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Nuzlocke: It Hurts on the Inside...
13 years ago
General
I don't think we really understand just how powerful personification really is...
today,
riffti and i started playing Heart Gold and Soul Silver together parallel, and decided to mix it up and play with the Nuzlocke rules. For those who don't know what that is, basically you can only catch the first Pokemon on each new route, and when a Pokemon faints, they die. Additionally, you're to nickname all the Pokemon to catch, in order to form better bonds with them.
Overall, it seemed silly and simple. A good way to mix things up and have some fun. I chose Chikorita to be a little different and went to work with Graskurt, laughing a bit at my silly little name as I went on. It wasn't long before I'd caught Bentista my Pidgey on route 29, and Munchies my Rattata over in route 43. I beat myself up a little for missing out on Sentret but I got over it as I traveled with my motley little crew.
Before long, Toranaga my Caterpie joined in; named for the character in the show Shogun. I decided that was his little goal, he wanted to be Shogun of all the Caterpie, and he inspired me to catch Eldrith and Anjin-San, even though I already had Rattata and Caterpie. They would make valuable teammate. And then there was Anne in Dark Cave. Every new pokemon I'd read up on their natures and traits and I started giving them little personalities... then reality set in when I lost Bentista in Sprout Tower.
It was only a missclick, but I felt a pang in the base of my stomach as I watched his little sprite slip off the screen into the realm of Nuzlocke death. If only I hadn't missclicked and given the potion to Munchies, then I'd still have Bentista... The walk down the tower was bittersweet... I had the TM for Flash, but I'd lost a friend doing it. I resolved to train more, so it wouldn't happen again, and added Wooly to my team to prepare and face Falkner. The gym battle was a resounding success and with Bentista's memory on my mind i set off for the next gym in Azalea.
Along the way I managed to pick up a few more friends, Dig-Dig the Sandshrew, and Flops the Magikarp. I found myself facepalming at Dig-Dig's slightly sub-par mental capacity as I'd barely owned him five minutes and he cheerily followed behind me like a lost puppy. I even adopted him a little quirk of wearing a beach pail on his head. The battles were going well as I walked into Azalea, cautious as again Graskurt gave me a type disadvantage, but confident Bugsy's Scyther was no match for Anne and Wolly's combined efforts. I even had the added luck as i walked through the mart that my Togepi hatched from it's egg, and among the shelves I decided to call the youngling Produce.That security and fortune though was short lived.
As I pursued Kurt the ball craftsman into the Slowpoke Well to aid him in ridding the tail thieves, I was caught by surprise by a Rocket, and within a minute of battle, I lost my precious Anne to a critical hit. Anne, who had been with me now only a few hours, but whom I'd developed a lifetime of personality with. she'd helped me through battles, walling people with her Supersonic and Leech Life, and now she was suddenly wrenched from me. i felt anger as I cut a swath through the remaining Rockets and felling their leader.
I mourned for Anne, but at the same time, after so easily felling the foes who took her from me I felt Azalea's leader Bugsy would be no match for me and my companion's strength. With Produce, Graskurt, Wooly, Dig-Dig, Munchies and Flops I waltz confidently into the gym. The battles were child's play until that final moment where i stood face to face with Bugsy. I left Produce in front, expecting him to lead with his Kakuna and get swept by an easy Extrasensory. i was wrong as I initiated the match and was faced head on with the Bug Expert's Scyther.
Quickly I switched to Wooly, hoping for the Thundershock to get some damage, only to watch in mortal dread as a single U-Turn felled my precious Wooly; Wooly who had fought so valiantly and defeated Falkner single handedly, was suddenly gone. I bit my lip, cursing my misplay as I replaced Wolly's place with Munchies, to deal with the incoming Metapod. I managed to fell the cocoon with little problem, seeing my opponent ready that Scyther again. I healed Munchies with a potion, hoping to take the hit and counter with a STAB Quick Attack... I was felled in a single shot by the Scyther's own Quick Attack, and I held back tears as i watched another of my friends fall in battle.
I felt my hope flicker away as I sent out Graskurt... hoping I might be able to at least get off Poison Powder and stall Bugsy's heavy handed sweeper out, but again that dreaded U-Turn came first, easily felling my partner from the beginning. I was left to send out Dig-Dig and his pail helm as I held back tears, the Kakuna coming out now. I made a switch to Produce for the Extrasensory and a nice two hit KO, but there was nothing left among my teammates to take on that Scyther in the last slot... I watched as one by one it felled my remaining Pokemon and I was left with no one.
I did what I had to afterwards... Depositing my fallen team among the grave and taking out the Shogun to be Toranaga... I could feel his disappointment in me for my rash decision... My blind confidence. I could feel my own disappointment at myself. I'd given each and every one of these being a personality... A life... And I failed to protect them. I let them down.
I felt I couldn't continue, returning to the real world I deleted the save to start again tomorrow... Right now though, i found myself crying. I'd watched countless videos of Nuzlocke challenges, though I felt how they felt as i watched their Pokemon fall, but I was wrong. Experiencing it myself, I looked back on those I'd watched, those who made it look easy, and I cried for them as well. The sheer, heart wrenching grief of knowing they died for you... That you let them down.
I'll start again tomorrow morning, and probably keep these journals; to recount my successes and my losses... I'll go in this time, knowing that Graskurt and the others are watching over me... Making sure I don't make the same mistakes, that I protect them just as much as they protect me and don't put them into unnecessary danger...
I'll win for them... And the Pokemon and personalities who'll fight alongside me, and believe in me.I'll make them all proud...
Isaac Zephyr
today,
riffti and i started playing Heart Gold and Soul Silver together parallel, and decided to mix it up and play with the Nuzlocke rules. For those who don't know what that is, basically you can only catch the first Pokemon on each new route, and when a Pokemon faints, they die. Additionally, you're to nickname all the Pokemon to catch, in order to form better bonds with them.Overall, it seemed silly and simple. A good way to mix things up and have some fun. I chose Chikorita to be a little different and went to work with Graskurt, laughing a bit at my silly little name as I went on. It wasn't long before I'd caught Bentista my Pidgey on route 29, and Munchies my Rattata over in route 43. I beat myself up a little for missing out on Sentret but I got over it as I traveled with my motley little crew.
Before long, Toranaga my Caterpie joined in; named for the character in the show Shogun. I decided that was his little goal, he wanted to be Shogun of all the Caterpie, and he inspired me to catch Eldrith and Anjin-San, even though I already had Rattata and Caterpie. They would make valuable teammate. And then there was Anne in Dark Cave. Every new pokemon I'd read up on their natures and traits and I started giving them little personalities... then reality set in when I lost Bentista in Sprout Tower.
It was only a missclick, but I felt a pang in the base of my stomach as I watched his little sprite slip off the screen into the realm of Nuzlocke death. If only I hadn't missclicked and given the potion to Munchies, then I'd still have Bentista... The walk down the tower was bittersweet... I had the TM for Flash, but I'd lost a friend doing it. I resolved to train more, so it wouldn't happen again, and added Wooly to my team to prepare and face Falkner. The gym battle was a resounding success and with Bentista's memory on my mind i set off for the next gym in Azalea.
Along the way I managed to pick up a few more friends, Dig-Dig the Sandshrew, and Flops the Magikarp. I found myself facepalming at Dig-Dig's slightly sub-par mental capacity as I'd barely owned him five minutes and he cheerily followed behind me like a lost puppy. I even adopted him a little quirk of wearing a beach pail on his head. The battles were going well as I walked into Azalea, cautious as again Graskurt gave me a type disadvantage, but confident Bugsy's Scyther was no match for Anne and Wolly's combined efforts. I even had the added luck as i walked through the mart that my Togepi hatched from it's egg, and among the shelves I decided to call the youngling Produce.That security and fortune though was short lived.
As I pursued Kurt the ball craftsman into the Slowpoke Well to aid him in ridding the tail thieves, I was caught by surprise by a Rocket, and within a minute of battle, I lost my precious Anne to a critical hit. Anne, who had been with me now only a few hours, but whom I'd developed a lifetime of personality with. she'd helped me through battles, walling people with her Supersonic and Leech Life, and now she was suddenly wrenched from me. i felt anger as I cut a swath through the remaining Rockets and felling their leader.
I mourned for Anne, but at the same time, after so easily felling the foes who took her from me I felt Azalea's leader Bugsy would be no match for me and my companion's strength. With Produce, Graskurt, Wooly, Dig-Dig, Munchies and Flops I waltz confidently into the gym. The battles were child's play until that final moment where i stood face to face with Bugsy. I left Produce in front, expecting him to lead with his Kakuna and get swept by an easy Extrasensory. i was wrong as I initiated the match and was faced head on with the Bug Expert's Scyther.
Quickly I switched to Wooly, hoping for the Thundershock to get some damage, only to watch in mortal dread as a single U-Turn felled my precious Wooly; Wooly who had fought so valiantly and defeated Falkner single handedly, was suddenly gone. I bit my lip, cursing my misplay as I replaced Wolly's place with Munchies, to deal with the incoming Metapod. I managed to fell the cocoon with little problem, seeing my opponent ready that Scyther again. I healed Munchies with a potion, hoping to take the hit and counter with a STAB Quick Attack... I was felled in a single shot by the Scyther's own Quick Attack, and I held back tears as i watched another of my friends fall in battle.
I felt my hope flicker away as I sent out Graskurt... hoping I might be able to at least get off Poison Powder and stall Bugsy's heavy handed sweeper out, but again that dreaded U-Turn came first, easily felling my partner from the beginning. I was left to send out Dig-Dig and his pail helm as I held back tears, the Kakuna coming out now. I made a switch to Produce for the Extrasensory and a nice two hit KO, but there was nothing left among my teammates to take on that Scyther in the last slot... I watched as one by one it felled my remaining Pokemon and I was left with no one.
I did what I had to afterwards... Depositing my fallen team among the grave and taking out the Shogun to be Toranaga... I could feel his disappointment in me for my rash decision... My blind confidence. I could feel my own disappointment at myself. I'd given each and every one of these being a personality... A life... And I failed to protect them. I let them down.
I felt I couldn't continue, returning to the real world I deleted the save to start again tomorrow... Right now though, i found myself crying. I'd watched countless videos of Nuzlocke challenges, though I felt how they felt as i watched their Pokemon fall, but I was wrong. Experiencing it myself, I looked back on those I'd watched, those who made it look easy, and I cried for them as well. The sheer, heart wrenching grief of knowing they died for you... That you let them down.
I'll start again tomorrow morning, and probably keep these journals; to recount my successes and my losses... I'll go in this time, knowing that Graskurt and the others are watching over me... Making sure I don't make the same mistakes, that I protect them just as much as they protect me and don't put them into unnecessary danger...
I'll win for them... And the Pokemon and personalities who'll fight alongside me, and believe in me.I'll make them all proud...
Isaac Zephyr
