Pokemon is just as popular today as it was 20 years ago when 90s kids were introduced to the first generation of pocket monsters. Since then the series has exploded, and added hundreds of new Pokemon, with the current count at 807.

Unfortunately, not every Pokemon is created equal, and some designs simply fall flat. By and large, most Pokemon have something interesting going for them, but every once in a while there's a Pokemon design that just leaves fans scratching their heads.

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Chief among these is Klefki, a Pokemon that's literally based on a set of keys. Most Pokemon are based on some kind of living creature, but Klefki falls in the small group inspired by inanimate objects.

Klefki's Design Makes No Sense

Pokemon Klefki

Over the years Pokemon has started to use more "outside the box," and with over 800 creatures it makes sense way. Yet, Pokemon like Klefki just don't feel like they fit in with the wide array of other characters. Put something like Klefki or Garbador or Trubbish next to Pikachu and Squirtle; there's a clear difference in aesthetic and design. One has to wonder how the idea for Klefki even came about, and how does a creature like that even develop in the world of Pokemon?

For contrast, look at one of the first object-based Pokemon, Voltorb and Electrode. Obviously, these two Pokemon are designed to look just like Pokeballs, objects in the world of Pokemon, just like Klefki. However, there's a purpose behind the two as they're supposed to be a subversion of the classic mimic-type enemies from RPGs. Any treasure found in the world of Pokemon is stored inside Pokeballs, just like the Pokemon themselves. By designing two Pokemon that look like Pokeballs it subverts multiple layers of design and also implements a mimic enemy. Klefki, on the other hand, just doesn't fulfill any kind of similar role.

Pokedex entries talk about how Klefki takes keys and doesn't give them back, but there's no purpose behind those actions. It feels like Klefki was simply designed to be weird, but there aren't any concepts in the monster's design that goes past that. All this being said, it can be difficult to keep designing interesting Pokemon after two decades, and eventually, things are going to hit a breaking point. Klefki illustrates that idea perfectly and shows that perhaps the best thing for Pokemon to do is double-down on existing designs and iterate on those, instead of creating entirely new ones.

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