Can a “New” instalment (dumb name btw) live up to one of my favourite N64 games? Turns out yes!
Subjective game reviews, comic translations, pixel art, and other video game bits & bobs.
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May 25, 2021
[Review] New Pokemon Snap (NS)
October 3, 2020
June 10, 2020
[Comic] Akari & Pikachu’s Birthday
“How I Became a Pokemon Card” or “Pokemon Card ni Natta Wake” was a manga released in six volumes between 1999 and 2001. Kagemaru Himeno wrote and illustrated each chapter, which told the story around or behind the scenario seen in a particular Pokemon card (she also illustrated all of the cards featured in each chapter).
Chapter 38, or “The Final Chapter”, appears at the end of volume 6 and tells the story behind the famous Japan-exclusive “Birthday Pikachu” or “_______’s Pikachu” card. This story (relevant for this Pride Month release) is about Akari, a transmasculine child who is struggling with expectations and appearances. It’s perhaps a little wishy-washy about affirming his identity, but it’s still nice to see this kind of gender representation in children’s media. There’s lots of bold, dramatic panels in this brief story, and some lovely art on Himeno’s part.
Scelus of the Manga-Tube group scanned this volume, and agreed to provide me with the scans so I could create an English scanlation. Horseypope translated the Japanese script, and I did all the cleaning, editing, typesetting, etc. I’m happy with how it turned out, and thankful to my friends whose perspectives I sought on the nuances of Akari’s character.
This manga series is one of my favourites, as it tells smaller, diverse one-off stories in the Pokemon world that are outside the ordinary “Trainer’s journey” narrative. It’s not the only manga that does this but I think Himeno does a great job with these, and I’m very pleased to bring this one to an English-language audience. Please enjoy and share it.
Read the comic: https://mega.nz/folder/BRoRFAZK#HS6lvg3KZV4DtQL5imjOVQ
My other scanlations: https://mega.nz/folder/MYg0WBhY#xn5m-iIbff4Lx1imddWQLA
October 13, 2019
[Review] Pokemon Let’s Go Eeevee (NS)
Game Freak know what I like and it’s Pokemon following you around. Does the rest of the game stack up? Ehhhh…
February 19, 2017
[Comic] Dengeki Pikachu/The Electric Tale of Pikachu English supplement
You might know this manga as the one where all the women have unrealistic anatomy and clothing. But it’s also an adaptation of the Pokemon anime with more personality and realism, as well as cool Pokemon reinterpretations and futuristic technology. Anyway it was localised officially by Viz back in the day, but they left some things out. This release is about translating the pages they cut and the bonus content only found in the Japanese release. They did censor some things too, but this is not about reversing those changes; you can find such efforts elsewhere.
What I’ve translated is mini-comics from all four volumes, some of which are in colour, as well as bits and pieces from volume 4 that were cut to save space. This includes the entire epilogue chapter! I’ve also included illustrations that were not featured in the English releases.
There’s more commentary within the pages of this scanlation, but suffice it to say that these translations go towards making a more complete version of Dengeki Pikachu for English speakers. To that end, I’ve also compiled an archive of material drawing from both of Viz’s releases of the comic, Chuang Yi’s Singaporean release that translated an additional two pages, and with my own translations slotted in, to form the “ultimate” English reading experience of Dengeki Pikachu, so all of us here in English-land can enjoy Toshihiro Ono’s work to the fullest. Please check it out, you can download it at the link below, as well as see the scans I used as sources and my standalone English supplement.
January 19, 2017
[Review] Pokemon Moon (3DS)
Pokemon Sun/Moon is probably the best Pokemon game yet. A significant part of that is that more than ever before, it’s breaking from the formula or at least obscuring the formula enough that it feels fresh. It’s modern, it’s got quality of life improvements out the wazoo, it’s got a persistent map. If only it could have had your buddies following you around the overworld, it could have definitively claimed the crown from HGSS (unused data suggests this feature was planned but frustratingly scrapped). Ah well.
January 24, 2016
[Review] Pokemon Picross (3DS)
Pokemon is great. Picross is great. How could this game be anything but great? Is what I thought to myself. The doubts set in when the free-to-play business model was revealed. An energy system? Crypto-currency via in-app purchase? Recharging timers? These aspects already grated and got in the way for the last two digital Pokemon releases, Shuffle and Rumble World, so I had to roll my eyes.
And indeed those things are annoying to the play experience. It very quickly becomes apparent that the amount of Picrites you get is nowhere near the amount you need to get very far. But I had to quell the outrage. To enjoy this Picross game with very competent theming, I changed perspective. You get a lot of puzzles and some tidy bonus mechanics. So if you see it as a Picross game that costs $39, it doesn’t seem so bad. (The cost is a little high compared to recent eShop Picrosses, it’s true.) It must be a psychological thing to get upset when something is presented as free but then restricted, compared to paying upfront and enjoying it without further hassle. I dunno, I’m not a brain doctor. But I do know microtransactions are sucking the joy out of the whole gaming landscape.
Melodrama aside, how’s the game? Pretty great! Pokemon are super cute especially in pixel form, and the mission system is good for replayability (I ignored them the first time I did any puzzle so I could conquer them without hints, then went back for them). There’s a ton of puzzles that unlock in a fun little world map, and they’re playable in normal and Mega Picross modes. The missions then give you tablets which unlock a Micross-like mosaic of Primal Groudon & Kyogre. So between all that and the party of Pokemon you build up with different hint skills, it’s a much more game-ified Picross experience.
And it’s just as addictive to me as any previous Picross game. Maybe the simplicity of those is more relaxing, without worrying about missions or who you have equipped in your party, but I wouldn’t mind at all seeing more Picross games like this with other themes than Pokemon. Bring back the themed puzzles of Japan’s Nintendo Power SNES games. And while you’re at it, localise the two Club Nintendo Picross games you goons!
November 10, 2015
My Omega Ruby Pokemon team, low-res pixel style!
I planned out my team in the last game to ensure I had a good spread of types, as well as a mon from each generation. It worked pretty well for me; in fact, I found the game quite easy so maybe too well?
Ninetales, Lanturn, Breloom, Glaceon, Archeops, Malamar
July 22, 2015
Pokemon Team grunts, low-detail pixel style!
Here’s the unsung villains of the Pokemon games. Sure they all have the same Rattatas and Purrloins, but they have their own motives and lives. I’ve gone with original designs over remake designs, and happily there’s female variants for all of them, so that’s what I went with too.
Team Rocket Grunt, Team Magma Grunt, Team Aqua Grunt, Team Galactic Grunt, Team Plasma Grunt, Team Flare Grunt
July 20, 2015
These low-detail pixels are just some random characters from the Pokemon franchise. Characters I’ve connected with over the years.
Todd from Pokemon Snap. Mewtwo from the first movie (he had a cool brown cape when he showed up again in that one TV special). Yellow from the Pokemon Special/Pokemon Adventures manga. And Lyra from HeartGold/SoulSilver. Hats are hard.
April 15, 2015
[Review] Pokemon Shuffle & Pokemon Rumble World (3DS)
Here’s two games that should be of interest to any Nintendo-watchers. They represent experiments into the “free-to-play” style of game that has proved so prodigious on mobile platforms. Given that Nintendo will now be expanding its business to mobile, people may be looking at these as examples of the direction they could go.
I reckon that’s a mistake though. Both of these games are more or less conversions of existing titles. Pokemon Link Battle and Super Pokemon Rumble existed already on 3DS, and it seems that these games just take the gameplay of their predecessors and slap a microtransaction model on it, with mixed results. For a better idea of what Ninetndo’s partnership with DeNA might bring about, I’d recommend checking out Final Fantasy Record Keeper, which is made by DeNA with a popular existing license.
As with most F2P games I’ve played, all three of the games I’ve mentioned managed to hold my interest for a while but inevitably the nature of the business model will impose itself on the gameplay experience. Sooner or later, the game will become too difficult or start to drag, requiring either tedious grinding or gouging cash for easier progression.
The most successful for me was Shuffle; I made it through all the stages prior to the first content update, at which point I discerned that the difficulty curve, which had seemed pretty fair, was just going to keep climbing and the return on my time investment was bottoming out. The puzzley gameplay was well suited to the short bursts, although said bursts were short indeed in “no money down” mode. I also appreciated the improvements they’d made to the mechanics from Link Battle, with Megaevolution, something approaching a story, and more strategic combo play.
Rumble World has a fun concept. Up til now, the three previous games in the series had not enticed me to buy them, but why not a free download? The simple isometric brawler style is well done, with plenty of chaotic colour and effects. The progression was a little odd though; you’re always acquiring better toys to use so you’re forced to sack off your old ones, whose abilities you may be familiar with. Ultimately the game is very repetitive, as you’ll be doing the same basic thing over and over. The reward is an endless stream of new critters, and presumably the draw is finding them all and getting to the next little story mission, but that wasn’t enough for me. Rescuing Miis that you’ve Streetpassed is a nice touch, but it then makes the game into an escort mission. And the endless ways to spend your currency always makes you feel poor.
Unfortunately I think both of these games haven’t quite nailed the balance of a free-to-play game. I always feel like I’m being asked to pony up for this or that, and that if I did make a purchase, it wouldn’t help me much. But then what do I know, I’ve never made a game like this and I don’t usually like playing them. It shows what you can do with an existing game structure to force it into this business framework, and it’s a little depressing that more and more games are like this by default. Even big-budget games you buy have more to buy in the game itself these days. But enough good-old-days ranting, I’ve got more games to play—with these, I could have kept going for much longer (as they want me to) but had to pick a point to stop and say “no more”.
February 16, 2015
[Review] Pokemon: Omega Ruby (3DS)
After playing White 2 and finding it a bit of a drag, I skipped X & Y. My wife got it and was impressed, but I felt the need to step back. When this one came around though, it felt good for both of us to play it together. We agree that it’s probably the best one yet, and has lots of good features and improvements to the systems, but there’s drawbacks and even appreciated features that have been removed.
For this game, I planned out my team beforehand. I picked out one Mon from each generation to fill my team, with a good mix of typing and cool Pokes that I liked. I also had fun nicknaming them after Doctor Who companions. I ended up with Donna the Ninetales, Rory the Lanturn, Ace the Breloom, Frobisher the Glaceon, Captain Jack the Archeops, and Romana the Malamar. It was a fun team, and much more interesting than being stuck with a Poochyena or Swellow for the first few hours.
This leads to the first issue: a rather boring set of Pokemon available. Most of the time, you’ll be battling the same monsters again and again from a small pool of Hoenn natives, in the wild and with trainers. Sure the familiarity means you know how to deal with them, but it’s just bland and the game really doesn’t need to be any easier; I had no difficulties at any time with the challenge, which was disappointing.
A small range of Mons is symptomatic of a larger problem with these games: their status as remakes forces them into slavish adherence to the originals. It didn’t have to be this way, and they did a few things to the world to make it more interesting, but it still feels like an old game. The grid-based movement feels restrictive in this day and age, especially since they have taken half-steps to allowing freer movement—but only in certain areas. Hoenn too feels very samey, and my wife assures me that X&Y’s variety leads to this feeling like a step back—which it is, as it was designed years ago.
As for those missing features I mentioned earlier: once again, having your first Poke follow you around—HGSS’s star feature—is absent. Add on to this the lack of appearance customisation, which debuted in X&Y, on top of the game’s environments blending together somewhat, and screenshots begin to be hard to tell apart.
That’s not to say that it’s all bad; as I said, this may in fact be the best in terms of systems. The gameplay and UI are streamlined, so it’s better than ever in terms of playability. Movement, despite the jarring grid/free conflicts, is great with more options and control, not to mention the amazing Soar function that removes the need for Fly permanently. The bottom screen has tons of great options too, with the new AreaNav (map) and DexNav (showing you the area’s wild Pokemon) seeming almost no-brainers in their usefulness, along with X&Y’s less universally useful features that return wholesale.
Secret Bases and Mirage Spots, the other additions, are also fun and add variety. Decorating your own base didn’t hook me as much as I would have liked, but is a meaty update to the feature as it was in the original. These are added on top of a towering stack of features and activities, not all of which have to be bothered with, as I’ve come to realise, to enjoy the game fully. The post-game Delta Episode was also a good idea and cool, but let down a little by the dumb characters (the plot is very lacklustre in general, actually).
Still, the DexNav and the cloud-based cross-platform Pokebank storage system meant that this is the one where we finally went for full Pokedex completion. And, with the help of our HG and White 2 games, I’m very happy to say we achieved it! We missed a few mythical ones, due to GTS hacks not working anymore and not being willing to do browser hack injection, but it still counts. It feels good 2 B A Master. It feels like we’ve achieved all we can (and burnt ourselves out with intense breeding and evolving), so I’ll say Gen 7 will have to be pretty special to get me playing again soon.
I wish this game had done more to stand out from its source. I did own Ruby back in the day, but was only halfway through when we were robbed of our GBA and games on holiday. The nostalgia element that was leaned on quite heavily just did not factor in for me, and the music was simply annoying. Each new game should strive to better those that came before, and not make the compromises that made this a weaker game. Ah well, despite it all it was good fun and a great Pokemon game.
September 8, 2014
Pokémon Art Accademy
This isn’t really a game, but it is a fun Pokémon themed drawing tutor. You’re gradually introduced to the various tools, along with more difficult Pokémon pictures. This is the first game in the series to feature one important tool: undo. I’d been interested in the previous Art Accademy instalments, but without undo a digital painting app is a no-go.
You get a lot of help in this app: reference pictures, traceable outlines, grids, construction shapes, pre-made backgrounds. There’s also a neat outline pen which draws on its own layer, and the colour of which can be changed in a single step.
The real draw card of this game, is of course, the Pokémon. To a large extent how much you like this game will depend on how much you like the Pokémon you get to draw in the main classes. I quite liked the early, cute Pokémon, but I didn’t much like the later ones, like Charizard (who is not a cool dragon, but an ugly fart). There are Pokémon from every generation, so there should be one everyone knows, even if it’s just Pikachu. If you don’t like Pikachu… you probably don’t want to play this.
In the primay lessons you’re in a class with your friend, who is really quite terrible at art. In the photo above I drew with my ‘other’ hand. I think maybe my friend drew his with his foot.
It’s a fun little game if you’re interested in Pokémon and want a gentle introduction to digital painting. I got the digital download, which is what I’d recommend unless you can find it for a really good discount.
Oh, and you don’t have to paint Pokémon, in free paint you can do anything you like. Just don’t expect print quality for export.
Here’s another guest review from my awesome wife. Personally, my favourite parts of Pokemon Art Academy were figuring out whether it, and by extension the other Art Academy games (the professor is the cousin of the AA tutor or something) are within the Pokemon universe itself, or simply a version of our world. Also looking at the derpy friend’s craptastic paintings; hilarious.
June 21, 2014
[Review] Pokepark Wii: Pikachu’s Adventure (Wii)
More Pokemon! This one has always been alluring to me. The promise of exploring a 3D environment, interacting directly with Pokemon, certainly has appeal. When I saw that you could play as Surfing Pikachu, I (having got on at the Yellow floor) knew I had to try it.
Unfortunately, it seems I didn’t do enough research beforehand. The game I ended up with seems targeted well below my demographic. What I mean is it’s essentially a baby game for babies. Very simple mechanics, a lot of repetition and boring music, and the rough edges you come to expect in a game for those with low expectations. That’s not to say I didn’t have fun. In fact, I’m trying for 100%.
You could say I myself have low expectations. All I want is to run around and meet some Pokemon. This game delivers that. I find it interesting to see them wandering around their chosen environment, calling out their names. It’s all a bit stiff, but I can forgive it because it’s really quite charming. The Pokes all have their own personalities and dialogue, although I get the feeling it was more distinctive to each one before getting the translation treatment. Always a tricky problem when you’re stuck with just text.
The main part of the game is doing minigames. The framing context is reasonably solid, but it is just a series of repetitive tasks when you get down to it. You have interactions with each Poke you come across as Pikachu, either battling them or chasing them as they run away, which is done in the world as you come across them. You also then have Attractions, which are segmented off into their own little loading zones and more structured. They’re mostly different, and use unique control schemes, and you also get to choose to play as any of the other Pokes you’ve befriended.
The way I play Attractions, by repeating them with each Poke I have to get the bonuses, makes it a bit tedious. There’s some variety between them but not much between Pokes in the same event. I find it the most efficient to do it that way though because of the loading screens and such. Oh well.
I’d like to mention the control scheme, because normally holding the Wii remote sideways is terrible. “Oh it’s like a NES controller” well phooey. The NES controller was terrible and both it and the Wiimote dig into your hands uncomfortably. The button layout is also inconvenient, and when used on modern games, like Metroid Other M, you find that they jam too many functions on the same button and it just sucks to play. Pokepark is not so bad in this respect because of its simplicity, but I do talk sometimes when I want to jump. The simple one remote set up though allows them to switch it up easily for the Attractions, so I reckon it gets a pass overall, especially because like I said, it’s easy for kids I suppose.
I had to toss up whether to get this game or the sequel, but if the second one is anything like this, I’m ok with getting the cheaper one. If what I’ve said sounds appealing, then it has been reprinted recently, or otherwise maybe get it for your kids. But it’s not the ultra 3D Pokemon experience that us adult fans sometimes say we want.
June 20, 2014
[Review] Pokemon Link Battle (3DS)
Simple puzzle games can be fun, especially when they involve something you love, like Pokemon. Actually the reason I played this was motivated by my wife. She’s probably a bigger Pokemon fan than me, which is saying something considering how many hours I’ve put into Pokemon Pinball on the GBC. We both got this game so we could play the co-op mode. We hadn’t seen the DS original, but it’s not really connected too closely anyway.
For example, the DS one had a plot with humans and stuff, whereas this one just has locations to catch Pokemon. Normally I’d prefer a plot, but in this case it’s fine, since we played together most of the time. It’s focused more on unlocking new areas and Pokemon, doing certain conditions to find rarer Pokemon and so on. They also seem to have refined the gameplay in this one from what I’ve heard. It’s quite satisfying to move your little icons around freely to set up massive combos, especially when it pays off in a big attack.
It does get super hard later on though. We probably wouldn’t have made it to the end if we hadn’t been doing it together. There must be something we’re missing about the pace of the game or something because trying to find some of the secret Pokemon or just finishing some later stages was really frustrating at times. It does seem better with two of us though.
To me the game appealed because it had really cute representations of all known Pokemon, all mixed up together, hanging out in the wild, and you could catch each one and use it yourself. The match-3 stuff gets its hooks in though. Yeah I dunno, there’s not much to say. A fun diversion.
Oh yes, one more thing, the title exhibits that annoying feature of differing between America and everyone else (not counting Japan). They experienced the phenomenon of the untranslated title, a whole nother beast entirely, like Ni no Kuni or Tomodachi Life, or even Katamari Damacy. I don’t think this game or the word in particular has the cultural cache to pull it off, but on the other hand as a title Pokemon Link is very bland. So I’m conflicted.
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