Pokémon Legends: Z-A Mega Starmie Design Draws Criticism From Fans
The release of Pokémon Legends: Z-A today has revealed the designs of previously leaked Mega Evolutions, with Mega Starmie quickly becoming a point of contention among players.
The new form of the Water/Psychic-type Pokémon features significantly elongated limbs, giving it a more humanoid appearance. Many fans have expressed disappointment, describing the design as jarring and a departure from Starmie’s traditionally elegant aesthetic. Social media is flooded with reactions, with some comparing the Mega Evolution to characters from SpongeBob SquarePants.
According to the in-game Pokédex, Mega Starmie’s altered behavior and physique may be an attempt to communicate with humans, or a more unsettling effort to replace them. This has fueled further discussion about the design’s implications. Pokémon Legends: Z-A includes over 20 new Mega Evolutions, and while some have been well-received, the ratio of impressive designs to more unusual ones has been noted by players. You can learn more about the history of Mega Evolution on Bulbapedia.
The release of Pokémon Legends: Z-A marks a significant expansion of the Pokémon universe, introducing new gameplay mechanics and forms. Game Freak has stated that further Mega Evolutions will be added with the upcoming Mega Dimension DLC, offering players more opportunities to explore these powerful transformations.
Officials have not yet commented on the fan reaction to Mega Starmie, but are expected to monitor community feedback as players continue to explore the new game.
An Aipom’s paw curls today. Pokémon Legends: Z-A is out now, and that means that all those leaked Mega Evolutions are real, and fans must contend with all these new forms of their old faves. Starmie, the ethereal, possibly alien starfish Pokémon, is one of the monsters that I have loved for years, even if it didn’t quite make it on my team in most games outside of Generation I. The jewel-wearing Pokémon has had plenty of fan-made Mega Evolution concepts that lean into its inherent beauty and possible cosmic origins. Game Freak had an opportunity to make a Mega Starmie worthy of the original, and instead, we got one of the silliest, least interesting Mega Evolutions in the series.
Mega Starmie was one of the many Legends: Z-A Mega Evolutions whose description leaked ahead of the game, and essentially it boiled down to “its limbs get longer.” Yes, Mega Starmie’s arms and legs grow, giving it more humanoid proportions, but that doesn’t sum up just how goofy this thing looks as it’s running around on two legs. I had known about Mega Starmie’s concept for months, and even I wasn’t prepared for the horror of watching a once elegant, unknowable Pokémon turn into a cunty gremlin version of Patrick Star from SpongeBob SquarePants. I had months to process the basic concept, but a lot of fans aren’t watching leaks in the months leading up to launch and are just now seeing this monstrosity. Many are not taking it well, or at least they’re making some good shitposts.
Truly
one of the creatures to have been designed pic.twitter.com/NgzUN7CgLx— Pr Quote (@pr_quote) October 16, 2025
According to the Pokédex, Mega Starmie’s more humanlike behavior could either be an attempt to communicate with humankind or something more insidious, like trying to replace humans. Both of those thoughts are equally horrifying because if Starmie isn’t trying to supplant us, it’s saying we all run around like something out of a Hanna-Barbera cartoon? That’s a sick burn, actually.
The concept of a Starmie with longer limbs isn’t inherently the problem, as fans have been making mock-ups of the design based on the leaked description for months, and there are some cool ones out there.
Legends: Z-A adds over 20 new Mega Evolutions, and while there are some bangers, I am a bit disappointed in the cool-to-goofy ratio. I love me a silly little guy, but a lot of these Mega Evolutions come off more like gags than anything else. At least I have Mega Raichu to look forward to when the Mega Dimension DLC comes out.
