Catch-Em-All

'Pokémon Arceus' goes 'Blair Witch Project' in new trailer

"Is that a Growlithe? ... No, a Vulpix ... No not that either."

Yesterday, a new trailer for Pokémon Arceus was released and it really felt like a “break the internet” moment for the brand.

Pokémon

In the trailer, through a combination of shaky cam footage and lo-fi creepiness, we see a researcher documenting a snowy landscape within the Hisui region (where Arceus is set), only to encounter what he believes to be a wild Pokémon.

When the two ultimately meet, it ends in death. Or at least injury — the trailer cuts out before we can tell, but things don’t look good.

Pokémon
The trailer is captured through shaky cam Pokémon
We already know this is going to end badly...Pokémon

This trailer represents a big tonal shift for Pokémon

Will there be some dangerous stakes in Arceus or is it simply an outside-the-box way of promoting the new game?

“The tip of its tail is red and swaying ... It’s adorable ... The white fur on top of its head and around its neck is so fluffy ... Its eyes are round and yellow ... What’s that?! ... Gwaahh!”

Pokémon Researcher

Pokémon

Maybe the researcher encountered a mythical Pokémon, leading to his untimely death. Based on the geographical location, one can assume there will be some ice-type Pokémon that should be approached with caution and not, say, right up close with a video camera.

Pokémon
Famous last words Pokémon

Overall, the whole trailer functions like a found-footage horror movie. I guess we’ll just have to parse the video for potential clues until Arceus releases early next January.

Pokémon

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