>>45347425>Not sure why either explanation would hold sway, considering Cubone.Cubone was designed long before Pokemon was a thing in the west. The Wolfman line existed very late into GS development- pic related is from September 21, 1999. Pokemania was really gaining traction in the west around this time, and it makes sense they would have wanted to play it a bit safer this time around for the international market.
But it also could have been Johto's complete lack of ice areas and the team ultimately preferring Sneasel's design after spending the time to iterate upon it.
