#66 MACHOP, #67 MACHOKE, #68 MACHAMP
Machop Machoke Machamp! I wanna talk about macho-mon! Today we're looking at the original fighting type trio from Generation 1! Lots of people use Machop and Machoke, but to get Machamp you had to trade with another player. Still, there are some interesting things to think about and saw when it comes to this trio.
LAST WEEK'S POKÉMON OF THE WEEK: #387 TURTWIG, #388 GROTLE, #389 TORTERRA
I like Machop. If it wasn't for my soft-spot for Mankey and Primeape (made my beating Yellow so much easier), Machop would've been my choice for sixth Pokémon of the team. One big problem with his design? Is those weird lines on his ribs. Otherwise, I like his color scheme, his dinosaur mixed with human aesthetic that made him cute, and his long arms, head combs, and big expressive red eyes.
As an in game tool, Machop's moves are great at taking out normal, rock, and ground types in the first generation of games.
I also like Machop, but even his design has some major issues. Lemme get that out of the way: He has clothing that magically evolved onto him-- this seems really common with the humanoid Pokémon and it just seems strange. The fact that he grows a belt with a non-Japanese 'P' symbol on it is just strange. That's the main problem.
Otherwise I like his design, especially preferring the in-game canon color scheme, that just shouts a colorful and boisterous body-builder. I like the red stripes on his arms, but find it odd that he has several toes, while Machop didn't have any and Machamp will only have a couple per foot.
Machamp has the clothes of problem of Machoke, but also has a derp face. That weird lip-bill thing is an interesting and manly anime trope, but it just translates to make him whacky when he could've been cool and intimidating-- worthy of trading with someone to get it.
But I still like how he has four muscular arms, twice the muscular arms of Machoke is a big deal, combines with a more dramatic head comb and the animations on this guy are pretty cool, even in the later games.
