Arceus

Arceus (Japanese: アルセウス, Hepburn: Aruseusu) is a Pokémon species in Nintendo and Game Freak's Pokémon franchise. First featuring in the 2009 film Pokémon: Arceus and the Jewel of Life, Arceus is a mythical Pokémon which can first be obtained in the games Pokémon Diamond and Pearl. Within the lore of the Pokémon series, Arceus is the creator deity which created the games' universe. Following its release, Arceus was received relatively favorably, being voted the most favorite Pokémon in a poll of Japanese fans by The Pokémon Company.

Arceus
Pokémon series character
National Pokédex
Shaymin - Arceus (#493) - Victini
First appearancePokémon: Arceus and the Jewel of Life
First gamePokémon Diamond and Pearl
Voiced byTom Wayland (English)
Akihiro Miwa (Japanese)

Design and characteristics

Referred to as the "Alpha Pokémon" in the in-game Pokédex,[1] Arceus is a largely white, quadrupedal creature with a black-toned underbelly. A prominent feature of the physical form is a round, wheel-like cross attached to its torso. The wheel is yellow in its default Normal-type form, but it changes color when Arceus is given special items which also change its type.[2]

In the lore of the Pokémon series, Arceus created the universe.[3] The Pokémon has a "signature" move that is not learnable by other species called "Judgment".[4] Arceus is a "mythical" Pokémon, one of four released in the fourth generation of the series.[5]

Appearances

In video games

Arceus was first obtainable in the game Pokémon Diamond and Pearl through distribution events by Nintendo. It also appeared as a statue, although not obtainable, in the spin-off game Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky. In Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, transferring Arceus into the game allows a special event to be triggered in which the player visits an altar and Arceus generates a legendary Pokémon - either Dialga, Palkia and Giratina dependent on player choice - with the game showing real life photographs.[6] Prior to the introduction of Mega Evolution in Pokémon X and Y, Arceus had the highest base stats of any Pokémon.[7] Arceus is also featured in the spin-off Pokémon Conquest, being awakened after the player unites the region the game is set in - which is shaped like Arceus.[8]

Figures of Arceus were given out as pre-order bonuses in Japan for HeartGold and SoulSilver.[9] Nintendo had held multiple official distributions for Arceus - which, being a Mythical Pokémon, is not obtainable through normal gameplay[10] - including events in 2016 and 2018.[4][2]

Arceus also appeared in two entries of the Super Smash Bros. series. In For Wii U & For 3DS, Arceus featured as an obtainable trophy, and in Ultimate it was obtainable as a Spirit. Arceus is also summonable via the Master Ball and Pokéball items in both games,[11] in which, upon being summoned, it will perform the move "Gravity", launching aerial opponents downward.

In other media

Arceus features as a main character in the 2009 movie Pokémon: Arceus and the Jewel of Life,[12] where it was voiced by Tom Wayland (English) and Akihiro Miwa (Japanese).[13] It also made an appearance in the 2015 movie Pokémon the Movie: Hoopa and the Clash of Ages.[14]

Reception

In a 2010 Japanese fan survey conducted by The Pokémon Company before the release of Pokémon Black and White, Arceus placed first as "most favorite Pokémon", ahead of franchise mascot Pikachu which was fourth.[15] Arceus placed second in a 2016 The Pokémon Company poll.[16] In a separate poll conducted by IGN, Arceus placed as the sixty-first top, with IGN's staff commenting that Arceus was "kind of funny looking".[17]

Several writers noted the in-lore strangeness of obtaining Arceus, noting that it would be equivalent to "a kid catching a deity".[18][19] Official Nintendo Magazine's Chris Scullion ranked Arceus among the 10 best Pokémon due to its versatility, strength, and rarity that makes Arceus "potentially strong against any Pokémon".[20] Destructoid's Jonathan Holmes called it a "bad cross between a Yu-Gi-Oh monster and the spirit of the forest from The Princess Mononoke".[21]

References
  1. "Arceus - Pokédex". The Pokémon Company. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
  2. Vincent, Brittany (15 January 2018). "Japanese publication CoroCoro Comic distributing legendary Pokémon Arceus codes". Dot Esports. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
  3. Hernandez, Patricia (29 July 2013). "Pokemon's Legendary Problem". Kotaku. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
  4. Hoffer, Christian (1 August 2016). "Pokemon: Arceus Distribution Begins Today". Comicbook.com. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
  5. Merrick, Joe (10 December 2015). "Feature: A Pokémon Retrospective: Generation 4 - 2006-2010". Nintendo Life. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
  6. Solorzano, Sergio. "25 Crazy Hidden Things In Console Games They Never Wanted Us To Find: #20 - A Clandestine, Creepy Pokémon Ritual". TheGamer. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
  7. "20 Pokémon Evolutions So Powerful They Should Be Banned". ScreenRant. 5 December 2018. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
  8. Jenkins, David (23 July 2012). "Pokémon Conquest review – samurai trainers". Metro. Retrieved 24 January 2019.
  9. Ashcraft, Brian (15 June 2009). "Pokemon Heart Gold/Soul Silver Japanese Pre-Orders Include..." Kotaku. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
  10. Frank, Allegra (18 January 2018). "Legendary Pokémon downloads available throughout 2018". Polygon. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
  11. "Super Smash Bros. Ultimate for the Nintendo Switch system". www.smashbros.com. Retrieved 2020-08-10.
  12. Anhalt, Bobby (31 May 2017). "16 Best Legendary Pokémon, Ranked". ScreenRant. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
  13. Pokémon: Arceus and the Jewel of Life (film). 2009.
  14. Kuang, Robert (25 July 2015). "Arceus And Hoopa Spoilers Revealed In Pokemon Movie 18 'Hoopa & The Clash Of Ages'". KpopStarz. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
  15. Smith, Alex (11 August 2010). "Fans in Japan Voted Pokemon Arceus As Their All Time Favourite". Gamepur. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
  16. Vincent, Brittany (6 July 2016). "Japanese 'Pokemon' fan poll crowns a favorite other than Pikachu". Engadget. AOL. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
  17. "Arceus - #61 Top Pokémon". IGN. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
  18. Devore, Jordan (29 December 2016). "It's not too late to nab the Mythical Pokemon Arceus". Destructoid. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
  19. Minor, Jordan (7 June 2018). "Messed Up Things About Pokemon No One Ever Talks About". Geek.com. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 12 July 2019. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
  20. Scullion, Chris (24 April 2010). "Nintendo Feature: 10 Best Pokémon". Official Nintendo Magazine. Future plc. Archived from the original on 10 May 2011. Retrieved 7 December 2012.
  21. Holmes, Jonathan (21 October 2009). "God of Pokemon DLC coming next month to Toys R Us". Destructoid. Enthusiast Gaming. Retrieved 7 December 2011.
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