It's 5:40 a.m., do you know who your favorite Pokemon is?

It is late, and I can't sleep because I woke up at 1:30 in the afternoon today, so I'm going to tell you who the best Pokemon are and why. Lucky you.

First, we need to establish when the best Pokemon are. Most anyone who grew up with the games will tell you that Generation 1 (Red, Blue and Yellow versions) and the original 151 monsters are the only ones worth discussing. They are wrong. I have no problem writing Gen 3 off, as most of its additions to the Pokemon World were trying too hard for their own damn good. Despite marked improvement, I can understand disregarding Gen 4 as well for not being part of the nostalgic early days. Still, it's obvious that Pokemon Gold and Silver just plain rocked.

Every bit as much a part of your childhood as Red or Blue.

Gold and Silver came around back when Pokemon was still cool for the first time, before semi-ironic nostalgia and Facebook events made it okay to like them again. The games were better than the first (and still are the best in the series, if you ask me), and the new Pokemon were almost all awesome. So awesome, in fact, that my top five list consists solely of monsters from Generation 2.

5. Ampharos

The Light Pokemon, better known as the Awesome Giraffesheep with a Lightbulb Tail Pokemon. I had one on my very first Gold team, and I remember it fondly. It's a good, reliable electric type with respectable stats and a good movepool, but more importantly it just plain looks cool. Somehow that thing evolves from a blue sheep. I don't even know what animal Ampharos is supposed to be, I just know I want to hug it.

4. Ho-Oh

The Rainbow Pokemon, despite originating in a game where the graphics could only support two colors per Pokemon sprite, but I guess the Red-Orange and Green Pokemon doesn't have as nice a ring to it. You may recognize this one as the mascot of Pokemon Gold and as one of the legendary Pokemon from that game. Typically speaking, I don't care much for legendary Pokemon. Stat-wise, they're too strong and I feel cheap for using them in my team, so they just collect dust in my box, like some living trophy of my conquest. Appearance-wise, most look too epic for their own good and lack the charm of their smaller, more common brethren. Still, I love Ho-Oh because he always looks like he's screaming and kind of resembles a peacock, which is an all-around good bird to resemble.

3. Misdreavus

The Screech Pokemon, and the only new ghost-type added in Gold and Silver. I love ghost Pokemon, they're all really cool looking and there's something fun about forcing lost souls of deceased Pokemon to do your bidding (they aren't actually dead Pokemon, I don't think, but whatever). It makes you feel like you control death. In it's own right, Misdreavus is pretty great too, because it looks like a woman's severed head. Throw that thing out in the battlefield and see how well your opponent keeps his composure. "I choose you, guillotine victim!" It's kind of gruesome, really.

2. Wooper

The Water Fish Pokemon, because kids don't know what an axolotl is. Everything about this guy is adorable, don't deny it. He's got little eyes, a big smile, fun antennae, and looks like he'd wobble and bounce as he walked. He'd make a great pet. I want one. He's excellent in battle too, thanks to his sweet water-ground typing. The only thing you need to worry about is grass, which will absolutely destroy you. Last year I went about trying to beat the game using only Wooper to prove my loyalty to him, and I made it all the way to Red until his stupid Venusaur's stupid solarbeam kept killing me. Still, Wooper fought valiantly and is the only Pokemon I've ever raised to level 100. He's just special.

1. Sudowoodo

The Imitation Pokemon. His blank stare, bizarre mid-dance pose, and misleading appearance (he's a tree... but he's made of rock?) used to make me hate him growing up. I was a stupid little boy, because there's clearly nothing wrong with Sudowoodo at all. Everything about him is right. Fantastic movepool, respectable stats, and excellent design concept (he's a tree... but he's made of rock!) all combine to make the ultimate Pokemon. Arceus is not the Pokemon god, Sudowoodo just lets him pretend out of pity. My current Pearl team relies heavily on the strength and versatility of my Sudowoodo, nicknamed The Hammer. He'll smash anything in his way with his arms, body, face, or wall of falling rock which he summons by sheer willpower. Nothing can stop Sudowoodo, not even fighting, grass, water, ground, or steel types.*

*Exactly those types can stop Sudowoodo.

You're certainly entitled to your opinion, but I've yet to hear a compelling argument against Gen 2's absolute dominance of Pokemon. Perhaps later I'll devote entries to the other generations (if I can think of five good Pokemon from Gen 3, that is), but nothing compares to Gold and Silver. They're so good, sporting events and other competitions have named their 1st and 2nd place awards after them.