If Pokemon Legends: Z-A's Starters Underwhelm, Box Them

"Thanks to the anime focusing so heavily on the powerful bond between Ash and his starter Pokémon, Pikachu , everyone feels like they to love their first partner in each game. These cute little guys are typically given to you by a professor, and they serve as an early foundation for the rest of the team you'll build out over the course of the game."

"But sometimes, you'll boot one of these games up and realize you don't like any of your options. Then you're stuck with this hangnail of a Pokémon you don't really care about. Friends, what if I told you that there's another option? One that most trainers, chained down by sentimentality, never even consider? Put that little shit in the box and catch your actual fave."

Anime emphasis on Ash's bond with Pikachu creates a strong cultural pressure to love first partners. Starter Pokémon are typically gifted by a professor and establish the early team foundation. Players sometimes dislike all starter options and end up with a Pokémon they do not care about. An alternative exists: box the starter and catch a preferred Pokémon instead of using the starter throughout the game. Some experimental spin-off RPGs reintroduce previous starters with regional variants or Mega Evolutions rather than new designs. Certain releases receive criticism for unpopular starter selections like Chikorita and Tepig. Sentimentality often prevents players from considering alternative starter strategies.

Read at Kotaku