Pokémon TCG: Players React to Time Space Showdown Art

The Pokémon Trading Card Game (PTCGO) Space Time Smackdown expansion, released January 30th, features artwork sparking outrage among players. The controversy centers on the Weavile ex card's full-art version, depicting a group of Weavile poised to attack a defenseless Swinub.

Reddit posts showcasing the artwork have garnered thousands of upvotes, with comments expressing concern and sadness over the depicted scene. One post simply reads, "NO ! SWINUB LOOK UP !! LOOK UP !!", perfectly capturing the collective reaction. Many players highlight the brutal nature of the artwork, contrasting it with the typically gentler portrayal of Pokémon interactions. The inherent "ecology" of the Pokémon world, where creatures possess abilities like laser beams yet remain animalistic in their predatory behavior, is also a point of discussion.

However, some fans offer a glimmer of hope, pointing to the Mamoswine full-art card as a potential happy ending. This card shows Mamoswine protectively looking upwards, seemingly aware of the Weavile and safeguarding Swinub. Comments speculate Mamoswine's awareness of the danger, offering a counterpoint to the Weavile card's grim depiction.

Space Time Smackdown, a Pokémon Diamond and Pearl-themed set, includes 207 cards—smaller than Genetic Apex's 286 but boasting a higher percentage (52 out of 207) of alternate art, Star, and Crown rarity cards compared to Genetic Apex's 60 out of 286. The set introduces popular Pokémon like Weavile, Mamoswine, Dialga, Palkia, and Giratina.

Despite the controversy, Creatures Inc. has yet to address the concerns surrounding the artwork or the preceding trading update. While a "Trade Feature Celebration Gift" offering 500 Trade Tokens and 120 Trade Hourglasses was distributed, the developer remains silent on fan complaints and has not responded to requests for comment.