Pokemon: Should Ghost-type Show Itself Out?

Hey all,

In one of my more recent posts, I talked about Pokemon's gen 1 pokedex, and ghost-type came up as a type with few species and little combat usefulness. Since then, the subsequent generations have made a few additions:

Gen 2 (Gold, Silver, Crystal)

• Misdreavus

Gen 3 (Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald)

• Shedinja
• Sableye
• Duskull
• Dusclops
• Shuppet
• Banette

Gen 4 (Diamond, Pearl, Platinum)

• Drifloon
• Drifblim
• Mismagius
• Spiritomb
• Dusknoir
• Froslass
• Rotom
• Giratina

Gen 5 (Black, White, Black 2, White 2)

• Yamask
• Cofagrigus
• Frillish
• Jellicent
• Litwick
• Lampent
• Chandelure
• Golett
• Golurk

Gen 6 (X, Y)

• Honedge
• Doublade
• Aegislash
• Phantump
• Trevenant
• Pumpkaboo
• Gorgeist
• Hoopa
• Mega Gengar
• Mega Sableye
• Mega Banette

Gen 7 (Sun, Moon)

• Decidueye
• Oricorio (Sensu Style)
• Sandygast
• Palossand
• Mimikyu
• Dhelmise
• Lunala
• Marshadow

So, a few interesting ghost-types among a handful of forgettable or regrettable ones. At this point, ghost-type is a full and entrenched element of the franchise. However, there was a point at which ghost-type could have bowed out with some dignity. In the 2nd generation, a new type was added: dark-type. Umbreon, Murkrow, Sneasel, Houndour, and Houndoom rounded out the new type as something really interesting. Additionally, the dark-type was what ghost-type had failed to be in Gen 1: dark-type was the answer to psychic-type.

Hop up the list again. Gen 2 added one ghost-type pokemon, making for four ghosts out of a pokedex of just over 250. At time of writing, there are now 43 ghosts (46 if you include mega evolutions) out of 802 total pokemon. In Gen 2, when ghost-types were getting the least amount of love they ever got from the devs, ghost-type should have been renamed to the dark-type, and included in with the new dark-type pokemon. This would have spared us some of the worse ideas, (looking at you honedge), and made ghost-type, renamed dark-type, what it should have been all along, the only strong and viable counter to the psychic-type.

What do you think? Have I picked on your favorites, or do you think the pokemon franchise missed a chance to trim the fat? Leave a comment below, and until next time, happy gaming, all!