Blastoise

Blastoise (カメックス) is one of the fictional species of Pokémon creatures from the multi-billion-dollar Pokémon media franchise. This tortoise-like Pokémon is well-known for being featured on the cover of one of the first Pokémon games, Pokémon Blue. Blastoise is the final evolved form of Squirtle, one of the Pokémon players may receive at the beginning of playing Pokémon Red or Blue, and the remakes of those games.

Design and Characteristics
Described in Notre Dame's The Observer as "a tank of a turtle", the species first appeared as an evolution of one of three starter Pokémon the player could choose from at the beginning of the initial Game Boy games, Pokémon Red and Blue, released in Japan in 1996. The species in the early Pokémon video games was portrayed by a two-dimensional sprite, although in later releases the Blastoise appearance has been conveyed by 3D computer graphics. Throughout, the species has been portrayed with no spoken dialogue. In the Pokémon anime, they use facial expressions, body language and makes noises that repeat syllables of their name, using different pitches and tones.

Blastoise are large, blue, bipedal turtle-like Pokémon with water cannons that extend from their shells. In the game, Blastoise are described as being able to puncture steel with these cannons, and using them to power high-speed tackles Like real-life turtles, Blastoise are able to withdraw into their shells—this is commented on within the game, and noted by the fact that it learns the move "Withdraw".

In the video games
Blastoise is the final evolved form of the starter Pokémon Squirtle. Squirtle evolves into Wartortle, which then evolves into Blastoise. Blastoise are only obtainable within the game by evolving a Squirtle. Blastoise is a Water-type, so it is resistant to Water-, Fire-, Ice-, and Steel-type attacks. Like all Water-type starter Pokémon, Blastoise learns the abilty Torrent, which increases it Water-type attacks when the Pokémon's HP falls below a certain threshold. Blastoise, with its high Defense and Special Defense is considered a "tank" and can be played with attacks that complement its Water-typing, like Surf, or with attacks that depend on Blastoise taking damage, like Counter and Mirror Coat which deal damage in relation to that taken by the Pokémon.

In Pokémon Mystery Dungeon, Blastoise is the leader of a Bronze-level rescue team named Team Hydro. His team includes Swampert and Feraligatr. In the game, he forms a temporary rescue team with Octillery and Golem to save Alakazam's team from Magma Cavern, but fails shortly after. Later, he teams up with Charizard from Alakazam's team to explore the Western Cave, but the pair is soundly beaten by Mewtwo after Blastoise accidentally woke the Genetic Pokémon up. He also appears in a cutscene after the player recruits Lugia which leads to another dungeon, Meteor Cave, being unlocked. In addition, other Blastoise can also be encountered by the player in Western Cave, and unlike most other fully evolved Pokemon, can be recruited, but the player's Pokemon must be at an extremely high level and holding the item "Friend Bow", and even then the chances of the player getting a Blastoise to join him/her are extremely low.

Blastoise also appears in Super Smash Bros and Super Smash Bros Melee as one of many Pokemon that a fighter can send out after throwing a Poke Ball. When released from a Poké Ball, Blastoise will use Hydro Pump in one direction. Each Pump moves Blastoise backwards, slightly making it a danger to those fighting behind it as well (the Blastoise risks falling off the stage, however). A trophy of the Pokemon can be obtained as well, which provides information about the Pokémon. Blastoise is also a usable character in: Pokemon Battrio, a new Arcade Game, bringing along 4th generation Pokemon from: Pokemon Diamond and Pearl.

In the Pokémon anime
Blastoise is a well-known Pokémon because of its role in the video games, but it makes relatively few appearances in the anime. A handful of trainers in the series have owned Blastoise, notably Gary Oak who raised one from a Squirtle. While the inital appearance of Blastoise was in a first season episode about an island filled with giant robot Pokémon, the first real Blastoise made its debut in Beach Blank-Out Blastoise, an episode where a Jigglypuff had become lodged in one of the Blastoise's cannons, causing the latter to sleep indefinitely. Blastoise also recieved some screen time in the first Pokémon movie, Mewtwo Strikes Back, as a Pokémon nicknamed Shellshocker, owned by one of the major supporting characters, Neesha.

In other media
In the Pokémon Adventures manga, the character, Green, steals a Squirtle from Prof. Oak early on in the series. This Squirtle ultimately becomes a Blastoise, nicknamed Blasty, with a tricky personality like its owner, and is the main Pokémon on Green's team.

Blastoise is seen in several sets of the Pokémon Trading Card Game, debuting with the initial release of cards in the Base Set. The cards often have a secondary in-game effect throughout the sets (referred to as a "Pokémon Power" or "Poké-Power"). While the specifics vary from set to set, Blastoise's Poké-Power typically involves allowing the player to add multiple energy cards to Blastoise or another Pokémon for various effects (gameplay usually dictates only adding one energy card per turn).