Pokémonis celebrating the anniversary ofPokémon Gold and Pokémon Silverwith the release of some special plushes, but some fans are concerned about the high price tag. This year marks the 25th anniversary ofPokémon Gold and Pokémon Silver, which marked the first expansion of thePokémonworld past the Kanto region. The Johto region added 100 new Pokémon to the franchise, including two new types of Pokémon (Dark-type and Steel-type). The games also addedBaby Pokémonand Shiny Pokémon to the franchise.
To celebrate these hallmark Pokémon games' birthday, The Pokémon Company released a new merchandise line focused on the two games. While most of the merchandise is currently only available in Japan, the onlinePokémon Center storedid release special commemorative plush versions of Lugia and Ho-Oh for purchase in the United States. Instead of their usual coloration,Ho-Oh and Lugia have a gold and silver color scheme, respectively,to match the colors of the games and each plush comes with poseable wings.
Fans immediately took note of the price tag for each of the new plushies, as each one costs a whopping $49.99. While some think this is a fair price, the majority ofPokémonfans seem to think this is a bit overpriced.
Ho-Oh And Lugia Plushes Are Here, But Fans Don’t Agree With The Price Point
Plushes Sold In US Nearly Twice The Cost Of Plushes In Japan
AlthoughPokémonCenter plushes tend to cost more than those made by Jazwaresor Build-A-Bear, some fans feel that the price point is too much. ArecentReddit postabout the anniversary plushes is full of collectors commenting on the high quality of the plushes, as well as the unfortunate price point.“Gorgeous plush but I couldn’t justify the cost,“wrote DQslimee.“I could maybe justify it if it were soft, but this little guy doesn’t look that cuddly,“stated SporadicSage.Almost all the comments in the Reddit thread have similar reservations, with many pointing out that it was cheaper to buy the plushes from the Japanese store.
The Japanese price point for these plushes is significantly lower than in the United States, as each plush costs 4,400 yen, which is the equivalent of about $28.43 in US dollars. The same plushes, with a genericPokémonplush tag instead of a special anniversary tag, cost $49.99 at the US store. The Pokémon Center sells similarly sized plushes for about the same price, but there’s a stark difference in how much the merchandise costs in the US compared to Japan.Additionally, several other anniversary items are also only available in Japan.
Our Take: Plushes Are Amazing, But Come At A Premium Price
Worth The Price If You Have Deep Love For Legendary Birds, But Otherwise Take A Pass
Pokémon Gold and Pokémon Silverare my favoritePokémongames, so I purchased the Lugia and Ho-Oh plushes the minute The Pokémon Center’s listings went live. I received the plushes just 24 hours later, providing me with some silver and gold to spice up myPokémondisplays. For what it’s worth,these plushes are absolutely stunning to look at, although Lugia’s wing thumbs are a little unnerving.They are a bit large, which makes them hard to display on bookshelves.
Now Is Your Chance To Get A Previously Sold-Out Pokémon Plush
The Pokémon Center has just re-released a Galar-region Pokémon as a jumbo-size plush. It’s round and huggable, and it’s been out of stock for years.
Both plushes are currently sitting on my entertainment center and stare at me as I play myPokémongames on the Nintendo Switch. I also get a little bit of joy posing Lugia with its wings in a touchdown pose, which is perfect for watching college football on a Saturday. However, if I didn’t have such a deep connection toPokémon GoldandPokémon Silver,these plushes probably aren’t worth the $100 combined price tag that come along with them.
