Their choice to use the old design for Archie and Maxie is weird, to say the least.
Also, why Faba?
Well we are officially dealing with a multiverse now. Perhaps these Archie and Maxie are from the 'original' universe and are different to the ones from the remake timeline.
Well we are officially dealing with a multiverse now. Perhaps these Archie and Maxie are from the 'original' universe and are different to the ones from the remake timeline.
Maybe all the returning villains are from the original universe? Besides Lysanere anyway. The ultra wormhole behind Giovanni is probably on purpose. Along with them using Archie and Maxie's original designs, and BW1 Ghetis.
Or maybe they're all from alternate universes where they won? Man wouldn't it be cool if they each have a legendary? Archie with Kyogre, Maxie with Groudon, Cyrus with Giratina, Ghetis with Kyurem, and Lysandere with Zygarde?
Finally something interesting about these remakes.
I just finished the postgame, apparently they're indeed from alternate universes where there are no player characters to stop them. Basically a "what-if" timeline where you don't play their games and they succeeded in their plans. Also, spoiler--- Lillie doesn't leave Alola for Kanto here, it's Gladion who does so. He'll still come back occasionally in Pokemon League as your final opponent in the Champion Room though. Lillie will show that she became a decent Pokemon Trainer in Episode RR where you do a double battle with her as your partner. She has a Clefairy, mirroring her mother Lusamine's Pokemon of choice(a pre-evolution of Clefable). When you finished the postgame, go visit Professor Kukui's Lab. Lillie will be there, and she'll ask to be your partner when you challenge the Battle Tree. You can also go up the loft and see her room, this time it's still being used...and her diary is locked, unlike the original S/M. Probably because she's not going away this time.
Do we know for certain this is by Sugimori? Gamefreak employs multiple artists with similar rendering nowadays, and there's a tendency to say anything official Pokémon art is Sugimori's. Sometimes unofficial, even- look how the most recent results for the Sugimori author tag are fan content.