Keeping Busy: POKéMON

Multi-Tasking
Hey guys, what's up? Nothing? Yeah me neither.

Actually, I have a lot up. Saturday I bought Pokémon Blue on the Nintendo Market and I've started playing it, just got my Metapod! Playing a pseudo Nuzlocke, I'll be collecting all 150 Pokémon along the way, but only playing with a select group (which will all be nicknamed except my Pidgey, because I slipped.) Meanwhile I'm typing up last week's arrest report for the newspaper...and I'm watching a Banjo-Tooie Let's Play, because I NEED IT!

So we'll just real quick like take a look at my Pokémon Blue game so far. I have Freepie (pronounced Free-pee -_-) the Caterpie/Metapod. Mouzer (like the mouse robots from TMNT) the Rattatta, Squirt the Squirtle, and Pidgey...the Pidgey, I slipped okay! And I've already run into a weird situation...Metapod did not learn harden...which doesn't bother me...like at all, but why did he not learn that on evolution?

 Thanks Bulbapedia

Yeah...Harden, why you no learn?!

 Oh...it's just that he can't hack it...

Anyway, yeah, watching this Banjo-Tooie let's play is jumpstarting a craving in my mind for some killer bear/bird platforming, I may go pick up some Microsoft points today and download the heck out of that, because why not?

 That's not the right game...whatever.

On the other hand, did a bit of digging real quick, and...Pokémon don't learn moves on evolution?! Or, at least the bugs don't learn moves on evolution in Red and Blue...someone said that they changed that in Yellow, someone else said they fixed it in Gold and Silver...either way, we do not get evolution moves for poor Freepie.

 Metapod, hit him with a harden!

As a side note, I have a Wal-Mart Gift Card sitting around that's not getting used with 25.00 on it...I may go pick up a Microsoft Gift Card instead, and cash it in on Banjo-Tooie...I would get both but they're $15.00 each...so I should get the sequel right? Since it's...y'know, bigger, and longer...and harder? Right, that makes it a better game right? Little kickball, start out with all the power ups from the last game, several different characters/transformations to play with. Awesome multiplayer, sounds like fun, let's frikkin' do it!



Until then, stay strong my furry/feathered friends!

Gotta be the Very Best?: POKéMON

YOU KNOW WHY
It's Pokémon day guys! And on that note, I don't really have much to say...yeah, sorry. I just felt like I had an obligation to post something on such an anniversary. On that note, I'm heading up to GameStop in a little bit to pick up a digital copy of Blue Version and that awesome reverse-side poster.

On the other hand...I guess I can say I'm excited about Sun and Moon! Not all that excited, frankly the Pokémon universe's rapid expansion basically has only proven disappointing again and again. Every generation we have two or three shining star Pokémon, and then a bunch of garbage Pokémon:


Additionally, every generation we get a cool feature that gets dropped the very next generation, effectively wrecking some awesome dreams. Ultimately, I'm hopeful that Gen 7 will give us character customization again, Poké-pals who we can ride or follow around, and a collection of Pokémon that don't...suck.

That's it, I know, short, sweet, to the point. With any luck Sun/Moon will be the generation I finally make and perfect Flint, but maybe not.

Becoming a God: GODS OF EGYPT

Off Subject? Me? Never...
By now you've read the title of this post and said, "Hey, this is Arcade, not Cinema" and you're absolutely right, there's a method to this madness, check out my most recent post on My Cinema to find out what that method is. Or just keep reading.

Okay, so above we have a theatrical poster for Gods of Egypt. Below we have something that has come and gone in video gaming, reverse box art for games. Typically this happens in video games where you can play as either the good guys or the bad guys, or at the very least, where the two opposing sides receive equal screen time and fan-squealing at convention. So why did I take the time to redesign this poster into those? Well first, it didn't consume all that much time, though it's a little shoddy, I'll be the first to say it, second, because this was a BETTER VIDEO GAME THAN MOVIE!

Here's the thing, to do Gods of Egypt on the scale the company wanted to do it, they had to computer generate literally every moment of the movie, it's ALL shot in front of a green-screen, and even the actors are CG throughout the movie. I'm not really here to critique the movie though, you can find that up there ^. Instead, I'm here to tell you what I think could have been done for this as a game.

So, for starters, how about we look at potentially the simplest method of execution. Do basically the same story (maybe get the names right, fix the setting up a bit, don't butcher the lore so much?) then give us control of our two male heroes, Horus and Bek. Then take a sort of Superman 64 approach to it (no, not wreck it, that's been done once already,) and give us puzzle sequences, and combat sequences. During puzzle sequences we'll control Bek a la Prince of Persia, and during combat sequences we'll rely on Horus, a la God of War, at least...the combat portions. Meanwhile you have some fun side game potential with Thoth and Hathor (did they even call her that?) 

This is pretty simple, you start out with really basic abilities for both characters, actually, you START the game as full power Horus, but upon losing his eyes he goes back to "level 1" and has to relearn his abilities through the game. Maybe even give him a Devil May Cry/Dante's Inferno level up system where he gets to progressively get better based off an in game currency. Give the same thing to Bek, and let him be playable in combat as well, but with more emphasis on Horus. Similarly, Horus is necessary to complete some puzzles, but Bek is clearly more reliable when it comes to that. Boom, you have the entire game already laid out, with random encounters with wild mythological beasts (giant scarab beetles and...minotaur goats come to mind) and some of Seth's crimson soldiers (whatever he called those guys.) Boom, done. Need more material? You still have a pantheon of Gods to call upon, heck, maybe even let some of them lend Horus their power, as opposed to Set slaughtering them all and only taking one piece from any of them! You still have an epic final battle too.

The other option? RPG, full blown. Play as Bek, Horus, or even Set in the setting, and follow your own path. Or even have to play any other character, may Horus doesn't live through Set's betrayal, and a mortal has to ascend to Godhood to face off against Set. Unless I'm mistaken, the pharaohs were supposed to be Ra's divine will on Earth (maybe even his embodiment?) so why not another character deemed worthy of this? You can go on random side quests, join a religion, develop the world, let Bethesda build the game and you're basically guaranteed a beautiful experience. Just...get...things right...use one translation for all of you names, and stick as close to lore as possible, while maintaining and understandably enjoyable game, if you have to cut off a few toes (or talons) so be it.

But...just please get that time machine, jump back in time, and correct this mistake (and give me credit? Please?!) 

What Would Your Adventure Start With?: THE LEGEND OF ZELDA, A LINK TO THE PAST

Jumping on a late train (no, not a Spirit Train)
Okay, so here's a game I haven't played even though apparently I should have, Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. Why haven't I played it? I really think it was just because I didn't know it existed. Like, I had heard of it, but I've never seen it or had the chance to play it really. Until I saw MatPat on the Game Theorist talk about it, saying that it was better than Ocarina of Time! What?! Well this simply cannot be, A Link to the Past is a 2D top-down game, while Ocarina of Time is a 3D third person game. How can the 2D game be better?!

You can actually see how here!

Well, actually, that's a stupid question, a lot of games are better in 2D than 3D, but those things are beside the point. The point of this is, A Link to the Past starts on a...weird note.

 Don't leave the house!

If we jump back to the original Legend of Zelda for the NES, our hero link starts out with no equipment except his shield. If you walk into the first cave you'll get Link's sword, an (apparently) nonessential item that REALLY REALLY helps with the rest of the game. Like, I don't really see how people could beat the game without a sword, but apparently they do, so whatever. Anyway, so yeah, the first item you have in this game is your shield, and the first one you obtain is your sword.

Take this!

That...makes sense right? Well obviously in any action/adventure game, the most important thing is your main weapon, so you have to start with it, or get it first, right? Let's take a look at a few others...Zelda II, Link starts with his sword and shield. Ocarina of Time, Link starts with nothing, but the first thing he obtains is his sword (or his shield if you decide you want to pick up and throw enough bushes to get those forty rupees.

 Remeber this?

Yeah, the good ol' Kokiri Sword, speaking of which, guess what items you start out with in the next game in the series? That's right, the Kokiri Sword, and the Hylian Shield too! Thank the Great Fairy...that Deku Shield sucks. Where do we go from there? Well, I really haven't played much after that in the Zeldaverse (I know, I know, blasphemy) except Wind Waker, and I don't remember it all that well. But...we can look at some other Action Adventure games...Metroid? We start out with the arm cannon, and we keep it the rest of the game!

 Here's a link to that website too.

There are hundreds of action adventure games, and most of them start you out with a weapon that will be iconic for the rest of your journey, or at least will be improved upon later. MOST of them...but not A Link to the Past.

You got the lamp!

Yep...ol' Link to the Past gives you...the lamp. Now at first, I thought "This is the stupidest thing ever." And I mean, really, you're about to set out on your grand adventure and you get a lamp, how lame is that? Well, for starters, that lamp is really useful, you're going out at night, during a storm, so obviously Link may need the lamp. Then you get to the dungeon and you get your uncle's sword and shield (spoiler alert!) and then you need the lamp in the basement because there are no lights. There's even puzzle elements like lighting torches...or...or...to...open a door...

Wait...it's the first item you get...it sounds useless...and then it turns out to be useful early on...

 #IlluminatiConfirmed

Okay, so technically this is not the first item you receive, but you do receive the lantern early on in Fable, and as far as I recall it serves literally no purpose except to open the first demon door you encounter.

Looking at it now, in broad daylight, not in the middle of the night tiredly pecking away at my DS buttons trying to progress through the game, I can see whereas the Lamp might be a cool item, heck it would kill some difficulty in the 3D Zelda games, at least before the fire arrows, and even then if you don't have arrows it would still work. Or...you could just break a pot or bush and find some arrows. Either way.

 I love lamp.

Hey! Thanks for reading this through to the end! I hope you enjoyed, and I'll catch you next time, in My Arcade.

Misconceptions and Facts: POKéMON

FEELIN' RANTY?
So earlier today there was a leak that Nintendo had copyrighted Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon, not really all that surprising that we're going to get another generation of games (though we're still looking for Z!) but, I was pretty convinced they had already copyrighted these names years ago and just hadn't employed them yet. Well obviously internet, I was mistaken, whatever. This did create something that kind of upset me though:

I can't find any information regarding the Sun and Moon hacks for Ruby and Sapphire that were in production back in 2006, I figured there would be a youtube video demonstrating progress or something...but no. At least, not amongst the four thousand Pokémon fans who are posting "theories" about Pokémon Sun and Moon.

So, let's just get right into my rant, one of those videos (which I erroneously clicked on) claimed that Nintendo simply HAD to remake the fourth generation games Diamond and Pearl. Why? Well the initial argument is that the remakes have sold better every generation (HeartGold and SoulSilver sold better than FireRed and LeafGreen) but wait! He had no evidence! Aside from HeartGold and SoulSilver, the only other remake is Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, which actually shows lower sales than it's predecessor! What's that nonsense? Additionally, HeartGold and SoulSilver sold better than FireRed and LeafGreen because it came out during the early age of the DS, it was going to be a classic game on a completely different console! With better graphics, new features, and even a new gaming peripheral! I mean come on, how cool was the PokéWalker?! Meanwhile, FireRed and LeafGreen launched with...a wireless adapter...which wasn't even really a wireless adapter, it just let you play Pokémon with the kid across the room instead of having to sit next to him, can't get those cooties! Blech.

 (Thanks Wikipedia! I tried to find a picture of kids using this, but no luck -_-)

Okay, so here's the thing about his argument, he also stated that Diamond and Pearl needed a remake because they were the best games in the series (or something VERY close to that), whoa boy, ain't nobody takin' that spot away from the first three gens. His basis? Well Pokémon sales are on the fall, they have been since Generation 1, every generation they have sold less copies...until Diamond and Pearl revitalized the franchise yay! But, they didn't.

 http://vgsales.wikia.com/wiki/Pok%C3%A9mon

What revitalized the franchise was not those terrible games, it was the introduction of a new console, much like HeartGold and SoulSilver outselling FireRed and LeafGreen. It wasn't that the game was better, it was that the console was newer. Since then, the games have gone on the decline again, not because the followups were worse, but because the "Dual Screen" has lost its newness, and now we're throwing 3D out there like that added any new mechanics, it didn't Nintendo! And that's why the Pokémon market went back on the decline after Fourth Generation, there aren't really a lot of new gimmicks. Sure, Game Freak tried the riding Pokémon gimmick in Sixth Generation, which I was excited about, until I learned it only worked in one or two areas, what the heck is that?!

 http://knowyourmeme.com/photos/545400-pokemon

Also, how are you going to introduce a totally awesome feature in the Generation 2 remakes, and then take it out?! Like, in my opinion, sequels...follow ups...look games in the same series, that take place after games in the series, should only improve on features, not just throw away all the features. Generation 1 and 2 had the right idea. Hey, there's a new area now, let's link them! Hey, let's let you trade back and forth between the two very different games! You know what would be cool? If you could make Pokéballs. Gen 3 comes along...remember all those great ideas we had? "Yeah!" Screw'em. "Oh..." And Gen 3 introduced the Contests, a unique take on the gameplay, "Yeah...let's drop those too" in Gen 4! I don't feel like I need to say it, but what we lost between Gen 4 and Gen 5 was pretty simple, it was a feature only in HeartGold and SoulSilver, Pokémon that followed you around. I MEAN COME ON! Everyone who has played a Pokémon game has thought, "Hmph, all these NPCs have Pokémon follow them around, why can't I?" It can't be that ridiculous to do either, you've already done it twice! Once in Generation 4, with ALL Pokémon, and then the origin, Generation 1, Pokémon Yellow where frikkin' Pikachu followed you around!

 (Thanks Bulbapedia...adorable)

It's not like it's not even in the other games! It's a minor feature in Diamond and Pearl, and they even give a shout out to it in Generation 5 with the Mienfoo, and characters who follow you around!

Now then, are you done ranting yet Caleb?

No, not yet, internet! In fact, I may never be done! But...for now let's say that I am. Catch you later internet!

Sword Upgrades I: THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: MAJORA'S MASK

I GIVE!
There's an evolution from purpose, to scheduling, to downfall, back to purpose. Is evolution the right term? Maybe not evolution, more like metamorphosis, not necessarily consistently to a benefit. But I want to be at that final step of the metamorphosis, and that's where I just write when I want to, and when I have something I want to write about, which was sort of like the original reason I started blogging, right?

Well, on that note, I've been playing a lot of a certain game recently, I'm sure you're aware, and it's time to jump into another post regarding that game!

TITLE: The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask


So, what's the topic of the day? Swords of course! Ironically a key feature of the Zelda series, and I haven't even glazed over the use of swords in this game! The last several days I've been playing Majora's Mask every day, with some goal in mind. I picked up the Goron's Mask:
http://www.videogamesblogger.com/2014/11/08/majoras-mask-3ds-screenshots-artwork-gallery.htm
Grabbed the spin attack upgrade:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rb7YrEwzTbA
The Magic Meter Upgrade:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkxfgLUb7jg
And of course, the Gilded Sword Upgrade:
http://es.wikihow.com/conseguir-la-Espada-de-Esmeril-en-Zelda-Majora's-Mask
Wait...that's not right...I went out of my way to get gold dust!:
http://www.wikihow.com/Category:The-Legend-of-Zelda:-Majora's-Mask
Okay, awesome, that's what I was looking for!

So yeah, picked up the...third strongest?...sword in the game, the second being the Great Fairy Sword, and the best being the Fierce Deity's Sword. Is that right? I'm pretty sure that's right. Considering I have every intention of grabbing the other upgrade to the standard sword, it may be a bit of a waste of time to grab the Gilded Sword, especially considering I had to restart twice because I kept screwing this up -_-. But, I have it, and that's what counts, I guess.

The Gilded Sword increases the range and damage of the Kokiri Sword, even greater than its predecessor, the Razor Sword. This sword pairing essentially replaces the Giant's Knife and Biggoron Sword from Ocarina of Time, but while filling a lower strength level, with greater durability. While the Giant's Knife breaks much quicker than the Razor Sword, the Razor Sword lasts longer (unless you immediately play the Song of Time...whoops). Unfortunately, the Biggoron Sword has every advantage over the Gilded Sword as far as pure attack value, being longer and hitting harder than it's successor, the catch? The Gilded Sword is a one-handed weapon, it will still let you guard between attacks. Yay! Also, this is an early-mid game upgrade, compared to the Biggoron Sword being a mid-late game upgrade, meanwhile the Great Fairy Sword will replace the Gilded Sword, still allow you to block, and deal just as much damage as the Biggoron Sword, so yeah, overall your swords in Majora's Mask surpass those in Ocarina of Time, at least, as far as I can tell.

Since picking this up, I've actually found myself spending less time rolling around as Goron Link, and more time running around with my bunny hood and hacking away at monsters, I don't care for the lack of power of the Kokiri Sword, but this weapon makes it all worth it.

I'll have another post later this week probably about something else I've accomplished in the game, but not yet, so 'til then, ttyl!

Time to Bear Up: RARE REPLAYS

FINALLY
The last of my first five video game remakes blog posts is in the process of being completed! I thought I had already hit this goal, but I was actually looking at my side-tangent post, so I've got one more post that I nearly forgot.

TITLE: Rare Replay: Banjo-Kazooie, Banjo-Tooie

Old...New!

Uh-oh! The bear and bird! Subjects of a life-time! The greatest 3D platformers of all time! Okay, maybe they're not ALL that, but they are really great. I loved these games when they first came out, played them both into the ground. Sadly, I never beat them. Some issues presented themselves and I never made it to the final levels. Since then I've tried emulation of the games once or twice, but really emulation is terrible. When the opportunity presents itself I'll have to play right through them in the Rare Replay pack, along with trying out some of the other games.

I think I'm just too much of a fan-boy for Banjo and Kazooie, supposedly the third game in the main series, Nuts-n-Bolts was a complete mess, but I honestly really enjoyed it. I was upset that the game wasn't a straight platformer, but the vehicles and their customization did add some very different experiences into the game. Plus, there was some semi-platforming going on, in the cheating one could perform anyway.

But seriously, these original games were brilliant, taking the format of Super Mario 64's success and reproducing it with an entirely new cast, new mechanics, and a...new...plot, Banjo-Kazooie stormed the N64 and basically owned it. Rare Replay brings back a lot of successes created by Rare as well. Unfortunately, since Nintendo owns the rights to Donkey Kong, what we don't get in Rare Replay, despite massive success, is Donkey Kong Country, and the Donkey Kong 64 game. Too bad really, those would really top off an amazing list.

Banjo-Kazooie and Banjo-Tooie have delightful soundtracks that really stick out on their home console, and their graphics aren't nearly as terrible as you'd expect, but, with the Rare Replay update even those graphics are refined. Their gameplay is far more innovative than Super Mario 64, introducing a series of maneuvers utilizing the team's unique abilities, and the the second game only further expands on this!

Anyways...yeah, really looking forward to eventually ripping through these games!

Gotta Blog'em All: POKéMON! HGSS

PUNS!!!
I obviously try to slip a pun into my blog post title occasionally, but I think this is the best I've done! I've already given a huge spiel about the Pokémon games in my previous side-tangent post, so pardon me if I rehash any ideas.

TITLE: Pokémon HeartGold/SoulSilver
Old...NEW!

These are the games of formative years, revived for exposure to the next generation, and the revitalization of the previous generation. I didn't own the original Pokémon games for too long, they came and went right through my hands, despite this, I beat every last one of the games in the second and third generations, and because of that I beat Gold Version at least twice. I loved these games, the idea of raising a team of Pokémon to become the greatest trainer in the world, while seeking to expand your collection of the magical creatures is simply enthralling, and Gold was my first experience with that idea.

Frankly, post Generation Three, I feel like Pokémon went downhill, with Generation Two being it's essential Pax Romana. Really the original games were incredible, and my experience with the remakes only served to further my opinion that they were the best. The remade games offer more depth and customization as well, right down to every trainer's dream of having a Pokémon travel around with them, just like in the anime! A lot of things effect us in our childhood, and I don't know if I would be better or worse without having Gold in my life back then.

I don't really think I need to say much beyond that, Pokémon is a big enough franchise to speak for itself, without even touching it yourself.

Sneaking in a Post: METAL GEAR SOLID HD COLLECTION

CATCHING UP!
Woot! Did you all see that? I finally returned and posted something up here. Now I need to move forward into my next post! Easy-peasy.

TITLE: Metal Gear Solid HD Collection
Old...New!

I have no clue where I originally picked up Metal Gear Solid 2, but it was the first game in the Metal Gear series I played, and sadly, it's the only one I've completed to this day. Just like the two prior entries here, it's also one of a handful of games I've beaten a dozen times or more. Excessively so too, because just like Star Fox 64, I never actually completed the game! I mean sure, I beat the game and kicked Solidus Snake into the dirt multiple times! But...I never collected all of the dogtags, and because I jumped on the Snake train late, I didn't get any of the bonus items, like Snake's bandana.

I'm sure you've noticed though, this isn't just one game that's been re-released, it's both Metal Gear Solid 2 and 3, with Peace Walker thrown into the mix! I had wanted to play Snake Eater a lot in the past, but the opportunity never presented itself until this hd collection came along, then I knew, I knew I had to beat these games again! And...so far I've failed. I decided that since I shredded Sons of Liberty so many times it should be no problem to complete it in hard mode...well that was a mistake.  I've yet to actually beat either game since buying it, and haven't even touched Peace Walker.

Nonetheless, Sons of Liberty was one of those core games for my experience with the PlayStation 2, and the only stealth game I find myself going back to over and over after completing it. There are fantastic interactions between the characters, particularly those interactions that aren't directly a result of the story, such as Otacon commenting on Snake's perverse actions, or the Colonel commenting on Raiden's predicaments. Plus, just like all the previous entries on this list, Snake managed to make it into the Smash Bros. character list!

I suppose I owe yous guys two more for last week, and another five starting this week...ugh falling behind sucks...

On-Rails Blogging: STARFOX 64

Miss me?
I've been absent for a minute, out of sheer laziness and procrastination I suppose. HEY! I have a job! Don't give me that look...I've just been distracted is all.

With anime and video games okay! Stop badgering me!

So yeah, let's get back on track, let's get a few blog posts up here!

TITLE: Star Fox 64 (3D)
Old...New!

Star Fox 64 is the On-Rails shooter game, without being fully on rails! It was my first experience with the Star Fox series, and basically the only reason I played the games that followed in its footsteps. Star Fox has kind of stuck around in my head since then, and even the games that I've had minimal exposure to I've enjoyed for the most part, but none have compared to the original (my original, not the SNES title that I've barely been exposed to at all.)

There's not a lot I can really say about this game, it didn't have a big compelling plot, super difficult levels, or even a lot of thrilling gameplay. It's just you, piloting the machine of choice for the level, and shooting down enemy ships. I say there aren't super-difficult levels, but then I never beat the "real" ending of the game, couldn't get past the Star Wolf team, but I beat the easy path of the game hundreds of times.

I can remember replaying the entire game a dozen times to get perfect medals on every stage, and then never being able to take down the final Star Wolf team, it was...really annoying to say the very least. I'd like to pick this sucker up for the 3DS just to give it one last try, really show Star Wolf what I'm made of! YEAH!

A Side Tangent: POKÉMON FRANCHISE (#CWShermanFlint)

Ditching Theme for a Moment
Don't worry, I've not abandoned the current theme, I just had a sudden urge to do another post regarding a gaming idea I've been working on for a bit, and have thought about on some level or another for years.

Cool?
Okay, there are some things that simply don't go the way the world wants it to with certain people, with me and a lot of other people, one of those things is outgrowing video games. Now, that's not to say that people are supposed to outgrow video games, there are actually a lot of games intended for adult audiences, and some that get relegated to adult audiences due to some specific content. But there are some games that adults simply don't outgrow, even though the world very often expects them to.

One example of this is Pokémon, despite clearly being designed for children, with the generally cute design of the titular creatures, and the focus on pre-teens as the main characters, many adults, particularly those who grew up with the games, simply have not given up on the games. Myself? Well obviously I fall on the fans' side, I love Pokémon, and I'm not of the opinion that it's necessarily something that you can or should outgrow. I mean, outgrowing Pokémon is sort of like outgrowing chess or checkers or even sports on some level. I mean, there are national Pokémon championships. There are grown men who are super proud of their baseball card collections, if they can be proud of that, why can't I be proud of my Pokémon card collection? (I don't have one of those...sort of by choice, they're expensive.) Adults can love their real animals, so why can't I love my fake animals? They're definitely easier to take care of, and on some level more fun. People can join gardening clubs and book clubs, why can't I join Pokémon clubs?

Did I...did I get off on a tangent, in a tangent? Sorry. I didn't mean to, really.

Flint.
So here's the thing, I've played Pokémon games a lot, I've beat all of the games in Generation 2 and 3 at least once. I've beat one game from Generation 5, and one from Generation 6, and I've played a game from Generations 1 and 4, so I'm not the biggest fan, but I definitely enjoy the game. For anyone reading this who is for some reason completely unfamiliar with the concept of a Pokémon game, you play as a kid in the fantastic world of Pokémon who sets out on a Pokémon journey to collect all the Pokémon, defeat the Elite Four and become Pokémon champion, or even just to raise the cutest, coolest, or toughest Pokémon (clever or beautiful as well).

The general idea is that by the end of the game you can really do just about whatever you want except get a real job or become a gym leader. From what I understand, X and Y actually allow you to get pseudo-jobs too, apparently.

Anyway, all of that aside, the games are filled with archetypal characters: youngsters use easy to train small Pokémon, bug catchers use bug type Pokémon, beauties use cute Pokémon, swimmers use water Pokémon, hikers use ground and rock type Pokémon. On some level, I typically build a team in an archetypal fashion as well, the best example being my first Pokémon Sapphire play through, where I completed the game using a full water type team (Swampert, Wailord, Sharpedo, Ludicolo...and I don't remember the others...whoops). On the other hand, I've also always had sort of...favorites. It happens when a game gives a lot of options, you get favorites. For instance, Aggron, the steel-ground type Pokémon, has always been cool to me: you pick up this adorable little metal coated creature, he evolves into this quadrapedal metallic dinosaur thing, and then it evolves into this gigantic horned dinosaur thing. Like a T-Rex and a Triceratops had a baby and it fell into molten steel and survived! Look at this:


LOOK UPON HIM AND DESPAIR! Seriously, possibly one of the coolest Pokémon they've come up with, in my opinion. Also of note (on that note) was my steel team! Mawile, Aggron, Metagross, Steelix, Magneton and Skarmory! So awesome, you have no idea. At least...in my head.

So that idea right there gave rise to my latest character idea: Flint.

I don't have all the background details for Flint that I came up with, but I can tell you that Flint (as his name might imply) is a Rock/Ground/Steel type trainer. So he doesn't fall into the Hiker category, he's actually more similar to...I don't know...a generic Pokémon trainer, or a Pokémon league champion (like Steven Stone). Or maybe he would be classified a rider, since several of his Pokémon are rideable at some point in their evolutionary cycle, and his favorite is a Rhyhorn who he does ride everywhere. Here's the sort of idea I've had for his team so far:

Steel                    Stone                   Scales           Scar                   Sting

I realize of course that there's one missing, and that's kind of open to a potential story based legendary (Groudon or Zygarde maybe). Scar is his Charizard who he caught after it became enraged by a Sandslash in Mt. Moon, of course it has a scar across its jaw from the fight with Sandslash, who would be raised by Brock until Flint felt he was capable of training it himself and returned for it.

Additionally I have some ideas for various special team comps, like a sandstorm team that relies on Tyranitar's SandStream ability to activate other sandstorm based abilities, like Sand Veil and Sand Rush.

So yeah, there's that, and I'll probably have several more posts about Flint.

Also, that whole Sandstorm thing? Check that out, it's like advanced strategizing or something. Like chess or something.  Having to learn to accommodate for weaknesses in your team, or optimize for certain advantages, clearly a children's game only.

By the way, thanks to the contributors to the Bulbagarden at bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net for the sprites I displayed above, they're all great rips from the original games!

As a side note, just used a trainer creator on deviant art to get a rough idea of what Flint might look like:



That's not exact but definitely in there. Thanks Joy-ling!

A Classic Classic: SUPER MARIO 64

SO GOOD
So obviously this blog is going to get a little more attention than My Cinema for the moment, because I just love these games so much! I currently can't get my head out of my console long enough to watch another movie to do a review of, so until then, just stick with me here, in my arcade.

TITLE: Super Mario 64
Old...NEW!

Oh, those two are sized perfectly, thanks wikipedia contributors! Okay, so this one I'm honestly less enthused about the remake, and more so just love the classic! On the other hand, there is Super Mario 64 DS's multiplayer mode where you can competitively seek out stars with your friends, so that sounds cool. I'm sure it also looks a bit better graphically, but then again Mario doesn't seem like something that benefits from a lot of graphical improvement, in fact I kind of think the original game has aged pretty well.

 (thanks themushroomkingdom.net)

So this game was Mario's first leap into the third dimension (right?) and it was probably my first real experience with Mario. Now, I can't say I've outright completed the entire game myself, I'm no great completionist, however, I can say that I've beaten the entire game at least once by myself. There are a lot of things that made this game great, but come on, do we need to go over anything other than this was Mario's first foray into 3D platforming and frankly THE launch title for what could be Nintendo's greatest console.  Yeah, okay, the original NES is the epitome of Nintendo consoles, and the Wii introduced "amazing motion controls" or whatever, no. The Nintendo 64 is the ultimate Nintendo console and frankly I probably prefer that to any current gen console. So take that Sony and Microsoft!

Honestly I'm watching some let's plays of the game on youtube, and the graphics don't appear to have been improved that much. There's apparently some added gameplay elements in the main game, along with a few bonus levels and 30 extra stars, but I suppose the most exciting thing about the remake has to be the ability to play as different characters, and of course play with friends.

Maybe in the near future I'll pick this little gem up, but until then...YAHOO!

 (thanks smashboards.com)

As a side note (sort of post script if you will) I've noticed what looks to be rom hacks and remakes of the game running around on the web, so I may check those out. If not, I may just pop that cartridge back into my 64 and get started on a new, old quest.

Can I Just Hide My Face: THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: MAJORA'S MASK

WHOOPS!
I wonder if anyone else who reads the blogpost prior to this one will realize what a huge mistake I made, I left out a key remake that I actually wanted to have remade longer, and desperately want to play, and may well do so in the near future: Majora's Mask! Come on now Caleb, isn't that rather obvious?

TITLE: The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D
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Okay, here we go, that game that I already have two posts about, why not tackle a third? Mechanics of the game, covered. Possible secret lore of the game...covered. So let's just tackle the sheer impact it had...wait...that's covered...sort of.

Anyway, this is one of THOSE games. Those games that I feel like were essential to growing up, like Kingdom Hearts and frickin' Banjo-Kazooie...wait...Kingdom Hearts didn't make my list? What's wrong with me?! It's like...I could do a whole second list on these games or something-hint hint. Onward, Majora's Mask is the quintessential Zelda title for me, sure, Ocarina of Time had more dungeons, a more complex set of items, and possibly a deeper story, but I just spent more time in Majora's Mask and frankly I feel like it actually challenged me less, while still being semi-difficult. I mean, not Dark Souls, don't misunderstand that, this is a pretty straight-forward game, easy enough to beat in four or five sittings if you don't want to complete the entire game, or even a single sitting according to speed-runners.



I actually just looked up a play-through of the new 3D game, and it seems to maintain the same wondrous feel of the original, and the graphics are delightfully well-updated. Not cell-shaded either, I can't explain my hatred for Wind Waker, but I do, and it's art style sticks with me as a sign of a bad Zelda game. So, it should be noted that I don't have a particular love of 3D, in fact I generally hate it, and I despise it on the 3DS. But, the graphic update itself appears to be worth it.

Did I mention I actually still own the original version of this game? Well not still own, I recently picked it up from Replays, and have started a 100% play-through, which you cannot view on youtube because my capture card won't capture it! I may have to get a new capture card and retry -_- at which point of course it'll hit the youtubez. Love it, just love it.

Can I rate this? Please? Cool:

RATING:
Nine out of Ten distressed souls trapped in masks would give this Six masks of enormous power, out of Five.

There, I rated it! This game is amazing and I simply cannot wait to pick up the 3DS remake, but even without that, I'm still going to enjoy the heck out of the original game.