The genius of N’s character and why he was what Pokemon needed

Pokemon Black and Pokemon White introduced Team Plasma, with its leader being seemingly N at the very beginning until it was revealed that his father, Ghetsis was the one pulling the strings the entire time. Here are some reasons why N was a great addition to the Pokemon series.

N made us think about the Pokemon world differently

For all the generations that came before it, Pokemon was all about catching Pokemon and battling them and trading them. However, the introduction of N and the original intention of Team Plasma brought about an intresting question

Should Pokemon be captured by trainers or should they be free and out in the wild?

Granted, Pokemon not being captured would make the series a much different game, but N does make a good point. What gives Pokemon trainers the right to capture Pokemon and then force them to battle with other trainers Pokemon?

N gave us a villain that wasn’t a bad guy

At the end of the day, N was a part of Team Plasma. He wanted trainers to not capture Pokemon because he belives that his friends, who are Pokemon, shouldnt be captured and confined.

N gives some level of depth to our rivals

N talks about how Cheren is in persuit of ideal strength and how Bianca was learning that not everyone can become stronger. We as the player, could have figured that out for ourselves based on their dialouge, but its was first for Pokemon to actively flesh out the goals as the rival.

N gives the player something other than the Pokemon league to strive for

In the amusement park, N tells you that your only hope to stop him is to beat all the gyms and make it to the Pokemon league. Up until the point, the games credits only rolled when you defeated the champion and the Elite Four. However, for Pokemon Black and White, the credits roll after you defeat Team Plasma.

In other games your goal would be to get all the gym badges to challenge the Pokemon League. However, this time you need to collect all the gym badges to make it to the Pokemon League and challenge N and stop Team Plasma.

In all the other games, the bad guys are defeated before the Pokemon Legaue and in some cases, before you even receive the final Gym badge.

The conflict with N and Team Plasma gave these mainline Pokemon games a different way of beating the game. You do not become the champion when the credits roll, instead the champion is post game content.

N was a fantastic character, that gave the world of Pokemon alot more complexity than it previously had, and I look forward to seeing more characters like him introduced in the Pokemon Series