Board Thread:Super Smash Bros. Discussion/@comment-14750692-20140617071306/@comment-4115159-20140617235433

"You don't play as the Pokemon Trainer him self"

actually you do. When you play, you're commanding the trainer who in turn is commanding the pokémon. It's like... command-ception. Doesn't change anything about the gameplay and still does feel like you're playing as the pokémon but technically you are the trainer.