Pokémon Sword and Shield saw the return of a feature which was added during Generation 7 in Pokémon Sun and Moon. The Alola region introduced Regional forms for old Pokémon designs. Regional forms gave a handful of different Pokémon new types, abilities, and appearances to help freshen up designs which had potentially been around since Generation 1. However, while the concept has given rise to fantastic redesigns for Vulpix in Alola and Ponyta in Galar, some designs have been less than amazing.
The Galar region introduced 20 region specific Pokémon forms, as well as six new evolutions connected to these specific regional Pokémon. Many of these new forms were to help older Pokémon fit into the UK based region, reimagining them to fit a different culture and ecosystem from their original game areas. Alola saw similar changes in older Pokémon, like Raichu with its surfboard tail and Exeggutor's new palm tree look. These changes helped give more depth to the Pokémon universe, as region variants introduced the concept of evolutionary differences in Pokémon depending on where they live, a concept which hadn't been explored in older games.
Not every Galarian form was a hit however. Unfortunately, Pokémon's Galar region had far fewer exciting Pokémon redesigns than the Alola Region, leaving players with fewer Regional forms worth catching and adding to their teams. Several Pokémon aren't so much Regional forms, but glaringly poor recolors of the original designs, making them even less appealing to capture in Sword and Shield than they would have been in their original generations. Much of these issues come from the Pokémon games trying to make species that weren't appealing to begin with more interesting to trainers. However, recoloring a poor design doesn't usually make it better, and many of these Pokémon turned out worse than their originals.
Pokémon's Worst Galarian Forms: Galaian Meowth
Meowth has seen a Regional form in both Alola and Galar. Galarian Meowth sports a long beard and a Steel-type, though what makes it a Steel-type Pokémon based on its design isn't clear. Trying to expand on Meowth's original, simple design hasn't worked well in Galar or Alola, as the simplicity of the Normal-type cat Pokémon was what gave it such appeal in Generation 1. By adding bells and whistles to a Pokémon that didn't need it, Pokémon Sword and Shield actually made Meowth less appealing for players. This new design looks more or less like Kanto Meowth's sad cousin.
Pokémon's Worst Galarian Forms: Galarian Stunfisk
Galarian Stunfisk has adopted a Ground/Steel-type for its Regional form. Unfortunately, giving it jagged edges, teeth, and a sour recolor didn't make the already unfortunate Pokémon more interesting for players. While the original design from Black and White wasn't amazing, it is actually preferable to the Galarian version, even just for its original Ground/Electric-type move-sets. The redesign for Stunfisk has nothing to offer players visually, and if they really want the strange pancake Pokémon, they may be better off transferring its original form to Sword and Shield, instead of spending time, energy, and Pokéballs on Galarian Stunfisk.
Pokémon's Worst Galarian Forms: Galarian Mr. Mime
Mr. Mime has been a creepy fixture of the Pokémon universe since Generation 1. Besides appearing in the Pokémon Anime as Ash's mother's dedicate household assistant, it has lurked through every region as a Psychic/Fairy-type.
However, Galarian Mr. Mime sheds its Fairy-type for an Ice/Psychic-type, as well as replacing its overly realistic fingers with mittens. Pokémon's Galarian Mr. Mime does not improve on the original Kanto form, replacing its expressive face with a frozen look that is startling to run into while exploring caves of the Wild Area in Sword and Shield.
Pokémon's Worst Galarian Forms: Galarian Wheezing
Wheezing is a notoriously ugly poison Pokémon from Generation 1 in the Kanto region. However, Sword and Shield gave it a Galarian form that takes the original gas ball design and makes it worse. Giving the Pokémon a Poison/Fairy typing, the Galarian Form took the original concept for Wheezing and added top hats and sickly green mustaches in an attempt to make it fit better into the UK theme for Galar. Much like Galarian Meowth, there is nothing about its appearance that reflects the new typing, and many players may been more inclined to find themselves the original Kanto version instead of packing around the unfortunate Wheezing remake.
Pokémon's Worst Galarian Forms: Galarian Yamask
Galaian Yamask is a true mystery when it comes to form changes. The Dark/Ghost type Pokémon from Black and White doesn't seem to achieve much in its Galarian form, only having the eye color changed from red to purple, and the mask it once held replaced by a piece of stone. It also receives a Ground/Ghost-type, which takes away from its previous move set. Yamask is one of many lacking designs which were added with Generation 5, along side Pokémon like Trubbish and Vanillte. This may be why the developers decided to try and redesign it in the Galar region. However, the design is lacking for a Regional form, and seems like a waste of a special design. Players may have preferred a Galarian Growlithe or Togepi to a lackluster Pokémon in its original generation.
Creating new Pokémon forms for players to catch is an interesting way to integrate old designs into new regions. However, this isn't very effective is many of the new Regional forms aren't as good as the original forms from previous Pokémon game generations. For this mechanic to be truly successful in upcoming games, Game Freak should focus on giving Pokémon players really love Regional forms. Adding new regional looks for the Kanto starters in Pokémon's Generation 9 could be a great way to bring a fresh challenge to Pokémon that have always been fan favorites, rather than continuing to repeat the mistake of using flop Pokémon players saw in Pokémon Sword and Shield. By adding more forms to favorites, players would have more options like Galarian Ponyta to enjoy, instead of being stuck with a putrid green Stunfisk in their storage box.