Pokémon is celebrating the anniversary of Pokémon Gold and Pokémon Silver with the release of some special plushies, but some fans are concerned about the high price. This year marks the 25th anniversary of Pokémon Gold and Pokémon Silverwhich marked the first expansion of the Pokémon world beyond 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 added Baby Pokémon and Shiny Pokémon to the franchise.
To celebrate the anniversary of these Pokémon games, The Pokémon Company has released a new product line focused on both games. Although most merchandise is currently only available in Japan, the online site Pokémon Center Store released special commemorative plush versions of Lugia and Ho-Oh for purchase in the United States. Instead of its usual coloring, Ho-Oh and Lugia have a gold and silver color scheme respectively to match the colors of the games and each plush comes with articulated wings.
Fans immediately noticed the price of each of the new plushies, as each one costs a whopping $49.99.. Although some think this is a fair price, most Pokémon fans seem to think this is a bit expensive.
Ho-Oh and Lugia plushies have arrived, but fans don’t agree on the price
Plush toys sold in the US almost double the cost of stuffed animals in Japan
Although Pokémon Core plushies tend to cost more than those made by Jazwares or Build-A-Bear, some fans feel the price is too high. ONE recent reddit post About Birthday Plush is full of collectors commenting on the high quality of the plush, as well as the unfortunate price. “Beautiful plush, but I couldn’t justify the cost,” wrote DQslimee. “Maybe I could justify it if it was soft, but this little guy doesn’t look so cuddly,” stated SporadicSage. Almost all of the comments on the Reddit thread had similar reservations, with many pointing out that it was cheaper to buy the plushies at the Japanese store.
The Japanese price of these plushies is significantly lower than in the United States, as each plush costs 4,400 yen, which is about $28.43 in US dollars.. The same plushies, with a generic Pokémon plush tag instead of a special birthday tag, costs $49.99 in the US store. The Pokémon Center sells similar sized plushies for the same price, but there is a big 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: Plush Toys Are Awesome, But They Come At A Premium Price
Worth the price if you love legendary birds, but otherwise give it a try
Pokémon Gold and Pokémon Silver they are my favorites Pokémon games, so I bought the Lugia and Ho-Oh plushies the minute the Pokémon Center listings went up. I received the plushies just 24 hours later, providing me with some silver and gold to spice up my Pokémon displays. For what it’s worth, These plushies are absolutely stunning to look at, although Lugia’s winged thumbs are a little unnerving. They are a bit large, which makes them difficult to display on shelves.
Both plushies are in my entertainment center and stare at me as I play my Pokémon games on Nintendo Switch. I also get a little joy out of posing Lugia with his wings in a touchdown pose, which is perfect for watching college football on Saturday. However, if I didn’t have such a deep connection with Pokémon Gold and Pokémon Silver, these plushies probably aren’t worth the combined $100 price tag that comes with them.
Source: Pokémon Center, Reddit, X/Pokémon