Game Freak certainly had no shortage of creative ideas for Poison-types in Generation I. An impressive 30% of my Pokémon articles so far have featured such characters, and there are only more to come.

Today’s feature brings another couple great hits: Tentacool and Tentacruel!

Let’s be real: Bellsprout is a glorified stick figure. A design can’t get much simpler than that. However, it’s also a superb example of how the smallest adjustments can create appealing characters.

From brains and back to brawn, the Machop family is next to review!

In terms of the National Pokédex, Abra serves as our introduction to the Psychic typing!

Another ridiculously simple-looking, but pleasing character design: Poliwag!

So far, the Character Critiques series has covered Pokémon based off of common animals like birds, rats, butterflies, monkeys, and even cats. It’s interesting that our first obligatory “dog” doesn’t debut until this far into the Pokédex.

I have an important confession before this article begins: I don’t give high praises to the primate order. With the exception of Strepsirhines (lemurs, galagos, etc), tarsiers, and a few species of monkey, all other primates are habitually the ugliest creatures in my eyes.

Psyduck is such a loveable goof. I mean, just look at that dopey face!