Gemstones in Japanese Logos Appear on the New Protagonists

[Caaethil]

A while ago, some people noticed that the Japanese logos for Sun and Moon included some coloured crystals. This reminded them of X and Y, when the Japanese logos showed the DNA strands which would later be revealed as the symbol for mega evolution.

Now, people have noticed that the official artwork for the protagonists, shown in the new trailer, shows the two of them wearing bracelets with these gemstones set inside of them:

This seems to confirm that these gemstones are involved in some kind of game mechanic. Could these just be the new key stones, triggering mega evolution? After all, the trainers don't seem to be wearing any mega evolution accessories, which would reveal that either mega evolution is gone (highly unlikely, of course), mega evolution no longer requires a key stone, or the gems in the images are key stones. Of course, it's also possible that the key stones simply aren't in the picture.

Another popular theory is that these are 'burst hearts', or at least are inspired by them. Burst hearts were items which looked just like the ones in these images, from the failed ReBurst manga. These contained a Pokemon, and allowed the trainer to fuse with the Pokemon contained. Many are speculating that either this could be a feature, or it could be heavily changed, with the same basic theme.

From this, many are speculating that this is linked to Ash-Greninja, Greninja's powerful form in the Pokemon anime which causes Greninja to take on some of Ash's physical characteristics. This is quite similar to the fusion in ReBurst, but instead of fusion, the Pokemon simply gains some of the trainer's features.

With customisation returning in Sun and Moon, could this be what the strange gemstones signify?

 

[HardstyleRaver2]

I'm speculating that it's an improved Mega Evolution mechanic in which the Pokemon doesn't need to hold a Mega Stone.

 

[Hikamaru]

We still have no information on customization (other than skin tones/hair colour at least) but maybe these crystals might be used for Mega Evolution and the speculated Synchro Evolution. Since these aren't Key Stones being shown, I have a feeling Megas aren't a thing anymore but at the same time it was a welcomed feature so I can't see it being gone after one generation.

 

[Hikamaru]

As HardstyleRaver implied, we could see Mega Evolution happen a different way this generation.

 

[Xander Olivieri]

I can't see them removing a battle mechanic to implement a new one. That may be a new design for the Mega Bracelet that'll work with a new mechanic added in SunMoon.

 

[Pinkie-Dawn]

I'm seeing this as a new method for Mega Evolution, but I do wonder if this will apply to all the Mega Evolutions we have prior to Sun & Moon.

 

[Iceshadow3317]

As I have said, I think it is just a way to register unlocked Mega Pokemon so we don't have 100+ Mega Stones in the future.

The ReBurst completely failed, from some articles, and is why it isn't written anymore. It would possibly hurt the games beyond repair and would almost completely make me stop playing pokemon games. I do not like the concept at all of fusing with your pokemon. The concept only lasted for about a year before being canceled. If it was popular, then it would continue.

They have already said once before that they want to eventually give all Pokemon lines a Mega.

 

[Hikamaru]

I guess that with ReBurst being a concept that didn't succeed, it must be a sign that fusion is something that doesn't bode well with a franchise like Pokemon so I guess that Burst Heart theory has been debunked for now.

 

[JP]

What makes the most sense to me is that it's perhaps a new game mechanic that's tied to Mega Evolution. Who knows though. Obviously GF aren't afraid to throw us a curve ball, like RotomDex lol. Could be something completely unexpected again.

 

[Caaethil]

I guess that with ReBurst being a concept that didn't succeed, it must be a sign that fusion is something that doesn't bode well with a franchise like Pokemon so I guess that Burst Heart theory has been debunked for now.

Most are speculating it's just picking up where ReBurst left off and adapting the concept. Most think it'll just be the Ash-Greninja thing ingame, not actual fusion.

 

[blue]

Can't figure out what is behind all this, but it seems very similar to mega evolution. The whole bracelet with a stone activation concept makes me think that it will be some sort of advanced or alternate version to mega evolution.

 

[Hikamaru]

Can't figure out what is behind all this, but it seems very similar to mega evolution. The whole bracelet with a stone activation concept makes me think that it will be some sort of advanced or alternate version to mega evolution.

I think it'll likely be an advancement to Mega Evolution as well, and could likely recognize a Pokemon that's able to Mega Evolve so that we don't have to have so many Mega Stones created. Maybe this could mean we may have all the other Megas pull a Mega Rayquaza and no longer need a Mega Stone.

 

[WingsofBliss]

I think it's related to Mega Evolution, but the thought has crossed my mind of them forgoing it for a brand-new mechanic. I personally don't see that happening, but you never know... the typing of Solgaleo and the Rotom-Dex were unexpected, but those are minor surprises compared to a brand-new mechanic.


I wanted to point something out though... look where my blue arrow is pointing in this picture:

That looks like an empty slot for something that's similarly shaped, maybe for the other crystal or for the an item to activate it?

 

[Hikamaru]

I wanted to point something out though... look where my blue arrow is pointing in this picture:

That looks like an empty slot for something that's similarly shaped, maybe for the other crystal or for the an item to activate it?

You know, I think that could be possible. Maybe we need both crystals to summon the legendaries, like how we needed items to summon both Ho-Oh and Lugia? It could point towards being able to catch the other legendary in the post-game as sort of a shoutout to the Johto games.

 

[OmegaRuby and AlphaSapphire]

You know, I think that could be possible. Maybe we need both crystals to summon the legendaries, like how we needed items to summon both Ho-Oh and Lugia? It could point towards being able to catch the other legendary in the post-game as sort of a shoutout to the Johto games.

Wait, the legends...the crystals could be the other legend that's dormant kind of like in BW the mascots were stones. Perhaps the tidbit about Solgaleo and Lunaala being "key" to our adventures is a pun on the word Keystone.

 

[destinedjagold]

It'll be connected to another sort of form-changing your PKMN. Iirc, the JP XY logos had the Megavolution icon. JP ORAS logos has the Primavolution icon. So yeah, these jewels might mean another form of form-changing temporary evolution.

I do not believe Sun/Moon will remove Mega Evolution. That type of approach will prevent Sun/Moon players from battling XYORAS players. Instead of removing, perhaps GameFreak will stop creating new Megavolutions, because creating more and more mega stones as the games move on to generation and generation, lol that's going to be a hell lot of Mega Stones to collect! If Ash Greninja is anything to go by, perhaps this new form-changing evolution is the "natural" form of Megavolution, currently dubbed as Synchro Evolution. If this will replace Mega Evolution, then sure, why not? That would prevent GameFreak from creating tons of MegaStones in the future. :P

I don't want ReBurst. Nope. Nada. I didn't like Digimon Frontier, where the humans transform into Digimon, so I am definitely NOT gonna like it more in Pokémon. If GameFreak does included that feature, then I'm just gonna do my best and avoid using it. I don't like ReBurst, but that isn't enough to stop me from playing the new game. :P

 

[Bobbylicious]

I'm speculating that it's an improved Mega Evolution mechanic in which the Pokemon doesn't need to hold a Mega Stone.

This is what I'm guessing, too. I want it to be somewhat mega evolution related, because I feel if it's not related to mega evolution, then it'll be difficult to incorporate the megas into this region, because what, are they going to have to wear two bracelets? I think there'll definitely be some type of tweak to it though, whather that means the Pokemon doesn't need a mega stone (tho that would create more OP Pokemon like Mega Ray, and it would be unfair to the Gen 6 megas - unless they remove the concept for mega stones completely, but that would be counter productive), or something else, who knows.

Only thing I can think of is maybe the Ash-Greninja thing from the anime. I saw on Joe's twitter he said that it received a completely new animation in the latest JPN episode, and it seems weird to give it a new animation and all that detail without giving it any canon-game relevance. Maybe the Ash-Greninja thing is Gen 6 anime's version of like Togepi/Wynaut/Aipom/Whatever else, and this new crystal doubles as a mega evolution key stone, and the thing to allow this bond evolution, whatever it's called.