[Nintendo] Pokémon Franchise

[Chanterla]

[youtube]Eju1zieC5rM[/youtube]

one last trailer, being an anime trailer.

[Kaijin]

There's a free update for Pokémon Bank already available that allows it to work with both Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, be sure to check it out.

Release date it's tomorrow huh... I'm jealous, I'll have to wait a whole more week to lay my hands on it (Release date is not worldwide this time, due to some Italian media leaking some event info, Nintendo decided to "punish" the whole European region by delaying the release date here... Millions of gamers suffer the consequences of a handful of people's actions).

[Kaijin]

With ORAS around the corner (for us Europeans, the rest of the world is already enjoying it) I can't help but start wondering about which starter should I get.

Unlike most regions (which I have a clear favorite, or a never touch starter), Hoenn is a region all three starters are actually cool looking, useful (if trained properly) and I enjoy using them.

-Mudkip is by my favorite: its dual typing is great, its movepool has a lot of coverage and it hits like a truck. Sadly its mega form's ability is quite of a letdown (Rain Dish would have been more useful, since it would be nice replacement for the leftovers all my Swamperts hold)... Besides with Pokébank the temptation to transfer a Protean Froakie over AS is huge.

-Torchic is not bad of a choice either: it can wreck 2/3 of Steven's team singlehandely and is useful for half of the gyms, besides is the one with the best mega form so far. Problem is that Speed Boost Torchic is way better than Blaze Torchic and I have a few Speed Boost Torchics on my X file, so a transfer could be a better choice...(or a Gale Wings Fletchling).

-Treecko would be the underdog... but what an underdog: Its speed makes it and interesting choice and I would be pretty much okay with Overgrow (as Unburden it's not that useful of an ability), problem is that its movepool is a massive letdown (it's meant to be a special sweeper and the overwhelming majority of its movepool is physical) and doesn't take advantage of its mega form's ability (which leads me to believe that Motor Drive would have worked better for Mega Sceptile), besides Hoenn has other great Grass types to train such as Ludicolo or Breloom.

I could use a second opinion... So, does someone have some thoughts on the matter by any chance?

[Drazzimyr]

Honestly, go with what you feel like. I recommend Mudkip personally.

[Kaijin]

I'll probably use a RNG or a die to make up my mind... Dang it Hoenn, you're the only region where I actually have troubles choosing a starter x_X

Thanks for the help, if I choose Mudkip I'll totally call him Iskander.


Best name for a Mega Swampert... EVER!!!

[L337 m4n]

I'll probably go for Torchic or Treecko and name the Treecko something like Fafnir or Siegfried. Torchic I'm hoping for female to name Hino or Rosso.

[BaroqueSieben]

Playing Alpha Sapphire, and somehow amidst all the nostalgia (way to go on the intro, Game Freak), the new faces to old characters (I mean holy hell I'm actually enjoying running into Archie, he's almost a full-on BRO at this point -- nevermind that one incredible moment with pardon-my-invisi-spoilers Aqua Admin Matt and the thinnest-veiled homoerotic profession of battle-mania I've ever had the pleasure of reading), the lovingly-preserved gyms (though I've yet to see if they gave Tate and Liza the old gym or the spinny Emerald one), and the shocking revelation that revenge-of-the-invisi-spoilers someone on the enemy team has enough of a brain to do their homework, and props to them for it . . .

. . . my most 'holy hell I'm in love' moment thus far has been that I can Fly to fucking Routes in this game. What is wrong with me?

EDIT: And on the note of my starter, it was a Mudkip and his name is Popeye. It's tradition (for me), but now I can actually make MORE SPINACH JOKES!

[Flare]

Just a reminder to use Mystery Gift in AS/OR to get yourself a shiny Beldum with it's mega stone. (It'll be avalable until Jan 14, 2015)

[Pokemonaces]

I bought Omega ruby, and so far I love it. They really captured Nostalgia for me since everything from the game is as I remember. Except for a couple of things...

Spoiler: show

Like Mauvile city, it used to be just a small town, but god they really expanded it in this remake.

But yea, As for my progress, I'm heading to the 7th Gym leader right now.

[Kaijin]

Finally got my copy of Alpha Sapphire and made my first steps.

After having troubles to name my character (I picked May because well she looks even lovelier in the remake and Brendan looks...derpy) thanks to Hoenn's lack of customisation (I was planning on naming her Sapphire in a homage to Odamaki/Birch Sapphire from the Adventure manga, but since in the pokéworld only Kalosian people change their clothes on a daily basis, that means I couldn't dress my MC in Sapphire's trademark blue outfit).


That outfit would have been lovely to see in game mind you...

I ended her naming her Marina, which is a lovely name and fitting in a region surrounded by sea.

Once my lovely avatar had been chosen I left my starter's choice in lady luck's delicate yet whimiscally capable hands, using a die I chose my starter (1,2,3 for Hoenn starters and 4,5,6 for pokémon I would port from my X game a Bagon, a Magnemite or a Ralts (with an additional roll to determine its gender) finally it turned out to be a (neutral natured) Mudkip named Iskander.

My team for the time being is:

Iskander (Mudkip, Bashful nature, Torrent) I might temporarily port him to X in order to EV train his attack a litle though...
"Argent" (Beldum, Calm nature, Clear Body, Shiny), it will eventually be benched since its nature is HORRIBLE for a Metagross
Minerva (Fletchling, Adamant nature, Gale Wings), I decided to port a Fletchling from my X save file due that thanks to RNG I'm out of fire types and I would be unable to find one until I've beaten Wattson (aka the human Chesnaught).
Gaius (Zigzagoon, Serious nature, Pickup), dat name...

And that's that for the time being, I'm in Petalburg Woods looking for a decent natured Shroomish and I'll maybe backtrack a little to catch a Ralts (as a future replacement for Argent).
Needless to say Minerva is my ace here, Brawly better run ^^


Does this look like the face of mercy?

.P.S.: Gotta love the intro, such a nostalgic moment there...

[Kaijin]

Fun fact: The game did not allow me to name my male Ralts as Casshern, because the name Casshern has the word ass on it.

Nintendo surely outdid itself with such an amazing level of censorship... I'm speechless after such an outstanding display of nonsensical wackynesss.


It's a sad day for Tatsunoko

.P.S.: So... If a guy it's named Bass or a girl named Cassandra, they can't use their names in game...^^U

[L337 m4n]

Fun fact: The game did not allow me to name my male Ralts as Casshern, because the name Casshern has the word ass on it.

Nintendo surely outdid itself with such an amazing level of censorship... I'm speechless after such an outstanding display of nonsensical wackynesss.


It's a sad day for Tatsunoko

.P.S.: So... If a guy it's named Bass or a girl named Cassandra, they can't use their names in game...^^U

I got around it by naming my Ralts as Cashern.

Also my group so far. With the whole finding critters thing and getting info I've been catching wurmples with three star potential, slakoths that know night slash and even caught a decent poochyena who was level ten and knew a different attack than usual.

My team:
Marshtomp-King, male, lonely nature
Beldum-shiny, brave nature(Lucked out with this one)
Poochyena-Duchess,female, sassy nature
Nuzleaf-Fernita, female, quiet
Zigzagoon-Veil,female,serious

[Kaijin]

I got around it by naming my Ralts as Cashern.

Same here.
But the point is that degree of censorship is downright absurd, is fine and dandy that they try to keep politeness and civism online. But when you can't use a common name because it contains three or four "unlucky" letters it's going way too far (Cassandra doesn't sound offensive at all).

.P.S.: I caught a Taillow that knew Boomburst, a level 3 Taillow with a 140 BP and 100 Acc STAB... that's overkill.

[L337 m4n]

I caught one that knew Brave Bird. Level 3 as well. Love the pokenav feature to get pokemon with power from the start.

[Kaijin]

Am I the only one who considers that the hidden pokémon system unablanced by any chance?

You can find great combinations like Poochyenas with the elemental fangs or strong STAB like Sucker Punch (A 80 BP and priority STAB fourty something levels earlier than usual? heck to the yeah!) or Taillows with oustanding STAB moves like Brave Bird or Boomburst...
...while on the other hand you can find pokémon with moves that don't serve any purpose at all like Zigzagoons with Charm (pretty pointless for a Pokémon who gets both Growl and Baby Doll Eyes) or some that don't get anything at all (like the Hidden Skitty I found, it didn't have any peculiar move AND it was worse than another one I found normally... at the very least I could wonder trade that Hidden Skitty and get as lovely modest Mareep that I'm REALLY tempted to use).

I just beat the first Gym and gotta say that I love how it looks now (it looked pretty empty and lackluster back in Gen III) and I found clever that they switched the hiker on that gym for a school girl (it blends nicely with the school theme that gym and city aim for), not to mention... that... I... completely... positively... definitely... absolutely... LOVE Roxanne's new design (and here I thought that it was downright impossible to make her cuter than she originally was...).

Sadly the gym battle was pretty much a cinch, but oh well... that was to be expected with Iskander (now a badass Marshtomp) and Volg Zangief (Shroomish and future technician Breloom) around...


The Red Wolf's howls will be heard all over Hoenn

[Flare]

So I beat Alpha Sapphire... and hooolllyyy shit, the post-game Delta Mission.

Spoiler: show

Zinnia... wow. You don't quite know what to make of her at first, but when she finally opens up, there are some rather interesting things to note. For example, when you first spot her outside of her team uniform, she's off stealing most everyone's Key Stones. Then after the asteroid starts to threaten the world, and a plan is developed... she breaks into the space center and smashes the machine that was to warp away the asteroid. Then she states her reason: "What if there was another Hoenn, one without Mega Evolution, and where people and pokemon live, but look slightly different?"... clearly this means we may be looking at an obvious reference to the original Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald.

Later, when you face her in the Sky Pillar, she then explains the story of her people, the Dracoinds, and how they are an ancient people, and their ties to Rayquaza. Also, during these, you notice little aspects of her character, mentioning a relation (Sister?) that has passed, and how she is pretty much alone in the world, aside from her whismer. After Rayquaza arrives, she attempts to activate it's Mega form, and when she fails, she ends up with a crisis of faith which you end up helping solve by fighting it and unlocking it's true power. Then you go up, Armageddon the asteroid, and fight Deoxys in low orbit.

Overall... one incredible mission. And yes, folks opinion may differ. But if you ask me... it was awesome.

[Feathers]

Thought about getting new the A/S game, but still hesitant since X/Y really didn't meet up to my expectations (way too easy mode for me, and yes, without exp share). I liked the like the minigames more than the actual game, heh! ^^; I picked up the demo card for A/S, need to give it a roll soon.

[Kaijin]

but still hesitant since X/Y really didn't meet up to my expectations (way too easy mode for me, and yes, without exp share)

Are you back? Why am I always the very last one in hearing the breaking news?

Oh well...
Anyway, if that's the case... Then think playing ORAS twice.
The difficulty level in the Hoenn remakes is on par with X/Y, it's relatively easy breaking through the game without grinding... while it's true that there are not specially good grinding spots (it's not as bad as Johto though) but the rematchable trainers kinda make up for it, every time you revisit a route at the very least two or three trainers up for a round two.
The most disappointing part of the difficulty curve? The gym leaders, if you're bound to have trouble beating someone it will most likely be some random trainer on a random route or a gym trainer.
Besides it kinda feels lacking to see their R/S teams, they could have take the liberty of picking the Emerald teams...that could have spiced things up a little.

Spoiler: show

It's kind the letdown to see Wattson without his trademark Manectric or Tate and Liza with a pokémon each

But anyway... If you overlook that, the game still is a pleasant surprise.
It manages to give you plenty of nostalgic moments, the OST is superb...despite the lack of trumpets, the graphical revamp made it justice (Mauville's just stunning and some gyms now look fitting with the theme they represent or the city/town they're in...special mentions for Dewford and Lavarridge) and filling the pokédex is easier than in R/S/E (getting a Feebas back on R/S/E was a nightmare for instance).

All in all... a nice experience... as long as you don't look for a challenge.

[Feathers]

Yeah, I am back, things have been going well pretty, finally.

Yet another pleasant review of A/S. Sounds like the adventure/story part makes it worth it (unlike X/Y). Right now though I'm enjoying my XMAS presents (Hyrule Warriors, Mario Kart 8, Smash Bros. Wii U), and kinda broke after getting a Wii U and XMAS gifts for people, but I'll probably eventually try A/S since it sounds worth it. Plus I get to bring along my Petalil over to a third game. God I love Petalils and Lilligants. They are so adorable looking.

[Kaijin]

Starting tomorrow there will be two interesting events for ORAS:

The first is a Pokémon Bank related event: From tomorrow till November 30th as a reward for using the bank system Johto's starters will be given all of them in their last evolutionary stage and with their hidden abilities.

*Meganium-> Leaf Guard
*Typhlosion-> Flash Fire
*Feraligatr-> Sheer Force

(A Sheer Force Feraligatr is way too nice to let go unnoticed <3)

The other concerns to every North American and European players who couldn't get the Eon Ticket so far, from tomorrow till March 2nd players will be able to get a code from the official site that will enable the option to get the ticket via Mystery Gift.
(People who got the Eon Ticket before this event won't be able to get another one).

The codes have been revealed:

NA version-> 2015LATIOSLATIAS
EU version-> POKEMON380381