Fans are mourning the death of Lala, a betta fish that discovered a game-breaking glitch in “Pokémon Sapphire” that had gone undiscovered for almost two decades.
Lala was owned by Japanese YouTuber Mutekimaru Channel, who constructed an apparatus that translated the fish’s movements into in-game movements. Alongside a team of three other bettas named Maurice, Moo and Ponyo, Lala successfully completed “Pokémon Sapphire” after a modest 3,195 hours.
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It was during this journey to become Hoenn’s very best like no one ever was that Lala discovered the glitch. While using the strength ability to move a set of boulders out of the way to progress through the Seafloor Caverns area of the game, Lala displayed a specific set of movements that replicated the rocks instead, obstructing the path and making it impossible for the player to move forward.
The announcement of Lala’s passing prompted an outpouring of support from fans, who offered their condolences and honored the legacy of the aquatic gamer with written and artistic tributes.
Feature image via @Mutekimaru_ch
