Starter Pokémon have always been a hot topic for debate when discussing any Pokémon game, often separating fans apart due to contrasting opinions. Just look at the first games, for instance; Pokémon Red and Blue almost split fans down the middle - you were either Team Charizard or Team Blastoise (sorry to those Venusaur fans out there, we're talking majority here).

To add some fire to this opinionated subject, data research site Goo Ranking has recently held a survey from April 14th to April 23rd asking Japanese gamers by the hundreds to vote who they think is the franchise's most "Seriously Useless Starter Pokémon". Of course, the sample size (1,397) isn't anything to warrant a general worldwide consensus, so don't be too offended if one of your childhood buddies makes the list. Goo Ranking is also the same site that ran polls where fans declared Mewtwo as the most handsome Pokémon, and Grimer as the ugliest - yep, they love talking all-things Pocket Monsters.

Anyway, here are the results for the topic in question:

1) Chikorita (166 votes)

2) Piplup (137 votes)

3) Bulbasaur (121 votes)

4) Squirtle (99 votes)

5) Chespin (90 votes)

6) Charmander (tied with 89 votes)

7) Turtwig (tied with 89 votes)

8) Treecko (78 votes)

9) Froakie (75 votes)

10) Tepig (69 votes)

There you have it - Pokémon Gold/Silver/Crystal's Chikorita wins (well, loses in this case). Seems like grass-type Pokémon simply can't catch a break. Who knows if Pokémon Sun/Moon's new entrants Rowlet, Litten, and Popplio will make this list in the near future.

What do you make of these results? Do you agree? Sound-off in the usual place as always.