The long wait is almost over - Pokemon X and Y will be hitting shelves this Friday, eating up all of our spare time with their addictive blend of creature collecting, raising and battling. Marking the series' first foray onto the 3DS, we've already shared with you many of the sparkling new features, like the virtual pet-style Pokemon Amie mode, the fact you can now customise your trainer, and the all-new Fairy Pokemon type that's strong against Dragons - but here's something you may not have already heard.
Although choosing a Pokemon is usually a traumatic experience - we've already been having sleepless night over which of the three X and Y starters we'll be having, not to mention the choice we'll then have to make between Bulbasaur, Squirtle and Charmander, seeing as the original starters will also be making an appearance in the game, but from the 12th October you'll also be able to nab yourselves yet another one.
The cutest of the Ruby and Sapphire Pokemon you got from Professor Birch at the beginning of the game, Torchic is a bright orange Fire-type chicken, and will be up for download from launch day up until mid-January next year, as a little incentive to grab yourself an early copy. Your little Torchic will start off at level 10 with the hidden ability 'Speed Boost' - an extremely useful move that ups your speed at the end of each turn, making it more and more likely you'll get to attack first on your next go. He'll also come holding a Blazikenite Stone, which is needed to access his final Mega Evolution form during battles - a much more powerful version of your regular Blaziken with a rather high Attack stat, triggered mid-battle when you and your 'mon end up perfectly in sync. In fact, we wouldn't be surprised if other past Pokemon starters find their way onto the download service too, Mega Evolution stone in hand/wing/paw, as the folks at Nintendo seem to enjoy Mega Evolving old favourites.
Your cute little Torchic can evolve into this bad boy, with the help of the Mega Evolution stone.
Pokemon X and Y land in stores this Saturday, the 12th October - and don't forget to head online and download yourself a Torchic when you get your copy, as you won't be able to find this 'mon out in the wild of the Kalos region.
