Tag: Pokemon

Dudunsparce Is Pokémon’s Greatest Joke

~ Kapodaco ~ 1 Comment

There comes a time in most players’ lives when a fellow connoisseur of gaming will inevitably ask you: “What is your favorite pokémon?” How can you not have one? Everyone’s at least heard of Pokémon, if not invested several years of their lives playing through the franchise’s long list of titles. As common as it is to have people proclaim that Charizard or Pikachu or the various evolutions of Eevee as their favorite, mine is a little more benign.

Dunsparce, my favorite pokémon ever, got an evolution in the latest generation of games in the franchise, Scarlet & Violet. Having learned this, I immediately grew very concerned. Yet my fear was short-lived—Dudunsparce is not only a great new creature to discover, but its existence cements Game Freak as a comedy powerhouse that will stop at nothing to amuse itself by dashing the hopes of fans everywhere.

Continue reading “Dudunsparce Is Pokémon’s Greatest Joke” →

Thoughts on Pokémon Black Version 2

~ Kapodaco ~ 1 Comment

Surprisingly enough, I never played this game as a wee lad! It may have been a case of stubborn cynicism upon their announcement—”Why do these games need a sequel? I’m good with the originals.” Ironically, it wasn’t until much later that I would find out that this title and its White Version 2 counterpart are essentially pseudo-sequels. They take place at a later date in the same region, but it’s not all that necessary to play the originals to fully enjoy them.

Despite being wrong, I still never found the motivation to buy play them before being swept up in more recent Pokémon news/games. Now, thanks to a friend of mine, I was provided a physical copy to try out for the first time. Interspersed between my playthrough of Metroid: Samus Returns, I would learn whether Gen 5 is all that a specific subset of fans promise it to be. That, and whether the original games are a better representation of what this generation has to offer.

Continue reading “Thoughts on Pokémon Black Version 2” →

Top 10 Favorite Pokémon (2020 Redux)

~ Kapodaco ~ 1 Comment

top 10 pokemon redux cover

For a long while, I found myself doubting my capacity to enjoy Pokémon in a modern setting. Hand-holding aplenty, huge emphasis on EPIC legendary encounters and storylines, and the constant attempts at gripping nostalgia for maximum profit has made me wary of the current direction of the franchise. Even so, after playing Shield for myself, I had a good time, and have even come to terms with thinking it better than games prior (a controversial opinion I may expand on at a later date). I still adore the franchise and how it helped shape my gaming youth, and with a resurgent vitality, I began to ponder that list I made in 2016. It could use a bit of a touch-up. Continue reading “Top 10 Favorite Pokémon (2020 Redux)” →

Old Games Are Fast, New Games Are Slow | One of Many Personal Predicaments

~ Kapodaco ~ 3 Comments

fast vs slow cover

It’s been some time since I’ve done one of these “personal predicament” posts. Typically, these are things that I experience in my day-to-day life revolving things that interest me, that which confounds me or seem interesting enough to think upon. The “art” of critique and critical thinking is something that floods my mind often, and recently, Animal Crossing has been the primary subject. This will not be a full-on review of New Horizons (though I do have one), nor will it be a dissertation on why the original game is so much better. This will cover something I’ve felt a common occurrence in games from then and now, which has affected the way I approach and appreciate titles: speed.

No, Sonic the Hedgehog will not be mentioned here (though it could). Continue reading “Old Games Are Fast, New Games Are Slow | One of Many Personal Predicaments” →

Fire Emblem: Awakening, Pokémon LeafGreen, and the Unfortunate Consequence of Playing Better Games

~ Kapodaco ~ 2 Comments

unfortunate consequences post cover

In major parts of November and December, I played through and thoroughly enjoyed Pokémon Platinum, which was particularly surprising considering I didn’t think I liked the fourth generation of Pokémon. Upon its release roughly seven months ago, Fire Emblem: Three Houses destroyed my social life and ended up being my 2019 GOTY. Both would have a profound impact on my experience playing games from their respective franchises that came before: Fire Emblem: Awakening and Pokémon LeafGreen, both of which I had previously completed and enjoyed. Said impact, unfortunately, did not end up positive. Continue reading “Fire Emblem: Awakening, Pokémon LeafGreen, and the Unfortunate Consequence of Playing Better Games” →

The Wild Area Saved Pokémon Sword & Shield From Mediocrity

~ Kapodaco ~ 3 Comments

Wild Area Post Cover

If regular readers are taking this in and thinking to themselves, “Hey, this isn’t Merry Days of Anime,” know that I’m currently watching through a two-cour anime, so the next post may take a while (unless I drop it). The topic for today is something I’ve been pondering for a little while, at least in the time since I beat Pokémon Shield, a game I at one point claimed I wouldn’t play. Continue reading “The Wild Area Saved Pokémon Sword & Shield From Mediocrity” →

Expecting a National Dex With Pokémons Sword & Shield is Insane

~ Kapodaco ~ 10 Comments

national dex post cover

People are crying. They were once overjoyed, blissful of the state of the upcoming Pokémon games, which would grace the Nintendo Switch for the first time in the series’s (mainline) history. Their expectations and hopes were shattered upon the announcement that they wouldn’t be able to transfer all of their pokémon from the upcoming Pokémon Home into Sword & Shield. The reason? The Galar region will not support a national dex, code for “Only a fraction of the total number of pokémon will be available in Sword & Shield.”

The outcry has been substantial. Thousands of Pokémon fans are swearing off their loyalty from the company and the upcoming game. The hashtag “#BringBackNationalDex” has become a symbol of their contempt, a unifying plea for the Pokémon Company to answer. Fans are now hostile, suspicious, and cynical of every detail on the once-beloved upcoming titles. They wish for every pokémon, not just “some.” After all, it’s about catching them all.

What a time to be a Pokémon fan. Continue reading “Expecting a National Dex With Pokémons Sword & Shield is Insane” →

Thoughts on the June 5th Pokémon Sword & Shield Direct

~ Kapodaco ~ 6 Comments

sword shield direct post cover

I have been pretty vocal about my dismay with the current direction of Pokémon. Ever since X & Y, I have gradually (but ultimately) lost the armor of passion that the franchise once gave me. The company seemed dead-set on flair and bravado with no substance. Mega evolutions and legendaries and saving the world from unspeakable evil… oh my, was it tiring and boring.

Upon the announcement of a 15-minute Direct showcasing new info on Sword & Shield, I had low expectations. I expected the chain to continue and for the series to be more about “TEH EPICZZ!¡!!” than going around and simply indulging in the simple pleasures of catching and battling. It was inevitable.

So what the hell happened? I’m actually excited for the new games. Continue reading “Thoughts on the June 5th Pokémon Sword & Shield Direct” →