Mortal Kombat….FATALITIES GALORE! (possible spoilers…and prolly a lot of uhm gory things!) April 25, 2011

So MK is now out and it’s one of the goriest series to date (at least in the Fighting genre)….so let’s talk about why this series is so huge by going down and checking out the new fatalities (at least 2 for each character…even BOSSES?!?) and of course Babalities make a return which I might do in a later post

Scorpion

• Split Decision: Scorpion takes out his ninja sword, slices through the opponents waist, slices his head off, kicks his body so the head stays afloat and cuts that down the middle

Let’s be frank, MK loves their kills and y’know stretching it out like that was probably not so much needed especially after the decapitation…but damn slicing the guys head into two was pretty damn gruesome XD.  (8/10)

• Nether-gate: Scorpion stabs the opponent with a kunai that has a chain connected to it and wraps around their neck.  Then he opens a portal to the Netherrealm and kicks the opponent into it and another portal opens and the opponents skeletal body is hanged from said chain (guessing it got uber burned or something).

Scorpion has never been one for such conceptually odd fatalities so it comes as a surprise for me that he’d have one that’s so oddly elaborate.  I mean the kunai and chain was a surprise but hanging them after they’re burned between portal movement was quite devious and cruel but cool.  I kind of was wondering why the body didn’t pull away from the skull…but whatever XD  (7/10)

• Toasty: Scorp pulls off his mask and breathes fire onto the opponent and they run around before falling down dying from the burns.

It hasn’t been too long since we’ve seen this fatality last (MK vs. DC) but it’s still one of Scorpion’s most well-known fatalaties so it’s gotta be basic.  Also, it’s only available with the special release Scorp that’s in his old ninja outfit.  Basic, but gets the job done (8/10)

Sub-Zero (Bi Han)

• Have an Ice Day: Sub-Zero freezes the lower half of the opponent, walks up and rips their upper half away and holds it up.

Not really that jaw-dropping, but I guess it’s a new take on the ole Torso Rip fatality…just given an update.  To me it’s not really that amazing but it’s something. (6/10)

• Spinal Smash: First off, Subbie pushes his opponent so they’re facing him, runs his hand through their chest and grabs their spine (with skull attatched).  That’s not all however…he then freezes his opponent solid and then whacks them with the skull end of the spinal cord, shattering them to pieces.

Boy oh boy, nothing like a good ole Subbie fatality.  While I am a little disappointed that it’s another rip of some body part (however, the spine rip is all Subbie).  However, most of the 3D games, they’ve amped it up for Subbie so he gets at least a really sweet and bitchin fatality and seriously…it’s gold.  I mean spine rip is blah, but shattering them with said spine is classy hahaha.  (9/10)

• Spine Rip: While it’s not shown in the vids, it’s what it is…Subbie grabbing the opponents neck until their head and spine pop off.

Another one of those “special” fatalities where u need classic ninja suit Subbie for, the regular Spine Rip is still quite gruesome…but nowhere as off the wall as a few others (6/10)

Reptile

• Acid Yak: Reptile walks up to the opponent and literally throws up acid into the person’s mouth and while their in pain, Reptile reaches in and rips out their stomach.

I mean we all knew Reptile has acid fatalities so it’s not a new concept at all, but the way he just kind of throws up in their mouths was pretty nifty.  Though the thing that bugged me the most about the fatality was that why did he have to rip their stomach out when he could’ve let the acid take a bigger effect…it just doesn’t make sense… (6/10)

• Weight Loss: Reptile starts off this fatality by turning invisible and slashing the opponents neck, then slashes their mid-section.  He then suddenly reappears with a force ball in hand and slams that into his mid-section and pushes forward until they explode!

Thank god they changed it up this time.  In most games he’s been present in, Reptile has always had an acid spitting or a devouring fatality so it’s great they put something like his force ball move into one and it actually looks cool as well.  (9/10)

• Yummy!: Reptile removes his mask and sends his tongue out and pulls off the opponents head and eats up.

Yeah, classic-suit Reptile gets this fatality (not shown here, of course)  and it’s another one of those simple ones especially since it’s from MK2 and all.  I wish it was the one from MK3 where he eats the body in three shoots of his tongue, but this’ll do.  Once again, nothing too amazing or special, but it’s Reptile’s signature fatality. (7/10)

Ermac

• Mind Over Splatter: Ermac telepathically levitates the opponent into the air and with a wave of his hands rips their limbs straight off and then raises them and drops them on their head

Nice!  I actually like this a lot more than all of his other fatalities that he’s ever had to be honest.  I mean ouch, I wouldn’t wanna be in his telepathic onslaught, especially if he’s ripping arms and legs and uber slamming ur head into the ground…Nicely done!!! (9/10)

• Pest Control: Using his powers, Ermac shrinks the opponent down to miniature size walks up and steps on them, squishing them to death.

I mean it’s a little more understandable than Jax’s MK3, UMK3, and MKT fatality where he randomly grows.  Still, I’m not terribly impressed with this kill since they could’ve done a bit more with Ermac’s Telekinesis…I mean not the slam…but something more random like Kenshi’s DA fatality XD (5/10)

Noob Saibot

• Make a Wish: Noob summons his shadow and they both grab each of their opponent’s legs and pulls them in opposite directions until the opponent is literally ripped in half.

Wow, this is the more gruesome fatality of all MK fatalities yet.  I mean I didn’t expect this much of wtf but this is definitely at the top.  I mean ripping them starting at their crotch no less is painful and then hearing the crunching is just so disturbing…wow I didn’t think they could pull it off wow they did.  (10/10)

• As One: Noob creates a portal underneath the opponent and his shadow pops up and starts dragging them under but Noob closes the portal so that only the upper half is left and the opponent crawls but dies quickly.

As One is probably one of the more crueler fatalaties since you don’t really notice that Noob purposely closes the portal and laughs at the opponent as they crawl.  It’s sinister and definitely fits the character as well. (9/10)

Smoke

• Smoked Out: Smoke poses and then strikes then in the eyes and releases a whole lot of smoke and then the opponents starts screaming will the smoke moves around the body and melts everything on the body until they fall bones and all.

I still don’t fully understand the fatality as it’s kind of hard to follow along with how is the smoke burning the body as it is, but it’s still a pretty gnarly fatality.  (8/10)

• Tremor: Oh…hi off-handed nod to Tremor from Special Forces.  Smoke strikes a ninja pose and teleports through the opponent.  As he pops out on the other side you see “tremors” going through the opponent and it seems like they’ve been sliced and had smoked poured through them…or whatever XD….either way they just fall apart to pieces…

Yeah, another confusing fatality but simply cool since it is so ninja-like and such.  I love how they opponent vibrates and just simply falls apart through them and the smoke coming off their head.  Nifty little fatality TBH. (10/10)

Liu Kang

• Fist of Flame: Simply lights his hand aflame and punches through their chest.

Yeah, Liu Kang has never really had a flashy fatality up until MKD and even then he was undead so it’s kind of null at this point.  Simple and to the point, but Liu actually had better to be honest the flaming punch just isn’t cutting it (5/10)

• The Beast Within: Liu morphs into a dragon and bites the upper half of his opponent’s body right off and eats and morphs back to Liu

We’ve seen this fatality a lot as well but I think it’s the first time it’s in 3D in the fighting side of things.  Liu turning into a black dragon it seems and not green was new and the metallic look also was surprising, but the fatality is kind of like….do something else with it IMO (5/10)

Kung Lao

• Hat Trick: Kung Lao throws his hat and it comes back decapitating the opponent, but Kung Lao catches his hat and vertically slices down the middle of the body where it splits apart. 

I liked that they seemingly combined two of Kung Lao’s more popular fatalities to make a glorious one and it’s great.  The best thing about this whole fatality was the camera angles especially after the vertical slice…that was uber cool and prolly gross for a lot of people…I mean bubbly blood *sends shivers* it’s just so epic win! (8/10)

• Razor’s Edge: Kung Lao kicks his opponent to the ground then throws his hat onto the ground and it’s spinning in place on the ground like a spinning sawblade.  Then he grabs his opponents legs and drags their body across the spinning blade slicing them in half.

I did find out that this one is from Shaolin Monks and I was terribly saddened since at the time, I thought this was one of the goreiest fatalities yet (Well, that is until a few more came out since XD).  It’s still great nonetheless and was the first OMFG fatalities of the game that I saw. (9/10)

Johnny Cage

• Heads Up!: Johnny uppercuts the opponents head right off and then walks up and rips their torso off tosses it on the other side of him and the head bounces back up and he catches it and holds it up

Like various other fatalities in the game it seems they’re (Netherrealm Studios) is mixing two old ones to make a new one.  Both are pretty well known as Johnny’s signatures and mixing the two is pretty smart of them to do and it doesn’t look bad to be honest.  Not as well-thought out, but good nonetheless (7/10)

• And the Winner is…: Johnny karate chops the opponents head through the middle and it’s split open, then he pulls out a trophy (through happenstance of course) and says ~and the award goes to~ and slams it in the split middle and then pushes them to the ground. (NOTE: However to Kratos…he doesn’t to the award stuff…odd).

This was funny, I’ll admit.  I mean the karate chop was pretty epic and kind not-expected from him since doesn’t have any of that.  However, the trophy inclusion turned the fatalities into something humorous in the long run and it’s just funny seeing a golden muscle man in place of where a head and face should be XD (7/10)

Kitana

• Fan Opener: Pushes her opponent to face her, then opens her fans and cuts off her opponent’s arms and then decapitates them with a horizontal slash of one fan.

She’s always had this fatality in her arsenal and it’s one of the most boring ones in the series.  NRS (Netherrealm Studios) did try to spice it up a little by letting her slice the arms…but it’s still the normal decapitation process that makes me yawn…Yeah it’s bad. (4/10)

• Splitting Headache: Kitana starts by stabbing one of her CLOSED fans into her opponents abdomen and the twists and opens slicing the mid-waist horizontally, then stabs (in what I think is in the mouth and opens it vertically splitting their head in half.

I was taken aback that Kitana’s 2nd fatality wasn’t a Kiss of Death like always.  I thought this was pretty clever but it didn’t look really polished like it should’ve been.  I mean the torso cut should’ve made more of a scene and split the body into two.  The head thing? wow that was deadly XD  Interesting fatality, but it needs more shock value with that cut in the middle. (7/10)

Mileena

• Be Mine:  Mileena starts this fatality by throwing her sais into her opponents chest.  Then she walks over in a slow and kind of sexy way and looks like she’s gonna kiss him then rips his head and starts to devour it and throws it on the ground and poses.

It seems like ever since Deception, she’s been portrayed as MK’s literal slut and it shows with this fatality since she looks so into it.  The sai throw was a little unecessary since it didn’t really contribute to the beheading and nibbling.  I will say this was more classier than MKD’s Mileena pouncing and viciously ripping off the head with her teeth but that’s just me XD (8/10)

• Rip Off: Mileena throws each of her two sais into her opponents feet and then walks up to them rips their torso off and throws it to the ground.

Just by looking at the title you know what I’m going to go for.  It seriously is a rip off.  Remember Kira from Deception, yeah she had one of the cooler fatalities in the game in which instead of sais, Kira threw her daggers into the feet.  To me, I would’ve had Mileena’s 2nd fatality from Deception more…but this was a low blow…still cool fatality but not meant for Mileena (6/10)

Jade

• Head-a-Rang: Jade throws her boomerang and it decapitates the opponent.  As the boomerang is moving past, she Shadow Kicks her opponents, catches their head and her boomerang and poses

It’s one of Jade’s more simplistic and not-so much gory like her past fatalities.  I do like that she uses her boomerang much like Kung Lao to decapitate, but it’s definitely not as epic as her primary fatality in Deception.  (7/10)

• Half Mast: Jade kicks her opponent into the air and summons her polestaff and places it onto to the ground where the opponent lands and gets impaled.  It’s isn’t over however, Jade walks over and rips their head off and firmly places it on the top of the polestaff

It’s nice to see they brought back one of her 2D fatalities and they gave it a nice touchup.  It’s great to see Jade all pissed off when she does it too given it a much needed emotional bang.  The head rip and placement was a nice little afterthought and makes it more brutal than it is.  Great fatality (9/10)

Sonya Blade

• Scissor Split: Sonya moves into a headstand and grabs the opponent between her legs and then proceed to split them apart with them. 

It’s pretty simple and it is based off her MK4/MKG fatality of the same thing so it’s basically a graphical update.  The thing that caught my attention was the amount of blood was spilt on Sonya’s coochie…that’s a little disturbing to me XD.  I don’t think it’s so amazing, but it does continue the notion that Sonya has epic thighs XD (7/10)

• Kut-Throat: She whips out some wire, does a flip over the opponent so the wire is strangling them and she proceeds to pull on it until their head comes off.

Another surprise that Sonya doesn’t get a Kiss of Death either, this one actually looks like it was a struggle to do since Sonya had to tug a couple of times before the head came off.  I actually like this simply because it sort of reminded me of the movie SALT…if you know what I mean ^_^ (9/10)

Jax Briggs

• Smash and Grab: Jax walks over and claps his metallic hands over the opponents head, destroying it basically and then ripping off their arms…

This had to be the worst fatality of the game.  I mean why would you rip someone’s arms off after smashing their head to SPLAT!  I mean if it was the other way around, it would’ve made more sense and would’ve been better…but seriously…this was bad…even for Jax! (3/10)

• Three Points!: Jax pounds the opponent into the ground three times, kicks their head once, rears back and kicks their head off on the second try.

Basically it sort of is like Jax’s old 2D fatality, but it reminds me more of Superman’s Heroic Brutality from MK vs. DC.  After pounding them into the ground, it makes sense that the kicks would look like something that would happen in American Football.  It is better than his first one, but this is still kind of just meh to me (5/10)

Kano

• Heartbreak: Kano pushes the opponent so that their back is facing him and shoves his hand through them holding their heart.  As they’re struggling they look at the heart and Kano squeezes it and it pops.

Of the heart rip fatalities we’ve seen from Kano during the years, I must say this is the best yet since he goes the extra steps and makes them look at it while it squeezes it.  However, I don’t see how they can cry in more pain when the heart is squeezed since it’s not attatched to their body anymore…seems like a weird sneeze on the developers part…but it’s still nice of a fatality. (7/10)

• Eat Your Heart Out: Kano goes and rips the opponents heart out and then rips their head off and places the head where the heart was and kicks their body to the floor and raises the heart in victory.

I will say that Kano having two heart rip fatalities is a little disappointing considering the fact that his laser eye has no use in the game period.  I’m also getting a very small dejavu moment with the head in the heart thing because it reminds me of Darrius’ Picasso fatality.  I’m not sure, but it just seems very meh (5/10)

Cyrax

• Buzz Kill: Cyrax turns his arm into a spinning blade and slashes the opponent across and in an X and then kicks their sliced body to the floor. (NOTE: It’s a little different with Human Cyrax) but it ends the same way)

I do think this is prolly my least favorite fatality from Cyrax and he’s my favorite MK dude so it’s something when I dislike something like this.  I mean he is full of gadgetry and when you watch all of his fatalities from MK3 to Deadly Alliance there’s just a lot of amazingness so this hack n’ slash came off as a bummer to me.  (6/10)

• Nothing But Net: Cyrax fires off a souped-up version of his Net and it goes through the opponent and they fall apart.

I know this is just a simple upgrade to the net and it actually reminds me of one of the Resident Evil movies with the laser net and such so this might be a slight homage to that.  It’s pretty cool and shows off more of his gadgets…but once again doesn’t beat his older ones (7/10)

Sektor

• Robo-sek: Sektor readies four missiles by his side than shoots a big missile to seperate the torso out into four pieces and each of the 4 smaller missiles hit those pieces…basically all that’s left is the legs and feet.

Oh that looked pretty awesome ^_^.  I must say Sektor really surprised me with this even though this is his first fatality that included the missiles.  I like that he just blew off the upper half like that and then let the other missiles make a bloodbath out of the rest of the body parts.  I love it…so much badassery! (9/10)

• Scarecrow: Sektor presses buttons on his console and a contraption gets shot onto the opponents chest.  It starts to beep and then it goes off. What happens is that the scarecrow shoots to the ground and other parts branch off and pulls the limbs and head off the opponent into a shape of a scarecrow (complicated to really describe) but yeah.

Wow, I really thought whoever thought of this was a genius and to give it to someone like Sektor was an awesome move!  The way the scarecrow just instantly pops up gives such a shock value and it’s so different, I felt this was the most creative of the fatalities.  (10/10)

Raiden

• Just a Scratch: Raiden shoots a lightning balls at his opponent’s arms and legs to get them off and them takes their body and slams their head into the ground getting rid of that.

Sounds kind of like Ermac’s first fatality but without the telepathy to back it up.  Just for that I’m not too big of a fan of this fatality when it was done so much better.  (5/10)

• Transplant: Things start off with Raiden teleporting behind his foe and then ripping their shoulder blades off and electrically charging them.  He places one on the back of their head and one I guess on their back and uses his god powers to detonate them blowing his head off first and then their upper body after.

Odd fatality and a strange way of doing it.  I mean I’m used to Raiden grabbin’ the guy and electricuting them til they explode…but shoulder blades and using “odd control” to make them blow up?  It’s a bit of an oddball kind of way to kill someone but at least it’s not like Raiden’s suicide fatality XD (7/10)

Nightwolf

• Little Off the Top: Nightwolf pulls out a tomahawk and throws it vertically and it gets lodged in the foe’s skull, then pulls another tomahawk and throws it horizontally and beheads him and then walks over and picks up the first thrown tomahawk.

Yeah, kind of like combining Nightwolf’s two fatalities he had in Deception.  I don’t think the second tomahawk was entirely necessary here, but whatever, go for the glory right?  I’ve never been a fan of either so seeing them together didn’t really do any better (6/10)

• Ascension: He pulls out two daggers and then lightning bolts strike them, making them glow.  He then stabs the opponent with them and suddenly a bright light comes from somewhere and melts their skin off so all that’s left is muscle and bone. 

It’s definitely awesome that to see his MK3 fatality get touched up here and while it’s got the same results I felt they could’ve done a bit more than a pillar of light y’know?  Still it’s great to see that Nightwolf doesn’t have another tomahawk fatality XD (8/10)

Stryker

• Time Served: Stryker pulls out his tazer and electrocutes them then pulls out his gun and shoots them straight in the head blowing their head to bits.

As simple as that sounds, it’s gory as hell in the aftermath.  It isn’t the electrocution that’s bothersome, but it’s the gunshot to the head which they didn’t censor.  Let’s not forget this happens on three different camera angles and it repeats so it’s epic.  Even gnarlier is that u can see the opponents tongue even though their head was just blown off…talk about shock value again! (10/10)

• Have a Blast: Styker places one of his grenades in his foe’s mid-section and it explodes

Another simple fatality but it gets the job done, it’s not as epic as Stryker’s first, but it’s quick and gets to the point…kind of cool I guess overall (7/10)

Kabal

• Hook Up: Kabal kicks his foe into the air and readies his hooksword and strikes at the right moment slicing them in half and beheading since the head is lodged on the hooksword after the strike.

This is almost exactly like one of his fatalities from MK:Deception and that’s a big disappointment.  However, the only big change is the head on the hooksword this time around and the position of when he slices is different as well…but still pretty damn disappointing x.x (5/10)

• It Takes Guts: Kabal takes his hookswords and pulls their intestines out and them places his weapons on the ground.  The for then stumbles forwards and lands on the weapons and slides down them slowly

Wow, finally something that hasn’t been pulled out or taken out.  I was pleased at that, but then letting then just slide down the weapons was a bit disappointing because Kabal could’ve done more with it…maybe use his super speed to spin take the intestines and wrap em around the neck…iono…it could’ve more flashy. (7/10)

Baraka

• Up the Middle: Shoots out his blades from his arms, slices the foe’s arms off, stabs them in the chest and with the other arm slices “up the middle”

This is the brutal Baraka I was waiting for.  Everytime, it’s been one strike and they’re out, I wanted Baraka to have some fun and he has been in recent times…Deception and now.  I like how feral he gets and that last slice through the middle was the frosting on the cake, way to go! (8/10)

• Take a Spin: Baraka impales the foe on his blade only to lift him above his head and spins them while his other arm slices the body parts off until the upper body is left and tosses it to the ground.

Oddly enough, this reminds me of Sindel’s 2nd fatality from Deception.  Baraka’s doesn’t seem like his character here and it feels a bit odd seeing him spinning an opponent above his head and cutting them apart.  It’s OK, but not for him (7/10)

Sindel

• Migraine: Sindel focuses her yelling at her opponents head til it explodes (literally)

Oh damn, we all know her scream fatalities usually have full body ideas and usually they die full-on, but this time Sindel specifically goes for the ear and damn the scene where the head explodes is amazing and I loved it personally.  It’s so gruesome, that it’s just so cool to watch XD (10/10)

• Mouthful: Sindel yells into her hands as some of the energy is put in her hands and she shoves into the mouth of the foe where it explodes after expansion

I kind of tilted my head at this one since it’s not something I was expecting but when it turned out to be another head explosion, I was like…the other one is better.  Seriously, where’s our hair-based fatality NRS?  (6/10)

Sheeva

• Stripped Down: Rips off the opponents skin off them and kicks their body to the floor afterwards

Yay another classic fatality given a touch up.  It looks so painful still and it’s not bloody, but it’s just yikes!  There’s still a bit to enjoy even though it’s a real quick fatality to be honest.  (7/10)

• Lend a Hand: Sheeva rips their arms off and proceeds to slap them with em with placing her other two arms behind her head.  After that they fall over and she claps using their hands XD

I mean nothing like rubbing it in like Sheeva’s 2nd fatality!  It’s kind of goofy and it’s odd since it wouldn’t seem like they die in these circumstances.  I still think when she slaps ya it looks soooo wrong yet so funny.  (7/10)

Shang Tsung

• Bang Bang!: Shang Tsung morphs into a clown and pulls out a gun and it tricks and says BANG! on it and he laughs and dances about and pulls out a real gun and shoots the guys brains out and he laughs more and twirls and then bows…

First off WTF at this fatality.  If you don’t know this is actually what originally was meant to be The Joker’s fatality in MK vs. DC, however it was edited so much that it was enough to complained about.  What’s weird is that Shang would turn into a clown to pull it off.  It’s so random, but it’s cool that we have it without the silly censoring (8/10)

• Identity Theft: Shang takes over his foe’s body and forces them to rip their own head off.

I mean last time we’ve seen this, Zombie Liu Kang had this as a fatality (even though there were some differences of course.  Shang seems more simpler at to the point and he doesn’t stay in the body either since he escapes to the side right after the head rip.  It’s alright, but it was funnier when I saw Liu Kang’s head replacing the character’s original XD (6/10)

Cyber Sub-Zero

• Kold Fusion: Cyber Subbie presses buttons on his console and then pounces onto his opponent and he freezes himself and the foe and he self-destructs taking himself and the foe’s upper half.

I mean we had Cyrax and Smoke using the self-destruct device before so the thought isn’t new, but the pouncing and freezing aspects are unique and I thought it was cool and a tad better than when the other robos used it.  (7/10)

• Brain Freeze: Starts with Cyber Sub shooting two shuriken into each eye of the opponent from his chestplate.  After that he summons a third one a freezes and shoots it straight into his foe’s brain and we see the shuriken spinning deep in the brain and the opponent falls over in a rather braindead look.

A lot of people have commented that it sucks, but literally it doesn’t it’s one of the few fatalities that screws u up on the insides and the shuriken diving deeper, making brain soup is just quite epic.  Seeing ur opponent fall over with their knee kind of raised in an odd way is great too (10/10)

Quan Chi

• Beat Down: Quan Chi rips off the foe’s leg and beats them down to the ground and keeps on going even after their head is knocked off.

Yup, his epic MK4/MKG fatality is back and thank god after than terrible Neck Stretcher shit from DA.  It’s great that the amped it up to where the head comes off…so either way, it’s more of a graphical update to his old fatality (8/10)

• On Your Knees: Pulls a sword out, cuts the legs off and then cut the heads off

This was actually Scorpion’s fatality until it was changed up (I’m guessing last minute).  I mean there’s not much else to really give Quan Chi in fatalities.  I don’t think this one suits him really well…seriously NRS…use the flaming skulls or his sorcery skills…not a sword *rolls eyes* (4/10)

Kratos

• Blade of Olympus: So Kratos begins this by stabbing his foe with his sword and then letting fall down and try to stop the bleeding and then from behind stabs him again in the midsection but this time pulls the sword up and splits him into but still together near the goodies.

For PS3′s exclusive awesomeness Kratos’ first fatality is a little obvious to me since we all knew it was going to be a brutal sword finisher.  I loved that he stabbed the guy in the middle and just slashed up the middle like that…I liked it ^_^ (7/10)

• Stone Cold: Kratos pulls out Medusa’s head and turns the opponent into stone, puts on his gauntlets and smashes them to pieces.

You’d think it’d get wilder with his second, but sadly it doesn’t.  I thought this was pretty lame for a fatality especially if they’re just turned to stone (which kills them right there).  Iono, it’s just not special.  There should’ve been A LOT MORE with Kratos being here in the game. (5/10)

Goro

• Head Ripper: Goro goes to his foe and rips their head off and then rips it into four pieces with his four arms.

It looked simple at first with the first rip but it got nasty with the second rip with ripping the head into quarters.  I thought it was cool, but I would’ve wanted to see it through Sheeva and not Goro…he needs better kills XD (6/10)

• Limb and Body Rip: Goro grabs his opponent and holds them in the while his other two arms splits his legs off flips him over, rips the arms off and the rips the body in half

Now this is definitely what Goro should represent.  It’s pretty much a powerful fatality and it’s brutal and amazing for him.  Sweet rippin’ jesus!  Goro just needs to rip stuff off like he does here (8/10)

Kintaro

• Shokan Rip: Grabs them and starts to pull on each limb with his four arms.  He does this until they split apart.

A little basic and prolly was one of the more obvious ones after all that rippage.  Kintaro’s isn’t as epic as Goro’s but whatever (6/10)

• Reverse Rip: With the foes back towards him, he rips off the arms with one pair of arms and then the head with the other and then rips that again in two.

I think that Kintaro kind of copied off of Goro slightly here but not too much since it’s a rip of the arms and then two times rip of the head.  Not as wacky as the 4-head rip but whatever (6/10)

Shao Kahn

• Home Run: Grabs the opponent by the neck, throws them into the air and hits them with his hammer…BOOM!

Yeah, this isn’t anything new to be honest since this is way similar to his fatality in Deception.  It’s alright and the graphical upgrade is pretty nice.  I still think there’s better one’s he had… (7/10)

• Double Down: Shao Kahn forces his hands into his foe’s chest and starts pulling them apart til they split fully

Gah, now this is why he’s a big badass and one of the most evil bosses in fighting games.  I mean this is cruel pain and just fits him right.  Once again you see on the other side of the body and you see the ripping and blood and yeaaaaah!  Definitely an awesome one here!!! (10/10)

 

Skarlet

 

• Blood Bath: Skarlet takes her dagger and stabs her opponent in the ear (for I guess control) but then pulls her other dagger and slashes the opponent’s neck and bathes in the blood that shoots out…

Weird that Skarlet (the game’s lone legit character that isn’t a guest) has a blood fetish I guess.  I mean this fatality really does suit here though and it’s sadistic in good ways…not one of the bests but more intriguing (7/10)

• Make it Rain: Skarlet starts up by stabbing herself and transforming into blood (which she can move at will as well) positions underneath her opponent and then blood colums shoot up from the ground propping the guy in the air and then Skarlet suddenly reappears and slashes their stomach and once again…bathes in their blood (it powers her up)…

If there was a fatality that actually looked like pure torture, it’d definitely be Skarlet’s second for sure.  I mean she’s basically taking a blood shower of her opponent and she’s loving it XD.  Even more sadistic to watch….(9/10)

Kenshi

• Scatterbrained: Kenshi telepathically picks up his opponent slams him against the camera or tv screen (breaking the fourth wall?) and after pulling them back and an eyeball is gone you suddenly see then being slashed in half (also telepathically).

Kenshi’s had some pretty nifty fatalities in his past so his first one in MK (though a little odd he’s in this game), Scatterbrained is pretty badass and a little comical with the eyeball loss.  It’s still brutal and very much him.  Plus his sword slicing without Kenshi holding it?  NICE! (8/10)

• Split Ends: Kenshi pulls his opponent close to him then summons his sword and throws it where it’s sticking to the ground and then throws the opponent into the sword slicing them in half.

The weird thing I find about this fatality was that the throw and impact into the sword didn’t feel like it was right.  Unless Kenshi was also telepathically forcing the slice, then I guess I’d be alright but physics just made it look a little weird to me. (7/10)

Rain

• Bubble Burst: Rain starts by creating a bubble of water around the opponent’s head and then somehow (I guess he has control of water outside his body) moves the water down into their body where they basically combust and well they go boom!

It’s been a while since we’ve seen Rain with his own fatality so it was nice to have something like this where he pulls off a water fatality rather than lightning or an uppercut.  To me this makes up for the reason Kitana didn’t have the Kiss of Death. (8/10)

• Does it Sting: Rain begins his second by raising water from the ground and surrounds the legs of the opponent before breaking them off the body then he pulls back and creates a blade of water before striking the opponents neck, beheading them.

Wow that first section with the water breaking the legs looked painful as all hell and just made the fatality but we had to kill the opponent in a rather normal way (though the blade of water is a cool idea).  It’s just a cool start to a rather meh ending…but fitting since Rain is a prince and all, right?  (8/10)

Freddy Krueger

• Tell ‘Em Freddy Sent Ya: Starts with Freddy teleporting behind his opponent, stabbing them in the back and dragging them down to Hell…after a little bit, the portal shoots blood (kind of like a certain scene)…

Wow, that’s really nice that they brought a pretty good fatality from a kill from the movie Freddy is from (plus Johnny Depp dies in said fashion so it’s a nice nod to the movie).  Not the most logical death move…but quite nostalgic (6/10)

• Welcome To My Nightmare: He summons a nice toaster oven…no actually big one surrounded by flames and such…then digs his claws and tosses his opponent into it.  They start to scream as they’re burning and Freddy waves bye-bye and shuts the door and an arm from the opponent gets cut out too from the door shutting.

Ouch, nothing like throwing your troubles in something like one of those right?  Simple but effective and the bye-bye was rather cute XD.  Interesting death though (7/10)

 

I THINK NEXT TIME ILL TALK BOUT THOSE SILLY BABALITIES XD

GENERATION 5: 144-155: Legendaries…Shmedenaries March 29, 2011

Ahhhh, finally getting to our last of the PKMN posts (I know it’s sad xD).  If you missed out on the previous post here are the links to them!

• 000-027: Teh Early Ones
• 028-051: Movin’ On =__=
• 052-075: No Parallels!…I Think?
• 076-100: Gettin’ Better!
• 101-124: THE GAME IS OUT!…Yeah I’m a little late on that one huh?
• 125-143: The Other Normalities

Now let’s finish this up with the almighty legendaries…well…so-called!!!

144: Cobalion

So we start off with our first of the three seperate trios with Cobalion which is oddly enough the first legendary (that isn’t event-type Victini) that you can actually catch off in Mistralton Cave.  Cobalion doesn’t have a unique typing (sharing with Lucario) of Steel/Fighting but it’s color is nice and it looks cool for some reason.  I still don’t see how a quadriped is even able to be part Fighting since it’s just that odd, but whatever it’s a cool PKMN and it has it’s qualities to keep around.

145: Terrakion

Unlike Cobalion and Virizion, Terrakion possesses a unique dual-typing of being Rock/Fighting and is also the last of the Musketeer trio to be found in the game (on Victory Road like Moltres was once long ago XD).  It is the bulkiest of the three as well, but I think speed is where it kind of goes bleh in regards against the other two.  To me it’s nothing overly special seeing as it’s weak to both Water and Psychic types (which there’s a lot of the latter). 

146: Virizion

As the final of the trio, Virizion is kind of the special one since the previous two focus more on the physical damage while Virizion’s Grass/Fighting type has it more special-based.  While the typing isn’t new (Breloom has it as well), Virizion is my favorite of the three just because it’s a Grass legendary (Shaymin…as cute as it is doesn’t work for me…though Sky Forme does x.x).  I do love that it’s a bit feminine in its look and it doesn’t take away from it’s design…cool PKMN!

147: Tornadus

We also have the Kami trio in this Generation starting with Tornadus who at the current time the only PKMN that’s a pure Flying type which excited tons of people and I can’t blame them it took them long enough to come up with them.  However, Tornadus and Thundurus are version exclusives and Tornadus comes from Black.  To me, it’s alright as a Legendary and it’s good…but it’s really nothing too special

148: Thundurus

I do think Thundurus does have much more of a better job on it’s typing (only shares with Zapdos and Emolga) and despite being a White exclusive (sorry Black players), Thundurus is the better one to have.  The thing that gets to me though is that the Kami trio is really hard to enjoy because of their way similar designs and such…eh…they aren’t that pretty either x.x;

149: Reshiram

Reshiram is Black’s mascot and I must say besides the crotch fuzz and unique typing of Dragon/Fire…it makes me wonder…why it took so long for a design like this to happen since most dragons by my knowledge do use Fire soooooo yeahhhh…This was the focal point of my reasoning of not getting Black since Reshiram isn’t all that interesting to me (then again some of the exclusives are also kind of meh to me).

150: Zekrom

On the flipside of the coin, Zekrom also has a unique typing of Dragon/Electric and to me that was more vibrant and exotic of a type mixture than Reshiram’s Dragon/Fire.  I still do think Zekrom looks like some uber powerful Mega-type Digimon, but it’s still one of the coolest designs of Gen 5 and it’s generator tail is quite epic IMO.  Let’s not forget that both Reshiram and Zekrom learn two signature moves so that is a nice little thing for them right?  Sweet deal IMO.

151: Landorus

As it’s the third of the Kami trio and the reasoning of Reshiram and Zekrom appearing before it is simply because it’s a post-game legendary so it makes sense it would.  Having a confusing dual type of Ground/Flying (Gligar’s family share’s it too) Landorus is kind of cool and bit more useful than the other two Kamis…but it’s design is still a little underwhelming, but it does come at a higher level…hmmmm who knows with this one.

152: Kyurem

As the final PKMN in the dex (giggle), Kyurem completes the Tao Trio (composed of itself, Reshiram, and Zekrom), but it looks destroyed right?  It seems that it needs the other two dragons to complete itself which by that sound…it means the third game could more than likely mean we’ll see a complete Kyurem.  Having an unique typing of Dragon/Ice, Kyurem is clearly weaker…which is odd since Giratina and Rayquaza were stronger than the version mascots…who knows.  It’s odd…

153: Keldeo

First odd, credits to whoever drew these event pokemon!!!! (it’s not Sugumori, but damn it looks way close to what I’ve pictured it would turn out).  Back to Keldeo who is the 4th member of the Musketeer trio…or I guess it’s a quartet now???  Just like Cobalion and Virizion, it does share it’s typing of Water/Fighting with Poliwrath.  Otherwise I don’t see too much with it and it kind of passes over my head…but it’s like who decided My Little Pony should be added to the game? x.x;

154: Meloetta

The next event PKMN, Meloetta doesn’t seem like much and it really isn’t sharing Girafarig’s Normal/Psychic typing, but I’m guessing it does have an importance since all event PKMN are basically important to the movies…ala Mew, Celebi, Jirachi, Deoxys, Darkrai, Shaymin, Arceus, Victini, Zorua/Zoroark.  Yeah, it’s prolly that important.  However, the neat thing that comes off from it is when you teach it Relic Song from a guy in Castelia City and then use it…it changes it’s look and everything to a Normal/Fighting type (unique) and its stats change to a more physical beast. 

155: Genesect

Closing the Generation finally…Genesect is quite interesting.  First off as it is the final PKMN in the 5th Gen, Genesect ends up having a lot of connections to Mewtwo who was the final of the original 150.  I mean it was tinkered around by the bad group of the region (Team Rocket for Mewtwo and Team Plasma for Genesect).  It is Bug/Steel which is definitely not new…but it’s the first Bug legendary so it gets that trophy xD.  It’s interesting nonetheless…but there’s something weird about it…nothing epic like Arceus was…

 

AND THAT’S IT!!!!!….Should I do a review of the game or pass it up? COMMENT UR OPINION!!!

GENERATION 5: 125-143: The other normalities! March 21, 2011

Meaning that on this post I’m going to finish the non-legendaries while the next post will deal with them.  Now let’s get to it!

125: Mienfoo, 126: Mienshao

To me, I think the Mienshao line kind of parallels more of the Medicham line because of how unusual they look and the mostly interesting take on Fighting types in which this line pure Fighting.  I love the purple on Mienshao and it makes it look quite graceful…one of my other favorite PKMN of this generation.

127: Druddigon

For being the only Dragon-type to not be related to anything nor have an evolutionary line, Druddigon does really stand out on its own.  To me it’s also quite visually awkward looking for a Dragon…even though I think it’s more based on European ones.  I think the thing that weirds me out is is that its body is mainly blue but it’s face is red…it’s like designing collision course or something.  It’s pretty cool though and while it doesn’t topple other Dragons, it’s good enough for me.

128: Golett, 129: Golurk

Another unique dual typing this time being a Ground/Ghost PKMN (seriously, why didn’t Cofagrigus get this typing???)…the Golurk line must be quite something if Sugumori had nothing to do with the design this time around!!!  Anyways, I also love this line since it’s robots and Golurk actually learns Fly…even though there’s nothing to show that it can…unless it’s da boots!

130: Pawniard, 131: Bisharp

When the PKMN were first leaked, someone actually claimed there was a Power Ranger/Kamen Rider-like PKMN and that instantly shot my interest to high levels of awesomeness.  I’m also surprised that it took them this long to get a PKMN to finally have a dual typing of Dark/Steel (the types introduced in the 2nd Generation).  Pawniard looks cool, but Bisharp is by far the coolest one of the Generation looking all badass and not like Gallade where it has to have a sex change…xD  Also…don’t give it hugs!

132: Bouffalant

I also thought when I first saw our next Normal type that it was going to be a Tauros evolution (like when I mentioned Alomomola being the evo for Luvdisc).  Of course both statements are false and they are standalones.  Bouffalant doesn’t really stand out to me for some reason, but there’s no true point to capturing this since it’s late in the game when you get near Victory Road. 

133: Rufflet, 134: Braviary

Back to version exclusives, White players get the Eagle PKMN, Rufflet and it’s evolution Braviary.  I found it funny that it was shown off in Japan as it was and it felt like there wasn’t going to be a counterpart seeing as it’s Normal/Flying and that doesn’t really feel like it’s made for that purpose but whatever.  I think Braviary is a great design, but evolving it from Rufflet at such a high level (54 to be exact) is a hassle IMO.

135: Vullaby, 136: Mandibuzz

I think players with version Black got the better Dark/Flying Mandibuzz line.  Being based on vultures was a smart way to make is parallel its White counterpart and that’s pretty cool.  However, the fact that it also evolves at Lvl. 54 is kind of meh and could make your level grinding that much harder.  It’s still really your decision about which is better between Braviary and Mandibuzz…but there’s other PKMN you should check before getting one version or the other.

137: Heatmor

Heatmor has always stuck out to me as being weird being towards the end of the Generation before getting into the Legendaries and all.  The fact that it’s a pure Fire type is interesting and is made even moreso that it’s conencted to Durant kind of like how Zangoose and Seviper were.  Though it’s just funny how it turns out in the end XD.  Still a fiery anteater who would’ve known.

138: Durant

Yup there’s a rivalry between Durant and Heatmor and sadly, Durant loses on aspects on said rivalry because it’s typing Bug/Steel is 4x weakness to Fire-types in which Heatmor is made of.  Otherwise, Durant is a cool looking PKMN and I’m surprised that we never actually had an ant PKMN until this Generation.

139: Deino, 140: Zweilous. 141: Hydreigon

As the Generation’s pseudo-legendaries, the Hydreigon line is clearly showing promise.  I mean the unique typing of Dark/Dragon already sets it apart as well of it’s Hydra looks as well going from one head to two to three in its evolutionary line.  I know there’ll be a lot of people whoring this guy around and well…can’t blame em’ Hydreigon is that cool!

142: Larvesta, 143: Volcarona

Ending the non-legendaries, Larvesta and Volcarona are definitely a unique kind of PKMN also being the only ones with the Bug/Fire typing.  Odd enough is that someone in the game will give you an egg that’ll hatch into a Larvesta and later on in the post-game, you can catch a Volcarona in the Relic Castle as well…though I’m not sure why it’s a special case besides the high ass level (70).  Also it evolves at the highest level of all PKMN at 59…so it’s your decision to train Larvesta into it or just shove in a box and capture the higher leveled Volcarona.  At first I didn’t know what the hell it was because the sprites weren’t really helping.  Though it’s a moth and it’s kind of ugly…Larvesta’s sorta cute…but Volcarona is like wow…not pretty and yet awesome!

 

 

NEXT TIME: LEGENDARIES Y’ALL!

GENERATION 5: 101-124: THE GAME IS OUT!…yeah I’m late on that one huh? March 11, 2011

So PKMN Black and White has finally been released how’s it going?  Did you like it, hate it, wish there were hot male models in it?!? Tell me about it and leave a message, but in the mean time let’s get into the next batch!

101: Joltik, 102: Galvantula

As our first on the list we get new combination of types!  Joltik and Galvantula are of the Bug/Electric type and I was waiting for something like this to appear.  Obviously by looks it seems to be parallels to Spinarak and Ariados…but there’s differences like Joltik is based more on ticks than anything near arachnids which makes the evolution a bit strange…(not like Remoraid to Octillery weird, but y’know what I mean).  I initially said I wanted to be in my final team, but it wasn’t xD

103: Ferroseed, 104: Ferrothorn

Another new type combination to the series, the Grass/Steel type Ferroseed and Ferrothorn appear.  I’m not sure why, but this was one of the first Pokemon that caught my eyes when they were leaked out.  Maybe it was the colors or just the fact they looked so strange to begin with.  What I know about them is that they have amazing defenses, but damn crappy speed.  Cool Pokemon, and it had earned a slot on my final team.

105: Klink, 106: Klang, 107: Klinklang

When JPN first showed off Klink, I thought it was adorable and kind of silly in a good way.  However, when Klang and Klinklang leaked my face turned into a frown because it doesn’t really “evolve” but more like adds more parts which is a little strange for me.  I like that it’s the only 3 stage PKMN that’s pure Steel, but it’s still not much for me. 

108: Tynamo, 109: Eelektrik, 110: Eelektross

Uh-oh, here comes trouble!  Not only they’re pure Electric type, which is normally good, but it has the Levitation ability which makes them have no weaknesses period…think Sableye and you’ll get what I mean hahaha.  While Tynamo is more or less a cocoon for the evolutions and it also doesn’t even learn many moves hahaha.  The other two are quite awesome, but it’s still something and one of the best in the Generation.

111: Elgyem, 112: Beheeyem

HAHAHA, aliens in PKMN, and I mean actually aliens not like Clefairy and the other cosmic-looking PKMN.  I don’t exactly see the point of them in the game to be honest as they’re also pure Psychic types.  I don’t know how they’re like in the game since I never used them in the game, but I guess they’re cool and omg they’re ALIENS!!  Even cooler is the names that play off “LGM or Little Grey Men” and “BEM or Bug-eyed Monster”.

113: Litwick, 114: Lampent, 115: Chandelure

I’m so happy there’s at least a new Ghost line in the game, even more so Ghost/Fire ^)^.  I also love the fact that it has the best Special Attack of the entire dex, cept for obviously legendaries.  Even though I didn’t have a Chandelure on my final team, I sure would love to own one.  I think it’s one of the cooler designs!

116: Axew, 117: Fraxure, 118: Haxorus

So I’m surprised that Iris’ main PKMN is found really late on the Pokedex.  Though I still wanna know how the hell it goes from Fraxure to Haxorus because they haven’t nothing in common in looks besides the tusks.  Add the fact the names are lulzy as hell…I mean Hax r’ us?  Really?  Funny enough though that they aren’t pseudo-legendaries and are of the pure Dragon type….you’d think they would be haha.

119: Cubchoo, 120: Beartic

So we get pure Ice types next and omg Cubchoo has to be one of THE CUTEST PKMN EVER!!!!  I mean I would spend time to catch one of these guys and hug it XD.  Well…maybe do something bout those boogies it has, but whatever.  Beartic though…aren’t we trying to be Ursaring pt. deux?  Even so…why does Beartic have a penis? XD jeeze….weirrrrd… 

121: Cryogonal

There’s something really freaky about the other new Ice type, Cryogonal.  I mean beyond the good defenses it has, there’s not much else to really capture this emo snowflake.  It does leave itself open for a pre-evo if they decide to go along with one…but as a stand-alone…it doesn’t seem to work for me.

122: Shelmet, 123: Accelgor

Wheee, so to answer the Karrablast to Excavalier shtick, you can’t evolve Karrablast without cross-trading with a Shelmet.  Now I can see the resemblances between them…but what the hell is Accelgor supposed to be?  It looks like a ninja…but in a cocoon or something.  Accelgor is pretty fast, but Ninjask is still way faster.  It’s pretty cool still I would’ve loved this in White, but we got Karrablast instead.

124: Stunfisk

As someone politely said, Stunfisk looks like a Diglett that got ran over by a pick-up.  As it’s the only PKMN with the type combination of Ground/Electric, Stunfisk is actually quite good for looking a bit off…I mean Dunsparce off…  There’s just not much for me to look for this guy.  Though, I still ended up catching the guy.

 

 

SO NEXT POST WILL BE JUST THE REMAINING NON-LEGENDARIES…SOOOOOOOOOOOOO WAIT TIL NEXT TIME YO!!!!

GENERATION 5: 076-100: Gettin’ better! February 26, 2011

So, with 3 posts left, there’s a bit of PKMN left to shoot through so let’s get to it!

076: Zorua, 077: Zoroark

Zorua and Zoroark represent many things in the Generation.  First off, they were the first two PKMN that was shown off and started the 5th, the first Dark type event PKMN, and the first Event PKMN that’s found in the middle of the Unova Pokedex.  It’s sad though that the only way to really get em (without hacking) is with a special Celebi, but I guess it’s worth it for the mindgame of Zoroark’s ability, Illusion.  Special, but not really. 

078: Minccino, 079: Cinccino

When we first learned of Minccino’s existance, who would’ve guessed it would’ve ended up with an evolution of its own?  While I think Cinccino is kind of a lame evolution, it makes sense and it does evolve through the Light Stone which hasn’t been seen in a while.  They’re cute I admit, but they look like weaker PKMN in the long run.

080: Gothita, 081: Gothorita, 082: Gothitelle

So we have our next version exclusives once again starting with the PKMN in Black.  Now we learned of Gothitelle first and I was actually predicting that it was going to be a Dark type because of it’s primary coloring to be black for the most part.  Well we got jacked and it was told that it was a pure Psychic type.  I would’ve lived with a Dark/Psychic type…but could that game breaking???  I don’t know, but it looks like it’s a female-only line…but there’s male ones and makes me question wouldn’t the name change too? like Gothito, Gothorino, and w/e man is in French for the last one.

083: Solosis, 084: Duosion, 085: Reuniclus

For White, we get the Reuniclus line and I was also surprised that like the Gothitelle line, they are also Psychic type.  I wanted this line to be Psychic/Ghost because of the fact that it’s an ectoplasmic PKMN and it would’ve made perfect sense.  However, this line is probably my favorite of the Generation and has potential to by pass my favorite PKMN, Misdreavus.  Still I can’t think but whoever was thinking of type-casting both the Reuniclus line and Gothitelle line fucked up xD

086: Ducklett, 087: Swanna

Since, Ducklett and Swanna are both Water/Flying they kind of parallel as the Wingull/Pelipper of the Generation and it’s not a bad choice since I kind of like the ugly duckling to beautiful swan shtick going here…but Ducklett somehow is still cuter in an odd way.  However, you don’t evolve it by maxing it’s beauty (like Feebas and Milotic) which is a godsend hahaha.  It actually evolves regularly!

088: Vanillite, 089: Vanillish, 090: Vanilluxe

Finally we get some new Ice types!  The Vanilluxe line is another one of those bizarre ideas (like the Garbodor line), but this one plays off of both an ice cream cone and icicles!  I really think Vanillite is uber cute and it seems like it’ll be a good line to counter Dragons hopefully.  I do think the line does kind of remind me of Koffing and Weezing and the like xD

091: Deerling, 092: Sawsbuck

I will agree to say that Stantler was just not enough and I’m happy we got Deerling and Sawsbuck.  They stand out for two reasons.  First off is their typing is all to their own which is Normal/Grass which might be good or bad…depends on the player.  The other thing is that they change throughout the game surprisingly.  When the season changes, the PKMN changes as well…only aesthetically, not like the case of Burmy and Wormadam. 

093: Emolga

I guess Zapdos was feeling lonesome being the only Electric/Flying type around for four Generations, but as we turned onto the 5th, we get two more.  Emolga is the rodent of the Generation and while it stands out because of it’s dual type, Emolga is still one of the cutest PKMN of the Generation and I loved the fact they made it based off of flying squirrels! 

094: Karrablast, 095: Escavalier

Let’s start with Karrablast.  The name feels like another case of similar names with Carracosta. (Remember 4th Gen with Gastrodon and Bastiodon?)  Second, it looks like another one of Volbeat, Illumise, and Kricketot clones.  It’s just wacky for a Bug type to have those odd things about it, but it gets odder when it turns into the Bug/Steel Escavalier.  The only way to get it is through trade, but YOU HAVE TO TRADE IT SPECIFICALLY with someone who owns a Shelmet.  What you get is an evolution on both side, but that is because they traded each others armor as well. It’s a cool idea, and both are in both games so it makes it somewhat easier as well…just get another DS if you want Escavalier.

096: Foongus, 097: Amoonguss

Since Shroomish and Breloom weren’t enough, we get a new set of Mushroom PKMN with Foongus and Amoonguss (say both of them, it makes a weird phrase XD).  Even though they are replacing those two, they’re more like Voltorb and Electrode because of the fact that their designs have Pokeball symbols on it.  It’s good that we have at least a new Grass/Poison type…but there’s better IMO.

098: Frillish, 099: Jellicent

As you can see with Frillish and Jellicent, they are the only PKMN (besides Unfezant) to have gender differences in the Generation.  Also replacing Tentacool and Tentacruel for the time being this brings a lot of interest to me.  Anyways, if you catch the male, it’ll be blue and pink for female Frillish and Jellicents. Also I find the Water/Ghost typing to be very interesting and makes me wonder how they’ll turn out in the metagame.

100: Alomomola

Closing the post out is the 100th PKMN in the Unova Pokedex, Alomomola (oh hey, palindrome!) is probably the most controversial PKMN that has been talked and talked the entire Gen so far (you can add Bouffalant to this as well) because of how Alomomola looks.  It’s so much like an evolution to Luvdisc that it’s so uncanny.  The fact that whoever decided to make this one a standalone must not have remembered it or just really wanted to fuck with people’s minds.  I still can’t get the fact that it isn’t an evolution, but I guess it is just for Heart Scales.

 

HEY NEXT TIME, 101-124….more interesting PKMN coming up YO!!!

GENERATION 5: 052-075 No Parallels!…I think? February 22, 2011

I told you it wasn’t going to be long before another bout of PKMN awesomeness right? So let’s just get down to it

052: Cottonee, 053: Whimsicott

So we get Cottonee and Whimsicott who are both Grass types and luckily doesn’t exactly parallel any Pokemon that I know of (maybe Cottonee has a similar look to a cotton-like Hoppip).  I do really think Whimsicott is adorably cute like hell and I wonder what they’ll be like in the overall metagame, but right now they’re good.  Sadly for me, they are the first version exclusives only appearing in Pokemon Black.

054: Petilil, 055: Lilligant

So if there’s Black Grass exclusives, that would also mean White has Grass exclusives and that’s where Petilil and Lilligant come in.  However, these two oddly remind me of Oddish and Bellossom respectively.  I found it very cool that it’s a PKMN that needs a Sun Stone to evolve…(seriously when’s the last time we needed one of those?).  Also Cottonee needs a Sun Stone as well to evolve.  I’m actually content with getting a Lilligant since it’s pretty cute ONCE AGAIN hahaha.  Also interesting to note that Lilligant’s are always female HMMMMM…

056: Basculin

Doesn’t this fish look so intimidating?  It makes Carvanha look a bit more tame than this angry fish.  As it is a pure Water type, it stands out quite a bit.  So I’ve heard, that this PKMN has 4 different ability choices which is great for some people that like tricks and upgrading attacks and such…it also comes in two different forms…One’s the one you see above and the other one is a Blue-striped version…(it’s really only aesthetic changes like Shellos).  I don’t think it’s gonna be huge, but it’s got attire and I like that and it replaces Magikarp (breath of fresh air for some and for others it’s a downfall since Basculin lacks an evolution).

057: Sandile, 058: Krokorok, 059: Krookodile

Sweet!!!  We get a PKMN who has a type that to it’s own kind.  The Sandile line is Ground/Dark and it’s a good looking line that’s based off of crocs!  I have to say that I love the look for Krokorok since it’s giving off such a snide look to it (similar to the Snivy line).  The thing that gets me the most about this line is how random Krookodile looks against it’s pre-evolutions.  I mean Sandile and Krokorok sport brown skin and somehow we’re supposed to believe it just simply turns red?!?  I’m not sure why but whatever it’s a pretty cool looking line though.

060: Darumaka, 061: Darmanitan

I’m pretty happy that there’s even more Fire types in the game but Darumaka and Darmanitan are quite not your usual ones at least Darmanitan.  I still think Darumaka comes off as a happy tomato, but this time there’s arms and legs!!!  LOL, I gotta say I like it.  However, when we learned of Darmanitan (one of the first ones that weren’t event PKMN, mind you) we didn’t know why we got it so early, but it actually has a secret.

Darmanitan’s Dream World ability Zen Mode is it’s own ability and only to Darmanitans.  What it does is that once Darmanitan’s HP reaches under half it transform into its Zen Mode and things change dramatically.  First off, Darmanitan changes from a heated red wild PKMN to a blue reserved with no pupils kind of PKMN.  Next thing is its type changes from Fire to Fire/Psychic (which is the only other PKMN besides Victini to have it).  Also Special Attack gets majorly boosted and so does Defense/Special Defense…however Speed and Attack drop.  Very cool ability and I wonder how that’ll work in tournaments and the overall metagame.

062: Maractus

Because Cacnea and Cacturne weren’t enough as Cactus PKMN, we get another through Maractus which to me seems like a joke that mixed between the creators when they thought of Cacturne and Ludicolo.  There’s not much that really stands out for me with this little guy, but I’ll prolly end up catching this Grass type. 

063: Dwebble, 064: Crustle

Seemingly looks like a mix of ideas from Paras/Parasect, Shuckle, and Krabby/Kingler….Dwebble and Crustle are a bit odd since they’re typed as Bug/Rock.  Since it is the first PKMN we see Cilan capture, Dwebble kind of stands out for me and it’s cute, even without its shell!  Crustle though would’ve looked a whole lot better without that piece of stone slammed on its back right?  It looks so weird that it HAS TO BE CUBIC…so strange…

065: Scraggy, 066: Scrafty

Another group of PKMN that has a typing to only itself: Dark/Fighting, Scraggy and Scrafty are quite something and could pack a punch to the metagame if treated right eh?  I think the names are a little strange for me, but it’ll grow on me I hope.  Though I can’t imagine Ash really saying either (he owns Scraggy BTW).  You should see the the in-game sprite, Scraggy’s is so funny…Also…half chicken/half lizard? EHHH?

067: Sigilyph

When I first saw Sigilyph being leaked, I had no idea what to think about this new Psychic/Flying…whatever it is.  I do like the fact that it learns a lot of interesting moves…but still doesn’t fully stand out for me besides it’s outside look which is still freaky to me.  I think I’ll end up catching it since it’s kind of cool looking to me.

068: Yamask, 069: Cofagrigus

I’m still pretty disappointed that Cofagrigus didn’t get a secondary type and just stuck with being a pure Ghost type.  Anyway, the idea of Ancient Egypt being the ideas for both Yamask and Cofagrigus is great and the look great with an interesting ability with Mummy.  There is one thing that’s gonna bother me for a while and that’s how do we pronounce Cofagrigus? It’s too weird of a combination of things…

070: Tirtouga. 071: Carracosta

So now we get into the Generation’s fossil PKMN starting with the Tirtouga line which is Water/Rock and while that’s nothing terribly new, it’s nice there doing a turtle for once.  I’m not sure blue would’ve been the color I would’ve chosen for Tirtouga and Carracosta…but I think they’re alright for now

072: Archen, 073: Archeops

As for the other fossil Pokemon that’s Rock/Flying (ho crap Aerodactyl has some competition), Archen and Archeops are beasts and their Attack really shows it for sure.  I love the artwork for these two and especially with Archen who’s cuuute.  Still, I think I still will end up choosing Tirtouga since I like turtles more than archeopteryx XD

074: Trubbish. 075: Garbodor

Closing out this quarter set, we get trash Pokemon…I mean literally they’re based off of damn trash!  Trubbish has charm and it’s cute but Garbodor is just horrific for me…I just wonder who thought it was a smart idea to make this a PKMN.  Of and of course they’re the only pure Poison types in the game which to me make it seem they’re making a parallel to Grimer and Muk.  Who knows.

 

WHOOHOO NEXT TIME THE NEXT 25-ish PKMN…there’s more to the madness?!?

GENERATION 5: 028-051 Movin on =__= February 19, 2011

I know it’s been quite a long time, but now with the game coming out soon, we will continue on!!!…If you haven’t read the first one HERE’S THE LINK  so let’s move on with our next quarter bunch!

028: Blitzle, 029: Zebstrika

Whenever I think of these two guys, I immediately think that these two are supposed to parallel Ponyta and Rapidash respectively except the difference being that these guys are Electric types and not Fire.  I do love the fact that we finally get zebra Pokemon…but yet we still have no dolphins…maybe the 6th Gen will have one or two…who knows XD  I think they’ll do fine and while they are definitely not gonna rank too high on the metagame, it’s still good to have Electric Pokemon!

030: Roggenrola, 031: Boldore, 032: Gigalith

I just keep getting surprised that this generation keeps getting parallels this early.  Our next trio is supposed to parallel Geodude, Graveler, and Golem even down to the ways they evolve which is great since it’s been a while since we’ve seen a Pokemon evolve into another through pure trade.  It was funny that when we got Gigalith, everyone thought it was related to the Nosepass/Probopass family…but that’s because the color palette is the same.  Though Boldore reminds me of Metang in ways…but I think it’s the crab-like look to it.  Either way, interesting family because of the pure Rock type…but I’m not sure I’ll go out of my way for this since I’ll more than likely get to Boldore and not have anyway to trade.  Finally, Roggenrola?!?! could’ve chosen a better name IMO

033: Woobat, 034: Swoobat

Ahhhh, Psychic/Flying bats!  Of course seeing that last word, you’d immediately think Zubat/Golbat/Crobat…but once again there’s no similarity in the types besides they’re Flying types.  Also they could’ve done a better job with the names because they just look way too much like said line.  Though I will say in their defense that they are much cuter (especially Swoobat!)  I’m not sure how they will be when they are put in the metagame…but I doubt it’ll be much even though the Psychic/Flying type is a nice thing to see. 

035: Drilbur, 036: Excadrill

Is it sad that Drilbur is actually the only pure Ground type released in the Generation?  Yeah, it’s pretty sad.  Anyways, Our Sandshrew/Sandslash of the era are pretty cool especially Excadrill since it has a lot of positives working for it like an amazing Attack…but shitty Defense because of the Ground/Steel typing it has.  Add the fact that Iris owns one (though it acts almost like Ash’s Charizard after it first evolved).  Awesome Pokemon and prolly one I’ll catch.

037: Audino

Oh hey, a stand-alone Pokemon?  That’s pretty cool right?  Well, if you put in the fact that Audino is the Unova parallel to Chansey since the Anime shows it replacing them as aides.  It also kind of looks kind of creepy though, but I can’t figure why it is.  It’s like iono…what is it…a rabbit?  Still, it’s kind of just there and made more boring that it’s a Normal type

038: Timburr, 039: Gurdurr, 040: Conkeldurr

So here we are at the Machop/Machoke/Machamp of the 5th Generation and I must say…UHHHHHGUHHHHHLEEEEE.  I really don’t know why the creators had to make these three so terrible.  Besides Timburr (who’s oddly cute), Gurdurr and Conkeldurr is just icky.  The veins being the main reason I dislike the look of them primarily.  Though still being Fighting types, the Timburr line is still pretty good since Conkeldurr has the highest attack of Fighting types.  Still, the artwork of it, just horrid…but there’s still more PKMN to go XDDDDD

041: Tympole, 042: Palpitoad, 043: Seismitoad

Jeeze, when do we get to original ideas eh?  I mean the Poliwag/Poliwhirl/Poliwrath line (well you could say it’s more Politoed that Poliwrath, but that’s besides the point).  I gotta say I’m not a big fan of the line here as well, once again Tympole being amazingly cute with it’s meme-filled face.  Palpitoed reminds me of Clefable in body shape and I’m sure I’m not the only one who thought this, but the evolution to Seismitoad is odd…but still kind of cool.  Still, it’s nice enough to seperate itself from other frogs like Politoed and Toxicroak but joins Swampert with the same typing Water/Ground

044: Throh

Early to get the Hitmonchan/Hitmonlee parallels, Throh comes first in the list and unlike the next Pokemon, Sawk…Throh is more focused on grappling moves and it shows because it’s short and kind of built.  Though three fingers, Karate gi, and red skin is just awkward to look at in my perspective.  I think I’ll pass on this and choose…

045: Sawk

Hey I’m biased, I like the color blue a whole lot more than Red and while the weird three-fingered, clothed idea is still there, I like Sawk all-around and despite the Hitmon-ness of it all, I prefer this one.

I WILL SAY THAT THOUGH THE NAMES FOR THESE TWO SUCK SO MUCCCCCH! CHANGE EM!!!!

046: Sewaddle, 047: Swadloon, 048: Leavanny

Finally reaching the bug trios of the Generation (surprisingly later on than in previous Gens) the Sewaddle line follows more closer to Caterpie’s line.  I will say I love this line for the amount of cute that’s shown between the three.  Of course Sewaddle is now a part of Ash’s team so I loved seeing that and c’mon it’s so cute!!!.  Swadloon’s rather depressive look is what makes it cute as well…but I wonder if it’s depressed because of the reason Pac-Man is on top of its head???  Once it evolves into Leavanny through Happiness (wow) it’s mood instantly changes into happiness (once again, wow) and it gets THIN!  Still I want one of these more than our opposite bug trio.  Also, Bug/Grass…might not be good…but good to know right?

049: Venipede, 050: Whirlipede, 051: Scolipede

I’ve always thought when it came the trio bug lines, it was always cute bugs and ugly bugs and with Venipede’s line…it’s definitely the ugliest (I mean I don’t think they’re pretty, but I feel that about the bugs they’re portraying here),  Venipede could be cute in some light, but Whirlipede looks so strange and well…looks suggestive if you ask me >.>  While Scolipede takes the cake since it’s the longest Bug type.  *shivers* Bug/Poison as well…that’s not a good combination IMO…

 

 

ANYWAYS, WE’RE DONE WITH PART TWO, I PROMISE I WON’T TAKE LONG FOR THE NEXT INSTALLMENT!!! 052-075

Kingdom Hearts: The Rundown of the series in release order! *SPOILER ALERT* but whatever that means! January 20, 2011

So with the awesome upcoming release of Re:coded released today!, I though it’d be nice to y’know go through the games that have been released (on consoles) starting with the one that started it all!

Kingdom Hearts

Ahhh the memories from the first game in the series.  Who knew SQUARESOFT and Disney would’ve collided so soon for this almost made in heaven mixture of an RPG and cherished Children’s movies.  To me this game sparked a whole lot of awesome for me even though at first I did think it was a bit strange seeing these two companies mix it up because it’s so strange. 

Basically, the game tells of a story of a young boy named Sora and his two friends, Riku and Kairi.  However, a mysterious door on the island they live in was opened and Sora gets seperated from his friends and ends up in a strange land. Now here you might think, oh typical RPG fair of something based off of friendship.  Yes, it’s slightly typical and somewhat cheesy, but Disney of course had to have something to do with it.  Now even before you get to the main hub of the game, you get to meet young version of Final Fantasy characters!!!  I mean Wakka, Selphie, and Tidus in the same game WTF!!! was my initial thoughts. 

Anyways getting to Traverse Town (the main hub like I said), you meet more FF Characters like Cid, Squall (but going by Leon for who knows what reason), Aerith (that’s the right name), and Yuffie.  The storyline kicks things up when Squall explains what the Keyblade is and sort of why it chose him, but things get weirder when Donald Duck and Goofy go searching for this person “with the key”.  So here is where the story finally moves.  Of course Donald and Goofy are searching for someone else (The King, who we don’t know at the time is) and Sora for Riku and more importantly Kairi.

Of course, since it’s half-Disney everything from here on out is mainly interpretations of various classic Disney films.  I mean we have: Alice in Wonderland, Tarzan (only appearance because of some wacky rights clause or something), Peter Pan, Pinocchio, Hercules, Aladdin, The Little Mermaid, and Winnie the Pooh.  All those worlds are based off very memorable Disney movies (maybe not Tarzan since it was kind of newish) but the biggest surprise was Nightmare Before Christmas since I thought it would’ve been too dark for the game (even though the game itself is dark in place).

Anyways during your travels you learn a lot about friendship and the ideas of light and darkness in which basically you can’t have one without the other, but there are people that want just one and that’s bad.  I mean to me Sora is light and Riku is darkness, but then again there’s other things messed up during the story that kind of ignores that.

Anywho, right towards the end of the game Riku totally betrays Sora, steals his keyblade, get’s controlled by “Ansem” (though we figure out later something else and basically gets separated from everyone.

Anyway the main storyline for the game is that most of the Disney villians are capturing the “Princesses of Heart” which includes: Jasmine, Alice, Cinderella, Snow White, Belle (from Beauty and the Beast), Aurora (from Sleeping Beauty) and Kairi, but the final princesses heart was inside Sora, but no one exactly knew that until Sora connected the puzzle and sacrificed himself and turned himself into a Heartless to get her out and back in the right place and of course being typical Disney fodder, she saves him by hugging him. 

Now I haven’t talked about Heartless, but that’s what they are.  I mean they have hearts but lack emotions so they’re this cold monstrations.  Mostly black in color too, but they have different looks and colors as well. 

Back in the story, after Sora returns as a human (trust me, this Heartless moment whips up another batch of drama), he goes and stops “Ansem” from taking full control of Kingdom Hearts (which is the door the ultimate light/darkness whatever).  Sora defeats him, and they close the door to the light but closing Riku & The King (which is King Mickey as we all guessed in time) inside (though strange that it looked like darkness inside the door).  Sora and Kairi talk and then they get seperated as Kairi goes back to Destiny Islands and Sora is well….they never really explained where he initially ends up and so ends the story.

Of course, the game isn’t over and it shows the three amigos walking along and out of nowhere Pluto pops up and runs off leaving the three to chase him down and so ends the game

Now you may think wow, that’s a bit off for SQUARE and Disney, but to be honest, it was a match made in heaven and there were definitely things I learned from this game!

• 1. Heartless are just everywhere – Yeah, there was just no stopping them, though the experience and level grinding was pretty damn good and the variations to them were awesome! for the most part, especially the ones you find at End of the World!
• 2. Button Mashing + Awkward Camera = Dizzying dynamics – Likewise, the game wasn’t like the Final Fantasy series where you have battle systems like in FFX.  It was a new idea at the time and it was great, making fighting simpler, easier transitions since there was none for this game and such, but the camera mixed with the hectic field and auto-locking made this a bit tough in places, especially like the battles in Olympus Coliseum. 
• 3. Fanservice FTW - Basically this game was the first so it had to be mentioned here, but it was fanservice for fans of both SQUARE games and Disney movies.  It’s great to have them talk to each other and such and to see them fit in through each world like butter.  I mean there were oddities like Cloud with Hades, but for the most part, it was amazingly done and couldn’t have done any better!
• 4. Kurt Zisa should not be a name of a boss, PERIOD - Let’s be honest, it’s great to see that we got more things than in the original JPN release of the game.  I mean more bosses whoohoo for one thing.  However, they really tested my patience.  I mean Kurt Zisa was very defensive and used a lot of keep-away tactics while Phantom was definitely one of the tougher bosses in the series because of the need for Stop Magic.
• 5. Lance Bass is Sephiroth and he’s near-impossible to defeat?!? FFFFFFFFFFFF. - Yes it’s true the game’s superboss that isn’t “Ansem” is Sephiroth and by god is he tough.  I’ve never beaten him since his stupid Heartless Angel move is just a pussy move.  Though knowing Lance of NSYNC voiced him is very strange…then again Mandy Moore voiced Aerith (and let’s be honest she did a better job than whoever voiced her in KHII. 
• 6. Darkness/Light…Friendship…Oh I see, a little education I guess - I guess when it comes to stories, SQUARE kind of keeps of with various themes around good/evil, light/darkness so it comes at a surprise that KH came with an ending that basically says “you can’t have one without the other” and so that’s where it came from.  Though Disney with their kid-friendliness overloaded the friendship bar quite a bit to the point where things got ridiculous.  Still, pretty nice of them to have something that teaches the young’ns.
• 7. Hikki totally found her ace! - Of course we’d have to mention that Hikki really gained her fanbase through this game with Hikari/Simple and Clean.  Those songs really put the game into a great mood.  I mean the remix to open the game was unheard of, but damn that was pretty sweet with the great CGI opening.  Nowadays, it’s a little eh because there’s only two songs to choose from.
• 8. Final Mix?!? WTF WHY DIDN’T WE GET IT?!? - That said, it was announced that after the NA KH was released Japan was gonna get it rereleased over there.  Of course they have tons of added knickknacks and things that carried over into other games that left maybe a small chunk of the people confused over here…like the battle against Unknown (turned out it was an Organization member).  Still, new cutscenes, a trailer for FFX-2, and Gummi Ship missions being tougher with various other small things.  Why didn’t we get this?!?
• 9. Another side, Another story… – Basically, if we completed the game by doing the things that we needed to do to unlock it, we get a secret movie (though at the time it was unknown if it anything to do with it) but nonetheless it was a preview for KH2 well for all we knew it was.  It was shocking to see the dark and gloomy side, but it was strange seeing a seemingly new character show off dual-handed keyblades and Riku in a blindfold diving from a building.  And of course the mysterious guy asks “Where’s Sora” so it left us kind of lost a bit.  FINAL MIX had a much more interesting ending with deep dive, but it showed more of the battle with Ro…I mean mysterious guy and the infamous scene with him running up the building and throwing a keyblade at blindfolded Riku.  Of course there’s a discussion in this dark world with someone else, but it ends with “He looks just like you”…what?!?  Anyways that’s how it ended, well Mickey popped up and Sora flying across an ocean so…weird stuff.

That’s basically KH1 for ya!

Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories

Released about two years after the original, SQUARE (now going as SQUARE ENIX and Disney paired up again for the second chapter of the series (well…I can’t exactly call it a true sequel, since there’s a KH2).  Anyways, for most this was passed up by a lot of people because they didn’t have a GBA for this and it was only on until way later (but that’s a different story told later).  Chain of Memories does continue the story as if it was a true sequel though, but I can see why it wasn’t 2.

Story continues where we left off with Sora, Donald, and Goofy chasing after Pluto but lose track and find themselves at a crossroad.  Doing some looking, Sora sees this guy in a hood (though I wonder if he quickly forgot the battle with Unknown in Final Mix or that was omitted here (who knows).  Either way, they follow him to this castle called Castle Oblivion. 

Anyways moving on, we meet out antagonists, a rather strange group of people in black coats.  We learn their names as the game goes on like The icy scientist Vexen, the sarcastic Axel, bitchy Larxene, and their leader of what’s going on Marluxia.  What they know that Sora doesn’t is that every time Sora moves up a floor his memories are slowly fading away and filled with lies by a witch named Namine (though we learn later in KH2 that there’s something different with her). 

Of course most of the game is basically backtracking through the Disney worlds (exception being Tarzan’s because of legality) and added a new place called Twilight Town (which becomes more important in the series later on).  Still it’s nice that the areas look different but that’s because of the physics and workings into the game, but I felt somewhat bored.

Back to the storyline, Namine filled Sora’s mind with the notion that he must protect her and at the same time she’s getting him to forget Kairi, but that plan fails as Axel starts going back on what he was supposed to do (but there’s reasoning later on in a diff game), and on that kills off Vexen for trying to “spill the beans” even though his Riku Replica was still moving around.  Larxene perishes under Sora’s defeat and meets up with Marluxia and Namine.  Though the Riku Replica joins with Sora to try to defeat him, it’s kind of no use and insert good vs. evil shtick and we get to the end.

However, the damage Namine created by messing with the chain of memories has done enough and the only way to fix him up is putting Sora & Friends into a sort of coma so she could piece back what was messed around.  Not the kind of ending you’d expect coming from SE/D, but it’s interesting nonetheless and makes for a good cliffhanger.

That’s not all however, once you beat Sora’s story you also have to go through Riku’s story.  Even though it’s basically the same except the memory erasing, it’s good to see he made it out of the darkness and it’s awesome to see that Mickey is somewhat with him as well.  The thing that’s bothering Riku though is “Ansem” since he did overtake his psyche and such.  We meet even more of these hooded members.  The quiet Lexaeus and smart Zexion however they were both made short quite easily.  Riku taking out Lexaeus like sliced bread and interestinly Axel turning Vexen’s creation against Zexion.  Talk about backstabbing right.  While his ending leads him out of the castle, it was interesting to see that Sora and Riku in the same place

So what did I learn?

• 1. Cards for Battling is a terrible, terrible idea - While I will admit that I never owned the GBA version (even though I have the system and played it though I own the PS2 version) and even then, cards for battling is just a poor system.  I mean it’s roughly the higher the card value the better and when you have a deck of not so good cards, you’re in for a hurting, unless you mix three together for a higher value then your good, but you lose cards doing that and it SUCKS!  Even I can’t get through Marluxia!!!  It’s just not fair!
• 2. Memories??? psh who needs em! - Of course since the main point of the game is “never forget your true friends”, it really started to annoy me that everyone even Goofy and Donald were talking about memories like scattershot…it’s like OK we get it…he’s losing his memories and gettin them replaced by false ones!
• 3. Who are these unknown bitches? - At the time of release, I really never understood of the reasoning for Lexaeus, Zexion, Axel, Larxene, Vexen, and Marluxia.  It’s kind of the most random placement of baddies ever, but somehow for beings that lack emotion they sure had enough to stand out for me. 
• 4. Lack of new places?  At least the idea for them was nice? - Like I said, they reused most of the Disney places, but none of them had the same rooms like their former looks, which is great, but the lack of swimming in Atlantica and Olympus Coliseum actually having more than just the front doors, inside, and in the coliseum itself was different. 
• 5. GBA, first time for everything - Like I said this was a first being a KH game on a Nintendo system more or less the GBA which is great since it was the first with FMVs on it.  Likewise, the lack of buttons kind of hurt it and it had to have some time to get used to (I’ve played it on the GBA, I just never owned it)
• 6. Worst game of the series - I’ll say it, this and it’s upgrade on the PS2 are the worst iterations because of how difficult it is to get used to the card battling system, and the fact it was such a frustrating experience, but the story is so good though, which can make or break an RPG, to me I just bypass the action for the FMVs. 

Of course there’s Re:chain of Memories, but I’ll get to that later.

Kingdom Hearts II

Yup, the official sequel was released next and it was what everyone was basically wanting with a few small things here and there that changed around.  The biggest things were that the story was more deeper and longer than the first one.  Though I will say something later, but let’s get into the story!

We begin the game playing as Roxas and what seems to be his summer vacation.  Though I found it ironic that it’s Twilight Town and is always in sunset mode which kind of is lame and strange but whatever.  We meet his friends Hayner, Pence, and Olette and their rivals Seifer, Fu, Rai, and Vivi (the middle two are of course Fujin and Raijin from FF8 with Seifer also from FF8 and Vivi from FF9).  It seems like your typical summer vacation filled with fun and adventure, but Roxas has something going on.  He’s getting memories of Sora going through various parts of KH1 and ending at him standing in front of Castle Oblivion.  During this period, we learn that Roxas also finds himself holding onto a Keyblade and that Axel is searching for him.  While it doesn’t set in what the relationship between the two is before the end of the tutorial (Yes, Roxas’ story is a tutorial basically) We figure out it’s something deep since Roxas finally learns that he wasn’t meant to exist and needs to go back to Sora.  At first he’s wanting to be his own merit, but soon caves at the end and finds Sora in his pod still in the coma.

So finally we enter the real game and Sora and the gang reawaken, not knowing where the hell they were.  I don’t even think Sora remembers Castle Oblivion…maybe a little bit, but he prolly won’t remember the name.  After clearing out the sleepys, we find out Jiminy’s journal was erased and only had “Thank Namine” written in it.  So getting out of the mansion, they return to searching for Kairi, Riku, and King Mickey, but quickly they actually do find Mickey but it was a shortlived visit and he sends them off to Yen Sid who was the Keyblade Master (explained better in another game).  We learn of what we needed to know from KH1 and learned more about Nobodies and the Organization XIII (the former are leftovers that weren’t taken from a Heartless which is basically the body and soul, meaning they have their humanesque forms, but they lack emotions.  The latter is the strongest kind of Nobodies and they are the smartest of their kind, however they’re only 8 members left since 5 vanished during the Chain of Memories arc.  Unbeknowst to Sora and everyone in the Mysterious Tower, Maleficent (one of the major villians from the first KH) has returned as well also raising the stakes for Heartless to return which doubled the danger for Sora, Donald, and Goofy. 

So here’s where we start again like we did with the first game by flying the Gummi Ship to places based off movies like the returning: The Little Mermaid (which is purely optional and is a mini-game world), Nightmare Before Christmas (which got a total change-up by adding in Christmas Town), Hercules and Aladdin’s lands were expanded greatly, and Winnie the Pooh returns as well.  New movies represented include: Mulan, Beauty and the Beast, Disney Castle/Steamboat Willie, Lion King, TRON, and Pirates of the Caribbean were represented.  We also got original worlds as well like the return of Hollow Bastion and Twilight Town and new world The World That Never Was.  Each world had a different spark and feel to it and it was great to see new styles going like the black & white Timeless River, playing as animals in the Pride Lands, and even the almost life-like look of Port Royal.  It was definitely an upgrade from the previous titles! 

Anyways, after getting through all of the worlds once, all hell breaks lose as everyone who’s presently there at Hollow Bastion has to take care of the place because of the fact that Maleficent sent all Heartless to attack them all, of course TRON’s world also had a part of this because it was creating them and they had to figure a way to stop it.  So begins the Battle of the 1000 Heartless and boy was that long since they also had to defeat the bipolar member of the Organization, Demyx.

Afterwards they learned that they never fought Ansem themselves said Mickey and some other people, but they fought a Heartless of Xehanort who was at the time Ansem’s assistant (though that turned out to be not right either in a later game).  After the shocking revelation, Mickey soon disappears to continue fighting and the gang actually meets Axel, Saix, and Xemnas.  They tell Sora of their plans and it totally messes things up because they’re using him to complete another entry to Kingdom Hearts this time by collecting the hearts of defeated Heartless to mesh together to produce such a thing and it leaves Sora in a twist because he doesn’t want to help them get there, but he has no choice in the matter since Maleficent sent him away at the last minute.

At this point of the game *inserts breather* you have to go through all of the levels once again to finish up storylines that were left unfinished basically.  Also along the way you slowly meet the rest of the Organization, by the beginning of the second run-through you’ve already met the obsessive to anger Xaldin at Beast’s Castle, the power hungry Saix and the leader Xemnas.  Adding that Axel is also still floating around chasing Kairi as well.  Though in the run-through, you meet the rest of the members: Luxord and his interesting mindgames and Xigbar (kind of the most important of the Organization IMO after Xemnas). 

After the defeat of Xaldin and going through the Disney-themed worlds again, this is where things start to become quite convoluted and strange and very hypocritical in the sense of dealing with things.  However, with the known fact that the real Ansem is also out on prowl, it makes things so confusing!  Also, Hollow Bastion’s real name is shown as Radiant Garden after clearing Tron’s world again and some data was shown and the team consisting of Mickey, Donald, Goofy, and Sora return to Twilight Town to work the machine, Roxas (in his computerized dimension destroyed) and escape to The World That Never Was.

Now I know I’ve missed another story and that’s Riku’s and King Mickey’s.  It seems during the beginning of the game (before Sora’s Reawakening) Riku was working for a mysterious man only named DiZ.  While Roxas was in data form, DiZ showed no compassion to either Roxas or Namine (the latter only used for her powers), so he was kind of prejudiced towards Nobodies (Xehanort’s fault perhaps?).  Anyways I guess because of Riku finding this out he let Axel take Kairi, and then Saix took her and then she escaped with Namine…talk about damsel in distress x.x

Anywho back to Sora, he enters the portal called Betwixt and Between and fights a horde of Nobodies.  Sadly, they get overpowered and before they get their asses kicked Axel comes in and does a “suicide attack” (thanx SQUARE for showing what’s happening in the middle east eh?) and ends up losing his life.  Before he does leave, he mentions to Sora how he reminds him of someone he once knew (*cough* Roxas *cough cough* and he opens the portal further to TWTNW. 

Once there, the game takes an even more WTF turn.  At Memory’s Skyscraper (this is where KH1′s secret ending takes place) Sora is taken away and his mental space gets into a confrontation with another hooded character who turned out to be Roxas and he was trying to figure why he has the Keyblade and he finally got his answer and admits that he “made a good other”.  In FINAL MIX II, there was an actual battle scene, but the original just made it a cutscene.  In the castle, they meet up with Xigbar first and they battle him and of course defeat him, but in the midst Xigbar left them with cryptic stuff, but it only successfully pisses Sora off since he’s not Roxas at all.  We all finally get to see Kairi and Riku (although he took on Xehanort’s Heartless body) get reunite with Sora and the gang and more surprisingly Kairi gets a Keyblade as well.  We do see Rikunort save Kairi beforehand, but I don’t think we see whatever happened with Namine or Pluto for that matter…also King Mickey catches up to DiZ who is at this point now Ansem the Wise and he planned to digitize the almost complete Kingdom Hearts. 

Everyone gets together and blah blah blah good times and then Ansem the Wise sets his weapon on and lights it up, unfortunately it proves to be too much for the weapon and it basically explodes taking him into the darkness, however in some Deus ex Machina-like matrix, Riku ended up turning back into his teenage real form and that was a bit odd.  Though it got weirder when they entered what could be best described as the cemetary for the Organization XIII members.  The only surviving members though left were Luxord, Saix, Roxas, and Xemnas (Roxas being alive in Sora’s body is the reason why his was lit).  Also, the members’ graves showed their weapon of choice on them and mysteriously, Zexion’s at the time was destroyed fully (not sure why, besides the fact we didn’t get to see his weapon until FINAL MIX II.  After defeating Luxord and Saix and watching Sora get pissed off more at the Roxas talk, we finally get to Xemnas THE BIG BAD HONCHO!  While Xehanort has a Heartless (albeit defeated, Xemnas is his Nobody, however…this is due because these are from Terranort (will explain later)). 

While Xemnas was defeated (sort of), Riku opens a portal to send the characters back and Sora and Kairi talk to Roxas and Namine and absorb them back into their hearts.  Mickey, Donald, Goofy, and Kairi walked into the portal home, but suddenly Xemnas attacks again and leaves Sora and Riku to fight him off for the final time.  Unfortunately after Riku gets hurt, Xemnas finally is defeated but it leaves the two friends in the Darkness to roam around.  (To me, things kind of get weird storyline wise, but I’ll explain later)

After some heart to heart talking, a bottle washes up on shore and it’s the one Kairi wrote to him midway in the game.  Somehow that opens the path to light and teleports them back to Destiny Islands where they finally meet back with the rest of the characters and so ends the game…

Well it did, but the game actually ends with Kairi finding another bottle with a letter from King Mickey, but we never got to figure out its contents, but we know he’s going on an another adventure.

The secret ending, “The Gathering” as it’s called…left many, many questions that probably made the story even more confusing.  I mean three characters in armor walking with keyblades along a path that’s surrounded by multiple and multiple amounds of keyblades.  It never really made sense as an ending at the time, but it does have its importance later.

FINAL MIX II’s secret ending: “Birth by sleep” was a lot more action-packed and a lot more shocking since it includes many new faces…though many people thought one was Roxas and it made people go crazy since it didn’t make sense storyline wise especially when King Mickey once again shows up at the end…Either way…

After that long ass story, what did I learn from the game?

• 1. Triangle button is your best friend - I swear this game’s difficulty was definitely lightened up by the new inclusion of Reaction Commands since they did various things with various enemies, of course there’s still the traditional hack n’ slash, but these helpful abilities took a lot out of the game.
• 2. Even more FF and Disney cameos you can shake a fist at and moreso at making Yuna, Rikku, and Paine…fairies of all things - Of course it isn’t really a KH game without cameos and SQUARE and Disney threw in a lot of WTF-ers this time in the sense of Setzer and Vivi and TRON and Jack Sparrow…it’s another batch of colorful characters and the already well-known ones added more interesting characters.  Still the SQUARE characters have become strange like “We totally owned you lamers!” as quoted by Seifer and the FFX-2 heroines becoming golddiggers and the craptastic VA action for Aerith >.>
• 3. Roxas…Sora…hmmmmmm.. - Of course we had to figure out what the connection was between the two characters when we first started out besides the amalgam of the names being Sora + X.  We figure out how Roxas came to be, but it’s still one of the weirdest ways.  It’s a bit bittersweet though that Roxas did end up becoming non-existant (to a slight degree). 
• 4. Was friendship actually the point of KH2? Or was it something deeper?!? – I mean KH and CoM had pretty straightforward storylines, but with 2, it got lost when it got to the second run-through the Disney lands.  I mean the topic of friendship was written all over the prologue and throughout most of the Disney stories and a tad bit in the ending, but it’s like there was something more to it.  I mean yes, light & darkness and the chain of memories fit as well, but I’m guessing the sense of origin was placed since most of the characters talked about the past. 
• 5. Hikki strikes again! - Seeing Hikki making a new song for the game was a great move and Passion/Sanctuary seemed to have made more sense for the game and it had edge where needed to.  I actually love this one better than the first game’s tune. 
• 6. Oh what did they do to you Sephiroth?!? – Since I mentioned Sephy difficult kills in the original, KH2 proved to be even more of a cakewalk when the games hardest boss, was actually subsided to become one of the easiest ones.  I mean dodging, reaction commands and generally having good abilities stacked on, made this fight a cinch and the cutscene after making it a tad odd…leaving poor Tifa behind again WTF.
• 7. And so begins the convoluted story… - Let’s be honest, Chain of Memories did leave us with Sora sleeping, but KH2 left more questions then answers in the game like, what role does Pluto really play in the game since he goes everywhere, but becomes missing again… and how did Maleficent return…or is the Organization XIII really gone, and many more.  I found this game very weird and such at least there’ll be some questions answered I guess.
• 8. W/O Chain of Memories, you’ll be lost…for a little bit - I will admit that I was a tad lost beginning this game because I didn’t know anyone like we had to obviously know Namine, DiZ, and Axel right from the start.  I mean we did get computerized memories from the prologue, but it was rude and left us at the doorsteps of Castle Oblivion and it ended there so we once again had to figure out things online since the journal of KH2 didn’t say much of anything that dealt with CO, cept the fact that all 13 members of Organization XIII were present…weird.
• 9. ANOTHER 2 GUYS/1 GIRL GROUP??? possibilities? - What is it with this series and this.  I mean the first game we had Sora, Kairi, and Riku….this time it’s Pence, Olette, and Hayner.  I mean they weren’t totally important to the story, but it just seems that the games after this has a conenction with the parties that consists in threes.
• 10. Magic? What magic? - Seriously, magic was just not important in this game and could’ve been overlooked (maybe except for the Cure spell, but that was used once in a while since the game was a cakewalk as it was). 
• 11. FINAL MIX II, wait another one of these that we won’t get…shiiiiiiiit - Yeah, I’m sure all of us thought the same thing we got word that Japan would get an updated version and leaving us cold.  There were a lot more things updated, but I think the biggest things were that you were able to go against all of the Organization members over and over again to your heart’s desire, new weapons, new scenes, and of course a new secret ending.  I do wish they had released this sometime after, but we only got half….wait half what does that mean?

Kingdom Hearts: Re:chain of Memories

Of course, bundled up with FINAL MIX II in Japan, was a basically a ground-up remake of Chain of Memories.  Everything was changed except for the storyline which is above. 

The game though had so many things changed since it went from the GBA style and look to something more along the lines of the original Kingdom Hearts look (and let me tell ya, it’s noticeable after playing KH2).  Besides the new look, the game included voice overs to new scenes (which is basically everything but things inside the worlds), but we learn how bitchy Larxene can get, and Marluxia is pronounced Mar-loo-sha and not Mar-lucks-ee-uh.  Oh and the same guy that voice Uryu in American dubbed Bleach voiced Vexen, sweet!  I’m sure it also showed a lot more questions/answers throughout, but either way it was Chain of Memories 1.5. Also, the best thing to come from this is Theater Mode and that’s when you’re able to watch the voiced videos anytime you want…PREVIOUS GAMES NEED THIS!

Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days

Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days (or Days for short too many people) is the first of two titles that kind of bridges the gap of the story to make a bit more sense (or to confuse more people with more questions).  Days is actually chronologically placed right between when Sora turns into a Heartless in the original and before the prologue to KH2. 

The story goes as it is, you begin as Roxas who’s very quiet and introverted since he was just created right after Sora stabbed himself with his keyblade and turned to a Heartless.  Of course, Xemnas gives him his name and makes me wonder if he named all the members.  After going through a tutorial with all the members, he gets paired up with Axel and they become quick friends.  However, Axel, Zexion, Vexen, Marluxia, Lexaeus, and Larxene are sent off to Castle Oblvious and that ends up with the storyline for Chain of Memories, however Roxas is left with a new character Xion and is left to be known as a new member.  As soon as it shows, she is also able to weild a Keyblade but this happy time ends quite quickly when Roxas ends up in a coma due to Sora going into his sleep.  He does reawaken and find out that Axel survived CO and they all become fast friends. 

Things quickly go downhill however when Xion meets Riku, Axel gets yelled at for trying to be friends and not take things seriously and Roxas starts to ponder the reasons why he exists (almost similar to Xion after her first meet up).  Unfortunately, the trio end up going seperate ways, Xion to find out who or what she is and Roxas later on because he got tired of questions not being answered. 

It turns out that Xion is an imperfect replica of Roxas and she wasn’t meant to exist, but at the same time she’s gaining Sora’s memories a lot faster making Roxas even more weaker.  Also, in one of her failed attempts at capture, Xigbar noticed Xion looked rather familiar to a certain someone (though once again there was no name yet).  Either way, Xion figured if Roxas took her out, he’ll survive go back to Sora’s body and become whole again.  Sadly, Axel knocks her out after a grueling battle and after fainting from the fight, Xemnas took her away and planted devices that made her powerful.

Once Roxas escapes The World That Never Was and left a beating on Saix, he encountered Xion and they fought and he of course won.  Sadly, I think it’s one of KH’s more profound and emotional scenes of the series she starts to fade away and tells him Xemnas’ plans of what he’s gonna do with Kingdom Hearts.  Dying, he remembers but it’s too late and his rage takes over and aims to take down his leader. 

At Memory’s Skyscraper with both the Oathkeeper and Oblivion in hand, he’s ambushed by Neoshadows and starts to fight them before he sees Riku on the top of the skyscraper.  Of course what plays out is most of “deep dive” the secret movie of the first FINAL MIX.  Of course going through these scenes is old since they’re also featured in KH2.  We do learn however how Riku ended up turning into Rikunort and he let his blindfold come off and let the darkness take over and ended up strangling the hell outta Roxas.

Anyways the ending shows that Rikunort brought Roxas to DiZ and they transported him to a computerized Twilight Town while Axel is bummed that Xion is gone and so is Roxas but finds an ice cream stick that said WINNER.  Just a very sad ending unlike other games in the series, well Birth by Sleep is sad too I guess, but was saved by the secret ending, which 358/2 didn’t have.

• 1. OMG, I can play as people besides Sora and Roxas?!? HELL YEA! - Yup you heard it, this game right now has the most playable characters which include the entire Organization, Xion, Sora, Donald, Goofy, Mickey, and Riku.  They come with all the intricates that made they characters stand out and they all have different limit breaks as well.
• 2. Leveling up wastes space people! - The new leveling and ability system is really nice don’t get me wrong, but the fact that leveling up doesn’t make space better really dampered the experience somewhat since I could have put a Cure spell. 
• 3. Uhm, what’s in that sea salt ice cream? Cocaine? - I will say that the most annoying part of the story was the overly obsession of the ice cream.  I mean they mentioned it slightly in KH2 seeing it’s Ansem the Wise’s favorite and the kids (Roxas, Pence, Olette, Hayner) enjoy it as well, but this…THIS was just too much.  It was like every cutscene almost dealt with this stuff or had them eating it…why aren’t they getting fat?!?  Oh BTW, Roxas, you did not have to say “But who’s gonna have ice cream with me” when Xion is friggin dying in your arms….NOT CLASSY!
• 4. Friendship is da key! - Yeah, OK we get it, friendship is needed to move forward, but damn the tribulations with Xion, Roxas, and Axel were just beyond shaky and later parts it was confusing to tell who hated who.  I mean who knew Saix and Axel were friends before.  Sad that Xion perishes in this game and both Axel and Roxas in KH2. 
• 5. Xion, what was up with her during the game - She’s an odd character in this game.  I really don’t think that there was anything that made total sense with her around except the fact she was a creation made by Vexen.  I didn’t get why in some shots with Axel and Roxas, when she was talking to Roxas she looked normal but when Axel talked she was hooded.  Then later on when Xigbar sees (Ventus) and even later when she takes her hood off before the final fight and she looks exactly like Sora.  She’s an odd one, but then again she is Kairi in some aspects, but from Roxas’ mind.
• 6. Mission-based game, prolly wasn’t kosher - Unlike previous games, Days took a new approach.  Since you were working for the Organization and collecting hearts, you did missions which ranged from Bosses, heart collecting, defeating certain enemies (Emerald Serenade missions were the worst) and Reconaissance which were interesting, but lame questioning FTL and some gem-thingies.  It wasn’t too smart, but whatever it gave the game some kind of leverage.
• 7. The second of rehash-o-mania - Hear me out though, some of the worlds in the game had “new” areas added, the most being Never Land, the rest of the worlds were pretty much rehashed from previous entrees and it really was disappointing.  Especially playing through KH1 worlds again!  Oh and Passion/Sanctuary was used in this game, but it was OK since it dealt with Roxas. 
• 8. First game with multiplayer?  Oh wait, no one is really gonna get the game for that *rolls eyes* - Who really bought the game for the fact it’s the first multiplayer KH?  I know I didn’t since I was more interested in the storyline.  Though I guess if you wanted you can to missions together with the character choice.  It’s cooler that you can have up to 4 people playing it simultaneously, but does anyone truly give a damn?
• 8. Another 2 guy/1 girl thing?!? - I wonder why we get another group of three, this time Roxas, Xion, and Axel…Is there some kind of hidden thing going on here?  Maybe it’s me, but somehow I think they’re tied together somehow.
• 9. Uhm….this is KH so where’s my damn FF and Disney fanservice? - I mean god forbid, I think this has the least amount of fanservice between the games.  I mean there was a real low amount of it here.  I mean from SQUARE the only thing that came close was a Moogle dressed like an Organization member (which was too good BTW! ^_^) but Disney slacked up and the characters had like what…three lines maybe?  Then again it makes sense since they were supposed to be like sneaky and not get noticed…strange, but damn it made the game feel empty character-wise…

Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep

So our next release comes in the form for a first for the PSP.  Birth by Sleep should be called Kingdom Hearts 0, simply because it takes place 10 years before the first KH begins.  Great, even more backstory that we really need. 

What’s new though is that the game follow brand new characters Ventus (Ven for short), Aqua, and Terra.  Even better is that the game is split into three different stories following each of the mains. 

Anyway, Birth by Sleep starts out similar enough with Aqua and Terra about to take the Mark of Mastery test which determines who will become the new Keyblade Master.  Now, reason why Ventus isn’t doing this test is because he’s too young for such a test yet.  So I have no idea why Master Eraqus (their teacher/leader…head honcho) didn’t know that Xehanort (who in this game is portrayed as a frail yet sneaky old man) was there and was evil.  Anywho after Xehanort manipulated balls of light into a mix of darkness, Aqua and Terra finally battle each other, but it seems that Aqua won this battle because Terra showed lesser control over the darkness in his heart.

Now this is where the story starts to split.  After Xehanort walks off and his a little chat with his unknown-named apprentice, Terra seems to run off and meets up with Xehanort.  They talked and blah blah, So all of a sudden, it’s announced that Xehanort was kidnapped by the Unversed (which I will explain towards the end of the story) and Terra is the first to go to Eraqus and somehow make him hope that doing this mission to find him will get him to change his mind and let him be a Keyblade Master.  Aqua is also called by Eraqus, but she’s told to watch over Terra since he could fall into darkness.  Last but not least, Ventus was actually met by “Xehanort’s Apprentice” and kind of used mindgames to go follow Terra and search for him.  Unfortunately, Ventus leaves breaking the rules and before Aqua leaves she’s told to follow and bring back Ventus

So leaving the Land of Departure, the three travel to Disney-themed worlds like returning: Destiny Islands (though not fully playable once again), Peter Pan, Hercules, the Mysterious Tower, and Radiant Garden (most places got changed).  The also brought in new worlds like ones that represent Snow White, Cinderella, Lilo and Stitch (but no Lilo >.>), and Sleeping Beauty. 

During the course of the game the characters meet together a few times like Aqua/Terra at Cinderella’s ball and all three at Radiant Garden.  During this time we come to find out that Terra has been oblivious to what he’s doing since he’s helping the villans, while Aqua and Ven seem to clean up his messes.  According to plot occurance though it seems Ven is in the middle of the story while qua kind of clears the story and finishes up, but sometimes the roles switch between the three.

Terra also figures that Master Xehanort is searching for the Princesses of Heart (if you remember they’re one way to show Kingdom Hearts in full from the first KH, also remember, Heartless barely existed in this game and Maleficent had no idea about it until this game, devious aren’t we?). 

Anyway they next meet up at Radiant Garden and we figure out that the masked apprentice that’s been bothering Aqua and Ven is named Vanitas and well he’s just being cryptic all-around.  They meet and they try to tell Terra to stop, but he just ignores it and continues leaving Ventus to continue following in which Aqua also follows.  Though she meets a very young Kairi and talks about light and touched her keyblade to her (which leaves for a good explanation to later games if there were questions at how she got a keyblade).  Ventus meets Lea and Isa (later known as Axel and Saix, respectively) and that was interesting thing to see and we also see Even, Eleaus, Dilan, and even a rather young Ienzo…Oh yeah (Vexen, Lexaeus, Xaldin, and Zexion in that order).  It’s pretty awesome to show their normal forms.  Though for Terra he finds Master Xehanort chained up to a wall and is forced to fight Braig (Xigbar).  We also get an explanation as to why he wore an eyepatch and we can thank Terra for that cookie HAHAHA. 

After some more Unversed ass kicking and Disney drama, the story finally comes to a leeway as we find out Aqua and Terra find themselves at Destiny Islands meeting Sora and Riku (of course they’re still very young).  Terra actually talks to Riku and it seems like he made him next in line for a Keyblade while Aqua kind of looks at the two from afar and says they’re special.  Unfortunately for Ventus, he doesn’t come here and ends up at the Keyblade Graveyard and finally gets an explanation to why he doesn’t remember his past.  Turns out that Ventus is actually the key for a special kind of keyblade called the “χ-Blade” (pronounced “keyblade” though still <.<).  Xehanort twisted his mind and kind of made Ven confront Master Eraqus about this thing and sadly does return to Land of Departure. 

Though it’s kind of sad in a way because Eraqus attacks Ven since I guess he wasn’t supposed to exist and without him they wouldn’t have to deal with another Keyblade War (which Xehanort wants).  However, learning that he wasn’t supposed to exist kind of struck him down and Eraqus was going for the kill before Terra intercepted and blocked the move and made him disappear in a portal leaving Terra to fight Eraqus.  Sadly the fight is in Terra’s favor and Eraqus admits he was wrong, but as quickly he realizes it, Xehanort makes a low blow and takes him out…not sure if he’s like every other character where somehow they survived, but in the process Terra escapes and watches in horror as his home is turned to ruins.

Ven is sent to Destiny Islands where he meets with Vanitas again and is reminded of his memories of how they both came to be, and boy it’s a shocker to know that Vanitas is basically Ven’s darkness which means he’s all light….strange.  Anyways he tells him to meet him back at the Keyblade Graveyard and so Ven goes there. 

You must be wondering where Aqua is in all of this mess.  Well, Aqua was flying out of Destiny Islands when she finds an unconscious Micky floating round.  She took him to the nearest place and finds out that Mickey is Yen Sid’s Apprentice, however that good news is cut short when Yen Sid tells her that Eraqus has fallen and finds out that her friends are at the Keyblade Graveyard. 

They reunite and they talk and Ven tells then to destroy him but they can’t because they’re friends.  Now the next scene is basically “Birth by sleep” even in full FMV format.  It basically split the party up with Terra going up against Xehanort, Ven being frozen in ice and Braig going up against Aqua.  Let’s talk about the least confusing first.

Aqua vs. Braig is interesting because I kind of am curious to why Braig teamed up with Xehanort in the first place, he’s actually quite the interesting guy with this going on and it sort of explains why he saw Ventus in 358/2.  After him running off and saying he was just a distraction, but since Ven was frozen, she stopped chasing him but is attacked by Vanitas, but luckily Ven snapped out of his frozen state and battles him and wins. 

I will say this next part is quite weird.  Vanitas admits that he’s the reason that the Unversed exist and were created by his negativity and such.  He also took off his mask and what a surprise it was to know that Vanitas looked a whole lot like Sora (which adds more to the question, why did he look like him?).  Before we could really ponder that, Vanitas goes into Ven’s mind and they have a fight inside while Aqua and Mickey are forced to fight Ven (but Vanitas controlled).  Of course good always wins here and sadly during it Vanitas is destroyed but it leaves Ven in a coma and Mickey takes them back to The Mysterious Tower.

However, for Terra is battle is so much more complicated all-around but I’ll try to explain it.  Basically he defeated him but Xehanort fused with Terra to become this kind of “Terra-nort”.  They have their inner battle as well with Terra once again victorious, but it seems his mind got discarded into his armor while his heart kept fighting Xehanort’s in which Xehanort ended up with amnesia.  Complicated right?

That’s where the game ends, but there’s one final chapter with Aqua leading it since Terra is in conflict with his body and Ven is in coma-land.  She takes Ven to the destroyed ruins of the Land of Departure and finds a safe place for him.  Taking Eraqus Keyblade, she safeguarded the place even more and that’s how we ended up with Castle Oblivion ^_^ so that’s where Ven lies right now.

Aqua then focused on finding Terra, but she soon finds out that Xehanort took over his body and fights her but he loses and starts to fall into darkness and Aqua dives in to save him but she figures there’s no other way so she gives him a keyblade and sends him back out while she falls into darkness.

Scene goes back to Riku and Sora walking and Riku notices Sora leaking a tear, and by now I’m sure it’s Ven being sad knowing Aqua is the darkness and he makes the connection to Ven as well.

Next we see the members of the well soon to be Organization XIII and Ansem the Wise talking to Terranort/Xehanort and asking if he can remember anything but he can’t since Terra blocked his memories.  Of course Braig doesn’t know this.  They also show Aqua’s armor on the ground (which slightly explains why Xemnas in FM2 was talking to the armor…now we know why!

Also it shows us Aqua walking in the strange new place and almost being killed off further but Terra’s and Ven’s keyblades gave her new hope and “There’s always a way” and then cue Simple and Clean.  After the credits stopped rolling we get a scene with young Sora talking to Ven and he asked if he can rest in his heart until he’s better and now that’s how Sora was chosen to be a keyblade wielder.  Cute ending for such sad endings for the main characters.

Of course it’s no KH without a secret ending and with Blank Points, it brought a whole lot of weirdness.  It starts with Xehanort and Terra having a conversation about “property” as so Xehanort calls it over the heart of Terra and it also seems Eraqus is in it too.  Next is a quick convo between Braig and Terranort and while he’s still under amnesia Braig was trying to make sure it wasn’t Terra.  Oddly enough Ansem the Wise and Ienzo kind of noticed this weird connection between the two.  And finally Aqua finds herself on the beach talking to someone (who is more than likely Ansem the Wise, Ok it’s way into the future unlike the previous two scenes).  They talk about about one person that could save them all which includes Roxas, Xion, Namine, Ven, and Terra (and possibly Axel, but he didn’t say Sora’s name).  At last Aqua says his name and it switches to current aged Sora, Riku, and Kairi and Sora telling her that he’s going on an another adventure and so it ends there.

HOWEVER, with Birth by Sleep being released in Final Mix, the new secret ending is quite the odd one.  It starts with Aqua talking but the video reverses to where in between the Heartless attack and the Beach scene.  Being called “Zero point”, the secret ending here has her continuing the walk in the darkness, but something appears and she freaks out because it’s Disney Castle!  Though after it is kind of a hodge podge of the main characters in various locales.  I’m very intrigued at seeing Hayner, Pence, Olette, and Kairi together, but then again seeing various scenes through the games is odd yet fitting like the Terranort, Xehanort’s Heartless, Xemnas, and Master Xehanort appear and Sora and Ven removed from their spots like magic…it’s wtf…but Birth by Sleep -Volume Two- eh? ok…

PHEW…..this game….

• 1. Three stories in one was smart - Seeing the story told in three perspectives really gave light to a whole lot of the game and I still was pretty sad how it all came together in the end.  Ven’s comatose, Aqua’s in the darkness, and Terra is basically taken over by Xehanort.
• 2. Ven, Terra, Aqua…really another three teamer? - I wonder if Nomura really has some kind of plan with the groups of three in the series so far because it just seems really freaky at this point. 
• 3. Hey!  another different battle system AND IT WORKS! - Bringing in the new D-links and Deck Commands take over the game and while it removes quite a bit from the original formula, I liked the changed things and it came off as a great style and more flashier for the game. 
• 4. Vanitas… - God was he badass, even though the fact he was a Sora look-a-like really bothered me because I’m not sure where he ended up looking like him.  I don’t even remember Ven knowing Sora before meeting Vanitas so it’s kind of a weird thing…even weirder was Xehanort created him so it must mean something else then….?
• 5. Weird explanation of Xehanort sort of explained - Yes this game did bring us that old man Xehanort took over Terra’s body and became Terranort which lead to the creation of Xeha’s Heartless and Xemnas which was explained in previous games, but now we know how he looked so young…but the question becomes, where is Terra now and the REAL Xehanort.
• 6. So…the Princesses of Heart really weren’t that important? -  It seemed like it was the start of something different since a good portion of the Princesses that were already asleep by KH’s start was awake and Maleficent’s world was there so I thought there’d be something going on behind the scenes with that and maybe learn how she was able to control the Heartless.
• 7. Master Eraqus is such a bad parent! - I never really understood his role in the game besides being the teacher to the three main characters, but the fact that he kept so much away from some of them kind of makes him look bad, understandable but still poor choicing.  And you really don’t tell a kid he shouldn’t exist that’s just bad right there….sorry
• 8. Ahhhh fanservice how I missed you - Yep, new worlds were introduced and while they lowered on the SQUARE cameos, I was happy with seeing Zack appear in the same place where Cloud later appears. 
• 9. Point of Birth by Sleep? - Basically don’t listen to old guys, they just are bad juju and they will control your body and send a power ranger to kick your ass XD.  Also, some friendships will hit quite a large amount of obstacles…kind of like the trio from 358/2 ended up xD
• 10. Convoluted story with too many look-a-likes happening…couldn’t get any better!!! - While this is the KH0 of the series, this didn’t help with the series outline.  It brought a lot more questions, but it did answer quite a bit as well strangely enough.  The Xeha clones are a bit weird to how they got there and the whole Sora/Vanitas and Roxas/Ven ties are just confusing.  Add in it ties all into what Sora has to do next…talk about blech.
• 11. FINAL MIX?!? NOOOOOOooooo! - Yep since it’s Japan and all that, they just released a final mix of the game which didn’t have as many new things about like the previous two, but it did have new bosses, a new secret ending, and some other small inclusions but to me it’s important for the ending.  I will say Monstro as a boss is a nifty idea!!!
• 12. Ok, Sora what’s with that damn bottle and WTF is on it?!? - Yes, we get this sort of scene again and it continued to question me on what’s the contents of such letter….but…

Kingdom Hearts: Re:coded

And finally, the most recent game to come out, Re:coded is actually a video game take of a cellphone game released only in Japan and now was redone and released.  Of course this game is interesting nonetheless and turned out alright, but it wasn’t the best.

The story starts with Jiminy Cricket looking through one of the journals (there’s two one used in KH and one in KH2, but during CoM, the book lost all its contents and was left with just “Thank Namine”.  However, this time around Jiminy looked through it and found another page that had writing on it and it said “Their hurting will be mended when you return to end it”.  So he took it to King Mickey and let him look through and of course Chip and Dale have a contraption where they could check it out and seems that there’s bugs in the journal (don’t ask me how such a physical object has that problem, just go with the flow) and with the machine they created somone; Data Sora.  Of course he has no memories so he’s also just going with the flow and helping out.  Of course later on Data Sora runs through the door and somehow Mickey, Donald, and Goofy (and later on admitted, Pete as well) ended in the journal as well, but the gate to the outside world is closed and of course Data Riku helps out as well.

Going through worlds like Traverse Town, Wonderland, Olympus Coliseum, Destiny Island, and Agrabah they find themselves going through similar KH1 storylines (sadly) and it seems Maleficent becomes the main antagonist by destroying the keyblade, but later on regaining it before the final match against her and Data Riku.  Odd enough he sort of tried to save them before Data Riku caves but Data Sora saves him.  Of course King Mickey and group had to leave which also meant everything they did in the journal will reset leaving everyone going back to an original state. 

That happens, but a new part of the journal opens and King Mickey once again asks Data Sora to help (who went back to not knowing what was going on) and was sent to Castle Oblivion to basically redo the entire game but there were three possibilities to how things could end.  At the end of it all, it turns out this hooded guy was Data Roxas and he faced off with him and won of course.

D-Roxas gives him the card and it led to Mickey and D-Sora meeting with Namine, but she talked about the people that were tied to Sora and how he has to save them, also in a funny kind of way, he thanked Namine XD.  So at the end of it all, Mickey started to write this letter to the real Sora and sent it to him…

So the secret ending here is basically confirmation that since Sora defeated Xehanort’s Heartless and Xemnas, he’s about to really return since two halves make a whole XD and to call Sora and Riku for the Mark of Mastery test (something that happened in Birth by Sleep).

So here’s where I lead off with

• 1. Was this game necessary? - I honestly think this game was actually not needed because they could’ve put the letter content section in the ending of Birth by Sleep and that would’ve cut 90% of the game’s inportance out.  Also I felt that reusing KH1 worlds once again even moreso was poor decision making and just felt bland at this point even though seeing Destiny Islands, Hollow Bastion, Traverse Town, and Castle Oblivion again was nice.  Still too much recycled ideas.
• 2. The new ideas were good enough to kind of take away things - I did love the new things they did bring in for Re:coded.  Let’s start with that command deck returning from Birth by Sleep, I thought it was done well, not as good as the original, but it’s definitely workable.  The new game mechanics like the Mario-esque styled mechanics, the RPG turn-based style, and the rail-shooter style were done quite nicely.  I thought the 2-D section was a bit wonky, but they other two were sweet.  Last, but not least were the Data Worlds, which were kind of bland at times, but it was fun and the music was the coolest thing from it.
• 3. Was there a slight not for SQUARE eh? - Yes, the Stat Matrix was sooooooo the Sphere Grid from Final Fantasy X.  It was just quite the weird sense of dejavu I had with the game.  Still I had fun with that and it gave a lot of interesting “cheats” if you say.
• 4. Are we done yet? - As much as I love the series, I wanna move on from the side stories and get back into numbered stuff, but it doesn’t seem like we will with Dream Drop Distance and Birth by Sleep 2….ehhhhhhhhh

SO THANX FOR READING, I HOPE TO GET COMMENTS LIKE WHAT YOU LIKE AND DONT LIKE ABOUT THE SERIES.  PLEASE IT’LL BE AWESOME ^_^

GENERATION 5: 000-027 Teh early ones! November 8, 2010

So I guess I’ve waited long enough to start this but it’s time to go through all the new PKMN Black & White has to offer ^_^ So let us begin from well…..0 XD

000: Victini

With Victini, the Unova Pokedex is the first region that actually has a legit Pokemon with the number 000.  I know you people are like OMG what about Missingno. and the like but those aren’t totally legit.  It’s also the first new dual type with Psychic/Fire (but shares this with a Zen Mode Darmanitan).  I don’t exactly know what it actually is based off of, but it carries on the tradition of cute legendaries (even though it’s an event PKMN though).  Still, I think it’s very cute, and I might want one since Fire types for me usually aren’t my interest.

001: Snivy, 002: Servine, 003: Serperior

So actually beginning the actual Pokedex, Snivy represents the Grass type and stick to it through all it’s evolutions.  While I still think Snivy still looks a wee bit much like Treecko, it changes into something pretty epic at the end and that’s a grass snake and that makes me happy and Ash owns one!.  While I don’t like middle evolutions much since they’re the kind of lazy-ish products, Servine isn’t so bad, but it feels like it would’ve kept the arms and legs just by guessing, but it didn’t upon its evolution to Serperior.  Oh and by the way, I know that’s now Sugumori’s official art for Serperior, but it’s its official Dream World picture so that works for me…(a bunch of others will have em BTW)

004: Tepig, 005: Pignite, 006: Emboar

As the Generation’s Fire starters and already on Ash’s team in the anime, Tepig was actually my initial PKMN that I was going to use when I got White.  Unfortunately as you can tell from Pignite and Emboar, they are they only starters of the Gen. that’s dual-typed.  It sucks though that their typing is Fire/Fighting (which we all know has been a curse since the 3rd Gen with Combusken/Blaziken and Monferno/Infernape).  So I’m probably still gonna choose Tepig, but I’ll prolly not going to exactly enjoy it.  Oh and Emboar = fat Infernape with pig skin XD

007: Oshawott, 008: Dewott, 009: Samurott

Water type starters have been pretty straightfoward through evolutions since we all knew what they turned out to be, but who knew Oshawott would end up turning into a more quadripedal-like Dialga…I mean I still don’t see the resemblance between the evolution of Dewott and Samurott.  It’s just rather bizarre and they way that they (the designers) couldn’t figure what to do with the final evo until they went to an aquarium is just a tad bit more weird.  I know (Remoraid to Octillery) but still strange XD. 

Anyways, the starters for the evolution for me were a little more unoriginal this time around with the Grass type not going dual like the last gen, Tepig’s line ending up once again attaining the Fighting type AGAIN, and that oddball Samurott not being a sea otter…Maybe the 6th will be better hopefully XD

010: Patrat, 011: Watchog

Finally getting out of the starters, most of the PKMN of this Generation mirrors the first one is many MANY ways.  Starting with Patrat and Watchog they definitely represent the rodents of well every gen (Rattata/Raticate, Sentret/Furret, Zigzagoon/Linoone, Bidoof/Bibarel).  Of course both are Normal types and they otherwise don’t stand out from the bunch, but I like how Patrat (chipmunk) evolves into Watchog (meerkat).  They are probably only good during the beginning of the game and will prolly fallout during the later parts.  Still PSYCHOTIC CHIPPUMUNKU!

012: Lillipup, 013: Herdier, 014: Stoutland

Yeah, more doggies!  I’m still hoping for a weiner dog PKMN one day.  Anywho Lillipup, Herdier, and Stoutland are of course Normal types and they somewhat parallel other dog types mostly closely with Growlithe/Arcanine since the similarites between Lillipup and Growlithe with the fur color and small other things.  Still a cool looking line of dogs right?

015: Purrloin, 016: Liepard

Since we got doggies, we have to have kitties too and Purrloin and Liepard definitely fits the role.  Even better they are of Dark type and that makes them stand out more than the other cats lines (since they are basically Normal).  I would’ve liked it if they were actually black cats than purple since it makes me think they’re Poison types. 

017: Pansage, 018: Simisage

Some of the PKMN though in the generation are entirely on their own accord with no parallels at all and for the first time we get basically two sets of PKMN set in the starter types: Snivy, Tepig, and Oshawott and Pansage, Pansear, and Panpour.  Since we get the Grass type first, Pansage and Simisage are ridiculously the cutest of the bunch and since all three elemental monkeys play off the whole “Speak no evil, hear no evil, and see no evil”.  It’s a good play on a phrase and Pansage is prolly the one I want the most.

019: Pansear, 020: Simisear

Of course I’m sensing that this era is doing a better job with bringing Fire types since the 4th was so bad not having many to choose from.  Pansear and Simisear is of course good choices as well, but it feels like later on we’ll get better Fire types to use.  LOL though at Simisear looking like Mario kind of jumped on his head and his body looks squished.

021: Panpour, 022: Simipour

So with the upbringing of Fire types was a surprise for sure, but this Gen shocked me more with the lack of Water types since there’s only a few found (also with the region not having many water paths like the Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, and Sinnoh region.  Panpour and Simipour are probably the best choice for an early Water type since there’s so few that early in the game.  To me, it always seems these two are female-only since the obviousness right?  YEAAAAAAAH…

Overall, the monkeys are a nifty idea and they all evolve through the Leaf, Water, and Fire Stones and it has been a while since we’ve seen something like this so I’m happy!

023: Munna, 024: Musharna

Yep, as our first pure Psychic types, Munna and Musharna are kind of parraleling Drowzee and Hypno a bit and I don’t mind that since they are both slowish Psychic types and they both kind of are based off the same myths.  I find it pretty sweet though that Munna was based off of what someone said in the R/B/Y games.  Add on that a special Musharna activates the Dream World scheme and that’s just as cool too.  Gimmicky, but interesting nonetheless and Munna evolves with a Moon Stone which like the last 3 lines, something the game hasn’t used in a while!

025: Pidove, 026: Tranquill, 027: Unfezant

Of course, it wouldn’t be a Pokemon game without the typical early birds yknow (Pidgey, Spearow, Hoothoot, Taillow, Starly) well Pidove really doesn’t look special and due to it looking almost exactly like a Starly it doesn’t do much.  Tranquill looks a bit better and stands slightly more, but still not enough.  It isn’t until it evolves into Unfezant where it really stands out since it looks like it doesn’t even fly, even though it does learn the HM.  Even better is that there’s a big difference between the male and female and that’s in the mask and the overall colors.  Basically the males are the more colorful ones XD.

 

So this begins my look at the Generation’s new PKMN next time I’ll be going through 028-051

Pokemon ~Generation 5~: CC September, IT’S FINALLY HERE (in 4 days x.x) September 14, 2010

Well we are finally down to the wire and Pokemon Black & White is released in Japan in 4 days.  Corocoro also was released a few days earlier than planned so I’m gonna go through what’s been going on through the last few weeks!  Could you believe that there’s new things mentioned?

• Well, the biggest of them all is the fact the Generation 1-4 will not have new pre-evos or evos and it makes sense since Isshu is based off of New York and in the Pokeworld, it’s way across from the other 4 places (and all those regions in the side games). 
• That being said, Mamanbou IS NOT an evolution for Luvdisc (wow…that’s just odd) 
• Add in that there’s no split evolutions (Example: Gloom to either Vileplume or Bellossom)
• Total Pokemon this Generation: 156
• Dento isn’t the only gym leader in the first.  It’s Dento, Podda, and Kon and each of the gym leaders own one of the monkeys: Dento = Yanappu, Podda = Baoppu, and Kon = Hiyappu.
• Aloe is the second gym leader, but still unknown as to what she exactly owns…
• Dream World is still unknown, but at least previous gen PKMN are found that way (which means it’s probably post-Elite Four)
• Unfortunately, there is still no Dark gym… 

Let’s get into our new Sugumori arts!

Desukan, Denchura, Doryuuzu, and Ononokusu

 

So we have to go through our Oha Suta PKMN that were released 2-3 months ago (by accident?).  Out of the four, Desukan really piqued my curiousity because of the fact it’s a damn sarcophagus.  I was a little disappointed that it’s a lone Ghost type and not a dual, but I’ll live because it looks really evil.  It does remind me of Cloyster a little bit with the whole hide your parts inside deal, but we’ll see how it goes because it’s definitely a cool looking PKMN.

Yay, it’s true that there’s a Bug/Electric type in the 5th Generation and it’s the first of such typing as well.  Denchura is so damn cute and to know that it possibly can learn Spider Web and Zap Cannon is so daunting!  I think I’ll be using this one alot in the game ^_^

In one of the videos that was released on Japan’s Wii Nintendo Channel, we get to officially see that Moguryu evolves into this badass of a Pokemon who’s typing is Ground/Steel.  Doryuuzu is also kind of realistically short only passing 2 feet…I thought it was bigger when Oha Suta showed it off but w/e.  Pretty cool for a PKMN

So…I have to also tell, Pokemon Sunday also announced Desukan, Denchura and Ononokusu (weird, no Doryuuzu?).  What weirds me out is that Kibago fully evolves into this thing which is oddly enough still a pure Dragon type.  All we need now is the connection between cute and freaky XD

Yanappu, Hiyappu, and Baoppu

So, right around when Kibago was found out, there was another little toy next to it that looked like it had broccoli on its head.  Turns out Yanappu, a Grass type was real and is also Dento’s PKMN so of course it was shown off early.  It’s adorable as well and I hope to be able to catch one of these!

Then the back of the game’s box was leaked out and we saw that there was a glimpse of this PKMN’s back.  Of course if you can’t guess by now, Hiyappu’s a Water type and is Kon’s PKMN as well. 

We get a Fire type as well, even though this looks like a love mixture of Aipom and Chimchar in the most weirdest of ways.  Since this guy was known last it kind of strange.  Still, I love the fact that the three monkeys are based off of the whole , See no, Hear no, Speak no idea and I thought it was clever and even making them the first gym Pokemon even better.

Tabunne & Basurao

These next two Pokemon (along with Emonga and Darumakka) were known since the bus demo of the game was going around.  Tabunne finally gets a Sugumori picture and I still think it looks like an obese MIPS albeit mroe creepy XD.  Hearing about some of the info about it though it seems to be the Chansey of the Generation and Chansey was creepy too LOL.  I know competitively it’ll suck since it’s a Normal type but w/e.

I mean we all know how much we dislike Magikarp, Carvanha, Tentacool, and at various sections Feebas, but Basurao seems to be this Gen’s easy to find Water type.  However, it’s got another side where the red lines change to blue.  Not sure which one is more dangerous, but I rather wonder if it evolves or not cuz damn, it’s pissed off!

Choroneko

Choroneko was seen first with a bunch of other PKMN (and Tabunne’s official Sugumori art) as a preview.  Being a Dark type, Choroneko right now stands out because N’s primary PKMN is this kitty! 

Mebukijika, Monmen, Churine, Tamagetake, Dangoro, Buffalon, and Yorterrie

Yup, you guessed it, Shikijika does evolve into something bigger and a bit more mature looking than some other PKMN xD  Though it’s not a case of Burmy > Wormadam, it also follows which season is currently happening.  So of course, Spring has flowers in it’s antlers, Summer has a full leafy side, I can’t seem to remember Autumn’s, but Winter has snow I think.  It’s an interesting concept and it keeps its Normal/Grass typing as well.

When I first saw this new Grass type PKMN, I kept thinking why did they mix a Hoppip with it’s evolution, Jumpluff to get this guy.  I mean it’s got the Cotton fluff look to it which is cool and I’m sure it’ll learn Cotton Spore (and even Spore for that matter) this time.  I guess we’ll wait till its evolutions come out.

Another Grass type?  Wow, anywho, Churine reminds me of Oddish but more green LOL.  Since there’s not much known about it besides it was shown off early in one of the other Nintendo Channel movies in it’s outside sprite, I can’t say much, but it’s cute too.

If Toad wasn’t enough a reason for this to happen, then I don’t know what I’m thinking anymore!  Tamagetake, A Grass/Poison PKMN, really brought back the whole WTF side because of the top of it is a Pokeball (means of protection, I don’t think so).  Since people claim this as the Voltorb of the generation, I’m not hating this at all and it’s kind of cute too in a way.

Dangoro

So this thing is when it’s all finished and fully evolved, it’s supposed to be a Gigaiasu?  Wow, claimed as the Geodude of the Generation, Dangoro screams parallels more to 3rd Gen’s Beldum and when the fanart of the middle evolution looked like Metang it was so obvious.  Still a pure Rock type though so I guess that’s alright. 

So Tauros finally gets an evolution right?….ERRRRRR WRONG!  With the news that this Generation is all new and to itself Buffalon is its own PKMN which startles me because look how close them two are (same with Mamanbou and Luvdisc, even Yorterrie and Growlithe now)…I have no idea why the creators made something to throw and potentially piss fans off with but it’s just so wrong.  I know the Normal typing there too, but c’mon Isshu is nowhere near Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, and Sinnoh.  We’ll see how this turns out.

If it wasn’t for the news, Yooterrie would easily had been thought of as Growlithe’s pre-evo because of how similar they look in design and looks (minus the pie-face).  Even to throw it out, Yooterrie is a Normal type too, but then again Azurill (a Normal type, evolved into Marill, a Water type).  It’s got its own evolutions so that throws all that discussion out the window!

Janobii, Chaobu, and Futachimaru

The biggest discussion in this whole Generation so far is the starters of course.  Now not many people are beefing on Tsutaaja’s line because well, it was going to end up that way and many people actually enjoy it.  The final evolution was leaked too, but hasnt been Sugumori-fied.  Janobii is just what it is and that’s a middle evolution so it doesn’t fully matter to me.  Still smug though ^_^

Out of the three, Chaobu probably has had the most discussion not because of its looks but of it’s typing which is once again the only middle evolution of the last 4 Generations.  Which is made worse when Chaobu’s typnig is Fire/Fighting.  Many people (like me) are tired of this typing of the starters since Combusken < Blaziken, and Monferno < Infernape.  Can we have something different please?

As for the Water type middle, not much has been talked about it as much as it’s evolution where it goes from two legs to four and becomes well…a hunchback Dialga (that’s saying it nicely).  I don’t like it since it just looks awfully different from Mijimaru and Futachimaru.  Time will see if I get used to it. 

 

Now there’s been FANART (not Sugumori art) of various PKMN that someone has been leaking out lately and since he was correct on them, some of em are looking cool and some are just pure strange (Ice Cream PKMN???).  I’m still waiting on official arts from Darumakka and Hatooboo which they’ve been known for a long time.  Yes, I will go through ALL OF THEM when they all get their Sugumori arts so be prepared ^_^!