofRed and Green, the series has undergone a variety of artistic changes. The games started with a simple pixel art style and through tweaks and changes have worked their way to a fully realised 3D design. While for some,the new art styleis just what they’re looking for, others yearn for things to return to an older, more simple time.Thankfully, artistPat Ackermanis on hand. The Brooklyn-based illustrator/pixel artist went through and redesigned all ofPokemon Sword and Shield’sPokemon and their different forms into an awesome pixel art style. He’s even included the legendaries and new forms fromThe Isle of ArmorandThe Crown Tundracontent packs.The art is reminiscent of the good old days, with each of the Pokemon reimagined using the colour palette fromPokemon Yellow. You can check them all out below.
While the images posted on Twitter include all of the Pokemon’s standard forms, it doesn’t include pixel art versions of the new Gigantamax forms. Thankfully, Ackerman has designed those and posted them over onhis Instagram page.
As well as his work on Twitter and Instagram,Ackerman has his own websitethat comes complete with some more of his incredible illustrations, pixel art and design work.
Although it’s unlikely we’ll see anotherPokemongame with this art style, The Pokemon Company and Game Freak are planning tocelebrate for the series' 25th anniversary. We recently received arelease date for theNew Pokemon Snapgame and it’s likely the two companies have a lot more planned that’s yet to be revealed. Recent rumours have suggested we may seeremakes ofDiamond and Pearl. Others, that surfaced in the middle of last year leaned towardsGold and Silverremakes, in the style oftheLet’s Gogames.
Whatever happens, two things are for certain. Pat Ackerman has done a stellar job of redesigning the eighth generation and we’ll be hearing more about the Pocket Monsters over the course of this year.
