![]() Accurate throws require some sophisticated cognitive architecture, because you need to be able to intuit some fairly complicated geometry and physics, calculations most of us wouldn’t actually be able to perform if we tried to do it consciously. The ability to throw objects with both force and accuracy is a very specialised adaptation that’s only found in the “higher” primates – monkeys and apes – and no other primate is even close to being as good at it as humans, who can kill with a thrown rock, or with a weapon like a spear. The strange thing about Passimian’s combination of lemur influences and a football aesthetic is that, to my knowledge, lemurs do not throw things. Madagascar’s a long way from Hawai’i, of course, but hey, big tropical island with unique wildlife, we’re more or less on theme – or close enough for Pokémon’s fairly unsubtle purposes, anyway. Lemurs are Madagascar’s only native primates, so they have grown larger, more intelligent and more diverse than the lower primates of the African mainland, which stick to specialised ecological niches where they aren’t outcompeted by monkeys. The typical troop size for Passimian, 20-30 individuals, is also in the right area for a troop of ring-tailed lemurs – although the size of a Passimian foraging party, a leader plus 10 of the strongest members of the troop, seems like a clear reference to the 11 players an American football team can field at one time. ![]() Specifically, the tail points to the ring-tailed lemur – one of the most intelligent and social of the lemurs, certainly the most recognisable because of its distinctive tail, and the only one that is entirely diurnal (Passimian is exclusive to Sun, after all). The black and white colours, striped tail, and primate proportions with a doglike snout and quadruped stance place Passimian squarely in the lemur family, a group of large Strepsirrhines (the wet-nosed, or “lower,” primates) native exclusively to Madagascar. Fun fact: the collective noun for a group of lemurs is a “pile.” Less fun fact: it actually isn’t, but it clearly should be. Unlike American footballers, they hurl their coconuts with great force to vanquish their enemies, and (according to the Sun and Moon website) also have special techniques with soft berries that blind their targets, presumably by covering their faces in sticky pulp. ![]() Like American footballers, they pass the “ball” back and forth to keep their opponents off balance, until one of them spots an opening to strike. And, of course, they throw balls – or at least, they throw coconuts, or whatever the Pokémon world equivalent is (probably, like, a “Nutcoke Berry” or something). Members of Passimian troops stick colourful leaves to their fur in distinctive patterns to show their allegiance, and are known for executing complicated group manoeuvres. This is where Passimian gets his round, coconut-like helmet, broad shoulders and muscular arms, as well as a pronounced teamwork theme. Passimian is one of these slightly more unusual Fighting-types, and is made of references to, of all things, American football – most of it is fairly subtle the only dead giveaways are the translations of his name in French (Quartermac) and German (Quartermak), which reference the important quarterback position in American football. There’s more going on here, though – a lot more, to be honest, than I realised when I first met either of them.įighting-type Pokémon are often heavily influenced by a human martial art, but sometimes (as in the case of Poliwrath) they actually owe more to athletes. They’re opposites in some fairly obvious and superficial ways – both are based on primates, but Oranguru is an intelligent Psychic-type while Passimian is a physically powerful Fighting-type, a classic brains-and-brawn pair, and in battle, Oranguru amplifies his partner’s powers while Passimian uses his partner’s powers to make himself stronger. Oranguru is only available on the Moon and Ultra Moon versions of the game in the same part of Alola, the Lush Jungle of Akala Island, the Sun and Ultra Sun versions instead get Passimian. Today we’ll be following up Oranguru by looking at his opposite number.
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