RJ Writing Ink

Nintendo has discontinued the 3DS – The Verge
— Read on www.theverge.com/platform/amp/2020/9/17/21441096/nintendo-3ds-production-discontinued-total-sales

F for respect to an old friend

So, I just realized that today was Pokémon Day, and I had no idea about it. And since scheduling a last minute livestream of Pokémon Sword/Shield seems like a bad idea, I want to do something else. So, I decided to do a little retrospective on what Pokemon’s meant to me over the years. In addition, I’m going to be answering some questions about my favorite things from the franchise.

That Fateful Day

I don’t remember how old I was, but when I was a kid, my Mom took me to the library one day. Then, while I was browsing through the VHS tapes, I saw it: a copy of something called Pokemon. I didn’t know what it was, but it looked interesting, so Mom checked it out for me.

Once I got home and started watching it, I fell head over heels in love with the show. The creatures, the powers, the funny faces the characters made. It was one of the coolest things I had ever seen. After that, I became obsessed with Pokémon. I bought the magazines, the little figurines, the cards, and I got my hands on every tape the library had of Pokémon. I even had my Mom make me an Ash Ketchum costume.

Ironically, the one area of the franchise that I didn’t get neck deep in was where it started: the games themselves. I wasn’t a big fan of the Game Boy, so I couldn’t get into the video games. That, and when I did play them, I could never get past the second gym. I couldn’t figure out how to get past the physical obstacles in the wild; go figure. In addition, we never had any Nintendo consoles in my house growing up, so that was a no go.

Moving On

Pokémon became my door to the world of anime, and I’ve never looked back. I don’t even know what I’d be like without anime, and I will be forever grateful to Pokémon for that. That said, at some point, I started to move on from the series.

I don’t know when I first realized it, but I think it was sometime around Pokémon: Johto was in full swing. I began to realize that there was never going to be an ending to Pokémon, so I started watching it less and less. After finally watching Ash beat Gary, I lost any motivation to continue watching, and moved on. After that, I got into Yu-Gi-Oh!, which carried me into the future of anime. However, I never forgot about Pokémon, and as time went on, I kept coming back to the franchise. Still, I never played any of the games beyond Gen III, until a few years ago.

Return for XY

I don’t remember what compelled me to try Pokémon X/Y. Maybe it was the simple feeling of nostalgia. I’m glad I did, though. Playing Pokémon X reignited my love for Pokémon , and for the first time in years, I began to follow it again. Not as much as in my childhood, but enough to stay interested. The number of new Pokémon was a big enough draw, but things like Mega-Evolution sealed the deal for me. The ease of which I could now transfer my Pokémon between games encouraged me to build and bond with my team beyond a single game.

Then, there was the anime adaptation of those games. In my honest opinion, the three seasons of Pokémon XY were some of the best the franchise ever put out. The introduction of Ash-Greninja in Pokémon XYZ brought the show to new heights, with the battles approaching the best of Shonen anime. In a word, Pokémon became as awesome as I remembered it being.

With Pokémon more popular than ever right now, I’m glad I returned to the series when I did. It may still be a while, but one day, I hope that we can reach the pinnacle of Pokémon gaming: using holographic technology to bring it into the real world!

With my reminiscing out of the way, I want to talk some more about this franchise that means so much to me.

My Favorite Pokémon Game

Of all the games in the franchise, I think that my favorites were Gen III, Pokémon Ruby and Pokémon Sapphire. They were the first games that I was able to successfully complete, and that left me with a huge sense of satisfaction. Beating the games aside, there were several other reasons why they’re my favorite games.

Firstly, I enjoyed the Pokémon found in the Hoenn region, especially the Legendaries, Groudon and Kyogre. More importantly, though, were the new gameplay mechanics in place. I enjoyed the berry blender machine, the Pokémon pageants, and once I learned how to do it, making a Secret Base. Being able to build my own secret clubhouse and decorate it with all sorts of things was one of the coolest things I could do as a kid. I’m actually surprised none of these things appear in the rest of the games.

Pokémon I’d Want Most

If you had the chance to bring one Pokémon from any of the games into the real world, who would you want? A lot of people may say Pikachu, and while I’d love having one for myself, that’s not who I’d want as a partner. The one I’d want would be Greninja.

Years of reading Naruto has left me with a deep love for ninjas, and when I first saw it in the game, I knew that I wanted a Greninja. Not only are they as fast and agile as their namesake, but that water shuriken move is amazing! If I could get one that could mega-evolve like Ash’s Greninja, then that would be even cooler!

Gotta Catch’em All

Now, I want to ask all of you about your experience with Pokémon. In the comments, I want you to answer the following questions as best as you can.

• What was the first Pokemon game you ever played?
• What was your first Starter Pokemon? No one will judge!
• What’s your favorite game in the franchise?
• Favorite Villain Team?
• What’s your favorite legendary?
• What was your favorite moment in the anime?
• What’s your favorite movie in the franchise?
• Favorite Theme Song?

Have fun, and rise for the National Anthem of Pokémon

Click here to see more animanga stuff.

Click here to read Jasonbleau from Cinemablend’s review of Mewtwo Strikes Back: Evolution.

6 Things I’m Looking Forward to at E3 2019

My fellow gamers, the most important time of the year is upon us. The Electronics Entertainment Expo, or E3, begins next week. Of course, that’s only when its open to the public. The days before are what everyone pays attention to. It’s when gaming companies hold their press conferences and announce new games.

As a huge gamer myself, I will be looking at the E3 Press conferences very close. With that in mind, here are the six things that I’m looking forward to seeing at E3 2019. Did I mention that its the 25th E3?

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order

After EA managed to burn Star Wars fans with the disaster that was Battlefront II, people were mad. Some even wanted Disney to take away the right to make Star Wars games. Yet despite this, EA is still making Star Wars games.

When Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order was announced, I made a promise to myself that I would not pre-order the game. As big a Star Wars fan as I am, I may not buy it altogether if it looks bad.

That said, I’m willing to give EA a chance to redeem itself. Star Wars Jedi will likely get a lot of attention at EA’s press conference, so they have to make this count. If they don’t, I hope Disney takes away their Star Wars privileges.

The Redemption of Bethesda

I saw Bethesda’s reveal of Fallout 76 last year; I remember how few people clapped for it. Since then, faith in Bethesda’s taken a nose dive: Fallout 76 was a bad game, but failing to give the people who pre-ordered the canvas bags what they paid for? That’s wrong, plain and simple. I haven’t even played 76 since it came out.

I like Bethesda, I think they’re an amazing studio and they make some good games. It’s why I’m so disappointed in them. If they want to win back the trust of gamers, they need to pull out all the stops. I want to see more news on Wolfenstein: Youngblood, and I want to see a real Fallout game. I want to see Bethesda at their best!

Final Fantasy VII

For years now, Square Enix has been promising gamers a remake of the popular Final Fantasy VII. Yet, Square Enix has been very vague on details such as when its coming out, how long will it be, and more. Now that Kingdom Hearts III is out, I say that Square Enix has no more excuses to stall on the game. I want to see something about Final Fantasy VII.

I was too young to play the game when it first came out, but I have heard nothing but praise about it. Heck, I love Team Four Star’s abridged series for the game! I want to see some news about this.

Square Enix Avengers Game

Speaking of Square Enix, another game I’m looking forward is their Avengers project. Earlier this year, the company announced a multi-game deal with Marvel, leading to obviously high levels of hype. With love for superheroes and Marvel at an all-time high thanks to Avengers: Endgame, whatever they announce about this future game will be a highlight of E3.

I, for one, am going to look forward to seeing what happens.

The Next Assassin’s Creed Game

I’ve been a fan of Assassin’s Creed for years now. It speaks to both the gamer and the history geek inside of me, so it kills two birds with one stone. Then came the disappointment that was Assassin’s Creed: Unity. The perfect setting, the perfect setup, but they still failed. Since then my passion for the series has cooled. I haven’t even played my copy of Odyssey yet.

Ubisoft will likely be making an annoucement about the next AC game at their press conference this year. Having had my passion cool for the games in that time, this may end up being what decides if I stay with it or let it go. If I’m being honest, I don’t want it to take place in the Viking’s era that much.

Fire Emblem: Three Houses

Fire Emblem is still a thing in the west, right? Good, because I’ve loved the series since Fire Emblem: Awakening. Around a year or so ago, Nintendo announced that the next game in the series would be moving to the Nintendo Switch. Titled Fire Emblem: Three Houses, the game sees players become a teacher at an academy that teaches the next generation of leaders for the three dominant nations on your continent. That’s all I know about it, though.

The game’s coming out next month, and I intend to get it for the Switch. With the release date so close, I would be happy to see some more details to keep me satiated until then. Plus, I want to know if the romance mechanic is still in effect. Shippers need to have their fuel!

Agree with my picks? What are you looking forward to?

My Thoughts on the News About Pokemon Sword and Pokemon Shield

I’ve been a fan of Pokemon since I was a little boy. Heck, the original Pokemon show was my first anime. Playing through the classic games on my Gameboy and Gameboy Advance are among my fondest memories. The next generation of Pokemon has moved beyond handheld, though. This November, we are getting the first main game on a console: Pokemon Sword and Pokemon Shield.

Yesterday, Nintendo Direct released a 15 minute informational video about the upcoming games. As an avid gamer (and you know I’m getting this game), I wanted to go over some of the big takeaways I got from this.

The Power of Wooloo

Sheep-like Pokemon aren’t new. I remember there being an electric sheep-like Pokemon as far back as the Johto region. Wooloo, though, is on a whole other level.

Wooloo is, simply put, an adorable little ball of fluff that makes me want to go “aww”. I checked on Google, and there’s already a ton of fanart of Wooloo being just the cutest thing. It’s like a living plush toy.

I can see this Pokemon becoming one of the most popular in the new region when the game comes out. I know I’m gonna catch one when I get the came. As for a nickname, I’m thinking “Sean”.

Grass Encounters Are Gone

Since the franchise began, trainers would randomly encounter Pokemon within tall grass, caves, and bodies of water. We never knew which one until we encountered them. Sword and Shield seem to be ditching this age-old mechanic.

During open-world exploration, rather than appearing without any sign, the Pokemon are visible. While this will help players looking for specific Pokemon, I can’t help but feel sad that this old mechanic may be gone.
According to Game Freak, the Pokemon that appear will depend on the weather and time of day, so that part’s staying the same.

Dynamaxing (AKA Attack on Pokemon)

I’ve seen a lot of interesting mechanics in Pokemon over the years: mega-evolution, paegents, berry blending, Z-moves, bases, and more. I have never seen anything like “dynamaxing”, though.

To put it simply, dynamaxing turns Pokemon into giants with super-charged moves for three turns. It only works once per battle. In that regard, its like mega-evolution and Z-moves from previous generations.
I have mixed feelings on dynamaxing. On the one hand, I am digging the sight of a giant Pikachu (so fluffy!). On the other, I’m worried that it might not be as fun as they say it will be.

The Professor and Her Grandaughter

We have our next Pokemon Professor: Professor Magnolia. Nobody cares about her, though. Everyone cares about her granddaughter, Sonia.

I’d be lying if I didn’t say that Sonia is cute, but I already tell that that’s not going to matter in the end. Why? Because Pokemon doesn’t care about romance like that. If they did, then Ash and Serena would have become a couple at the end of Pokemon XYZ. I’m an Amourshipper, so what.

Still, that hasn’t stopped people from already flooding Deviantart, Twitter, and social media with fanart of Sonia. Fans will be fans, not there’s anything wrong with that.

The New Legendaries

It wouldn’t be a Pokemon game without a legendary Pokemon, now would it? Enter Zacian and Zamazenta, the Sword and Shield Pokemon. By the looks of them, they’re similar in appearance, looking like lions or wolves. The difference is their weapon motif. Zacian carries a sword around in its mouth, while Zamazetan’s mane resembles a shield.

They’re not the most creative legendary Pokemon, in my opinion. I think my favorite legendary’s still Mewtwo. Regardless, I am looking forward to catching them and seeing what they can do.

The Verdict

Yeah, I’m getting this game when it comes out. I want to be able to see if Pokemon can handle the transition to full-time console game. Hopefully, the upcoming E3 will tell us more. I can’t wait!

*The following was originally published on FANDOM. Due to the FANDOM Contributor Program being shut down, it has been copied and moved to my blog. Thank you!

Ask anyone who’s played it, and they’ll say that one of the best games for the Nintendo 3DS is Fire Emblem: Awakening. Released in 2012, the game’s received praise for its storyline and the depth of its characters. Most notable about the characters is the in-game mechanic known as the support system. This allows players to build bonds between characters that can even lead to marriage.

The marriage system gives rise to a lot of shipping amongst fans of Fire Emblem: Awakening. While providing the children characters good stats is essential, it doesn’t decide shipping. In fact, based on their support talks, these six are among the sweetest ships in Fire Emblem: Awakening.

CHROM AND SUMIA

Sumia’s introduced early in the game as part of the Shepherds, but she is prone to being quite clumsy. Meanwhile, Chrom is the leader of the Shepherds and eventual Exalt of Ylisse. While the game makes Chrom marry one of the Shepherds women after Chapter 11, Sumia is the first choice by default. Ignoring the gameplay mechanics, Chrom and Sumia do make a good couple.

In her first appearance, Sumia’s hinted to have feelings for Chrom, given how nervous she acts in front of him. As she grows more confident in the game’s first half, she becomes someone Chrom can depend both in and out of battle. By their supports end, Chrom admits that he sees Sumia as a source of personal strength, which is why he fell for her. This mutual bond can lead to their eventual marriage and is what makes this ship so sweet.

GAIUS AND MARIBELLE

These two may come from different backgrounds, but there is prior history between this noble and thief. Their conversations reveal Gaius had framed Maribelle’s father for false charges. Her dad may have avoided execution, but Maribelle remains angry at Gaius for his actions. What’s great about this couple, though, is that shows the heart of gold Gaius has within him.

It turns out, Gaius got blackmailed by a group of nobles to accuse her father in exchange for her life. Maribelle forgives him when she learns the truth, but Gaius feels guilty regardless. Seeing the good heart lying behind his thieving can lead to Maribelle to fall for him, while he can fall for her. Together, these two make for an unusual but sweet pair in the vein of Han Solo and Princess Leia.

HENRY AND OLIVIA

Olivia is one of the shyest members of the Shepherds, while Henry is outgoing and a little crazy. Given their different personalities, a romance between them seems as mad as Henry. Yet it works because Olivia comes to see that, despite his smile, Henry had a pretty rough past. Being abandoned by parents and living at a neglectful magic school can do that to someone, after all.

Olivia makes it her mission to teach Henry to feel real emotions, but Henry thinks she’s crazy to do so. Regardless, Henry does learn a little from Olivia about what it means to smile, and the two grow closer as a result. In return, Olivia comes to appreciate the dark mage for his odd behavior, which can lead to marriage. Together, they somehow make this ship work out, weirdness and all.

LON’QU AND PANNE

Lon’qu and Panne have a lot in common with each other. Both of them bear the wounds of a tragic past: Panne lost her people, while Lon’qu lost a childhood friend. Their trauma has made each into loners, with Lon’qu afraid of women, and Panne distrusting of humans. Finally, both have great skill at hunting and tracking, with Lon’qu even able to track Panne.

Given their similarities, it would seem natural for these two to get paired together as a couple. At first, Panne’s irritated by Lon’qu’s refusal to come near her, taking it as a hatred for her species. Once he reveals the nightmares he has over his friend’s death, she feels sympathetic. She later admits that she, too, suffers from nightmares — in her case, of mankind wiping out her people.

A great way to overcome pain from one’s past is to meet someone who understands your pain. Lon’qu and Panne both suffered in their childhoods, making them know each other’s pain. By talking to each other, they help heal the scars of their past, and that leads to lasting love and marriage. They give each other a chance for a better future and are thus happier as a couple.

ROBIN AND LISSA

As the Avatar character, Robin can marry anyone of the opposite gender in the Shepherds. This makes for a lot of shipping, but male Robin with Lissa stands out as particularly noteworthy.

From the start of the game, Lissa seems the most interested in Robin, being the first to want to help him when he’s found. This interest only grows, as out of the Shepherds, she’s the most impressed with his talents. This leads Lissa to desire to spend more time with Robin by pulling pranks, leading to funny moments.

Despite her pranking, Robin grows to love her spirit and loyalty, leading her love to be mutual. This leads to one of the best S-ranked supports in the entire game. Robin’s blushing as he confesses his feelings, followed by Lissa’s tears of joy, is adorable. This makes for the kind of passionate scene fans live for, and, as an added bonus, it means Chrom and Robin are brothers!