4th Generation: "I choose you, ___________!"

[Aerilyn]

Decisions, decisions. One of life's hardest choices was figuring out what starter Pokémon you were going to choose. Between DPPt and HG/SS, we were given quite an excellent set of choices. So a common yet simple question from me to you is, which ones did you choose?

In Diamond and/or Pearl did you choose the fan favorite Piplup? Or maybe you preferred Chimchar or even Turtwig instead.

In Platinum did you go by the saying, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" and choose the same starter you got in DP or did you go for a different starter amongst the three?

In HG/SS you were given a pretty familiar choice that many of us have had to choose from before. Was it Cyndaquil, Totodile, or Chikorita that you chose?

And then there's the "Other" where you ditched your starter and went for something different as your main beginning Pokémon. I'll admit, I've done this a few times in the past when starting a new file on DPPt and HG/SS. Did you?

[MissDakota]

I'm a water-type girl, so it was Piplup and Totodile all the way for me

[Toshiro.]

In my Platinum game, I chose Chimchar because I love all his evolutionary stages and I never really choose the fire types for my starter so it was a nice change.

In my Heartgold I chose Totodile because he's awesome and water types help a lot :3

[Rivvon]

Piplup for Pearl and Platinum, and Chikorita for SoulSilver, just like when I played Crystal as a little girl!

[Curious.]

I can remember choosing Totodile form the very beginning of the Gen II series with GSC and the nostalgia that totodile had for me was compeling enough for me to choose it yet again in HGSS. Platinum I personally didn't own but coincidentally in Diamond I chose the water starter, being piplup. I eventually tried all three starters out, and found that I prefered Chimchar --> Infernape much better.

[Hikari10]

I loved the Fire Starters this gen.

I chose Chimchar in Pearl/Platinum and Cyndaquil in SoulSilver.

Chimchar cos I love monkeys (and my Chinese Zodiac sign is the monkey) while I chose Cyndaquil after getting inspired by Dawn in the anime.

Yeah, 4th Gen was the only generation in which I didn't choose the Water Starter.

[5°3]

When I start Diamond I'll probably choose Piplup. But in HG I chose Chikorita

[PlatinumDude]

I played Diamond 3 times, starting with a different starter each time. In Pearl, I went with Infernape. In Platinum, I went with Piplup in my old copy, but went with Turtwig in my new one.

In HeartGold, I started with Totodile; in SoulSilver, I started with Lugia.

[5°3]

Originally Posted by PlatinumDude

I played Diamond 3 times, starting with a different starter each time. In Pearl, I went with Infernape. In Platinum, I went with Piplup in my old copy, but went with Turtwig in my new one.

In HeartGold, I started with Totodile; in SoulSilver, I started with Lugia.

Did you do that with a ROM?

[Glacia~]

In Platinum I ended up chosing Piplup, Heart of Gold I chose Chikorita, and Soulsilver I chose Cyndaquil. I like all starters in this gen but probally not turtwig.

[Sydian]

First time through, it's always fire, fire, fire! I usually always pick Cyndaquil when I restart HGSS. As for DPPt though, I end up ditching my starters, if I ever bother restarting the game that is. Although technically, I bought DP on the same day and started them that day as well, but I started Diamond first and got Chimchar. However I do prefer Piplup, but that's not saying much cause I just dislike them all lol.

[Elite Overlord LeSabre™]

For Platinum I chose Piplup because it was the best of the three and Empoleon looks boss.

In SS I went with Cyndaquil, my old reliable standby. Typhlosion served me quite well in the originals and in Colosseum. Why not go with it again?

Actually, both were pretty easy choices

[Brendino]

I chose Cyndaquil in Heart Gold, because the first two times I played through the original I went with Chikorita and Totodile, so I thought it would be fun for a bit of a change.

I also went with Piplup for Platinum, as the last two games I started (HG and Fire Red) were with the Fire and Grass typer starters respectively, so I figured Water was the best choice.

[fiOWNya]

I went all water. Next time through, though, I want to try out Chimchar, I really like its evolutions.

[Ash493]

Fire all the way. I've never used different starter's type =)
It has always been and will always be fire =)

[Loriania]

Cyndaquil for SoulSilver, and Piplup for Pearl. I like fire and water.

[Olli97]

Fire starters all the way through. I've always loved Fire type Pokémon and all their moves, so it's also usually Pokémon of that type I choose as starters. Chimchar is also one of my favourite starters of all, and it's just simply great. Great design, great typings and great movepool, and in the anime, Infernape was just a pure badass. So yeah, I almost always chose Chimchar.

[Google2.0]

Turtwig and Totodile
Usually I always choose the grass type.

[droomph]

Yes.

I chose Turtwig and Cyndaquil.

This was initially for the benefits (Turtwig and Cyndaquil both have the most type advantages against the most Gym Leaders) but eventually, independently, they have both become some of my favorite Pokémon.

It's okay, you don't have to believe a word I say.

[Zephele]

I ended up choosing Chimchar during my first playthrough of Pearl, since I found it the cutest at the time.
During HeartGold, I went with Totodile since I recall picking Cyndaquil in Crystal, and I wanted to try something else. I immediately fell in love with it, and it is now my favourite of the Johto starters.

[Sakura Rain]

In Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum, I picked Turtwig, because it is my absolute favorite starter ever because it is a adorable turtle, which eventually evolves into this still adorable but monstrous turtle with a tree on its back. That is badass.

In SoulSilver, picked Cyndaquil, because I adore Cyndaquil since forever ago. lol I don't have as much to say about it as Turtwig fml

[PlatinumDude]

Originally Posted by 5°3

Did you do that with a ROM?

I was referring to Cyndaquil to clarify; my bad. I was in a rush to post that.

To clarify again, I went with all 3 Sinnoh starters in D/P/Pt in different playthroughs. In HG/SS, I went with Totodile in HG and Cyndaquil in SS.

[Lapras*]

I always start with Cyndaquil as it's one of my favorite Pokemon or maybe it was because I chose it way back when. On my replays I usually go with Totodile next because I love them too.

I really like all of the Gen 4 starters so if I was replaying I would just pick one I hadn't used recently. I'm not good at picking favorites :c But since I chose Turtwig my first run of Sinnoh, I'll vote for him.

[LadyAyeka]

Like MissDakota, I'm a water-type girl, always choosing the Water starter. So in Pearl and Platinum I went with Piplup. In SoulSilver, I decided to change things up a bit and went with Chikorita. So far this has worked out just fine for me. (I usually only buy one game out of the pairs, so I don't own Diamond or HeartGold).

[chella182]

I'm a Fire-type trainer at heart, so in SoulSilver I went with Cyndaquil. In Diamond I chose Chimchar as well, but I wasn't feeling it, so in Platinum I went with Turtwig and I'm feeling much better about it.