| Typhlosion | |
|---|---|
| Pokémon character | |
 | |
| First game | Pokémon Gold andSilver (1999) |
| Designed by | Ken Sugimori (finalized)[1] |
| In-universe information | |
| Species | Pokémon |
| Type | Fire Fire and Ghost (Hisuian) |
Typhlosion (/taɪˈfloʊʒən/;ty-FLOH-zhən), known in Japan asBakphoon (Japanese:バクフーン), is aPokémon species inNintendo andGame Freak'sPokémon media franchise, and the finalevolved form of starter PokémonCyndaquil. First introduced in the video gamesPokémon Gold andSilver, it was designed byKen Sugimori and is featured inPokémon Go and thePokémon Trading Card Game, as well as various merchandise.
Classified as a Fire-type Pokémon, it has yellow and blue fur, and is able to generate flames from its back. InPokémon Legends: Arceus, Typhlosion receives a new regional variant called Hisuian Typhlosion, with Cyndaquil being one of three starter Pokémon in that game. In addition to its Fire typing, it also gains the Ghost typing.
The Hisuian variant of Typhlosion has generally been well received, with praise given to its design and discussion had over the gender presentation of this form.
Typhlosion is a species of fictional creatures called Pokémon created for thePokémon media franchise. Developed byGame Freak and published byNintendo, the Japanese franchise began in 1996 with the video gamesPokémon Red andGreen for theGame Boy, which were later released in North America asPokémon Red andBlue in 1998.[2] In these games and their sequels, the player assumes the role of a Trainer whose goal is to capture and use the creatures' special abilities to combat other Pokémon. Some Pokémon can transform into stronger species through a process calledevolution via various means, such as exposure to specific items.[3] Each Pokémon has one or two elemental types, which define its advantages and disadvantages when battling other Pokémon.[4] A major goal in each game is to complete thePokédex, a comprehensive Pokémon encyclopedia, by capturing, evolving, and trading with other Trainers to obtain individuals from all Pokémon species.[3]
Typhlosion was first introduced inPokémon Gold andSilver. It was visually based on ahoney badger.[5] When developing the games, around 300 individual Pokémon designs were drafted by various members of the development team, with each deciding their names and features, revising the drafts as needed. During this process the team actively tried to avoid vague design concepts, as they felt this had caused difficulty in creating completed Pokémon duringRed andBlue development. As the team selected which Pokémon would be included, they were drawn and finalized by lead artist Ken Sugimori.[1] To maintain balance however, many of the newer species did not appear in the early stages of the game. Additionally, many of the Pokémon were designed with merchandise in mind, taking into account the relatedPokémon toy line and anime series. As a result, designs often had to be kept simplistic, something that caused strain for Sugimori and affected his approach to the nextPokémon franchise titles,Pokémon Ruby andSapphire.[6]
Typhlosion is the final form of theCyndaquil evolutionary line, evolving from the second stage,Quilava. It is a Fire-type Pokémon[7] featuring yellow and blue fur and flames that come from its neck.[8]Pokémon Legends: Arceus features a new version of Typhlosion as part of regional forms called "Hisuian," while Cyndaquil and Quilava retain their normal forms. It remains a Fire-type Pokémon, but gains the secondary typing of Ghost.[9] It greatly resembles regular Typhlosion, though its flames take on a different appearance from the standard form.[10]
Typhlosion made its debut in the gamesPokémon Gold andSilver as the evolved form of Cyndaquil.[7] Cyndaquil is made available to the player near the beginning of the game as their starter Pokémon alongside the Grass-typeChikorita and Water-typeTotodile.[11] It appears in the same role in the later versionPokémon Crystal[7] and remakesHeartGold andSoulSilver.[12] It later appeared inPokémon Legends: Arceus, with a new form of the species, named Hisuian Typhlosion, appearing.[9] It can be transferred toPokémon Scarlet andViolet via the appPokémon Home[13] and both forms of Typhlosion can be obtained inThe Hidden Treasure of Area Zero (with the Hisuian form requiring any Cyndaquil or Quilava caught in the Terarium to be transferred to Legends: Arceus via HOME and evolved there), thedownloadable content forScarlet andViolet.[14] Typhlosion appears in spinoffs of thePokémon games, includingPokémon Go,[15] and the physicalPokémon Trading Card Game.[16][17]
Typhlosion was covered inIGN's "Pokémon of the Day" series, with the author arguing that it had a difficult time living up to Charizard due to Charizard being among the most popular Pokémon. She believed that it was the strongest of the second generation's starter Pokémon, stating that this as well as its "explosive" personality helped elevate its popularity.[7]IGN writer Lucas M. Thomas felt that Typhlosion succeeded at following up Charizard as a Fire-type starter Pokémon.[18]ITMedia staff praised Typhlosion's design, particularly the flames that emit from its neck, and expressed their disappointment with it not having its flames out at all times, making it look worse.[19]
Typhlosion's Hisuian form has received generally positive reception. According toInside Games, Hisuian Typhlosion's design became popular among fans, thoughScreen Rant writer Austin King stated that initial impressions were mixed before people saw it with its flames on display, at which point reception became more positive.[20]Paste writer Hana Kim called its design "fantastic," and stated that its "very calm demeanor" and "gentle and pacifist" nature was a direct contrast to Typhlosion's "stoic, angry, and explosive" personality.[21]Game Rant writer Joseph Gobran expressed disappointment with Hisuian Typhlosion, stating that both it and its other form have abilities that are "circumstantial," with Hisuian Typhlosion's ability, Frisk, being useless in a competitive scene with the standard being both sides are able to see everything about their opponents team.[22]
The design differences between Hisuian and the original form were the subject of discussion by critics.Inside Games writer Sawadee Otsuka felt that it had a more feminine design compared to its regular form, citing "shadow-like eyelids" and a "listless appearance" that they felt made it look seductive. They also discussed how a male Hisuian Typhlosion would be seen as a "downer guy" while a female would be seen as a "seductive mature woman."[10] FellowInside Games writer Hachiwatawachi discussed Hisuian Typhlosion's appearance inPokémon Cafe Mix, where it is seen wearing akimono. She believed that male Typhlosion were seen as "cool, handsome men with long, sharp features" while females were perceived as "sexy older sisters." On this design, she believed it felt more "bright, cute, [and] innocent."[23] Author Norihito Kodota analyzed Hisuian Typhlosion through a queer lens, arguing that its hunched walking style, eyeshadow, and the flames around its neck defied the ability to define Typhlosion in a way that neatly fits into male or female.[24]
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