Summary
A number of fans are complaining about a recently-released officialPokemonhandbook. The complaint has split thePokemoncommunity, with some thinking the complaints are valid, while others have pointed out logical reasons for the decisions made with the book.
Getting through aPokemongame doesn’t require a third-party book, app, or anything else, but a lot of fans have purchased guide books over the years.Pokemonguide booksoften provide valuable insight regarding a Pokemon’s stats, spawn locations, and movesets. However, this particular book got under the skin of one fan.
Reddit user darkfalz32 shared their complaint regarding thePokemon Super Duper Extra Deluxe Essential Handbook. The book, which was published in August 2024 by Scholastic, has stats on “more than 1,000 characters,” but everything in it is organized alphabetically. The fan questioned this, pointing out that it annoyed them that it wasn’t organized byPokedexnumber. A few images of the interior of the book show that the Pokemon are indeed alphabetically listed, which results in Pokemon of all different generations and regions being tossed in together, and some evolutionary lines being split apart.
Pokemon Fans Have Mixed Opinions on Handbook
A number ofPokemonfans have stated that they think that organizing thePokemon alphabeticallymakes sense. Several have said that as a Scholastic book, this is intended to be read by children, so organizing it alphabetically makes more sense. Many have also stated that while they know plenty of Pokemon by name, memorizing their Dex numbers isn’t something they’ve done. However, some are also in agreement with darkfalz32, sharing in their annoyance. Matters have been made a bit more complicated by the fact that some of this handbook series' earlier releases did organize the Pokemon by Pokedex number, but switched to alphabetical organization later on. The prior editions allegedly also contained some incorrect information, further irritating fans.
Some other fans both joked and expressed genuine irritation at the title of the handbook, pointing out that each release adds a new word to the name. Given the length of the series, the name has already become quite awkward, and may continue to become more absurd, providing it continues with new games. While this handbook seems to have generated some controversy, it’s ultimately a minor issue. For those who prefer organization by the officialPokemon National Dexnumbers, it might be better to purchase a Pokedex book instead, which will likely follow the standard numbering system from the games.
Pokemon
Pokemon is a franchise that needs no introduction. One of the most successful media empires in history, Pokemon spans games, television, films, manga, merchandise, music, and more.
