Let's Talk About Pokemon - Psyduck and Golduck

054: Psyduck

Psyduck, while simplistic, is pretty much most effective that way. While I'm not a big fan of Psyduck, it's hard to say I'd really change it. I find it hard to complain about Pokemon with dopey, vacant looks on their faces in general, whether I like them or not. If nothing else simply because it's something a little different.

And I think it's all the better when that blank, wide-eyed expression plays into the theme! Psyduck is at least interesting in that it's a non-Psychic type described to have Psychic abilities thanks to it having such a terrible, persistent headache. (Same.) Which is a neat idea, and since it more or less has Psychic powers by accident, I can see why it hasn't picked up the Psychic type.

Psyduck isn't quite a duck though; it more resembles a platypus. Psyduck lacks the Flying type, nor does it gain it by evolving, which makes it a flightless but still a duck-billed aquatic creature. It has webbed arms over wings too. Sounds like a platypus to me! All it's really missing is the beaver-like tail. I can see the niche of a dopey platypus Pokemon, especially since platypuses (platypi?) are pretty weird, niche animals themselves.

Personal Score: 6.5/10

055: Golduck

Golduck though, drops the dopey charm of Psyduck in favor of looking like a little more refined of a Pokemon. Golduck's cool in its own right, but it ends up being more forgettable for it. It doesn't even pick up the Psychic type, which WOULD make sense in this case because it has more control over its psychic abilities, being finally relieved of its headache.

Golduck takes inspiration from the ever-popular kappa. Though it's so loose a comparison I think the Pokedex felt the need to spell it out. It's a design that evokes the energy and vibes of a kappa, but it's only just enough of a resemblance to be able to be pointed out. I do like that it's not a 1:1 lifting of a kappa, making a creature that is hard to identify as anything other than "Golduck". That said, I almost wish it was a little closer to a traditional kappa. Kappas have a dish-shaped skull as one of their main traits, which feels like it'd be a perfect fit for a headache-as-superpowers Pokemon, with them having a caved-in skull. I still appreciate its hussle, it's not anywhere near an intense downgrade as Meowth into Persian, but I still find Golduck less intersting.

Personal Score: 6/10

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