Magmar

Magmar
National Pokédex Electabuzz - Magmar (#126) - Pinsir
Series	Pokémon series
First game	Pokémon Red and Blue
Designed by	Ken Sugimori

Magmar, known as Boober (ブーバー, Būbā^?) in Japan, is a Pokémon species in Nintendo and Game Freak's Pokémon franchise. Created by Ken Sugimori, Magmar first appeared in the video games Pokémon Red and Blue (though only readily available in Blue) and subsequent sequels, later appearing in various merchandise, spinoff titles and animated and printed adaptations of the franchise. It was given a pre-evolution called Magby in Pokémon Gold and Silver, and an evolution called Magmortar in Pokémon Diamond and Pearl.

Known as the Spitfire Pokémon, Magmar is a Fire type Pokémon that is born in an active volcano. It utilizes its heat and flames regularly such as adapting its environment to a comfortable temperature by blowing scorching flames around. It can also utilize lava to heal its wounds. According to IGN, its English name is derived from the word "magma". It is commonly associated with fellow Red and Blue Pokémon Jynx and Electabuzz.

Since it appeared in Red and Blue, Magmar has received mixed reception from critics. It was criticized for its appearance by GamesRadar and Destructoid which both wrote that its head resembled a butt. The Escapist used it as an example of weird-looking Pokémon from Red and Blue while IGN found it to be inferior to its counterpart Electabuzz. IGN found it to be a good Pokémon in its own right while Official Nintendo Magazine's readers named it the eighth best Fire type Pokémon.

Concept and characteristics

Magmar was one of several different designs conceived by Game Freak's character development team and finalized by Ken Sugimori for the first generation of Pocket Monsters games Red and Green, which were localized outside of Japan as Pokémon Red and Blue.^[1][2] Originally called "Boober" in Japanese, Nintendo decided to give the various Pokémon species "clever and descriptive names" related to their appearance or features when translating the game for western audiences as a means to make the characters more relatable to American children.^[3] As a result its name was changed to Magmar. According to IGN, Magmar's name comes from the word "magma".^[4]

Magmar, known as the Spitfire Pokémon, is born in an active volcano.^[5] If a Magmar finds itself in a cold place, it will try to make it more habitable by blowing scorching flames around.^[6] It has the ability to expel orange-colored fire from every part of its body. Magmar cloaked in flames resemble a big ball of fire.^[5] Together with its matching body coloration, Magmar can quite easily hide itself among flames, escaping detection.^[7] If Magmar is actually wounded, it can heal itself by dipping its wounds in lava.^[8] It evolves from Magby, and evolves into Magmortar using a special item.

Appearances

In the video games

Magmar first appears as a version exclusive Pokémon in Pokémon Blue. They continue to be a version exclusive in Pokémon LeafGreen and Pokémon White. Magmar normally appears in several sequels, including Pokémon Gold and Silver, Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver. In Gold and Silver, Magmar's pre-evolution, Magby, was introduced. In Diamond and Pearl, Magmar was given an evolved form, Magmortar, which is only obtainable when traded with a certain item.

In other media

In the anime, Magmar was first seen owned by the Gym Leader Blaine, in which it fought Ash's Charizard. Different Magmar are used by Gary Oak in the Silver Conference, and by Paul. In the Pokémon Adventures manga, two Magmar were seen briefly burning up the Pewter Museum, where Red battled them using his Sandshrew before Giovanni finished them off with his Cloyster.

Reception

Since appearing in Red and Blue, Magmar has received generally mixed reception. GamesRadar described Magmar and Jynx as the Romeo and Juliet of Pokémon.^[9] They also named it on their list of fugly Pokémon, noting that its forehead resembles a butt.^[10] GamesRadar's Carolyn Gudmundson included Magmar in her list of "the most overused Pokémon designs" as an example of a Pokémon that has "duck-like features" and wrote "Oh Magmar, what are we going to do with you?".^[11] Author Loredana Lipperini described Magmar as resembling a duck.^[12] The Escapist's John Funk commented that while the Pokémon in Pokémon Black and White look weird, Red and Blue had weird Pokémon too, citing Magmar as well as Jynx and Lickitung.^[13]

IGN criticized Magmar as being weaker than its counterpart Electabuzz, and much weaker than fellow Fire type Arcanine. However, they noted that it still has its advantages.^[4] IGN's Jack DeVries used the headline "These ladies are hotter than a Magmar!" in his article on female Pokémon characters.^[14] Official Nintendo Magazine's readers named Magmar the eighth best Fire type Pokémon; ONM editor wrote that it was a "cross between a mythical Salamander and a duck" and "an awesome Pokémon".^[15] Destructoid's Jim Sterling included Magmar in his list of 30 "rubbish Pokémon" in Pokémon Red and Blue. He cited its "convoluted" design and that it "doesn't look even slightly decent". He also wrote that its appearance made it look like it had Down's syndrome and that its head resembles a butt.^[16] In another article, Sterling cited Magmar as an example of Blue's inferior selection of Pokémon compared to Red.^[17]

References

1. ^ Staff. "2. 一新されたポケモンの世界" (in Japanese). Nintendo.com. Nintendo. p. 2. http://www.nintendo.co.jp/ds/interview/irbj/vol1/index2.html. Retrieved 2010-09-10. 
2. ^ Stuart Bishop (2003-05-30). "Game Freak on Pokémon!". CVG. Archived from the original on 2008-02-08. http://www.webcitation.org/5VSJaR6xT. Retrieved 2008-02-07. 
3. ^ Chua-Euan, Howard (November 22, 1999). "PokéMania". TIME. http://www.time.com/time/asia/magazine/99/1122/cover2.html. Retrieved 2008-09-15. 
4. ^ ^{a b} http://guides.ign.com/guides/12045/magmar.html
5. ^ ^{a b} Game Freak. Pokémon Yellow. (Nintendo). Game Boy. (1999-10-19) "Born in an active volcano. Its body is always cloaked in flames, so it looks like a big ball of fire."
6. ^ Game Freak. Pokémon Gold. (Nintendo). Game Boy Color. (2000-10-15) "It dislikes cold places, so it blows scorching flames to make the environment suitable for itself."
7. ^ Game Freak. Pokémon Red and Blue. (Nintendo). Game Boy. (1998-09-30) "Its body always burns with an orange glow that enables it to hide perfectly among flames."
8. ^ Game Freak. Pokémon Crystal. (Nintendo). Game Boy Color. (2001-07-29) "It moves more frequently in hot areas. It can heal itself by dipping its wound into lava."
9. ^ "Pokemusings, week 32, page 2". GamesRadar. http://www.gamesradar.com/f/pokemusings-week-32/a-20080214142523511091/p-2. Retrieved 2010-03-08. 
10. ^ "Fugly Pokemon". GamesRadar. Future Publishing. http://www.gamesradar.com/ds/f/fugly-pokemon/a-20071010152314397000/g-2006100415372930075/p-8. Retrieved 2010-03-14. 
11. ^ http://www.gamesradar.com/f/the-most-overused-pokemon-designs/a-2010072310344160054
12. ^ http://books.google.com/books?id=MOQc163-XCcC\
13. ^ http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/103547-All-New-Pokemon-from-Pokemon-Black-White-Revealed
14. ^ http://ds.ign.com/articles/973/973115p1.html
15. ^ http://www.officialnintendomagazine.co.uk/20118/features/best-fire-pokmon/
16. ^ http://www.destructoid.com/thirty-rubbish-pokemon-red-blue-edition-92171.phtml?s=100
17. ^ http://www.destructoid.com/how-pokemon-red-is-blatantly-better-than-pokemon-blue-138357.phtml