Luigi Pokémon
The Luigi Pokémon[1] was part of an April Fools' Day prank on the official Nintendo website that took place in 1999. A page was published on the site, falsely stating that Luigi was the first Generation 2 Pokémon (being the first of the new "Plumber" type), as well as providing fictional instructions on how to "unlock" him. The beginnings of a "moveset" for Luigi were also listed on the site, though it was also stated on the site that "we believe there may be more". Luigi's sprite is a digitized version of his artwork from Super Smash Bros.
Website descriptions
It seems unlikely, but the 160th Pokémon is one of Nintendo's most recognizable superstars. His name is Luigi. Luigi isn't a glitch monster like Missingno, and you don't have to win a contest to earn him (like Mew). He is a legitimate Pokémon, available in both the Red and Blue versions of the game.
Listed moveset
- Wrench
- Mustache Slap
- Gas (a poison ability)
- Cower (a defensive position)
- F. Reunion (Family Reunion: this attack summons Mario and Yoshi for a group attack)
Listed directions
Catching Luigi is not easy, but this exclusive strategy report should help. First you must capture a Lickitung (Pokémon # 108) using an Ultra Ball. If you use any other type of Poké Ball, you won't be able to own Luigi. Normally Lickitung does not evolve, but under the correct circumstances it will evolve into Luigi. Keep Lickitung in your active Pokémon list and position yourself exactly where Snorlax was blocking the bridge east of Vermillion City[sic]. Next -- and this is the crucial part - turn your Game Boy upside down. If the cartridge is not inverted, this trick won't work. With your Game Boy upside down, use a Rare Candy on Lickitung. If you're standing in the correct position on the bridge, Lickitung will evolve into Luigi. If the evolution doesn't take place, shake your Game Boy up and down (not left and right) and try again.
Poll
The following day, Nintendo put up an additional webpage that provided a poll to gauge how many readers fell for the prank articles.
Poll questions
Were you fooled by any of the stories yesterday?
- I admit it - you got me.
- I figured it out eventually.
- I wasn't fooled at all.
- What do you mean there's no Triforce?
- What do you mean there's no Luigi?
- I hate you forever now.
What do you think of the stories?
- I liked them - good job.
- They were OK.
- I hate you forever now.
Which was your favorite story?
- Triforce in Zelda
- Luigi in Pokémon
- Nintendo 1,024
- New Bond movie
- Stone Cold Quest 64
- Baywatch: Buckets of Blood
- Yugo Adventure Racing
- Ask Evil Dan
- I hate you forever now.
Website description
Yesterday, Nintendo Power Source proved that we were bursting at the seams with holiday spirit. In the great tradition of April Fools' Day, we filled our homepage with hilarious and devious articles, designed to help you enjoy the holiday to the fullest.
We are obviously quite pleased with ourselves, but we are wondering what you think about the Great April Fools' Day Hoax of '99. Based on the e-mail we've received, most of you either want to thank us or throw flaming paper bags at our office doorstep. We've created this handy post-April 1st poll to let you voice your opinion.
If you missed yesterday's exclusive coverage, here's one last chance to check it out. On a more serious note, we'd like to offer our sincerest apologies to everyone who was honestly fooled by our misleading articles -- not!
Just to make things perfectly clear:
- There is NO #160 Pokémon. Luigi is not anywhere in the game. There is no way to capture a Lickitung.
- There is NO way to get a Triforce in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. There is no way to unfreeze Zora's Domain. There is no way to get 999 Rupees.
- All of the other stories were fake too.
You can stop asking now.
So, we can't help but be curious what you think.
External links
- Poll webpage (archived)
References
- ^ "Here is the first exclusive screen shot of the Luigi Pokémon. We wonder what other Nintendo classic characters could be in the game?" – April 1, 1999. Pokémon # 160. nintendo.com (American English). Archived March 7, 2000, 03:27:39 UTC from the original via Wayback Machine. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
