‘Pokémon Legends: Arceus’ Leaks Leave Fans Wondering What Happened to 2 of Sinnoh’s Legendary Pokémon

Game Freak and Nintendo‘s Pokémon Legends: Arceus is one of the most-anticipated Pokémon games to hit shelves in recent years — and fans don’t have long to wait for its release date. But even ahead of the Switch game’s official drop, leaks have surfaced online. And they have fans questioning the new forms of two Legendary Sinnoh Pokémon.

[Warning: This article contains spoilers for Pokémon Legends: Arceus based on early leaks.]

‘Pokémon Legends: Arceus’ leaks have already surfaced

Pokémon Legends: Arceus leaks cropped up more than a week ahead of the game’s official release date, and fans have had a mixture of different reactions. Although the gameplay seems promising, the Hisuian Pokémon revealed in the leaks sparked responses ranging from praise to outright confusion.

Kotaku covered the details shared by CentroLeaks, so you can head there to see what the Hisuian forms and evolutions look like. Some — including Hisuian Typhlosion — have already become the inspiration behind a number of memes. But two additions, in particular, are receiving a lot of criticism: the Hisuian forms of Palkia and Dialga.

Fans aren’t loving Palkia and Dialga’s new forms

Although there are some interesting evolutions among the leaked Hisiuan forms from Pokémon Legends: Arceus, fans are united in their opinions of Palkia and Dialga. And the majority don’t like their new looks.

Palkia’s new form puts the Sinnoh Legendary on all fours, giving it a similar appearance to a centaur. Dialga’s Hisuian variant doesn’t make the Pokémon bipedal. However, it significantly changes the look of its legs, neck, and tail.

In a Reddit thread discussing the leaks, fans were quick to express their criticisms of the two Hisuian forms. Many called them “ugly” and made jokes about their appearances.

Some also wondered whether there was a purpose for the change. The alterations make both Pokémon look a bit more like Arceus. But because Arceus made Palkia and Dialga, fans wondered why it might fuse with them.

“I understand the lore reasons for Kyurem and Necrozma, but why would Arceus fuse with his own creations?” one Redditor asked. Another pointed out that this could be answered by Pokémon Legends: Arceus’ gameplay itself, which strives to capture the history of the Hisui region before it became Sinnoh.

“If that’s the case I will instantly forgive these atrocious designs, as there are supposed to look absolutely horrible,” another commenter wrote in response to their theory.

Unfortunately, not every fan seems as forgiving. Palkia and Dialga are doomed to become internet memes and jokes for quite some time after this game debuts.

What’s the release date for ‘Pokémon Legends: Arceus’?

The arrival of Pokémon Legends: Arceus isn’t likely to endear fans to Palkia and Dialga’s new looks. However, the game’s release could bring players one step closer to understanding the reason behind it — assuming there is one.

The theory that Arceus will explain these Hisuian takes on the Sinnoh Legendaries holds some weight, and it’s entirely possible the story will center on their evolution. That would add a unique element to the game. We’ll have to wait and see if that’s actually how things play out.

As for when Pokémon Legends: Arceus comes out, the game’s release date is set for Jan. 28, 2022. It’s currently available for pre-order — and some sellers are even offering bonuses with an early purchase.