Alex Spencer

I'm going to level with you, Bret – Pikachu is the one Pokémon in that top 20 I think is ranked too highly.

Pikachu is the John Cena of pokemon. He may not be your favourite, but in a list of "best" you have to concede he's no.1

As far as I can tell (I am not a Wrestle-Master, CC @meckett) John Cena doesn't even have a gimmick. Try again.

John Cena's gimmick is "best wrestler and favourite of millions of children". There's a reason Pikachu has his own family...

which they add to each game. They know Pikachu is everyone's favourite and sells so constantly pump out a Dedenne or Emolga

If you're reaching for the watered-down copies to prove why Pikachu's great, I think you're arguing with yourself.

I think if you're not considering the effects of later pokemon to a list of best gen 1 then you're not a true pokéfan

Point in case. Rattata is easily the best of the starting rodents and is more interesting than Raticate. Hence my opinion