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Kleavor

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Kleavor
Pokémon character
Kleavor artwork by Ken Sugimori
First gamePokémon Legends: Arceus (2022)
In-universe information
SpeciesPokémon
TypeBug and Rock

Kleavor (/ˈkliːvɔːr/), known in Japan as Basagiri (Japanese: バサギリ), is a Pokémon species in Nintendo and Game Freak's Pokémon franchise. It is an evolution of the Pokémon Scyther, who first appeared in the games Pokémon Red and Blue. First introduced in Pokémon Legends: Arceus it has appeared in multiple games including Pokémon Go and the Pokémon Trading Card Game, as well as various merchandise.

Kleavor has received a primarily positive reception debut. It has been significantly analyzed for various elements of its design, such as in regard to its references to real-world insects and Japanese culture. Its design has received criticism in comparison to Scyther.

Conception and design

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Kleavor is a species of fictional creatures called Pokémon created for the Pokémon media franchise. Developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo, the Japanese franchise began in 1996 with the video games Pokémon Red and Green for the Game Boy, which were later released in North America as Pokémon Red and Blue in 1998.[1] 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 called evolution via various means, such as exposure to specific items.[2] Each Pokémon have one or two elemental types, which define its advantages and disadvantages when battling other Pokémon.[3] A major goal in each game is to complete the Pokédex, a comprehensive Pokémon encyclopedia, by capturing, evolving, and trading with other Trainers to obtain individuals from all Pokémon species.[2]

Kleavor is an evolution of the Pokémon Scyther, who first appeared in Pokémon Red and Blue.[4][5] Scyther had previously only been able to evolve into the Pokémon Scizor.[6] Scyther can evolve into Kleavor by using a "Black Augurite" item.[4][5] Unlike Scyther, who normally has two scythe-like arms, Kleavor has two axe-like arms.[6]

Appearances

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Kleavor first appears in the 2022 game Pokémon Legends: Arceus, which is set in the distant past of the region of Sinnoh, the main location of the 2006 games Pokémon Diamond and Pearl. A "Noble" Kleavor is worshipped in Hisui, and is driven into a frenzy by a space-time distortion in the skies of Hisui, requiring the player to battle it in a boss battle. Upon Kleavor's defeat by the player, it is restored to normal.[7] The player can obtain a Kleavor by using a Black Augurite item on the Pokémon Scyther, allowing Scyther to evolve into Kleavor.[4] Kleavor later reappears in the game Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. Though the Black Augurite item is not obtainable in the game, Kleavor can be encountered and caught in the wild in the game's The Indigo Disk DLC expansion.[5]

Kleavor appears in spin-off material for the series. It appears in Pokémon Go, where it can only be obtained by defeating it in special "raid battles," and is unable to evolve from Scyther.[8] Kleavor also appears in the Pokémon anime, where a stronger version of the species is owned by a Pokémon trainer named Lucius, a powerful trainer who hails from the ancient past.[9] It appears in the Pokémon Trading Card Game.[10][11][12]

Critical reception

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Kleavor was mostly well received since its debut. Ryan Woodrow in an article for Sports Illustrated praised its design, stating it continued a trend of each part of Scyther's evolution line being unique: "Scyther has speed and bug-based appeal, Scizor is sturdy and strong, and Kleavor looks like an absolute monster." He additionally praised how its double axe design made it look "vicious", and how well Arceus had showcased the species.[13] In another article for USA Today, he further called it a great "alternative take on Scyther's evolution", and wanted to see concepts like it explored in future installments.[14] Hana Kim of Paste meanwhile argued that while Scizor "refined and smoothed out" Scyther's design, Kleavor represented a roughening up of it due to its exaggerated axes and "rocky, craggy protrusions", making it feel closer to Scyther's appearance than Scizor.[15] Abdur Rozaq Aji Samudra and Muh Ariffudin Islam, writing for the Indonesian visual communication design journal BARIK, praised how it referenced the giant dead leaf mantis, a real-world species of praying mantis known for using camouflage, with Kleavor's rock-like aspects helping it do similar with the terrain found in Arceus.[16]

However, TheGamer's Editor in Chief Stacey Henley was more critical, stating that it only served to add another "gimmick" to the franchise, something she felt had worn thin. She described Scyther's other evolution Scizor as "one of the best looking and most popular Pokémon of its type" and questioned why an alternative evolution line was necessary, feeling it continued a trend of questionable choices regarding Pokémon species redesigns. Going further she stated that she would have preferred an additional evolution in Scyther's line instead of an alternative, as "splitting Scyther’s evolutionary path doesn’t seem like a worthwhile endeavour - especially when that endeavour leads to Kleavor." In Henley's eyes Kleavor was "bumpy and obnoxiously overdesigned where Scyther is sleek and simple" and felt more akin to a digimon, characters from a rival brand of the Pokémon franchise. Coupled with questioning the necessity of the Noble Pokemon concept, she felt for a franchise known for its great character design it seemed unable to "put its best foot forward".[17]

References to Japanese culture

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The aforementioned paper in BARIK by Samudra and Islam also examined Kleavor's design in the context of indigenous culture in Japan's history. They observed that its design such as its rock decorations and stone axes appeared to reference many aspects of the Ainu people, a tribe who inhabited the island of Hokkaido that faced discrimination and force assimilation during Japan's Meiji Restoration era. They felt these references helped illustrate Kleavor as a remnant of a past "abandoned by Japanese society in modern times."[16] Meanwhile, Edward G. McGowan and Lewis J. Alcott in the journal Geoscience Communication Discussions appreciated how these tribal correlations, particularly Kleavor's reliance on obsidian and use of it to make primitive tools, helped teach aspects of Hokkaido's geology, and represented how games could be used to teach geology and geoscience.[18]

The staff of Inside meanwhile pointed that its Japanese name seemed to be a reference to the phrase "Tourou no Ono", which meant when one "attacks recklessly without knowing oneself" and often represented characters that could be seen as either a hero or a fool. While in the game it was presented as a fierce opponent, the fact that Arceus was set in the past and Kleavor did not appear naturally in games set in the current timeline suggested to them that its reckless behavior may have led to its own extinction, something they felt gave Kleavor a tragic aspect.[19]

References

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  1. ^ Hilliard, Kyle (December 25, 2016). "Pokémon Red & Blue – A Look Back At The 20-Year Journey To Catch 'Em All". Game Informer. Archived from the original on October 1, 2023. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
  2. ^ a b Allison, Anne (May 2006). Millennial Monsters: Japanese Toys and the Global Imagination. University of California Press. pp. 192–197. ISBN 9780520938991.
  3. ^ Pokémon Deluxe Essential Handbook. Scholastic Inc. July 28, 2015. p. 5. ISBN 9780545795661.
  4. ^ a b c Life, Nintendo (February 8, 2022). "Pokémon Legends: Arceus: How To Evolve Scyther Into Kleavor". Nintendo Life. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
  5. ^ a b c Koepp, Brent (December 18, 2023). "How to Evolve Scyther into Kleavor in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet". Siliconera. Archived from the original on February 3, 2024. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
  6. ^ a b Jessi (September 10, 2023). "Pokemon: Scyther and Its Evolutions Turn 'Rock, Paper, Scissors' on Its Head". Game Rant. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
  7. ^ Vach, Melissa (January 30, 2022). "Pokémon Legends: Arceus - How to Defeat Kleavor". CBR. Archived from the original on October 27, 2022. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
  8. ^ "How to get Kleavor in Pokémon Go | Raid weaknesses, counters and more | Radio Times". www.radiotimes.com. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
  9. ^ Edmundson, Carlyle (October 24, 2023). "Pokémon Horizons Unveils The Full Team Of The Strongest Trainer Ever". ScreenRant. Archived from the original on October 26, 2023. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
  10. ^ Comments, Theo Dwyer | (September 10, 2022). "The Cards Of Pokémon TCG: Astral Radiance Part 47: Kleavor CR". bleedingcool.com. Archived from the original on September 11, 2022. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
  11. ^ Comments, Theo Dwyer | (February 9, 2022). "The First Look At Hisuian Pokémon TCG Cards: Kleavor & Wyrdeer". bleedingcool.com. Archived from the original on March 10, 2022. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
  12. ^ Comments, Theo Dwyer | (April 3, 2022). "Pokémon TCG Time Gazer & Space Juggler Preview: Kleavor V". bleedingcool.com. Archived from the original on March 21, 2023. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
  13. ^ Woodrow, Ryan (August 6, 2023). "The 10 Best Rock Pokémon of All Time". Video Games on Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on September 23, 2024. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
  14. ^ Woodrow, Ryan (September 24, 2022). "The Top Ten Rock Pokémon, Ranked". USA Today. Archived from the original on March 25, 2023. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
  15. ^ Kim, Hana (February 28, 2022). "The Best New Pokémon Forms in Pokémon Legends: Arceus". Paste. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
  16. ^ a b Samudra, Abdur Rozaq Aji; Islam, Muh Ariffudin. "Analisis Desain Visual Karakter Kleavor Dalam Game Pokémon Legends: Arceus" [Analisis Desain Visual Karakter Kleavor Dalam Game Pokémon Legends: Arceus]. BARIK-Jurnal S1 Desain Komunikasi Visual [BARIK-Journal of Visual Communication Design] (in Indonesian). 5 (1): 298–309.
  17. ^ Henley, Stacey (September 28, 2021). "Kleavor, The Latest Pokemon With Yet Another Gimmick, Looks Bad". TheGamer.
  18. ^ McGowan, Edward G.; Alcott, Lewis J. (June 7, 2022). "The Potential for Using Video Games to Teach Geoscience: Learning About the Geology and Geomorphology of Hokkaido (Japan) From Playing Pokémon Legends: Arceus". Geoscience Communication Discussions (5): 327. doi:10.5194/gc-5-325-2022.
  19. ^ 『ポケモン』バサギリは勇者？それとも愚者？元ネタとなったちょっぴり切ない故事成語 [Is Pokemon's Kleavor a Hero? Or a Fool? The Slightly Sad Idiom That Inspired It]. Inside (in Japanese). July 4, 2022. Archived from the original on March 20, 2024. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
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