5th Gen A water theme, perhaps?

I'm hoping our characters outfits mean that they'll swim and dive for themselves, but maybe that's pushing it?

I think it's quite likely we'll see a more watery Unova, considering in B/W there weren't really any main bodies of water to be had. Also, if we're updating the the Unova 'dex we might need more watery areas to accommodate for that. So any new water species can be spread out.

Well, I personally feel that BW1 didn't utilise Dive as much as it could of. I doubt that the characters will be able to swim/dive on their own accord (without Pokemon) as removing the purpose of 2 HM's is pretty drastic.

I think the whole addition of water themed character designs is just to show the novelty of the new regional area (port, underwater tunnel, possible water gym early in the game). Much like how the Sinnoh protagonists were redesigned in Platinum to suit the snowy graphical changes.

But yeah, for me it's a welcomed change and even if the characters can't swim on their own merits it still makes sense for them to be surfing on Pokemon in the proper attire.

Those swimsuits are indicating that new protagonists live in area divided from mainland by water. I think they have nothing to do with swimming or diving without Pokemon. Perhaps protagonists' design will be changed to full swimsuit while surfing or diving.

And I think that the whole addition of water theme is hinting to R/S remakes but it's not discussion for this thread.

Watching Chuggaconroy's lets Play of Emerald. The last 20% is all water routes with water pokemon and water type trainers, and then the final boss is all water pokemon. And the Final gym just before the final boss is all water pokemon too -- come on!

A water/surfer dude theme would be cool, as long as they avoid an over-saturation of water pokemon.

I definitely can see how they're wearing wetsuits. Most guys don't wear leggins after all. They have the sporty kind of look of characters who swim a lot/spend time at the beach.

Watch you don't even have to use Surf like in Black and White except to traverse a minor route that doesn't play any part of the main story. XD

First (three) cities are Starting town where your character is born, Second generic city with nothing in it, and then the third which is a small port town (where I'm guessing either the Poison or Water Gym is seeing as Poison only has 2 and that means she's either first or second).

Yes I'm basing this off the big world map. You can see three cities before you have to take the underwater tunnel to Castella. The Underwater Bridge just replaced Skyarrow and is visually appealing most likely.

Other than from the (Third) city to Castella, there isn't a mandatory body of water to cross.

And I still think those are sweat pants. May's clothes were pretty tight and leather looking too, though it was a different material I believe. The artists are really horrible at not making their clothes look another way unless they can make it visibly bulky.

(Odd note. Swimmer still wear next to nothing in Platinum despite the frigid climate and the Ace Traner suits are very form fitting as well.)

They are also similar to the Black under clothes of the Pokemon Rangers.

although its not as connected Solana's clothes are pretty close.



Kate's are like May's shorts. Usagi also makes me think of a ballerina. Like she's half dressed for practice.

Isn't there a real life underwater high way in Europe? It could be based off of that. I mean the current president added Skyarrow and all the trucks just cause he likes trucks.

It's underwater tunnel, kinda like the Channel Tunnel in Europe. I think later in game, after obtaining dive, player will be able to swim around that tunnel.