Localization: Difference between revisions

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{{fan speculation}}
{{fan speculation}}
This is a list of regional differences in the [[Pokémon games]].
'''Localization''' refers to the translation and regional differences between languages. This includes localization of Pokémon games, anime, manga, and other media.


==Main lists==
==In multiple media==
===Pokémon===
===Pokémon===
The [[Pokémon (species)|Pokémon species]] names were introduced in Japanese. Most Pokémon had their names changed in English, French, German, Chinese, Korean, and Thai. The English names are used in the Spanish and Italian games for all Pokémon with the exceptions of [[Type: Null]] and the [[Paradox Pokémon]] (aside from [[Koraidon]] and [[Miraidon]]) Several other languages also use English Pokémon names in their {{pkmn|anime}} dubs.
The [[Pokémon (species)|Pokémon species]]' names were introduced in Japanese. Most Pokémon had their names changed in English, French, German, Korean, Chinese, Hindi, and Thai. The English names are used in Spanish and Italian for all Pokémon except [[Type: Null]] and the [[Paradox Pokémon]] (aside from [[Koraidon]] and [[Miraidon]]). Several other languages also use English Pokémon names in their {{pkmn|anime}} dubs.


* [[List of Japanese Pokémon names]]
* [[List of Japanese Pokémon names]]
* [[List of French Pokémon names]]
* [[List of French Pokémon names]]
* [[List of Spanish Pokémon names]]
* [[List of German Pokémon names]]
* [[List of German Pokémon names]]
* [[List of Italian Pokémon names]]
* [[List of Korean Pokémon names]]
* [[List of Chinese Pokémon names]]
* [[List of Chinese Pokémon names]]
* [[List of Korean Pokémon names]]
* [[List of Hindi Pokémon names]]
* [[List of Thai Pokémon names]]
* [[List of Thai Pokémon names]]
* [[List of Spanish Pokémon names]]
* [[List of Italian Pokémon names]]
====Pokédex entries====
* In the Japanese version of {{game|Crystal}}, Celebi's Pokédex entry states: "もりのかみさま として まつられる" (''worshipped as a deity of the forest''). This was adapted in English as "revered as a guardian of the forest".


====Pokémon types====
====Pokémon types====
Some Pokémon [[type]]s changed between languages.
The names of some Pokémon [[type]]s changed between languages. These are some of the more significant changes:


* {{t|Psychic}} is エスパー ''{{wp|Extrasensory perception|Esper}}'' in Japanese.
* {{t|Psychic}} is エスパー ''{{wp|Extrasensory perception|Esper}}'' in Japanese.
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====Pokémon categories====
====Pokémon categories====
Some [[Pokémon category|Pokémon categories]] changed between languages.
Some [[Pokémon category|Pokémon categories]] changed between languages. These are some of the more significant changes:


* {{p|Blastoise}}, {{p|Kabuto}}, and {{p|Kabutops}} (Japanese category: こうらポケモン ''Shell Pokémon''; English category: Shellfish Pokémon)
* {{p|Blastoise}}, {{p|Kabuto}}, and {{p|Kabutops}} (Japanese category: こうらポケモン ''Shell Pokémon''; English category: Shellfish Pokémon)
* {{p|Meowth}} (Japanese category: ばけねこポケモン ''Bakeneko Pokémon''; English category: Scratch Cat Pokémon)
* {{p|Meowth}} (Japanese category: ばけねこポケモン ''{{wp|Bakeneko}} Pokémon''; English category: Scratch Cat Pokémon)
** The Japanese category refers to {{wp|bakeneko}}, a supernatural cat in Japanese folklore, but this was lost in the English translation.
* {{p|Persian}} (Japanese category: シャムネコポケモン ''{{wp|Siamese cat|Siamese Cat}} Pokémon''; English category: Classy Cat Pokémon)
* {{p|Persian}} (Japanese category: シャムネコポケモン ''Siamese Cat Pokémon''; English category: Classy Cat Pokémon)
** The Japanese category refers to a real-life cat breed, the siamese cat.
* {{p|Kangaskhan}} (Japanese category: おやこポケモン ''Parent and Child Pokémon''; English category: Parent Pokémon)
* {{p|Kangaskhan}} (Japanese category: おやこポケモン ''Parent and Child Pokémon''; English category: Parent Pokémon)
** The Japanese category refers to both parent and child, but the child is not mentioned in the English translation, most likely because of character limits.
** The Japanese category refers to both parent and child, but the child is not mentioned in the English translation, most likely because of character limits.
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====Pokémon forms====
====Pokémon forms====
Some [[List of Pokémon with form differences|Pokémon form differences]] changed between languages.
The names of some [[List of Pokémon with form differences|Pokémon form differences]] changed between languages.


* [[Dynamax]] and [[Gigantamax]] are ダイマックス ''Daimax'' and キョダイマックス ''Kyodaimax'' in Japanese, respectively.
* [[Dynamax]] and [[Gigantamax]] are ダイマックス ''Daimax'' and キョダイマックス ''Kyodaimax'' in Japanese, respectively.
* {{p|Furfrou}}'s trims use the word "Trim" in English but カット ''Cut'' in Japanese. However, these words don't apply to Furfrou's default state, the Natural Form.
* {{p|Furfrou}}'s trims use the word "Trim" in English but カット ''Cut'' in Japanese (however, these words don't apply to Furfrou's default state, the Natural Form):
** Natural Form (Japanese: やせいのすがた ''Wild Form'')
** Natural Form (Japanese: やせいのすがた ''Wild Form'')
*** The Japanese word やせい ''Wild'' also refers to [[wild Pokémon]].
*** The Japanese word やせい ''Wild'' also refers to [[wild Pokémon]].
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* Some Pokémon games have multiple suggested names for the [[player character]] and/or [[rival]]. These names are often different on each language version. For instance, a character may have different optional names in Japanese, English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, and Korean.
* Some Pokémon games have multiple suggested names for the [[player character]] and/or [[rival]]. These names are often different on each language version. For instance, a character may have different optional names in Japanese, English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, and Korean.
** In the [[core series]], this applies to the player characters {{ga|Red}}, {{ga|Leaf}}, {{ga|Ethan}}, {{ga|Kris}}, {{ga|Lyra}}, {{ga|Brendan}}, {{ga|May}}, {{ga|Lucas}}, and {{ga|Dawn}}, and the rivals {{ga|Blue}} and {{ga|Barry}}
** In the [[core series]], this applies to the player characters {{ga|Red}}, {{ga|Leaf}}, {{ga|Ethan}}, {{ga|Kris}}, {{ga|Lyra}}, {{ga|Brendan}}, {{ga|May}}, {{ga|Lucas}}, and {{ga|Dawn}}, and the rivals {{ga|Blue}} and {{ga|Barry}}.


===Locations===
===Locations===
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* {{m|Waterfall}} (Japanese: たきのぼり ''Waterfall Climb''). The English name is simply the word "Waterfall", without mentioning the act of climbing waterfalls. Some move descriptions in the games further clarify that the user is actually charging with enough force to climb waterfalls.
* {{m|Waterfall}} (Japanese: たきのぼり ''Waterfall Climb''). The English name is simply the word "Waterfall", without mentioning the act of climbing waterfalls. Some move descriptions in the games further clarify that the user is actually charging with enough force to climb waterfalls.
** When this move debuted in Generation I, the moves didn't have in-game descriptions in the [[core series]] yet. As a result, in the English version of the [[Generation I]] [[core series]] games, there is no indication that this move is related to climbing waterfalls.
** When this move debuted in Generation I, the moves didn't have in-game descriptions in the [[core series]] yet. As a result, in the English version of the [[Generation I]] [[core series]] games, there is no indication that this move is related to climbing waterfalls.
** The description about "charging with enough force to climb waterfalls" debuted in the {{jap|Pokémon Stadium|Japanese Pokémon Stadium}} (which was not released in English). This is also mentioned in the later games {{eng|Pokémon Stadium}} and [[Pokémon Stadium 2]], not only in Japanese but in English as well.
** The description about "charging with enough force to climb waterfalls" debuted in the {{jpn|Pokémon Stadium|Japanese Pokémon Stadium}} (which was not released in English). This is also mentioned in the later games {{eng|Pokémon Stadium}} and [[Pokémon Stadium 2]], not only in Japanese but in English as well.
** In {{game2|Gold|Silver|Crystal}}, the Japanese move description also mentions "charging with enough force to climb waterfalls". However, the English version was shortened to simply "An aquatic charge attack." The only reference to climbing waterfalls in the English text is when [[Clair]] says only once after being defeated: "<sc>RisingBadge</sc> will enable your <sc>Pokémon</sc> to use the move for climbing {{m|waterfall}}s." From [[Generation III]] onwards, the English move description is closer to the Japanese version, indicating that the user is charging with enough force to climb waterfalls.
** In {{game2|Gold|Silver|Crystal}}, the Japanese move description also mentions "charging with enough force to climb waterfalls". However, the English version was shortened to simply "An aquatic charge attack." The only reference to climbing waterfalls in the English text is when [[Clair]] says only once after being defeated: "<sc>RisingBadge</sc> will enable your <sc>Pokémon</sc> to use the move for climbing {{m|waterfall}}s." From [[Generation III]] onwards, the English move description is closer to the Japanese version, indicating that the user is charging with enough force to climb waterfalls.
** In several games, a waterfall appears when this move is used in-battle. This may incorrectly suggest that the user is summoning a waterfall, which would be inconsistent with the move description.
** In several games, a waterfall appears when this move is used in-battle. This may incorrectly suggest that the user is summoning a waterfall, which would be inconsistent with the move description.
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==In the core series games==
==In the core series games==
{{incomplete|section|Add more regional differences}}
* In all [[core series]] games, the player writes a report (Japanese: レポート ''report'') when saving the game. This "report" option is found at the Japanese version [[main menu]]. The references to writing a report were simply translated as saving the game.
* In all [[core series]] games, the player writes a report (Japanese: レポート ''report'') when saving the game. This "report" option is found at the Japanese version [[main menu]]. The references to writing a report were simply translated as saving the game.
* The units of measurement used for the Pokémon's [[List of Pokémon by height|height]] and [[List of Pokémon by weight|weight]] (as seen in the [[Pokédex]]) depend on the game language.
* The units of measurement used for the Pokémon's [[List of Pokémon by height|height]] and [[List of Pokémon by weight|weight]] (as seen in the [[Pokédex]]) depend on the game language.
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* In the [[core series]], from [[Generation II]] onwards (as well as all games in the [[Pokémon Stadium series]] since [[Generation I]]), the [[Pokédex]] is able to sort Pokémon by their {{wp|katakana}} name in the Japanese version, or alphabetically in the localized versions.
* In the [[core series]], from [[Generation II]] onwards (as well as all games in the [[Pokémon Stadium series]] since [[Generation I]]), the [[Pokédex]] is able to sort Pokémon by their {{wp|katakana}} name in the Japanese version, or alphabetically in the localized versions.


===Kanto-based games===
==In the anime==
* In the [[player's house|player's bedroom]], the video game console depends on the game and language:
* In the Japanese version, {{an|Misty}} often introduces herself as "the world's most beautiful girl" (Japanese: 世界の美少女). It is implied that this trait was a result of her inferiority complex towards her older sisters. However, this trait was mostly excluded from the [[dub]] until ''[[Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon]]''.
** Famicom (in the Japanese version of all [[Generation I]] games and their [[Generation III]] remakes, except for Pokémon Yellow)
** Super Famicom (in the Japanese version of {{game|Yellow}})
** [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|SNES]] (in the international versions of all Generation I games)
** NES (in the international versions of the Generation III remakes)
** {{nw|Nintendo Switch}} with a single Joy-Con (in the Generation VII remakes)
* The film on TV at the player's living room depends on the game's language.
** Generation I games:
*** In all languages except French, a movie involving four boys walking on railroad tracks, possibly a reference to ''{{wp|Stand by Me (film)|Stand by Me}}''.
*** In the French version of the Generation I games, an animated cartoon featuring a boy with a monkey tail (French: "Un dessin animé! Un petit garçon avec une queue de singe."), possibly a reference to young Son Goku from ''{{wp|Dragon Ball}}'', or alternatively, young Son Gohan from the sequel ''{{wp|Dragon Ball Z}}''.
** Generation III games:
*** In all languages except French, if the player is male, a movie involving four boys walking on railroad tracks, possibly a reference to ''{{wp|Stand by Me (film)|Stand by Me}}''.
*** In all languages except French, if the player is female, a movie featuring a girl in pigtails walking down a brick road, possibly a reference to ''{{wp|The Wizard of Oz (1939 film)|The Wizard of Oz}}''.
*** In French, if the player is male, a movie featuring a "cool guy in a taxi" (French: ''"Y'a un gars cool dans un taxi."''), possibly a reference to the 1998 French movie ''{{wp|Taxi}}''.
*** In French, if the player is female, ''{{wp|The Lord of the Rings}}'' is mentioned by name.
* In the Japanese version of all Kanto-based games, the {{ka|old man}} passed out drunk at the start of the game, hence why he blocks the way out of [[Viridian City]] at the start of the game. In the English version, he is grumpy due to not having had his coffee yet.
* The Japanese version of the [[Pokémon Mansion journals]] use a singular "わたし" (watashi, "I" pronoun), implying that only one person was involved in discovering {{p|Mew}} and creating {{p|Mewtwo}}. The English localization changed this pronoun to "we"; this happens to be consistent with the events of [[M01|Pokémon: The First Movie - Mewtwo Strikes Back]], in which a group of scientists created Mewtwo.
* In the Japanese version of all Kanto-based games, at the [[Celadon Department Store]] 3F, the boy who receives Haunter in a trade calls himself Haunter Maniac (Japanese: ゴーストマニア ''Ghost Maniac''). This name is not mentioned in the English versions.
** In all Japanese versions and most international releases, the two boys trade a {{p|Haunter}} for a {{p|Kangaskhan}}, and it is implied that Haunter [[evolution|evolves]] by trade into {{p|Gengar}}. The international [[Generation I]] games are the only exception, where they trade {{p|Graveler}} for Kangaskhan instead.
[[File:Celadon Gym old man LGPE Japanese.png|thumb|250px|Celadon Gym and the old man<br>(Japanese dialogue)]]
* In all games set in Kanto (including the games where the player starts in Johto), there is an old man looking at the [[Celadon Gym]] from the outside.
** In the Japanese games, he always says the same line of dialogue:
**: 「 にひひ! この ジムは ええ! {{ruby|女の子|おんなのこ}} ばっかし じゃ!」 (''Nihihi! This Gym is good! Nothing but girls!'')
** In the English translation, he mentions girls or women in some early games, but in later games this was replaced by "strong Trainers" instead:
**: ''"Heheh! This Gym is great! It's full of women!"''{{sup/1|RBY}}{{sup/3|FRLG}}
**: ''"Nihihi! This Gym is great! Only girls are allowed here!"''{{sup/2|GSC}}
**: ''"Ha ha! This Gym is great! It's full of strong Trainers!"''{{sup/4|HGSS}}
**: ''"Haha! This Gym is great! It's full of strong Trainers!"''{{sup/7|PE}}
* In the Japanese version of all Kanto-based games, the characters Erik (Japanese: コージ ''Kōji'') and Sara (Japanese: アツコ ''Atsuko'') may be cameos of [[Kōji Nishino]] and [[Atsuko Nishida]]. They failed to meet each other due to a misunderstanding on the word "とり" (tori), which is also a pun. Erik used a bird Pokémon to arrive at [[Fuchsia City]] ("tori Pokémon" means "bird Pokémon"), while Sara is waiting for him inside the {{safari|Kanto}}{{sup/1|RBY}}{{sup/3|FRLG}}/[[GO Park]]{{sup/7|PE}} ("Pokémon tori" means "obtain Pokémon"). This pun was lost in the English localizations. Additionally, in the English version of the Generation I and III games, Sara says that Erik is her boyfriend (which is not the case in the Japanese version of all games, and is also not said in the English version of the Generation VII games).
*: コージ『おかしいな?アツコと ポケモンとりで {{ruby|待|ま}}ち{{ruby|合|あ}}わせって…… とりポケモンが {{ruby|見|み}}つからない! (''Kōji: Isn't that weird? Atsuko said to use a bird Pokémon to go meet her... but I can't find any bird Pokémon!'')
*::''"Erik: Where's Sara? I said I'd meet her here."''{{sup/1|RBY}}{{sup/3|FRLG}}
*::''"Erik: Where's Sara? I said I'd meet her here to catch Pokémon... But all I'm catching are some weird looks!"''{{sup/7|PE}}
*:アツコ『ポケモンとりに {{ruby|行|い}}こうって {{ruby|言|い}}った のに…… コージ どこなのよ! (''Atsuko: I asked Kōji to go catch Pokémon with me... but where is he!?'')
*::''"Sara: Where did my boy friend, Erik, go?"''{{sup/1|RBY}}
*::''"Sara: Where did my boyfriend, Erik, go?"''{{sup/3|FRLG}}
*::''"Sara: Now where did Erik go...? He's the one who wanted to come here!"''{{sup/7|PE}}


====Pokémon Red, Green, and Blue====
{{-}}
* The first pair of games in Japan was {{game|Red and Green|s}}, followed by [[Pokémon Blue Version (Japanese)|Blue]] as the third [[core series]] game, which included a graphics and sound upgrade, as well as the removal of several known glitches that had been found in the original pair. In the localizations, the first pair of games was {{game|Red and Blue|s}}, which had the same [[version-exclusive Pokémon]] available as Pokémon Red and Green, and also kept the improvements from the Japanese Pokémon Blue.
{{Project Games notice}}
* Because Pokémon Red and Blue's script is based on a translation of the script of {{game|Blue| (Japanese)}} but use the [[in-game trade]]s from {{game|Red and Green|s}}, two translation errors related to these trades occur.
** The man who trades the {{player}} an {{p|Electrode}} on [[Cinnabar Island]] claims that the {{p|Raichu}} he received "went and [[Evolution|evolved]]". As Raichu does not have an evolved form, this is not possible. In the context of Japanese Pokémon Blue, it makes sense as the player trades away a {{p|Kadabra}}, which evolves through trade, for a {{p|Graveler}}.
** The old man who trades the player a {{p|Jynx}} in [[Cerulean City]] claims that the {{p|Poliwhirl}} he received "went and evolved". As Poliwhirl cannot evolve via [[trade]] in [[Generation I]], this is not possible. In the context of Japanese Pokémon Blue, the old man trades away a {{p|Haunter}} for a {{p|Machoke}}, which does evolve through trade.
* In the Japanese Pokémon Red and Green, {{p|Nidoqueen}}'s weight is listed as 6.0 kg. This was corrected in the Japanese Pokémon Blue to 60.0 kg. {{p|Geodude}} is also affected as its weight in the Japanese Pokémon Red and Green is listed as 2.0 kg, this was also corrected in the Japanese Pokémon Blue to 20.0 kg.
 
====Pokémon Yellow====
* The English and other international versions of {{game|Yellow}} are colorized when played on either the [[Game Boy Color]] or the [[Virtual Console]]. However, the Japanese version of this game is black and white in both game systems.
** For comparison, the earlier games {{game|Red and Blue|s}} are black and white in both Game Boy Color and Virtual Console as well, while all the [[Generation I]] [[core series]] games can be played with color on the [[Super Game Boy]] (an accessory released for the [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|SNES]]), regardless of their language.
[[File:YellowTitle GBC unused.png|thumb|The Game Boy Color mode's yellow palette]]
* In Japanese Yellow on [[Game Boy Color]] mode, the game uses a yellow palette similarly to how Red, Green, and Blue use their respective red, green, and blue palettes. In Western Yellow, Game Boy Color mode instead uses the [[Super Game Boy]] palettes but with more saturated colors. The yellow palette from Japanese Yellow is used by Western Yellow in certain situations like [[Pikachu's Beach]] hi-score screen and it can be reinstated completely by modifying the ROM.
 
====Pokémon Red, Green, Blue, and Yellow====
* In the Japanese version of the {{ga|Trainer Card}}, the names of all Gym Leaders are written above their faces (each Japanese name consisting of exactly three katakana characters), except Giovanni's name is written as "---". In the international versions, the Gym Leader names are not written on the Trainer Card, possibly owing to the longer English names.
* In the Japanese version, the Pokémon's [[level]] is repeated in the first and second [[summary|stats]] screens. In other language versions, the level is only shown in the first screen.
* In the Japanese version, the [[Town Map]] has a border around the map, and the place name is displayed on a short blank space at the top-left corner outside that border. In the international versions, that border was removed, and the place name is displayed on a blank line above the map, leaving more space for longer place names.
* In the Japanese version, the [[Kanto]] region is mentioned if the player interacts with the [[Town Map]] in [[Daisy Oak|Daisy]]'s house (if the map has not been obtained yet). However, Kanto is not mentioned in the international versions.
** This is the only in-game mention of the Kanto region in the Japanese version of these games. Therefore, Kanto is not mentioned at all in the international versions.
* When encountering a Pokémon using a fishing rod, the game says ''"The hooked <POKÉMON> attacked!"'' In the Spanish localization, this was erroneously translated to ''"¡El malvado <POKéMON> atacó!"''. The word ''"malvado"'' translates roughly to "wicked" or "evil."
* The acronym for TM in the French localization of the games is CT. It is used incorrectly in one area of the game. When the player exchanged [[Lemonade]] for [[TM49|CT49]], the text reads ''"TM49... TRIPLATTAQUE!"''.
* In the Spanish and Italian localizations of the games, both versions erroneously refer to Squirtle's shell as ''"concha"'' and ''"conchiglia"'' which translates to "seashell" in Spanish and Italian respectively.
* In the Japanese versions of Generation I games (as well as in all versions of Generation II games and [[Pokémon Stadium series]] games), the moves {{m|Absorb}}, {{m|Mega Drain}}, {{m|Leech Life}}, and {{m|Dream Eater}} always fail if the target is behind a {{m|substitute}}. In the localized versions of Generation I games, these moves always hit if the target is behind a substitute (except Dream Eater, which will fail if the target is not sleeping).<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20200802034320/https://forums.glitchcity.info/index.php?topic=7522.0 Swift (Speed Star) in Japanese 1st Gen - Glitch City Laboratories Forums]</ref><ref>[https://pastebin.com/nJzRK337 Pokemon Red substitute/swift/drain bugs - Pastebin]</ref>
** Both the original effect (always miss when behind a substitute) and the localized Generation I effect (always hit behind a substitute) were likely unintended. The change in effect for localized games likely is a side-effect from a fix that was meant to prevent {{m|Swift}} to always hit a target behind a substitute (even if the target is in the [[semi-invulnerable turn]] of {{m|Fly}} or {{m|Dig}}).
* In the Japanese version, there are [[wikipedia:Butsudan|butsudan]] (Buddhist shrines) in some Celadon City buildings, but they were changed to sculptures of {{p|Diglett}} in the English version. They return the text "ぶつだん だ……" (It's a butsudan...) in Japanese, but "It's a sculpture of DIGLETT." in English.
 
{| style="{{roundy|20px}}; float:right; text-align:center; border: 2px solid #{{yellow color dark}}; background: #{{yellow color}}"
|-
| style="{{roundy|20px}}; border: 2px solid #{{psychic color dark}}; background: #{{ice color}}; width:80px; padding:5px"|
[[File:Spr 1y 124.png]]<br>[[File:Spr b g1 124.png]]
| style="{{roundy|20px}}; border: 2px solid #{{psychic color dark}}; background: #{{ice color}}; width:80px; padding:5px"|
[[File:Spr 1y 124 vc.png]]<br>[[File:Spr b g1 124 vc.png]]
|- style="font-size: 80%"
| {{pcolor|Jynx|000}}'s original sprite<br>(GBC mode)
| {{pcolor|Jynx|000}}'s recolored<br>Virtual Console sprite
|}
* The [[Cerulean Cave]] has a different layout in the Japanese {{game|Red and Green|s}} and international {{game|Red and Blue|s}} (in addition to further layout changes in {{game|HeartGold and SoulSilver|s}}).
* In the Japanese version, the [[PC storage system]] has 8 boxes with 30 Pokémon each instead of 12 boxes with 20 Pokémon each.
* In the Japanese version of these games, the name of the [[non-player character]] always precedes the quote said when they are defeated in {{pkmn|battle}}. After the character's name, there is a corner bracket character (『) and then the quote starts. The names of Trainer classes are abbreviated, such as ミニスカ (''Miniski'') instead of ミニスカート (''Miniskirt'') for {{tc|Lass}}.
** In the international versions of Generation I games, as well as in all languages from Generation II onwards, the opponent's name is not automatically added to end of all NPC battles like this.
* In the Japanese versions of the handheld games, {{m|Blizzard}} has 30% chance to freeze. The chance was lowered to 10% for {{game|Yellow}}'s [[Pokémon Yellow Version#Connectivity|Colosseum 2]], the [[Pokémon Stadium series|Stadium games]], and all international Generation I games.
* In the Japanese versions of the Generation I handheld games, {{m|Swift}} functions as a 100% accuracy move due to [[List of glitches (Generation I)#Swift effect glitch|a glitch]], unless the opponent is behind a {{m|substitute}}. In all international games, Swift bypasses {{stat|accuracy}} checks to always hit.
* In the Western language releases of Pokémon Yellow on the [[Virtual Console]], which are emulated in [[Game Boy Color]] mode, {{p|Jynx}}'s battle sprites have been recolored to align with its modern design, recoloring Jynx's black skin to purple. Jynx's original design had previously been subject to {{pkmn|controversy}} due to its resemblance to racial stereotypes of African-Americans. The Japanese release is emulated in [[Game Boy]] mode—which is monochromatic—so no change was made.
* In the localized versions of Generation I games, a {{tc|Bird Keeper}} in {{rt|14|Kanto}} states: "The 3 [[legendary Pokémon]] are all [[Legendary birds|birds]] of prey." However, in the Japanese dialogue, he simply says that they are three birds.
 
====Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen====
* In the original Japanese version, the blue and pink font color is used only for the Continue button on title screen, with NPC's gender changing the font style instead.
* On the title screens, the Japanese versions say ''PRESS START BUTTON'' while international releases just say ''PRESS START''.
* The name entry screen in Japanese versions only allows for five characters in a name, the international releases changed the character limit from five to seven.
* In international releases, the Lv icon on battle screens was moved to the right corner and the level number was made normal instead of bold. ''♂'' and ''♀'' symbols were also given a slight alteration.
* Poké Center and Poké Mart signs were altered between regional releases.
* In [[Trainer Tower]], the international releases had e-Reader battle card compatibilities removed as those cards were never released outside of Japan due to the poor sales of the e-Reader in the US.
* In European versions of the Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, the Nugget Bridge Rocket Grunt glitch was patched. This prevents the player from getting unlimited Nuggets.
* If one presses '''↑ + SELECT + B''' on the title screen to delete all [[save]] data, in the Japanese versions, the screen is teal in FireRed and blue in LeafGreen. In the localizations, the screen in both versions is bright green.
* Entering the [[Rocket Warehouse]] requires two palindrome passwords which vary between languages.
*: English: "{{p|Goldeen}} need log" and "Yes, nah, {{p|Chansey}}"
*: Japanese:「またまた {{p|Exeggcute|タマタマ}}」 (''{{p|Exeggcute}} yet again'') and 「{{p|Kabuto|カブト}}は とぶか」 (''Can {{p|Kabuto}} fly?'')
*: French: "{{p|Ralts|Tarsal}} la star" (''{{p|Ralts}} the star'') and "Ici {{p|Girafarig}} ici" (''Here {{p|Girafarig}} here'')
*: German: "{{p|Arbok}} Kobra" (''{{p|Arbok}} cobra'') and "{{p|Makuhita}} Atihu kam" (''{{p|Makuhita}} Atihu came'')
*: Italian: "Un'ortica ad {{p|Articuno}}" (''A nettle to {{p|Articuno}}'') and "Le scarpate di {{p|Parasect}}" (''The escarpments of {{p|Parasect}}'')
*: Spanish: "{{p|Aron}} ama a Nora" (''{{p|Aron}} loves Nora''; not an exact palindrome) and "{{p|Ho-Oh}} es ese Ho-Oh" (''Ho-Oh is that Ho-Oh'')
 
===Johto-based games===
====Pokémon Gold and Silver====
* Pokémon Gold and Silver can be played either on the [[Game Boy]] or the [[Game Boy Color]] in all languages except Korean. However, the Korean version of these games is only compatible with the Game Boy Color.
* In the Japanese and Korean versions, {{p|Phanpy}} and {{p|Donphan}} are found in the {{pkmn2|wild}} in Pokémon Gold while {{p|Teddiursa}} and {{p|Ursaring}} are found in the wild in Pokémon Silver. In the Western localizations, these were switched. This change was not replicated in the international versions of {{game|HeartGold and SoulSilver|s}}.
* The Korean versions of the games can only be played on the [[Game Boy Color]], due to the need for more memory in order to properly render the Korean characters.
 
====Pokémon Crystal====
* As the [[Mobile Game Boy Adapter]] was not released outside of Japan, all related features were removed in localized versions of {{game|Crystal}}, with the exception of the [[Odd Egg]]. The Virtual Console release finally allowed international players to have a chance to receive the [[GS Ball]] after entering the [[Hall of Fame]].
* In the Japanese version of Pokémon Crystal, a researcher at the Ruins of Alph claims that the [[Pokémon Communication Center]] in [[Goldenrod City]] influences the Unown. His unused English text is: ''According to my research... Those mysterious patterns appeared when the <sc>Pok</sc>é<sc>com Center</sc> was built. It must mean that radio waves have some sort of a link...''
* Pokémon Crystal version is the last localized [[core series]] game to use the slogan ''[[Gotta catch 'em all!]]''.
* The Japanese version of Pokémon Crystal has an emblem of Suicune's crest on the back of the Game Pak's circuit board.
 
====Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal====
* In the Japanese and Korean versions, the [[summary|stats]] and [[trade]] screens are vertically divided in two parts; in all other languages, they are divided horizontally.
* In the Japanese and Korean versions, the {{OBP|Pokémon|species}} in the [[Pokémon Storage System]]'s layout is enclosed in a text-box frame and the Pokémon list appears in the background. In the Western localizations, there is no frame surrounding the Pokémon but the Pokémon list appears in a text-box frame.
* In the Japanese and Korean versions, the sign of [[Pokémon Center]]s in [[Johto]] have a {{i|Poké Ball}} drawing with the letters '''PC''' next to it. In the Western localizations, the sign was changed back to the one used in the [[Generation I]] games. The Pokémon Center signs in [[Kanto]] use the old design in all versions.
* In the Japanese and Korean versions of the {{ga|Trainer Card}}, the names of all Johto Gym Leaders are written above their faces (each Japanese name consisting of exactly three katakana characters). In the international versions of these games, the Gym Leader names are not written on the Trainer Card, possibly owing to the longer English names.
* In the Japanese and Korean versions, {{m|Sonic Boom|SonicBoom}}'s animation is a shock wave hitting the opponent. In the Western localizations, Sonic Boom uses the {{m|Gust}} animation (a tornado hitting the opponent).
* In the Japanese version, the [[wikipedia:Butsudan|butsudan]] (Buddhist shrines) return in some Celadon City buildings, and now there are butsudan in [[Violet City]], [[Azalea Town]], [[Ecruteak City]], [[Mahogany Town]], and the [[Mt. Moon Square|Mt. Moon Gift Shop]] as well. This time, they return the text "ぶつだん だ…… うーん おせんこうの におい" (It's a butsudan... Hmm, the smell of incense.) in Japanese and "What is this? Oh, it's an incense burner!" in English.
** [[Kurt]]'s house has butsudan with a different text, mentioning the "god" (kami-sama) of the forest, which was changed to "protector" in the localization; in either case, this is a reference to {{p|Celebi}}. This butsudan returns "もりのかみさまを まつってある" (This is to worship the god of the forest.) in Japanese and "It's a statue of the forest's protector." in English. In the [[Generation IV]] remakes, this shrine remains in Kurt's house, but the player cannot interact with it.
* In the Japanese and Korean versions, {{tc|Pokéfan}} Alex in {{rt|13|Kanto}} has three Pokémon with "king" in their names: {{p|Nidoking}}, {{p|Slowking}}, and {{p|Magikarp}} (Koiking). In the localized versions, Magikarp was changed to {{p|Seaking}} to keep this theme. However, this change was not replicated in the [[Generation IV]] remakes, in which Magikarp is kept in all versions.
* In the Japanese version, the [[PC storage system]] has 9 boxes with 30 Pokémon each instead of 14 boxes with 20 Pokémon each.
* The Japanese [[Super Game Boy]] border of Pokémon Gold (labeled '''POCKET MONSTERS GOLD VERSION'''), but not of Pokémon Silver, is present but unused in all releases of {{game|Crystal}}. Similarly, in the Korean releases of Gold and Silver, the English Super Game Boy borders (respectively labeled '''POKéMON GOLD VERSION''' and '''POKéMON SILVER VERSION''') are present but unused, since they only support the [[Game Boy Color]].
* In the Korean versions, the [[credits]] are presented in English. The Japanese games would later replicate this in [[Generation V]] but only when {{DL|Options|character mode}} is set to {{wp|kanji}}.
* Due to a possible oversight in the international versions, the Japanese quotation marks are used in certain parts of the dialogue, like in radio stations. This was corrected in Crystal.
* During battles in Pokémon Crystal, Japanese midline horizontal ellipses ("⋯") are used in the English versions instead of regular ellipses ("&hellip;") due to an oversight.
* In the Western releases, un-nicknamed Nidoran has the gender symbol shown twice, once by the name and once by the level indicator. This is not case in the Japanese and Korean versions, where all Pokémon have the gender symbol placed after their name, rather than by the level indicator.
* Nineteen {{OBP|Pokémon|species}}, including {{p|Jynx}}, as well as five {{pkmn|Trainer}}s, had their sprites changed between the Japanese and Western versions. The Korean versions use the same sprites as the Japanese versions. The changes made for Western versions were also taken into account for the Japanese and Western versions of {{game|Crystal}}, although they were instead incorporated in the new sprites.
{| style="margin:auto; text-align:center; font-size:80%; {{roundy|20px}} border: 2px solid #{{gold color dark}}; background: #{{gold color}}"
|-
|style="{{roundy|20px}} border: 2px solid #{{silver color dark}}; background: #{{silver color light}}; width:80px"|
[[File:Spr GS Beauty JP.png]]
|style="{{roundy|20px}} border: 2px solid #{{silver color dark}}; background: #{{silver color light}}; width:80px"|
[[File:Spr GS Beauty.png]]
|style="{{roundy|20px}} border: 2px solid #{{silver color dark}}; background: #{{silver color light}}; width:80px"|
[[File:Spr GS Sage JP.png]]
|style="{{roundy|20px}} border: 2px solid #{{silver color dark}}; background: #{{silver color light}}; width:80px"|
[[File:Spr GS Sage.png]]
|style="{{roundy|20px}} border: 2px solid #{{silver color dark}}; background: #{{silver color light}}; width:80px"|
[[File:Spr GS Medium JP.png]]
|style="{{roundy|20px}} border: 2px solid #{{silver color dark}}; background: #{{silver color light}}; width:80px"|
[[File:Spr GS Medium.png]]
|-
| {{color2|Beauty - Japan / South Korea Sprite
| {{color2|International - Longer shorts, no longer winks
| {{color2|Sage - Japan / South Korea Sprite
| {{color2|International - No longer prays
| {{color2|Medium - Japan / South Korea Sprite
| {{color2|International - No longer carries beads
|-
|style="{{roundy|20px}} border: 2px solid #{{silver color dark}}; background: #{{silver color light}}; width:80px"|
[[File:Spr GS Swimmer F JP.png]]
|style="{{roundy|20px}} border: 2px solid #{{silver color dark}}; background: #{{silver color light}}; width:80px"|
[[File:Spr GS Swimmer F.png]]
|style="{{roundy|20px}} border: 2px solid #{{silver color dark}}; background: #{{silver color light}}; width:80px"|
[[File:Spr GS Fisher JP.png]]
|style="{{roundy|20px}} border: 2px solid #{{silver color dark}}; background: #{{silver color light}}; width:80px"|
[[File:Spr GS Fisher.png]]
|style="{{roundy|20px}} border: 2px solid #{{silver color dark}}; background: #{{silver color light}}; width:80px"|
[[File:Spr 2s 079 jp.png]]<br>[[File:Spr 2s 079 s jp.png]]
|style="{{roundy|20px}} border: 2px solid #{{silver color dark}}; background: #{{silver color light}}; width:80px"|
[[File:Spr b 2g 079 s jp.png]]
|-
| {{color2|Swimmer♀ - Japan / South Korea Sprite
| {{color2|International - No longer winks
| {{color2|Fisher - Japan / South Korea Sprite
| {{color2|International - No longer smokes
| {{color2|Silver (Japan) - Striped belly
| {{color2|Silver (Japan) - Shiny back
|-
|style="{{roundy|20px}} border: 2px solid #{{silver color dark}}; background: #{{silver color light}}; width:80px"|
[[File:Spr 2s 079.png]]<br>[[File:Spr 2s 079 s.png]]
|style="{{roundy|20px}} border: 2px solid #{{silver color dark}}; background: #{{silver color light}}; width:80px"|
[[File:Spr b 2g 079 s.png]]
|style="{{roundy|20px}} border: 2px solid #{{silver color dark}}; background: #{{silver color light}}; width:80px"|
[[File:Spr 2g 124 jp.png]]<br>[[File:Spr 2g 124 s jp.png]]
|style="{{roundy|20px}} border: 2px solid #{{silver color dark}}; background: #{{silver color light}}; width:80px"|
[[File:Spr 2s 124 jp.png]]<br>[[File:Spr 2s 124 s jp.png]]
|style="{{roundy|20px}} border: 2px solid #{{silver color dark}}; background: #{{silver color light}}; width:80px"|
[[File:Spr 2c 124 jp.png]]<br>[[File:Spr 2c 124 s jp.png]]
|style="{{roundy|20px}} border: 2px solid #{{silver color dark}}; background: #{{silver color light}}; width:80px"|
[[File:Spr b 2g 124 jp.png]]<br>[[File:Spr b 2g 124 s jp.png]]
|-
| {{color2|Silver (international) - Stripes on belly removed
| {{color2|Silver (international) - Shiny back color change
| {{color2|Gold (Japan)
| {{color2|Silver (Japan)
| {{color2|Crystal (Japan)
| {{color2|Gold/Silver (Japan)
|-
|style="{{roundy|20px}} border: 2px solid #{{silver color dark}}; background: #{{silver color light}}; width:80px"|
[[File:Spr b 2c 124 jp.png]]<br>[[File:Spr b 2c 124 s jp.png]]
|style="{{roundy|20px}} border: 2px solid #{{silver color dark}}; background: #{{silver color light}}; width:80px"|
[[File:Spr 2g 124.png]]<br>[[File:Spr 2g 124 s.png]]
|style="{{roundy|20px}} border: 2px solid #{{silver color dark}}; background: #{{silver color light}}; width:80px"|
[[File:Spr 2s 124.png]]<br>[[File:Spr 2s 124 s.png]]
|style="{{roundy|20px}} border: 2px solid #{{silver color dark}}; background: #{{silver color light}}; width:80px"|
[[File:Spr 2c 124.png]]<br>[[File:Spr 2c 124 s.png]]
|style="{{roundy|20px}} border: 2px solid #{{silver color dark}}; background: #{{silver color light}}; width:80px"|
[[File:Spr b 2g 124.png]]<br>[[File:Spr b 2g 124 s.png]]
|style="{{roundy|20px}} border: 2px solid #{{silver color dark}}; background: #{{silver color light}}; width:80px"|
[[File:Spr b 2c 124.png]]<br>[[File:Spr b 2c 124 s.png]]
|-
| {{color2|Crystal (Japan)
| {{color2|Gold (international) - skin color change
| {{color2|Silver (international) - skin color change
| {{color2|Crystal (international) - skin color change
| {{color2|Gold/Silver (international) - skin color change
| {{color2|Crystal (international) - skin color change
|-
|style="{{roundy|20px}} border: 2px solid #{{silver color dark}}; background: #{{silver color light}}; width:80px"|
[[File:Spr b 2g 127 jp.png]]<br>[[File:Spr b 2g 127 s jp.png]]
|style="{{roundy|20px}} border: 2px solid #{{silver color dark}}; background: #{{silver color light}}; width:80px"|
[[File:Spr b 2g 127.png]]<br>[[File:Spr b 2g 127 s.png]]
|style="{{roundy|20px}} border: 2px solid #{{silver color dark}}; background: #{{silver color light}}; width:80px"|
[[File:Spr 2g 160 jp.png]]<br>[[File:Spr 2g 160 s jp.png]]
|style="{{roundy|20px}} border: 2px solid #{{silver color dark}}; background: #{{silver color light}}; width:80px"|
[[File:Spr 2s 160 jp.png]]<br>[[File:Spr 2s 160 s jp.png]]
|style="{{roundy|20px}} border: 2px solid #{{silver color dark}}; background: #{{silver color light}}; width:80px"|
[[File:Spr 2g 160.png]]<br>[[File:Spr 2g 160 s.png]]
|style="{{roundy|20px}} border: 2px solid #{{silver color dark}}; background: #{{silver color light}}; width:80px"|
[[File:Spr 2s 160.png]]<br>[[File:Spr 2s 160 s.png]]
|-
| {{color2|Gold/Silver (Japan) - Pinsir's back has a stripe
| {{color2|Gold/Silver (international) - Pinsir's back has a round mark
| {{color2|Gold (Japan)
| {{color2|Silver (Japan)
| {{color2|Gold (international) - Feraligatr's extra stripe has been removed
| {{color2|Silver (international) - Feraligatr's extra stripe has been removed
|-
|style="{{roundy|20px}} border: 2px solid #{{silver color dark}}; background: #{{silver color light}}; width:80px"|
[[File:Spr 2g 171 jp.png]]<br>[[File:Spr 2g 171 s jp.png]]
|style="{{roundy|20px}} border: 2px solid #{{silver color dark}}; background: #{{silver color light}}; width:80px"|
[[File:Spr 2s 171 jp.png]]<br>[[File:Spr 2s 171 s jp.png]]
|style="{{roundy|20px}} border: 2px solid #{{silver color dark}}; background: #{{silver color light}}; width:80px"|
[[File:Spr b 2g 171 jp.png]]<br>[[File:Spr b 2g 171 s jp.png]]
|style="{{roundy|20px}} border: 2px solid #{{silver color dark}}; background: #{{silver color light}}; width:80px"|
[[File:Spr 2g 171.png]]<br>[[File:Spr 2g 171 s.png]]
|style="{{roundy|20px}} border: 2px solid #{{silver color dark}}; background: #{{silver color light}}; width:80px"|
[[File:Spr 2s 171.png]]<br>[[File:Spr 2s 171 s.png]]
|style="{{roundy|20px}} border: 2px solid #{{silver color dark}}; background: #{{silver color light}}; width:80px"|
[[File:Spr b 2g 171.png]]<br>[[File:Spr b 2g 171 s.png]]
|-
| {{color2|Gold (Japan)
| {{color2|Silver (Japan)
| {{color2|Back sprites (Japan)
| {{color2|Gold (international) - Lanturn's yellow face marks have been removed
| {{color2|Silver (international) - Lanturn's yellow face marks have been removed
| {{color2|Back sprites (international) - Lanturn's yellow face marks have been removed
|-
|style="{{roundy|20px}} border: 2px solid #{{silver color dark}}; background: #{{silver color light}}; width:80px"|
[[File:Spr 2g 172 jp.png]]<br>[[File:Spr 2g 172 s jp.png]]
|style="{{roundy|20px}} border: 2px solid #{{silver color dark}}; background: #{{silver color light}}; width:80px"|
[[File:Spr 2s 172 jp.png]]<br>[[File:Spr 2s 172 s jp.png]]
|style="{{roundy|20px}} border: 2px solid #{{silver color dark}}; background: #{{silver color light}}; width:80px"|
[[File:Spr b 2g 172 jp.png]]<br>[[File:Spr b 2g 172 s jp.png]]
|style="{{roundy|20px}} border: 2px solid #{{silver color dark}}; background: #{{silver color light}}; width:80px"|
[[File:Spr 2g 172.png]]<br>[[File:Spr 2g 172 s.png]]
|style="{{roundy|20px}} border: 2px solid #{{silver color dark}}; background: #{{silver color light}}; width:80px"|
[[File:Spr 2s 172.png]]<br>[[File:Spr 2s 172 s.png]]
|style="{{roundy|20px}} border: 2px solid #{{silver color dark}}; background: #{{silver color light}}; width:80px"|
[[File:Spr b 2g 172.png]]<br>[[File:Spr b 2g 172 s.png]]
|-
| {{color2|Gold (Japan)
| {{color2|Silver (Japan)
| {{color2|Back sprites (Japan)
| {{color2|Gold (international) - Pichu's neck pattern was altered
| {{color2|Silver (international) - Pichu's neck pattern was altered
| {{color2|Back sprites (international) - Pichu's neck pattern was altered
|-
|style="{{roundy|20px}} border: 2px solid #{{silver color dark}}; background: #{{silver color light}}; width:80px"|
[[File:Spr b 2g 180 jp.png]]<br>[[File:Spr b 2g 180 s jp.png]]
|style="{{roundy|20px}} border: 2px solid #{{silver color dark}}; background: #{{silver color light}}; width:80px"|
[[File:Spr b 2g 180.png]]<br>[[File:Spr b 2g 180 s.png]]
|style="{{roundy|20px}} border: 2px solid #{{silver color dark}}; background: #{{silver color light}}; width:80px"|
[[File:Spr b 2g 186 jp.png]]<br>[[File:Spr b 2g 186 s jp.png]]
|style="{{roundy|20px}} border: 2px solid #{{silver color dark}}; background: #{{silver color light}}; width:80px"|
[[File:Spr b 2g 186.png]]<br>[[File:Spr b 2g 186 s.png]]
|style="{{roundy|20px}} border: 2px solid #{{silver color dark}}; background: #{{silver color light}}; width:80px"|
[[File:Spr 2g 190 jp.png]]<br>[[File:Spr 2g 190 s jp.png]]
|style="{{roundy|20px}} border: 2px solid #{{silver color dark}}; background: #{{silver color light}}; width:80px"|
[[File:Spr 2s 190 jp.png]]<br>[[File:Spr 2s 190 s jp.png]]
|-
| {{color2|Gold/Silver back sprite (Japan)
| {{color2|Gold/Silver back sprite (international) - Flaaffy's hair was merged
| {{color2|Gold/Silver back sprite (Japan)
| {{color2|Gold/Silver back sprite (international) - Politoed's extra spots were removed
| {{color2|Gold (Japan)
| {{color2|Silver (Japan)
|-
|style="{{roundy|20px}} border: 2px solid #{{silver color dark}}; background: #{{silver color light}}; width:80px"|
[[File:Spr 2g 190.png]]<br>[[File:Spr 2g 190 s.png]]
|style="{{roundy|20px}} border: 2px solid #{{silver color dark}}; background: #{{silver color light}}; width:80px"|
[[File:Spr 2s 190.png]]<br>[[File:Spr 2s 190 s.png]]
|style="{{roundy|20px}} border: 2px solid #{{silver color dark}}; background: #{{silver color light}}; width:80px"|
[[File:Spr b 2g 191 jp.png]]<br>[[File:Spr b 2g 191 s jp.png]]
|style="{{roundy|20px}} border: 2px solid #{{silver color dark}}; background: #{{silver color light}}; width:80px"|
[[File:Spr b 2g 191.png]]<br>[[File:Spr b 2g 191 s.png]]
|style="{{roundy|20px}} border: 2px solid #{{silver color dark}}; background: #{{silver color light}}; width:80px"|
[[File:Spr b 2g 194 jp.png]]<br>[[File:Spr b 2g 194 s jp.png]]
|style="{{roundy|20px}} border: 2px solid #{{silver color dark}}; background: #{{silver color light}}; width:80px"|
[[File:Spr b 2g 194.png]]<br>[[File:Spr b 2g 194 s.png]]
|-
| {{color2|Gold (international) - Aipom's belly was altered
| {{color2|Silver (international) - Aipom's belly was altered
| {{color2|Gold/Silver back sprite (Japan)
| {{color2|Gold/Silver back sprite (international) - Sunkern's back pattern was altered
| {{color2|Gold/Silver back sprite (Japan)
| {{color2|Gold/Silver back sprite (international) - Wooper's back stripe was removed
|-
|style="{{roundy|20px}} border: 2px solid #{{silver color dark}}; background: #{{silver color light}}; width:80px"|
[[File:Spr b 2g 203 jp.png]]<br>[[File:Spr b 2g 203 s jp.png]]
|style="{{roundy|20px}} border: 2px solid #{{silver color dark}}; background: #{{silver color light}}; width:80px"|
[[File:Spr b 2g 203.png]]<br>[[File:Spr b 2g 203 s.png]]
|style="{{roundy|20px}} border: 2px solid #{{silver color dark}}; background: #{{silver color light}}; width:80px"|
[[File:Spr b 2g 211 jp.png]]<br>[[File:Spr b 2g 211 s jp.png]]
|style="{{roundy|20px}} border: 2px solid #{{silver color dark}}; background: #{{silver color light}}; width:80px"|
[[File:Spr b 2g 211.png]]<br>[[File:Spr b 2g 211 s.png]]
|style="{{roundy|20px}} border: 2px solid #{{silver color dark}}; background: #{{silver color light}}; width:80px"|
[[File:Spr 2g 215 jp.png]]<br>[[File:Spr 2g 215 s jp.png]]
|style="{{roundy|20px}} border: 2px solid #{{silver color dark}}; background: #{{silver color light}}; width:80px"|
[[File:Spr b 2g 215 jp.png]]<br>[[File:Spr b 2g 215 s jp.png]]
|-
| {{color2|Gold/Silver back sprite (Japan)
| {{color2|Gold/Silver back sprite (international) - Girafarig's neck stripes were moved slightly
| {{color2|Gold/Silver back sprite (Japan)
| {{color2|Gold/Silver back sprite (international) - Qwilfish's tail fin pattern was altered
| {{color2|Gold/Silver (Japan)
| {{color2|Gold/Silver back sprite (Japan)
|-
|style="{{roundy|20px}} border: 2px solid #{{silver color dark}}; background: #{{silver color light}}; width:80px"|
[[File:Spr 2g 215.png]]<br>[[File:Spr 2g 215 s.png]]
|style="{{roundy|20px}} border: 2px solid #{{silver color dark}}; background: #{{silver color light}}; width:80px"|
[[File:Spr b 2g 215.png]]<br>[[File:Spr b 2g 215 s.png]]
|style="{{roundy|20px}} border: 2px solid #{{silver color dark}}; background: #{{silver color light}}; width:80px"|
[[File:Spr 2s 216 jp.png]]<br>[[File:Spr 2s 216 s jp.png]]
|style="{{roundy|20px}} border: 2px solid #{{silver color dark}}; background: #{{silver color light}}; width:80px"|
[[File:Spr 2s 216.png]]<br>[[File:Spr 2s 216 s.png]]
|style="{{roundy|20px}} border: 2px solid #{{silver color dark}}; background: #{{silver color light}}; width:80px"|
[[File:Spr b 2g 218 jp.png]]<br>[[File:Spr b 2g 218 s jp.png]]
|style="{{roundy|20px}} border: 2px solid #{{silver color dark}}; background: #{{silver color light}}; width:80px"|
[[File:Spr b 2g 218.png]]<br>[[File:Spr b 2g 218 s.png]]
|-
| {{color2|Gold/Silver (international) - Sneasel's eye was altered
| {{color2|Gold/Silver back sprite (international) - Sneasel's ear had a detail added
| {{color2|Silver sprite (Japan)
| {{color2|Silver (international) - Teddiursa had white spots added to their feet
| {{color2|Gold/Silver (Japan)
| {{color2|Gold/Silver back sprite (international) - Slugma's back bumps were removed
|-
|style="{{roundy|20px}} border: 2px solid #{{silver color dark}}; background: #{{silver color light}}; width:80px"|
[[File:Spr 2s 232 jp.png]]<br>[[File:Spr 2s 232 s jp.png]]
|style="{{roundy|20px}} border: 2px solid #{{silver color dark}}; background: #{{silver color light}}; width:80px"|
[[File:Spr 2s 232.png]]<br>[[File:Spr 2s 232 s.png]]
|style="{{roundy|20px}} border: 2px solid #{{silver color dark}}; background: #{{silver color light}}; width:80px"|
[[File:Spr 2g 234 jp.png]]<br>[[File:Spr 2g 234 s jp.png]]
|style="{{roundy|20px}} border: 2px solid #{{silver color dark}}; background: #{{silver color light}}; width:80px"|
[[File:Spr 2s 234 jp.png]]<br>[[File:Spr 2s 234 s jp.png]]
|style="{{roundy|20px}} border: 2px solid #{{silver color dark}}; background: #{{silver color light}}; width:80px"|
[[File:Spr 2g 234.png]]<br>[[File:Spr 2g 234 s.png]]
|style="{{roundy|20px}} border: 2px solid #{{silver color dark}}; background: #{{silver color light}}; width:80px"|
[[File:Spr 2s 234.png]]<br>[[File:Spr 2s 234 s.png]]
|-
| {{color2|Silver (Japan)
| {{color2|Silver (international) - Donphan's trunk was altered, along with their eyes and mouth
| {{color2|Gold (Japan)
| {{color2|Silver (Japan)
| {{color2|Gold (international) - Stantler had spots added to their back
| {{color2|Silver (international) - Stantler had spots added to their back
|-
|style="{{roundy|20px}} border: 2px solid #{{silver color dark}}; background: #{{silver color light}}; width:80px"|
[[File:Spr 2s 242 jp.png]]<br>[[File:Spr 2s 242 s jp.png]]
|style="{{roundy|20px}} border: 2px solid #{{silver color dark}}; background: #{{silver color light}}; width:80px"|
[[File:Spr 2s 242.png]]<br>[[File:Spr 2s 242 s.png]]
|style="{{roundy|20px}} border: 2px solid #{{silver color dark}}; background: #{{silver color light}}; width:80px"|
[[File:Spr b 2g 247 jp.png]]<br>[[File:Spr b 2g 247 s jp.png]]
|style="{{roundy|20px}} border: 2px solid #{{silver color dark}}; background: #{{silver color light}}; width:80px"|
[[File:Spr b 2g 247.png]]<br>[[File:Spr b 2g 247 s.png]]
|-
| {{color2|Silver (Japan)
| {{color2|Silver (international) - Blissey's wing pattern extends a little over her arm
| {{color2|Gold/Silver back sprite (Japan)
| {{color2|Gold/Silver back sprite (international) - Pupitar has one less stripe
|-
|}


====Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver====
* In all international versions, the slot machines were replaced with a Minesweeper style game called [[Voltorb Flip]].
* In the Korean versions of Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, Sage's sprite was altered to remove the prayer beads in his hands and gave him a sash.
{| style="margin:auto; text-align:center; font-size:80%; {{roundy|20px}} border: 2px solid #{{gold color dark}}; background: #{{gold color}}"
|-
|style="{{roundy|20px}} border: 2px solid #{{silver color dark}}; background: #{{silver color light}}; width:80px"|[[File:Spr HGSS Sage.png]]
|style="{{roundy|20px}} border: 2px solid #{{silver color dark}}; background: #{{silver color light}}; width:80px"|[[File:Spr HGSS Sage KO.png]]
|-
| Sprite from<br>{{color2|000|Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver Versions|HeartGold and SoulSilver}}<br>({{tt|JP/INTL|Japanese and Western releases}})
| Sprite from<br>{{color2|000|Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver Versions|HeartGold and SoulSilver}}<br>({{tt|KR|South Korean release}})
|-
|}
===Hoenn-based games===
====Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire====
* The ledge in southwestern section of Victory Road B1F in {{g|Ruby and Sapphire|s}} was made one tile shorter in non-English European versions of the game, making that part of the floor two-way instead of one-way.
====Pokémon Emerald====
* A portion of the fourth room in Trick House in {{g|Emerald}} has been altered in international versions, to make it harder for player to trap themselves and be forced to start the puzzle from the beginning.
====Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald====
* In Japanese, the map seen at the wall in some buildings is said to be a [[Town Map]] of the [[Hoenn]] region. However, the name "Town Map" is not seen in English, as this is simply called a "Hoenn region map".
** In the [[Generation VI]] remakes, the map at the wall is once more called a Town Map, this time both in Japanese and English.
* In [[Sidney]]'s [[Ever Grande City#Sidney's room|room]] at the Pokémon League, the lights at the background flash quickly in the Japanese version. These lights slowly turn on and off in the localized versions.
* Several glitches were fixed in the international releases.
* The VU Meter in the [[Pokédex]] was altered depending on which international version was being played.
* ''Pokémon Battle-e'' Trainer cards request screen was changed in international releases.
* Some of the Trainer sprites are different in Japanese and international versions.
{| style="margin:auto; text-align:center; {{roundy|20px}} border:2px solid #{{ruby color}}; background:#{{ruby color light}}; font-size: 80%;"
|-
| style="{{roundy|80px}} border: 2px solid #{{ruby color}}; background: #{{ground color}}; width:80px" |[[File:Spr RS Hex Maniac JP.png]]
| style="{{roundy|80px}} border: 2px solid #{{ruby color}}; background: #{{ground color}}; width:80px" |[[File:Spr RS Hex Maniac.png]]
| style="{{roundy|80px}} border: 2px solid #{{ruby color}}; background: #{{ground color}}; width:80px" |[[File:Spr RS Psychic F JP.png]]
| style="{{roundy|80px}} border: 2px solid #{{ruby color}}; background: #{{ground color}}; width:80px" |[[File:Spr RS Psychic F.png]]
|-
|{{tc|Hex Maniac}} sprite from {{color2|000|Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire Versions|Ruby, Sapphire}}, and {{color2|000|Pokémon Emerald Version|Emerald}} ({{tt|JP|In the Japanese Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald Versions, Hex Maniacs are seen with their eyes being colored fully white, which was altered in the international releases.}})
|Hex Maniac sprite from {{color2|000|Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire Versions|Ruby, Sapphire}}, and {{color2|000|Pokémon Emerald Version|Emerald}}
|Female {{tc|Psychic}} sprite from<br>{{color2|000|Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire Versions|Ruby, Sapphire}}, and {{color2|000|Pokémon Emerald Version|Emerald}} ({{tt|JP|In the Japanese Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald Versions, female Psychics hands are pointed inwards, which was altered in the international releases.}})
|Female Psychic sprite from<br>{{color2|000|Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire Versions|Ruby, Sapphire}}, and {{color2|000|Pokémon Emerald Version|Emerald}}
|-
| style="{{roundy|80px}} border: 2px solid #{{ruby color}}; background: #{{ground color}}; width:80px" |[[File:Spr RS Cooltrainer M JP.png]]
| style="{{roundy|80px}} border: 2px solid #{{ruby color}}; background: #{{ground color}}; width:80px" |[[File:Spr RS Cooltrainer M.png]]
| style="{{roundy|80px}} border: 2px solid #{{ruby color}}; background: #{{ground color}}; width:80px" |[[File:Spr RS Sailor JP.png]]
| style="{{roundy|80px}} border: 2px solid #{{ruby color}}; background: #{{ground color}}; width:80px" |[[File:Spr RS Sailor.png]]
|-
| Male {{tc|Cooltrainer}} sprite from<br>{{color2|000|Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire Versions|Ruby, Sapphire}}, and {{color2|000|Pokémon Emerald Version|Emerald}} {{tt|(JP)|The male Cooltrainer's hair is different in the Japanese Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald.}}
|Male Cooltrainer sprite from<br>{{color2|000|Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire Versions|Ruby, Sapphire}}, and {{color2|000|Pokémon Emerald Version|Emerald}}
|{{tc|Sailor}} sprite from<br>{{color2|000|Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire Versions|Ruby, Sapphire}}, and {{color2|000|Pokémon Emerald Version|Emerald}} ({{tt|JP|In the Japanese versions of Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald, Sailors have more of their ascot visible, which was altered in the international releases. This may be due to the gesture in the Japanese sprite resembling an obscene gesture, the bras d'honner or Iberian slap.}})
|Sailor sprite from<br>{{color2|000|Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire Versions|Ruby, Sapphire}}, and {{color2|000|Pokémon Emerald Version|Emerald}}
|-
|}
===Sinnoh-based games===
* In the Japanese version of the [[Sinnoh myths]], the Sinnoh Folk Story 3 refers to Pokémon and people marrying each other. In the English version, the marriage is not mentioned; instead, it says Pokémon and people would eat together at the same table.
* In the {{si|Victory Road}} 1F, {{tc|Veteran}} Edgar initially says that the player's Pokémon are shining. Afterwards, Edgar's post-battle dialogue involves a remark about [[death in the Pokémon world|death]]. This was toned down in Platinum, and changed altogether in the other Sinnoh-based games.
*: Japanese versions:
*:: 「ポケモンも {{ruby|人|ひと}}も いつか {{ruby|死|し}}ぬ だからこそ {{ruby|輝|かがや}}けるのだ!」{{sup/4|DP}}{{sup/8|BDSP}}
*:: 「ポケモンも ひとも いつか しぬ…… だからこそ かがやけるのだ!」{{sup/4|Pt}}
*: Literal translation:
*:: ''"Pokémon and people die one day... That is precisely why we shine!"''
*: English versions:
*:: ''"You blaze with so much vitality!"''{{sup/4|DP}}{{sup/8|BDSP}}
*:: ''"Neither Pokémon nor people live forever. But it is the very frailty of life that allows us to shine!"''{{sup/4|Pt}}
====Pokémon Diamond and Pearl====
* In the non-English European versions of {{game|Diamond and Pearl|s}}, Registeel's sprite was edited because of its arm. The arm's original position is reminiscent of the {{wp|Nazi}} {{wp|Nazi salute|salute}}. This change was retained in all releases of {{game|Platinum}} and {{game|HeartGold and SoulSilver|s}}.
{| style="margin:auto; text-align:center; font-size:80%; {{roundy|20px}} border: 2px solid #{{diamond color dark}}; background: #{{diamond color}}"
|-
|style="{{roundy|20px}} border: 2px solid #{{pearl color dark}}; background: #{{pearl color light}}; width:80px"|
[[File:Spr 4d 379.png]]<br>[[File:Spr 4d 379 s.png]]
|style="{{roundy|20px}} border: 2px solid #{{pearl color dark}}; background: #{{pearl color light}}; width:80px"|
[[File:Spr 4p 379.png]]<br>[[File:Spr 4p 379 s.png]]
|-
| {{color2|Original Diamond and Pearl sprite
| {{color2|Non-English European Diamond and Pearl sprite
|}
====Pokémon Platinum====
* In the Japanese version of Pokémon Platinum, a glitch can occur on Route 225 where the player is stuck in a loop of battling Ace Trainer Deanna until the Player is no longer able to battle. This was fixed in the international version.
* The dialogue at the [[Veilstone Game Corner]] was altered in the European and Korean versions of Pokémon Platinum to comply with PEGI's then new standards regarding gambling in video games.
===Unova-based games===
* In all Generation V core games, Pokémon such as {{p|Cofagrigus}}, {{p|Froslass}}, {{p|Nosepass}}, and {{p|Probopass}} that originate from English-language games cannot be traded through the [[GTS]] unless they are given a nickname due to the word filter in the games. This was fixed from Generation VI onwards so that they did not need a name change to be traded.
====Pokémon Black and White====
* The Online Battle name differs between regions.
* The chance that {{a|Poison Touch}} will poison the target was changed from 20% to 30% in international versions.
* The symbol used in the move {{m|Imprison}} was changed in the international versions.
* The amount of C-Gear skins distributed differed between regions; Japanese versions had 31 skins, North American versions had 22 skins, and European versions had 25 skins.
* As {{p|Victini}} is a Shiny Locked Pokémon, its shiny form can never be obtained. In Japanese versions if the game generated a value that would cause Victini to be shiny, the battle would never begin, this was fixed in international versions.
====Pokémon Black 2 and White 2====
* The lyrics for the [[Virbank Gym]] music differ between the Japanese and international releases. In Japanese versions, she spells out "''{{p|Koffing|Dogars}}"'' which is Koffing's Japanese name. In the international versions she spells out "''Pokémon"'' and does not start the song by saying "''1, 2, 3, 4!"''
* After entering the Hall of Fame, there is a post-game story section where the player follows N's Zoroark to N's Castle. In Japanese versions, if the player exits out of the cave that Zoroark just went into instead of following them, it causes the game to softlock. This was fixed in international versions.
===Kalos-based games===
====Pokémon X and Y====
* In [[Pokémon X and Y]], a male {{tc|Rising Star}} on {{rt|21|Kalos}} says that his {{OBP|Pokémon|species}}'s [[nickname]] is "[[Sepultura]]" (Japanese: セパルトラ; Korean: 세파르트라) in the English, Japanese, and Korean versions.
** This nickname was changed to "[[Ash Ketchum]]" in the Spanish version, "{{an|Misty}}" in the German version, and "{{wp|Jabberwocky|Wockerjab}}" in the French version. In the Italian version, he instead says, "A battle a day keeps the doctor away!" (Italian: "Una lotta al giorno toglie il medico di torno!"), a pun on the expression "An apple a day keeps the doctor away!"
==In the side series games==
===Pokémon Stadium series===
* In Japan, there were three games in the [[Pokémon Stadium series]].
** {{jap|Pokémon Stadium}} (Japanese: ポケモンスタジアム ''Pokémon Stadium''), with only 40 [[Generation I]] Pokémon available. This game was not released in English.
** {{eng|Pokémon Stadium}} (Japanese: ポケモンスタジアム2 ''Pokémon Stadium 2''), with the Generation I Pokémon available. This was the first game of the series released in English.
** [[Pokémon Stadium 2]] (Japanese: ポケモンスタジアム 金銀 ''Pokémon Stadium Gold and Silver''), with the [[Generation I]] and [[Generation II|II]] Pokémon available. This was the second game of the series released in English.
* The player may connect up to four [[core series]] games to any of the three Pokémon Stadium games using the [[Transfer Pak]] ([[Generation I]] core series games are compatible with all three Stadium games; [[Generation II]] core series games are only compatible with [[Pokémon Stadium 2]]). However, the compatibility also depends on the language of the games.
** The American and European versions are compatible with each other. For instance, the player may connect the French version of Pokémon Stadium to the German version of Pokémon Red.
** The Japanese games in the Pokémon Stadium series are only compatible with Japanese core series games.
** The Korean versions of {{game|Gold and Silver|s}} are not compatible with any game in the Pokémon Stadium series.
* The {{p|Pikachu}}'s voice heard upon launch was instead people's voices in the Japanese version.
===={{eng|Pokémon Stadium}}====
* The Japanese version has six Stadium Cups. In addition to the Pika, Petit, and Prime Cups, there are three cups based upon [[Rule variants#Japanese tournaments|official tournaments]]: the [[Rule variants#Pokémon Stadium|Nintendo Cup '97, Nintendo Cup '98, and Nintendo Cup '99]]. In the international versions, the Nintendo Cups were replaced with the Poké Cup from Pokémon Yellow's Colosseum 2.
* Several [[rental Pokémon]] had their movesets changed between the Japanese and localized versions.
* A gallery mode was added, but only in the American version (it is absent in Japanese and European versions).
** In the Japanese and European versions, the [[main menu]] has the "[[options]]" button in the middle, below the "Pokémon Stadium" option. In the American version, the "gallery" button was added where the "options" would be in other games, and the "options" button was moved to the right side.
* {{p|Pikachu}} can be taught {{m|Surf}} under special conditions. Japanese players could teach a Pikachu Surf in the [[Pokémon Stadium (Japanese)#Special Pokémon|original Pokémon Stadium]].
* The number of teams that could be registered was decreased from 12 to 10.
* In Clefairy Says, the Clefairy sing rather than repeat the same sound effect.
===Pokémon Colosseum===
* In Europe, a GameCube Bundle could be purchased which included Pokémon Colosseum, a memory card, [[Pokémon Box Ruby & Sapphire]] as a bonus disc, and a [[GameCube]]-[[Game Boy Advance]] [[Game Link Cable]].
* In the international localizations of {{g|Colosseum}}, [[Rui]]'s shirt and skirt were lengthened.
* Due to the [[Phenac City#Pokémon Center|e-Reader room]] being dummied out in the international releases, three more Shadow Pokémon are not normally obtainable. Encounters with the Trainers that would have had {{p|Mareep}}, {{p|Togepi}}, and {{p|Scizor}} are not possible in the international releases without hacking the game.
==In the spin-off games==
===Pokémon Trading Card Game===
* Booster pack images were changed between localizations to reflect the art style used for booster packs by region.
* The title screen was changed between the Japanese and international releases.
* The [[Super Game Boy]] border in international releases removes the writing of ''Pokémon • Trading • Card • Game •'' on the Poké Balls.
* The back of Pokémon cards was changed in international releases to the design used on the back of cards outside of Japan.
* In the Japanese version, the symbol for a {{DL|Special Conditions (TCG)|paralyzed}} Pokémon are two vertical jagged lines ([[File:TCG GB paralyzed JP.png]]). In the American and European versions, the symbol is a horizontal jagged line ([[File:TCG GB paralyzed INT.png]]).
* The artwork for [[Jynx (Base Set 31)|Jynx Lv. 23]]'s face was changed from black to purple in international releases to avoid further [[Jynx (Pokémon)#Controversy|controversy]]. The background of the card was also changed from dark purple to light purple in the [[Virtual Console]] release.
* When the player tries to save an unnamed {{OBP|deck|GB}} in the Japanese version, the player name is included in the default deck name. In all other languages, the player name is not included. For instance, if the player is named "パーク" ({{TCG GB|Mark|Park}}) in the Japanese version, the first default name used for an unnamed deck is "パークの001デッキ" (Park's 001 Deck). In the English version, the first default name is simply "001 Deck"
* In the Japanese version of {{ga|Pokémon Trading Card Game}}, [[Imakuni?]] says that he sings the [[Can You Name All the Pokémon?]], which is a true statement in real life. However, in the English localization, Imakuni? mentions that he sings the [[Pokérap]] instead. Both [[Can You Name All the Pokémon?]] and the [[Kanto Pokérap]] are songs listing the [[Generation I]] Pokémon.
===Hey You, Pikachu!===
* Certain items have been changed:
** The [[rice ball]] (an item that Pikachu can eat) was changed to a cupcake.
** In Japanese version, the corn in garden is eggplants instead. Due to this, popcorn is not present in these versions.
** In Viridan Forest, the player finds {{wp|Typha|cattails}} instead of {{wp|Equisetum|horsetails}}.
** In Springleaf Field, the Morning glory flower is recolored to resemble a Bluebell instead.
* In the US release, the shoes outside the player's room are missing. In Japan, it is customary to take off shoes before walking into a building or home. In the US it is common to walk into buildings or homes with shoes still on.
* The Pokémon cries have been changed to localized ones.
* In the English release, when the player is speaking, a bubble is shown to indicate that the player's voice is being detected by the microphone. In the Japanese release, the bubble only appears if the player is directly addressing Pikachu.
* The {{wp|Suikawari}} minigame in Cobalt Coast was changed to a piñata smashing game. When Pikachu loses in the Japanese version, he receives a soda can pull tab, in the English version he receives a bottle cap ring instead.
* The Nintendo 64 in the Japanese version contains a [[Super Nintendo]] game, this was fixed in the English release to be a Nintendo 64 game instead.
===Pokémon Channel===
* The language that plays in the '''Pichu Brothers''' channel changes depending on the regional version of the game.
===Pokémon Pinball===
* The European release features a menu when starting up the game that lets the player select which language they want to play the game in.
* On the Copyright screen in the English and European versions, the games list '''Creatures Inc.''' and '''HAL Laboratory, Inc.''' instead of '''Creatures''' and '''HAL Laboratory'''. The European release was further edited to show it was released later than the Japanese and English releases.
* On the Title screen, {{p|Pikachu}} is smiling in the international releases. The European release corrects ''Poké Dex'' to POKéDEX''.
* The European release gives two options for how strong the Rumble feature is in the Options menu with the options of ''Mild'' and ''Strong''. The English and Japanese releases only have an ''Off'' and ''On'' setting. Additionally, the M in '''RUMBLE''' is slightly wider in the European release.
* The control scheme options were simplified to three predefined options in the European release.
* The [[Super Game Boy]] border is different between releases. The Japanese release lacks a ("TM") symbol. The European release features a large vibrant blue font of ''Pokémon Pinball''.
* The four lights in the out lanes and return lanes spell out CAVE in the international release and HOLE in the Japanese release.
* The Japanese version of the game spells out "GET" instead of "CATCH!" while capturing a Pokémon.
===Pokémon Puzzle League===
* The hidden developer love message depends on if the game is the Japanese or international version.
===Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team and Blue Rescue Team===
* In Japanese and Korean versions of the game, the recruit list has species name alongside the nickname. In the localization, only the nickname (if any) is displayed.
* The Japanese version of Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team had a game breaking bug which would erase all the save data of any game in the Gameboy Advance slot. This bug was fixed in international releases.
===Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity===
* When first meeting {{p|Swanna}} in the English version of the game, she makes a statement that references {{wp|Carly Rae Jepsen}}'s song, "{{wp|Call Me Maybe}}".
* In the Japanese version, players are able to select the gender for their partner Pokémon. In the international versions, there is no gender selection.
** Because of the lack of gender selection and the fact that some languages have no gender-neutral pronoun, these languages use male pronouns.
==References==
<references/>
{{Project Games notice}}
[[Category:Pokémon around the world]]
[[Category:Pokémon around the world]]

Revision as of 23:31, 2 April 2024

175Togepi.png This article contains fan speculation.
There is no solid evidence for or against some parts of this article.

Localization refers to the translation and regional differences between languages. This includes localization of Pokémon games, anime, manga, and other media.

In multiple media

Pokémon

The Pokémon species' names were introduced in Japanese. Most Pokémon had their names changed in English, French, German, Korean, Chinese, Hindi, and Thai. The English names are used in Spanish and Italian for all Pokémon except Type: Null and the Paradox Pokémon (aside from Koraidon and Miraidon). Several other languages also use English Pokémon names in their anime dubs.

Pokémon types

The names of some Pokémon types changed between languages. These are some of the more significant changes:

  • Psychic is エスパー Esper in Japanese.
  • Dark is あく Evil in Japanese.
  • Fire is ほのお Flame in Japanese.

Pokémon categories

Some Pokémon categories changed between languages. These are some of the more significant changes:

  • Blastoise, Kabuto, and Kabutops (Japanese category: こうらポケモン Shell Pokémon; English category: Shellfish Pokémon)
  • Meowth (Japanese category: ばけねこポケモン Bakeneko Pokémon; English category: Scratch Cat Pokémon)
  • Persian (Japanese category: シャムネコポケモン Siamese Cat Pokémon; English category: Classy Cat Pokémon)
  • Kangaskhan (Japanese category: おやこポケモン Parent and Child Pokémon; English category: Parent Pokémon)
    • The Japanese category refers to both parent and child, but the child is not mentioned in the English translation, most likely because of character limits.
  • The Japanese word ねずみ generally can be equally translated as "mouse" or "rat". In Pokémon categories, this is usually translated as "mouse":
    • Rattata and Raticate (Japanese category: ねずみポケモン; English category initially was "Rat Pokémon", but then changed to "Mouse Pokémon" in Generation III)
    • Pikachu, Raichu, Sandshrew, and Sandslash (Japanese category: ねずみポケモン; English category: "Mouse Pokémon")
    • Cyndaquil (Japanese category: ひねずみポケモン; English category: Fire Mouse Pokémon)
    • Pichu (Japanese category: こねずみポケモン; English category: Tiny Mouse Pokémon)
    • Marill (Japanese category: みずねずみポケモン; English category: Aqua Mouse Pokémon)
    • Bidoof (Japanese category: まるねずみポケモン; English category: Plump Mouse Pokémon)

Pokémon forms

The names of some Pokémon form differences changed between languages.

  • Dynamax and Gigantamax are ダイマックス Daimax and キョダイマックス Kyodaimax in Japanese, respectively.
  • Furfrou's trims use the word "Trim" in English but カット Cut in Japanese (however, these words don't apply to Furfrou's default state, the Natural Form):
    • Natural Form (Japanese: やせいのすがた Wild Form)
    • Debutante Trim (Japanese: レディカット Lady Cut)
    • Dandy Trim (Japanese: ジェントルカット Gentleman Cut)
    • Matron Trim (Japanese: マダムカット Madame Cut)
    • La Reine Trim (Japanese: クイーンカット Queen Cut)
      • This trim uses an English name in the Japanese games, but a French name in the English games.
    • Pharaoh Trim (Japanese: キングダムカット Kingdom Cut)

Characters

Main article: List of characters in other languages
  • Some Pokémon games have multiple suggested names for the player character and/or rival. These names are often different on each language version. For instance, a character may have different optional names in Japanese, English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, and Korean.

Locations

Main article: List of locations in other languages
  • Miracle Cycle is not named in any of the localized versions besides the French one, where it is known as "Cycles à Gogo". In all other localized versions, it is simply named Bike Shop.

Moves

Main article: List of moves in other languages

Moves introduced in Generation I

  • Acid Armor (Japanese: とける Liquefy). The Japanese name indicates that the user itself is melting. This is lost in the English translation, but is referenced in the move descriptions from Generation II onwards.
    • The Japanese name does not include the words "Acid" or "Armor" in any way. "Acid" may have been added in the localization because this is a Poison-type move, even though several non-Poison Pokémon are able to learn it. "Armor" may have been added in the localization because this move raises the user's Defense.
  • Cut (Japanese: いあいぎり Iai Cut). The Japanese name refers to iaido, a Japanese martial art. Specifically, it refers to the technique of drawing a blade from its scabbard, cutting down the opponent, then re-sheathing the blade.
  • Guillotine (Japanese: ハサミギロチン Pincer Guillotine). Several Pokémon that use this move have pincers, such as Kingler and Gliscor.
  • Lovely Kiss (Japanese: あくまのキッス Demon's Kiss). In some games, a small demon appears in the move animation. This is related to Generation II move Sweet Kiss (Japanese: てんしのキッス Angel's Kiss).
  • Metronome (Japanese: ゆびをふる Wag Finger). The Japanese name refers to the wagging finger associated with the move, implying the user is randomly deciding a move from a list. The move's English name refers to the regular ticks associated with the move, which sound like the device it is named after.
  • Mirror Move (Japanese: オウムがえし Parrot Mimicry). The reference to a parrot (a real-life bird) may be related to the fact that several Pokémon that can learn this move are birds, such as Pidgey and Chatot. However, this is lost in the English translation.
  • Pay Day (Japanese: ネコにこばん Coin for a Cat). The Japanese name of the move is an idiom equivalent to "to cast pearls before swine." The coins depicted in the move's animation are koban, gold coins used in the Edo period of feudal Japan, the same type of coin as the one on Meowth's head.
  • Rest (Japanese: ねむる Sleep).
  • Swift (Japanese: スピードスター Speed Star). The move's animation includes stars being thrown at the target.
  • Tail Whip (Japanese: しっぽをふる Tail Wag). The move's description mentions that the user "wags its tail cutely, making opposing Pokémon less wary".
    • The English name "Tail Whip" may incorrectly imply that the user strikes the foe with its tail like a whip, which is not the case in the games. However, in the manga Pokémon Adventures, the Tail Whip user sometimes actually strikes its opponent with the tail, which may be consistent with the English name.
  • Thunderbolt (Japanese: 10まんボルト 100,000 Volts). The number "100,000 volts" is mentioned in the Japanese name, but this is lost in the English translation.
  • Waterfall (Japanese: たきのぼり Waterfall Climb). The English name is simply the word "Waterfall", without mentioning the act of climbing waterfalls. Some move descriptions in the games further clarify that the user is actually charging with enough force to climb waterfalls.
    • When this move debuted in Generation I, the moves didn't have in-game descriptions in the core series yet. As a result, in the English version of the Generation I core series games, there is no indication that this move is related to climbing waterfalls.
    • The description about "charging with enough force to climb waterfalls" debuted in the Japanese Pokémon Stadium (which was not released in English). This is also mentioned in the later games Pokémon Stadium and Pokémon Stadium 2, not only in Japanese but in English as well.
    • In Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal, the Japanese move description also mentions "charging with enough force to climb waterfalls". However, the English version was shortened to simply "An aquatic charge attack." The only reference to climbing waterfalls in the English text is when Clair says only once after being defeated: "RisingBadge will enable your Pokémon to use the move for climbing waterfalls." From Generation III onwards, the English move description is closer to the Japanese version, indicating that the user is charging with enough force to climb waterfalls.
    • In several games, a waterfall appears when this move is used in-battle. This may incorrectly suggest that the user is summoning a waterfall, which would be inconsistent with the move description.

Moves introduced in Generation II

  • False Swipe (Japanese: みねうち Strike with the Back of the Sword). False Swipe's Japanese name is a reference to katanas, which are designed to have a single cutting edge on one side, while the other side is mostly flat. Thus, striking the opponent with the flat side of the katana would not be fatal.
  • Rain Dance (Japanese: あまごい Rain Prayer). This is the amagoi, a Shinto prayer and rituals for rain.
    • The Japanese name of this move is unrelated to dancing, therefore this is not a dance move. As such, Rain Dance is unaffected by Dancer, and Tierno does not request to see a Pokémon with this move in Pokémon X and Y. In several anime and manga depictions, the user is not seen dancing at all.
  • Sweet Kiss (Japanese: てんしのキッス Angel's Kiss). In some games, a small angel appears in the move animation. This is related to Generation I move Lovely Kiss (Japanese: あくまのキッス Demon's Kiss).

Moves introduced in Generation III

  • Aerial Ace (Japanese: つばめがえし Swallow Return). The Japanese name references Sasaki Kojirō's "Turning Swallow Cut" sword technique, so named due to its resemblance to the motion of a swallow's tail in flight. The cut is usually construed as a quick upward slash followed by a second one down the same direction, same as the move's animation. As such, it is learned by many Pokémon that are not Flying-type.
  • Assist (Japanese: ねこのて Cat's Paw). The Japanese name is likely a reference to the saying 猫の手も借りたい neko no te mo karitai, which translates to "I would even like to borrow a cat's hands" ("I would even like a cat to assist me"), which means "I need all the help I can get". This is reflected by the way the move works, and that many feline Pokémon are capable of learning it. In some games, a cat's paw appears in the move animation.

Moves introduced in Generation IV

  • Sucker Punch (Japanese: ふいうち Surprise Attack). The Japanese name is unrelated to punching. This move can be learned by some Pokémon without arms, such as Arbok, Gastly, and Electrode. It is also unaffected by the Ability Iron Fist, which raises the power of punching moves.

Moves introduced in Generation VI

  • Nuzzle (Japanese: ほっぺすりすり Cheek Rub). Most electric rodent Pokémon, who have electric cheeks, can learn this move.
  • Oblivion Wing (Japanese: デスウイング Death Wing). Most likely changed to remove explicit references to death.

Moves introduced in Generation VII

  • Baneful Bunker (Japanese: トーチカ Pillbox). The Japanese name is a military term referring to a guarded fort.
  • Smart Strike (Japanese: スマートホーン Smart Horn). Most Pokémon that learn this move have horns.
  • Double Iron Bash (Japanese: ダブルパンツァー Double Panzer). Panzer is a German word that means "armor", often used in other languages as a loanword in the context of the German military.

Moves introduced in Generation VIII

  • No Retreat (Japanese: はいすいのじん Last Stand). The Japanese name of this move literally means "to fight with one's back to the river," an idiom for a desperate last stand. The idiom originated from the historical Battle of Jingxing, where the now-renowned Chinese general Han Xin ordered his army to fight with a river at their backs and no way to cross, successfully routing an enemy ten times their number. The move's animation is a reference to this.
  • Octolock (Japanese: たこがため Octopus Hold). The Japanese name refers to a wrestling hold of the same name.

Abilities

Main article: List of Abilities in other languages

Abilities introduced in Generation III

  • Battle Armor (Japanese: カブトアーマー Kabuto Armor). The Japanese name of this ability refers to Kabuto helmets.
  • Shield Dust (Japanese: りんぷん Scales). The Japanese name of this ability refers to insect scales.
  • Serene Grace (Japanese: てんのめぐみ Heavenly Blessing). Most likely changed to avoid references to heaven.
  • Arena Trap (Japanese: ありじごく Antlion). The Japanese name refers to the burrowing habits of Antlions, used to trap prey.

Abilities introduced in Generation IV

  • Aftermath (Japanese: ゆうばく Induced Explosion). Most Pokémon with this ability can also learn self-destructive moves like Explosion, and the ability is similarly prevented by Damp.
  • Forewarn (Japanese: よちむ Prophetic Dream). All Pokémon with this ability are Psychic-type.
  • Storm Drain (Japanese: よびみず Pump Priming). The Japanese name is a plumbing term that refers to the introduction of fluid into a pump to prepare it for operation.

Abilities introduced in Generation V

  • Big Pecks (Japanese: はとむね Pigeon Breast). The Japanese name, Hatomune, is a pun, as it can also be taken to mean "a proud heart". The name "Big Pecks" itself is also a pun, referring to both pecking with a beak and the pectoralis major.
  • Zen Mode (Japanese: ダルマモード Daruma Mode). The Japanese name refers to Darmanitan's basis on a Daruma doll.

Abilities introduced in Generation VI

  • Primordial Sea and Desolate Land's Japanese names match; (Japanese: はじまりのうみ Sea of the Beginning) and (Japanese: おわりのだいち Land of the End) respectively.

Abilities introduced in Generation VIII

  • Gorilla Tactics (Japanese: ごりむちゅう Obsessed Gorilla). The Japanese name of this Ability is a pun, combining 五里霧中 gorimuchū (a saying meaning lost in a fog) with ゴリラ gorira (gorilla) and 夢中 muchū (obsessed). The English name is a play on guerilla tactics.

Items

Main article: List of items in other languages

Items introduced in Generation I

  • Three Poké Balls introduced in Generation I had their names changed in the English localization. Only the Master Ball kept its Japanese name.
    • Poké Ball (Japanese: モンスターボール Monster Ball)
    • Great Ball (Japanese: スーパーボール Super Ball)
    • Ultra Ball (Japanese: ハイパーボール Hyper Ball)
      • The Ultra Ball retains a letter H on its design, referencing its Japanese name.
  • The Potion and its improved variants introduced in Generation I use the Japanese word ぐすり Medicine, which does not specify the type of medicine. The word "Potion" would indicate a form of liquid substance; it was introduced in the English translation. With the introduction of item sprites in Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, these items are depicted in-game as bottles designed to spray liquid substances, which may be compatible with both the Japanese and English names. Some of these items have also been depicted in official art and TCG cards as spray bottles since Generation I as well, including the Potion and Super Potion cards.
    • Potion (Japanese: キズぐすり Wound Medicine)
    • Super Potion (Japanese: いいキズぐすり Good Wound Medicine)
    • Hyper Potion (Japanese: すごいキズぐすり Amazing Wound Medicine)
    • Max Potion (Japanese: まんたんのくすり Tank-Filling Medicine)
    • Full Restore (Japanese: かいふくのくすり Recovery Medicine)
  • The drinks introduced in Generation I had their names changed in the localization:
    • Fresh Water (Japanese: おいしいみず Delicious Water)
      • Fresh Water is collected from Mt. Silver, according to the Japanese item description in Pokémon Gold, Silver, Crystal, and Stadium. This is also mentioned in the Korean item description from Pokémon Gold and Silver. The reference to Mt. Silver is not found in the English item description.
    • Soda Pop (Japanese: サイコソーダ Psycho Soda)
    • Lemonade (Japanese: ミックスオレ Mix au Lait)
      • The Lemonade's Japanese name means "Mix au Lait" instead, meaning a mixture with milk. It's implied in several places that this is flavored milk rather than Lemonade.
  • The Ether, Elixir, and their improved versions have Japanese names unrelated to their English names. The Japanese names all include the word "PP" (specifically in the form of katakana "ピーピー"), and don't involve the words "Ether" or "Elixir" in any way.
    • Ether (Japanese: ピーピーエイド PP Aid)
    • Max Ether (Japanese: ピーピーリカバー PP Recover)
    • Elixir (Japanese: ピーピーエイダー PP Aider)
    • Max Elixir (Japanese: ピーピーマックス PP Max)
  • The Repel's Japanese name refers refers to insect repellents; it includes the term むし Insect. The Repel and its improved variants include the word スプレ Spray in Japanese, indicating their design; however, this word is absent in the English names. Additionally, むしよけ Repellent is not found in the Japanese names of Super Repel and Max Repel. The Super Repel and Max Repel are ranked as "Silver" and "Gold" in Japanese; these words were replaced by "Super" and "Max" in English.
    • Repel (Japanese: むしよけスプレー Repellent Spray)
    • Super Repel (Japanese: シルバースプレー Silver Spray)
    • Max Repel (Japanese: ゴールドスプレー Gold Spray)
  • Poké Doll (Japanese: ピッピにんぎょう Pippi Doll) The Japanese name indicates that it's a Clefairy doll. However, the English item name does not mention Clefairy.
    • The species of Poké Doll has always been clear in the Japanese games since its introduction in Generation I. However, it was only revealed years later in English games, once the Clefairy doll sprite debuted in Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen.
  • Vitamins all have different names in Japanese. Most reference specific compounds:
  • Nugget (Japanese: きんのたま Gold Orb). The Japanese name for literally means "golden ball", which is also a slang term for testicles.

Items introduced in Generation II

  • Secret Medicine (Japanese: ひでんのくすり Secret Medicine). This item is a pouch of pills. Prior to Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, it was known as Secret Potion, like the spray-type medicines, despite not being a liquid medicine.
    • Much like the Potion and its improved variants introduced in Generation I, the Secret Potion includes the Japanese word くすり Medicine (which does not indicate exactly what kind of medicine), but was converted to the word "Potion" (which would indicate a form of liquid substance). When the Secret Potion debuted in Generation II, items did not have in-game sprites, so its appearance had not been established yet. Secret Potion's depiction as a pouch of pills was introduced years later as the item sprite in Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, but its English name remained until Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl.
    • However, in the anime episode Machoke, Machoke Man!, Secret Medicine is depicted as a bottle of medicine, which is consistent with both the Japanese and English names. This predates the introduction of the pouch of pills sprite.
  • Rage Candy Bar (Japanese: いかりまんじゅう Rage Manjū). Manjū is a Japanese sweet made with red bean paste.
  • The Slowpoke Tail's Japanese name (Japanese: おいしいシッポ Delicious Tail) does not specify it as Slowpoke, though dialogue and graphics still refer to it as such.
  • The Amulet Coin (Japanese: おまもりこばん Amulet Koban) is originally a Koban, a type of gold coin from the Edo period.
  • Cleanse Tag (Japanese: きよめのおふだ Purification Ofuda) and Spell Tag (Japanese: のろいのおふだ Cursed Ofuda). An ofuda is a type of traditional Japanese talisman.
  • Focus Band (Japanese: きあいのハチマキ Fighting Spirit Headband). The Japanese name refers to a Kiai, a short shout uttered when performing an attacking move in Japanese martial arts.
  • Leek (Japanese: ながねぎ Scallion). Scallions are a close relative of the leek, but they aren't the same species.
  • Rainbow Wing and Silver Wing are single feathers in Japanese, but their English names changed to wings instead. In particular, there is no indication in the English Generation II games that these items were originally supposed to be feathers, because these games don't have item sprites. Their item sprites (depicting them as single feathers) debuted in the Generation IV remakes, but their names remained as before, with the word "Wing".
    • Rainbow Wing (Japanese: 虹色の羽根 Rainbow Feather)
    • Silver Wing (Japanese: ぎんいろのはね Silver Feather)

Items introduced in Generation III

  • The five condition-related Scarves are Bandannas in Japanese. The English name "Scarf" implies they are worn around the neck, but the Japanese name "Bandanna" implies they are worn at the top of the head.
  • Fluffy Tail (Japanese: エネコのシッポ Eneco's Tail). The Japanese name indicates that it's a Skitty's tail. However, the English item name does not mention Skitty.
    • In particular, the species of Fluffy Tail is not revealed in the English version of Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, because this game doesn't have item sprites. The item sprite depicting a Skitty's tail debuted in Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen (however, this item is unavailable in this game outside of trades).
  • Lava Cookie (Japanese: フエンせんべい Huen Rice Cracker). The Lava Cookie's sprite appears to be a Senbei, a type of rice cracker.
  • Acro Bike (Japanese: ダートじてんしゃ Dirt Bike).

Items introduced in Generation IV

  • The three evolution stones introduced in this generation have different names in English and Japanese, although their meanings are related to some extent.
    • Shiny Stone (Japanese: ひかりのいし Light Stone)
    • Dusk Stone (Japanese: やみのいし Darkness Stone)
    • Dawn Stone (Japanese: めざめいし Awakening Stone)
  • Old Gateau (Japanese: もりのヨウカン Forest Yōkan). Much like the English localized pun on the Old Chateau, it is a pun on the location it is found in. In Japanese, the Chateau's name is "Forest Manor" (Japanese: もりのようかん) while the Gateau's name is "Forest Yōkan" (Japanese: もりのヨウカン); the two terms are homophones and are pronounced as mori no yōkan.
  • Like the Focus Band, the Focus Sash's (Japanese: きあいのタスキ Fighting Spirit Sash) Japanese name refers to a Kiai.
  • Lunar Feather (Japanese: みかづきのはね Crescent Moon Feather). Much like the Generation II items Rainbow Wing and Silver Wing, this item is a single feather in Japanese, but is named "Wing" in English from Generation IV to Pokémon Sword and Shield. Additionally, the Japanese name is exactly about the crescent moon, while the English name simply references the moon. It was renamed to Lunar Feather in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, more closely reflecting its Japanese name.

Items introduced in Generation V

Items introduced in Generation VII

  • The Bottle Cap's Japanese name includes the fact that it's silver. This is similar to the Gold Bottle Cap, which kept the reference to gold in English.
    • Bottle Cap (Japanese: ぎんのおうかん Silver Bottle Cap)
    • Gold Bottle Cap (Japanese: きんのおうかん Gold Bottle Cap)
  • Beast Ball (Japanese: ウルトラボール Ultra Ball). Both the Japanese and English names reference the fact that it was developed to catch Ultra Beasts. Its name changed in the English localization because the Japanese name was already taken by another Poké Ball variant introduced in Generation I, the Ultra Ball.
  • The Lure's Japanese name is similar to repel, but むしよけ Repellent is replaced by むしよせ Attractant; both terms involve むし Insect. The Lure and its improved variants include the word コロン Cologne in Japanese, indicating their design; however, this word is absent in the English names, being replaced by "Lure". Additionally, むしよせ Attractant is not found in the Japanese names of Super Lure and Max Lure. Much like the Repel variants, the Super Lure and Max Lure are ranked as "Silver" and "Gold" in Japanese; these words were replaced by "Super" and "Max" in English.
    • Lure (Japanese: むしよせコロン Attractant Cologne)
    • Super Lure (Japanese: シルバーコロン Silver Cologne)
    • Max Lure (Japanese: ゴールドコロン Gold Cologne)
  • Pewter Crunchies (Japanese: ニビあられ Nibi Arare). Arare is a type of Japanese rice cracker.
  • Surge Badge (Japanese: だいだいバッジ Orange Badge). Shares its Japanese name with the Thunder Badge, but a distinction is made in English.

Items introduced in Generation VIII

  • All the seven Sweets that cause Milcery to evolve into Alcremie are amezaiku (a form of Japanese candy craft artistry) according to their Japanese names.
    • The Love Sweet's name is changed further (Japanese: ハートアメざいく Heart Amezaiku) The word "Heart" is a more literal description of its shape, while "Love" is an abstract concept.

Badges

  • In the Japanese version, the Kanto Badges are named after colors. In the English version, most Kanto Badges were renamed. For instance, "グレーバッジ" (Gray Badge) was translated as "Boulder Badge". The only Kanto Badge that kept its Japanese name in the English Localization (only written with English letters instead of Japanese katakana) was Erika's Rainbow Badge.

In the core series games

  • In all core series games, the player writes a report (Japanese: レポート report) when saving the game. This "report" option is found at the Japanese version main menu. The references to writing a report were simply translated as saving the game.
  • The units of measurement used for the Pokémon's height and weight (as seen in the Pokédex) depend on the game language.
    • Japanese games: height in meters, weight in kilograms
    • American games: height in feet and inches, weight in pounds
  • In the core series, from Generation II onwards (as well as all games in the Pokémon Stadium series since Generation I), the Pokédex is able to sort Pokémon by their katakana name in the Japanese version, or alphabetically in the localized versions.

In the anime

  • In the Japanese version, Misty often introduces herself as "the world's most beautiful girl" (Japanese: 世界の美少女). It is implied that this trait was a result of her inferiority complex towards her older sisters. However, this trait was mostly excluded from the dub until Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon.


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