DC Forever Evil Deck Building Game

By: Justin Hopkins

I have a lot of love for Deck Builders. Ever since I started picking up the hobby. Gravitated toward them right away cause of my love of cards in general and lead me to buy my first deck builder, Resident Evil Alliance and had a blast with it. Adored the cards and way the gameplay was. So, much so, that I was quick to pick up a new one, in the form of DC Forever Evil. A game where you play as one of many DC Rogue Gallery to take down the Justice League. About all it took to sell me on it. With us in a brand new year and desire to mix up what I talk about. Couldn’t think of anything more that I wanted to then this, so with that said, let’s dive in shall we.

Gameplay

The game starts up with you picking your oversized Supervillain and passing out the cards to 2 to 4 players. Consisting of 7 punch cards and 3 Invulnerability one. That is your deck. In the middle of the table, with the top five spread out in a line, making up the lime-up. With a vertical stack next to it. Stack of Kick cards on top, weaknesses on the bottom, and stack on Superhero Cards in the center. Should have at least 8, but can add any up to 12, or more in some cases. Shuffle them up and put them facedown, except for The Flash. He always lines up first and face up. From there you are ready to begin. Shuffle your deck of ten, and draw five. Count up how much power in your hand. Total being how much you can spent one the line-up, buy a kick, or if you have enough, take out a superhero. You can spend up to the number of power or less in your hand. Say if you have 9. Can spend up to or less than nine. Once your turn is over, any cards you used, acquired or still in your hand goes into discard pile. Replacing any empty spot in the Line-up that you took, so as to always have at least 5. If you beat a Superhero, that card goes to your discard as well. Keeping the next one in line, until the end of your turn and everyone resolves their First Appearance attack and move on to the next person in line. Play continues till there are no more Superhero cards left or you cannot make a Line-up consisting of five. Collect all of your cards and count the Victory points in the bottom left side of each card. Along with any Victory Point Tokens you have acquired along the way. Highest number wins. In case of a tie, the players who has the most Superhero cards is the winner.

Review

I have had such a blast playing Forever Evil. At this point, my favorite Deck Builders and top three favorite games in general. It can start off a bit slow, as Deck Builders do, but things pick up very quickly, because this game gives you so much to do. Setting up on-going cards, location cards, destruction cards to get rid of negative ones and Vulnerabilities and defensive cards. You still need to collect Power, because once Superheroes start falling it can go quick from there, but these cards early on, will not only go a long way to help in that cause, but also protect your stuff from your friends.

One of my favorite aspects of this game is how much it values being on offense. Not just with going after Superheroes, but messing with other players around the table. Being a general nuisance and screwing up what they have built and have in there hand. Freezing cards in The line-up that you know they need, sending ongoing cards back to their discard to a card that will allow you to commander any ongoing cards they have and use them for yourself for a turn. As trolly as all of this sounds, and it can be, there is legitimate strategies to run with this style. If you don’t have enough power to take a Superhero down, and you are worried they might. Any one of these moves can buy you another round to try and get the cards you need.

Forever Evil almost welcomes expansion packs to be added and I have added more then a few. The likes of Birds of Prey, Arrow and a few others to make a bit of a chaotic deck. Adding new ways to play, dynamics, cards to play as, and go against. A long with a rather tricky Rotation Mechanic. Really making each game feel unique and different from one another because of the way you chose or character you are playing as.

Forever Evil is a fantastic game, with some beautiful cards, and a ton of replay value. It is a game with a lot of different strategies to play around with, and never feels like you are sitting around waiting for what you need to start making progress. Easily lends itself to add expansion packs to flesh out the game more. Definitely makes me want to check out bigger box sets like Teen Titans and Heroes Unite. As far as Forever Evil goes though. Would gladly suggest picking it up yourselves and giving it a shot.

As always, I hope you enjoyed and….

Thank You For Reading!

Genwunner Plays Brilliant Diamond

By: Justin Hopkins

And we are back! I have been looking forward to playing this game, to a point. Had a real blast going through the gens for the blog series and the fourth gen (Platinum) had quite to offer. Including, what I think, and quite a few others will agree with, the toughest battle the series has to offer. While the trailer certainly didn’t look good. Was still willing to give it a fair shake. Now, the journey is done, lets discuss shall we.

Mui’s Adventure

Kicking things off with news reports of a Red Gyarados and we join, Mui. Tracking down or friendly rival, the villainous Paulie this time. Finding him at his house and started toward the lake, only to have to go back, because he forgot something. Threatening to fine me various amounts if I didn’t beat him to the lake. Whatever, still better than Hop, you be you. Making it to the lake, where we see Rowan and his assistant Lucas talking to each other. When they leave, they forget the briefcase, and we go to get it; are attacked by Starly. The case pops open and Chris, the Chimchar joins the team. In case they didn’t fix the fire Pokemon issue (they did not). Storming my way through everything, with a bit of back and forward before I was on my way. Putting off getting pokemon for a moment. Trying to not repeat my team from Platinum. Checking off boxes in Jubilife City and dealing with Paulie. When I encountered a Budew that I named, Rebecca. Who nearly swept Rourke, but his Cranidos got a lucky shot in, bit the newly evolved Monferno got revenge. Coming across Rowan belittling Team Galactic, and had to team with Lucus and made my way to Floaroma Town and was given a Mew and Jirachi. Taking a moment to think that over a bit. Not really my play style, but never had one this early in the game so meet in the middle. Boxed Jirachi and Claire, The Mew joined the team. Just as a safety net if I find myself in trouble down the line. Picking up a Shellos that I called Jill, before Chris surprisingly downed the monster Purugly with a few Power up punches. Trying to focus on Budew in Eterna Forrest, but plant vs plant and bug is nightmarishly slow. Meeting Cynthia and spent way longer then I should figuring out what was a stomp, in Gardenia’s Gym. Along with Galactic Headquarters to get my bike. Oh, and Ralts named Sherry made the team. Getting in early weapons in the Cynthia fight. With Fantina away, I spent to much time in the contest halls of Hearthome City. Along with another Paulie fight and shortly after, Budew became Roselia. Blowing through Solaceon and onto Veilstone. Ralts to Kirlia and Monferno to Infernape. Blowing through Maylene and the goons who stole the Pokedex. My focus changing to get the leather coat. Pastoria was a cake walk for Roselia and Sherry playing backup. Same with Paulie who got in my way as I chased a Galactic Goon and Cynthia redirected me to Celestic. Which I headed straight for and had to turn around… Forgot to get Defog. Anyways, Celestic town came and went, and set sights on Fantina… who beat me. Her Gengar kept getting off Confuse Rays and my team insisted on punching themselves in face. Conclave City brought another face-off with Paulie and after a detour to go get Flamethrower, Chris made short work of the Gym. Our meeting at the Library was cut short and we ran off to find out what blew up. Finding Galactic had set off explosions at the lake at two of the three were gone. Racing off to check on Paulie, but not before Chris dealt with another gym, only it was to late and we had to go to the Headquarters to try and save the day. Once I got the Masterball and saved the guardian, began to get excited for The Distortion World… which is not in the game. The Cyrus fight ending and the Guardians just freed Dialga for me to Masterball and put in a box. Dejectedly, I continued, Wolkner was no match for Jill and for the first time, I slowed down. The flashbacks starting to hit me. I was drastically unprepared the last time I faced this Elite four. This time around, thought I had a solid answers for most of the Elite Four. As long as I can keep Sherry alive for Garchomp, with Mew having Avalanche just in case.

The Cynthia Fight

Putting Paulie in his place one last time, I threw myself at them to see where I was and barring a struggle with Lucian. We did make it to Cynthia, but since Chris was my highest level at 56. Cynthia did not have much of a hard time punching me out. So, stepping back and went for the shiny stone to get a Roserade of my own, and threw myself at the league. Win or lose, best way to grind and rounds two, three, and four all ended the same. Taking Cynthia down to Garchomp and he swept me out each time. Learning early, do not put in Ada, the Kricketune, who was never worth mentioning, in with Garchomp. Even as a chance to try and revive Sherry. Garchomp would simply take the chance to simply Swords Dance and take away any fleeting hope I might have. Spiritomb was the problem. Sherry needed to take him out, but couldn’t one hit it. Turn three, Sherry took him down to under half, withstood a Shadow Ball. So, I went for Drain Kiss, to squeeze out a bit of health. For her to swap into Roserade, got poisoned and died from poison damage. On the Fourth shot, Chris was my last Pokemon standing and took him down with Close Combat for Rough Skin to kill him and I lost cause of the draw. I was so close I could taste it. Fifth round, came in with Sherry at level 63, and still couldn’t one shot it, but tanked a Shadow Ball and Cynthia left him in. Downing him with Dazzling Gleam and felt I had a chance. Rebecca dealing with Milotic and Gastrodon and Chris dealing with Lucario and Roserade. Leaving just her Garchomp. Sending out Roserade who took and Earthquake and got off a Toxic. Sending in Mew for chip damage with Avalanche. Setting up a chip shot for Sherry, but when an Earthquake did not take him down. Cynthia opted for a Swords Dance and thanks to the Toxic damage. Was in range for Mew to finish him off and secured our place in the Hall of Fame. Finishing up the Pokedex and retired back home.

The Review

Kicking off the positives, I do really like how they kept the spirit and the strength of the Elite Four and Cynthia. Gardevior could have been a good counter, but was never going to out speed him. While, I thought Mew would have tilted the board. He was always a bit player on the team, and had she attacked, a second Earthquake would have killed him. You still need to strategize beforehand and that was great to see them carry into this game.

I did like the battle animations for the most part and how most of the characters looked in the battle scenes. Really stressing those scenes specifically. They do give you plenty to do Post Game. Places to go, legendries to capture and the national desk along with the Battle Tower. Which has never been my thing, but a lot of people like that. While I do like going to catch the Legendries, it probably won’t happen for me because…

This game is atrocious to look at. I thought maybe I could adapt to the Chibi art, but no. It actually got worse the more I played. Just started rushing my way through to get it done, and I have heard the argument that, that is how it has been, but the key is in the wording, HAS BEEN. It worked for the Gameboy advances and DS, but we moved on to people looking like people, in Let’s Go and Sword/Shield. If they are going to take from the past, bring in Megas or Z moves. Not the Chibis. All of the expressions were bad to the point of either laughter and after a while, eye rolls and annoyance and it really brings this game down a lot because of it.

Can’t believe I am going to say this, but the follow feature is terribly executed. I love the follow feature in Pokemon Games. So much fun seeing your Pokemon running behind you and interacting with them and they drop the ball so hard here. You are either outrunning them to the point it is sad or you bump into them and just looks strange. Granted, was fun trying to push them in front of trainers to see if they could block them and let me bypass a fight, but seemed off putting.

I can somewhat forgive them not having the Distortion World in this game. I still missed it. Really liked that world, but what I can’t is them keeping the problem with the fact there is only two lines of Fire Pokemon in this game. The Chimchar line and Ponyta. Platinum is right there. Could have at least brought them in to help build up the numbers, since they already knew this was a problem for Diamond and Pearl.

I will let you all in on something. May still be calling myself Genwunner, but after spending last year playing my way through the games. Favorite is Gen 5, and after playing Brilliant diamond. Hope there is no plans to remake it. This felt hollow when there was so much more they could have done. Really fleshed out the world more then they did. Not going to be someone who points out Breath of The Wild. Would have been happy to have this world done up with similar animations and art from Sword/Shield. Anything would have been better then this. And while you can still have fun with this game. Kids would probably enjoy it and that is what it is for really. First time players might enjoy it, but can’t suggest it over Diamond or Pearl and definitely not over Platinum. Final Grade – C-

As always, I hope you enjoyed and….

Thank You For Reading!

Nemesis Board Game Review

By: Justin Hopkins

It is the beginning of the most wonderful time of year and no better way to get things rolling then with a horror Board Game Nemesis. Made by Adam Kwapinski, Rebel and Awaken Realms. A big box game, inspired by the Alien Movies. Where, you or a group of friends take on the role of a member of a space crew, who is tasked to try and survive “Intruder” attack, while each trying to pull off a secret agenda each player has. Some could be team based or make sure it gets to Earth to the far more diabolical ones of make sure you are the only survivor but more on that later. With how beefy this game is, lets jump right in and start discussing shall we.

The Rundown

So, this is quite the large game and has a bit of a set up time. Even down to what side of the board you wish to use. For the first few games, would definitely suggest the starting side and not the hard side. Shuffle the room pieces and set them face down and topped with smaller tokens. That could represent stuff like slime, fire, broken or nothing. do the same with the engine tokens and random draw a coordinate card without looking. So you don’t know where you are going. Set up the monster bag accordingly and the Intruder Board with eggs and three hidden weaknesses that can be unveiled by taking a human corpse, alien corpse and an egg to the lab. From there you pick your character and their associated deck along with a corporate and personal agenda cards. Keep them both for now, one player gets the player one token and it is time to start the game. Everyone starts in the Hibernation Room with a dead crew member token in the room. You draw five cards and start your turn. You have two actions, some actions call on you to discard, one of which, is explore. Means you can go to a room, if it is unexplored, flip over the piece and the smaller piece to reveal what room it is and what is going on inside said room. Fire, broken, slime. As well as a number of items hidden in the room. If no one is in the room, you have to roll for noise. Placing a noise marker in that numbered corridor. If two markers appear in the room. Remove all the markers attached to the room and draw from the Monster Bag. Placing whatever Intruder miniature you pulled from the bag into the room with you. If their level is greater than the umber of cards you have left in your hand. A surprise attack happens and you have to draw a card to reveal the damage. Unless it is a larva, then you get an infected card and place him on your player board. If this is the first Intruder to appear, each player selects one of the agendas, Corporate or Personal, to keep and discard the other. That becoming their goal for the remainder of the game. Back on the board, you can fight the intruder. Which costs ammo and a roll to see how much damage you administer. Maker the alien and draw a card. If its health is lower you kill an. Higher it lives. You can also try to run and you can get cards to help. Otherwise, the alien may be taking one more swipe at you. Once a person has taken their two turns, it goes to the next and back and forth till everyone has passed or exhausted all of their cards. Which begins the Event Phase. The timer for Hyperdrive goes down one. Same with Self-Destruction if that is active. Draw an event card, Alien attacks or moves and draw a monster token and resolve what comes out. Pass the player one token to the next player and keep going. You can re-enter the Hibernation Pod when the timer gets to the blue, but you better make sure two of the three engines are working, otherwise the ships blows up. If a player has died, self-destruct gets to yellow or you have a key, you can try for the escape pod. Of course, both will require a noise roll and don’t forget to check those infected cards to make sure you are not infected, or you will die from that.

Review

This game might seem pretty intimidating to fist pick up. It is a heavy box, with a lot of pieces and a short story of a rulebook, but honestly, once the game gets going. Everything runs like a dream. You start working out strategies and dealing with the ever changing situations and sucks you right in and all the things disappear into the story and experience and the real trouble hits; how hard this game can be.

The phrase, and everything was going so well never rings more true then Nemesis. Had a game where we had all but one room explored and before we knew it; nearly every adult was on the board and the Queen was chasing me around. It did not take them long to finish us off. Another game where everything was going so well, when the card that kills you if you have a larva popped up and I was dead. So frustrated and so ready to try again, because when all the strategies pay off and you make it across the finish line. This game gives you such a raw, wonderful feeling of achievement.

I love the fact that this isn’t a pure Co-Op game. Sure you work together on some stuff, but you each have that agenda card. Which adds a whole new level to the game. You can be a good person, who is trying to do the right thing cause your goal is to save everyone or make sure we get to Earth, but they can’t be sure cause you could be lying cause you may have picked an evil card (me, I always pick the evil card) Which can be something as simple as get away with an egg or be the only survivor. Adding even more strategy and trying to figure out who to kill the others without it looking like it is on purpose. So many different ways to play and all depends on what you decide to do with your character.

This game is gorgeous. From the detailed board and so many cards. The miniatures are lovely. If you love painting figures you really hit the jackpot with this box and if you don’t. They still look great. A lot of love went into making the box and it shows.

I don’t have any negatives to say. It is more on the pricey side, but they really give you your moneys worth with everything inside. For Board Game fans, especially those who love the alien movies, will love this game. It’s even a fun game to play solo and a blast to play with friends. Couldn’t suggest adding it to your collection more.

As always, I hope you enjoyed reading and….

Thank You For Reading!

Horrified Board Game Discussion

By: Justin Hopkins

So, I had a lot of fun talking about Vampire Masquerade: Rivals last month. So, much so that decided to do it again. This time with Prospero Hall’s Horrified. Pitting you or a group of players against some of Universal’s Classic Monsters in the form of Dracula, The Wolfman, The Mummy, Creature of the Black Lagoon, Invisible Man, Frankenstein and The Bride of Frankenstein. Seeing them on the cover was more than enough to sell me on adding the game to my collection. With a bunch of play throughs done, lets jump in and discuss.

The Game

The goal is pretty simple. You sit down by yourself or with others, and decide first, which monster, or combination of monsters you want to terrorize the village this fine evening, and set the board accordingly. The Monster with the highest Frenzy Marker. Then you pick you character, each with various abilities to help you move, pick up items and some can teleport to certain spaces. Along with a perk card. Place 12 random item tokens across the map and the game begins. A player starts their moves picking up necessary items and try to complete tasks that will allow you to defeat the monsters you have chosen. You need to break 3 coffins for Dracula, deliver evidence of the Invisible Man, find a cure for Wolfman, solve a puzzle for The Mummy, get the boat to the lair for the creature, and teach the Frankenstein’s to be human. After a player has taken a turn, it’s the Monster turn in the form of drawing a Monster Card. Which will tell you what to do, which monsters are moved, and some will place villagers on the board. All needing to go to a different location. If a player can get them there, they are awarded a Perk Card. If a monster is to land on the spot. They roll a number of dice dictated on the monster card to see if they are attacked or not. The good guys win, by meeting the achievements and defeating the monsters. While the monsters win because the terror meter has filled, from successful attacks on the players, killing villagers and Frankenstein and the Bride encountering one another before they are humanized. The monsters also win, if you have taken to long and run out of Monster Cards to flip over.

Discussion

The game’s biggest positives is it’s replayability. Trying to defeat different combinations of monsters and adding more to the mix the more you play. Not even when you play with other people, but when you play by yourself. Trying to think about what you are going to do multiple steps ahead to deal with the number games. Had multiple games come down to the last monster card and have squeaked out the win and suffered brutal losses that get me to readjust and think about what I did wrong while setting up for another game.

It has a real sense of lulling you into a sense of safety and security. Believe your team has everything in the bag and going you way. Before you know it though, the terror meter is getting dangerously close to filling and running out of monster cards. Regretting not detouring to grab a villager or playing a perk card and the victory you thought was certain is now slipping from your grasp.

They put a lot of time and love into making everything that comes in the box. The board coming with places you’d find in the various monsters world. Each character feeling special and unique in the challenges they present to beat them. While the miniatures feel a bit fragile, especially The Mummy, they do look gorgeous and absolutely loved being able to paint them. Which, was a first and I have a long way to go to get good at.

I don’t have any real negatives, but I do have a want. Cause this game does have the potential to be more. They can really make some fun expansion packs for it, and kind of surprised that they haven’t. Seen some people’s suggestions of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, The Headless Horseman Elvira and such. Would love to see an 80’s horror slashers. Would be so much fun having a game, where you have Frankenstein and his Bride, The Headless Horsemen, and Freddy Krueger on the board at the same time. I love the seven we get, but I feel like this can just be scratching the surface and could get more from it.

With all that said though. It is not a complex game that you can play and have a good times with friends or family or even alone. Which is something I love the most. Since even when I can’t get people to play. I can still bust this out and enjoy myself and adore the fact that they did use the classic monsters and rekindle my appreciation I have for them and would gladly suggest picking this up and adding it to your collection.

As always, I hope you enjoyed and….

Thank You For Reading!

Vampire The Masquerade: Rivals Review and Discussion

By: Justin Hopkins

So, this is a new one for me. We have covered movies, shows, Video Games, Wresting, Audio Books and even a comic, but never a Bored Game. An ever growing hobby of mine during the Pandemic, thanks largely time spent watching to lovely folks over on No Rolls Barred at YouTube ( Who are fantastic and you should check them out if you are into bored games.) It was only a matter of time before it merged with my other budding love of the World Of Darkness, which has been taking over since Vampire The Masquerade Bloodlines. Have picked up the V5 Core book for some tabletop madness. Play test The Bloodhunt Closed Alpha, and got Vendetta, which I will play one day when I get more friends and now we get to the newest additions, Renegade Game Studios, Rivals By Matt Hyra. I didn’t know much about it, besides the fact it’s World Of Darkness and Card Game and that it can be played with 2 so I was sold. As me and my buddy started to play, was just amazed by how much fun I was having and decided wanted to talk about the game in the blog. So, lets dive in and see what the World Of Darkness conjured up in the Game of Rivals.

The Gameplay

While this game can be a bit difficult to understand and run with, but at the heart of it; It’s all about taking charge of a Coterie (Group), and take charge of San Francisco. The game comes with 4 premade decks to choose from, Brujah, Toreadors, Ventrue, and the Malkavians. Each having their own set of skills to collect Agenda Points. Brujah being the fighters, Toreadors being the ones to collect retainers (Humans) Ventrue building up ranks and Influence Points, and the Malkvains going for cerebral with their conspiracies. Along with an expansion deck so once you have a few games in, can start making coteries of your own, with differing vampires and agenda and such. Which ever you choose, you set up your side and in the middle goes the general store and the City Deck. City deck filled with events that can hinder or reward you, Second Inquisitors out to ruin your night and humans for the feasting. Along with the Prestigious, Prince Of The City Card. Can win in multiple ways, by collecting thirteen Agenda Points, knocking out your rival, or you lose if you run out of prestige.

Review

There is so much going on with this game that I don’t know where to start to praise it. There is simply so many ways to play that it feels fresh every time you. From building up influence and power with the Ventures. So, you can sway conflict votes and build up the Agenda Points that way. Racking up Retainers with the Toreardors. It’s always satisfying to win fights with the Brujah. That’s before I even mix up the decks and seeing how well things work and mesh together.

The balance of the game is handled pretty well. The game feels competitive throughout and on more than one occasion the games I played came down to the wire. Losing one game because I didn’t have a vampire to put a title on, and for me that’s what makes this game so exciting. Every turn really matters and makes you reflect. Think about what went wrong and get better because of it.

I loved the art style on the cards. From really bringing out and highlighting what makes the clans them, but making all the other cards pop as well. From the influence conflicts cards to the various weapons. A lot of work and love went into the art work and it shows.

This is a soft negative, but it comes to the Malkavians, most specifically their Conspiracies. This is a soft negative because I could just be overlooking some tactic to use with this side of the conspiracy and in a month, change my tune entirely, but for the most part it’s almost detrimental to play as them. The way it works is you got conspiracy cards you play facedown, and you can put prestige points on them. Show them to another players if you wish to pay on it, and when it has reached the pay limit you can enact it. Which can net you some rewards and come back to hurt who doesn’t, but none of this works in a two player game. You’ll just bleed prestige points and even in larger groups, the other clans just have to many ways to build a lead on you or just outright attack you and with Malkavians having some low Blood points. Can have some trouble weathering the storm.

With all that said though, this game is still worth the purchase. The World Of Darkness did a wonderful job at putting Rivals together. There is so much replay value and with the fact they give you an expansion pack allows you to start making your own decks. If you haven’t checked it out yet, it is definitely worth the purchase.

As always, I hope you enjoyed and….

Thank You For Reading!

Resident Evil Village Review

By: Justin Hopkins

**SPOILER WARNING**

Resident Evil 8 Village has finally arrived and I was all kinds of excited for it. Follow up to the fantastic Resident Evil: Biohazard and the stellar work they did with the remakes, I couldn’t wait for this game. Plus, it was getting to dodge all of the promotional and advertisement for it. Which I was nearly spot on doing, although, not completely. Lady Dimitrescu certainly made the rounds online. Some good, with some great cosplays and fanart and some very wrong ways, but the game is here and now that I have played my way through, lets discuss shall we.

Synopsis

Game kicks off with an animated Fairy Tale, which turns out is being read by Mia to her baby Rose, much to Ethan’s chagrin. Still hung up on the events if what happened 3 years prior in Louisiana. After we put the kid to bed, we get into an argument with Mia, who just wants to move on. Which is interrupted by her being riddled with bullets and special ops rush in, being led by Chris. Whop take Ethan and baby rose. After a quick flashback, of another argument between Ethan and Mia, where she is about to tell us something, only he is interrupted by a call from work. When we come to, the car we were being taken in has been flipped, agent is dead and Rose is gone. So, down the trail we go. Coming out over a rampaged village, with a castle looming overhead. Finding a knife and a villager lives long enough to give us a pistol, before being killed by a Lycans. Managing to take him and another down, which sets off a siege. Despite, finding a shotgun, I elect to run around like a lunatic, to preserve ammo, not needing a Resident Evil 5 situation again. Using the ammo when needed and burning the clock to them leaving and enter The Hag. Who was kind enough to lock us in where we needed to be. After a bit of stumbling around, we find some Villagers, who are killed during a cutscene when the one turns, but lucky for us, we get a screwdriver and the crest we need out if the whole situation. Which allows us to gain access to the castle, only to be kidnapped by a guy who can manipulate metal with his mind. Taking us down with easy and dragging us off to the family. Who are arguing over who gets to kill Ethan Heisenberg won, but we escape his little track and manage to backtrack to where we were grabbed. Starting off to the main castle where we were greeted by The Duke, this games merchant. A jolly guy who knows more than what he says, but as long as he sells me ammo, he can take his time. Finally getting into the castle and started destroying the valuable, till we are yet again, whisked away by the three sisters, who stab us with sickles, and drag us to their Mother, Lady Dimitrescu. Who hang us on the walls and goes to inform Mother Miranda. Leaving us time to mangle Ethan’s hands that much more to escape. Starting to explore, loot and try to find the Bedroom Chambers. Where Rose might be held. Along the way, we learn that the sister’s are made vulnerable to the cold, and manage to take one of them out. When we learn that Rose isn’t here. Our objective changes and we are now looking for masks to escape. Dealing with the two remaining sisters, staying one step ahead of the roaming Lady Dimitrescu. Once we manage to get the doors open, it’s boss fight time, with the mutated version of Lady Dimitrescu. In a fight that felt like should have been harder. Regardless we get a treasure and a dirty flask. Moving back toward the village, The Duke informs us that we have indeed found Rose, a part of her anyways, her head to be exact, inside the flask. After finding a part to add to the key, he tells us the score. That Rose can be saved, but we must collect the three remining flasks, from the three remining Lords; Beneviento, Moreau. and Heisenberg, and that is where I will leave this for now.

Review

This game is absolutely stunning. Right from the start, you get a really fun and pretty animation style for The Village of Shadows. When you stumble onto the Village. The scenery shot of the looming castle overlooking the small village was breathtaking. From the Rustic down trodden design of the village. The décor and architecture of the castle was stellar. The light and shadows blended through and glistening gold trim that was around the rooms. With the dank, claustrophobic sensation when you were running around the dungeon and basements. Quaint, beauty and unnerving feeling that lingered over Beneviento’s Dollhouse. Along with the swamp and the factory. They delivered on the graphics and arty department throughout and deserve the highest of praises for their work.

They really hit it out of the park when it came to the cast of characters in this game. Heisenberg oozed charisma, to the point I was upset that Ethan didn’t agree to team up with him. Moreau was both grotesque and sad. Seriously, felt bad when he was screaming out for Mother throughout the fight. That carried over to the sisters, Bela, Cassandra and Daniela. Besides just being fun little side bosses. When they were in trouble and started begging felt genuinely sad. Lady Dimitrescu got a loot of attention going in, for good reason. She was an awesome villain. An imposing figure to say the least and although her A.I didn’t feel like it was on the same level of Mr. X, but if she did catch up, her attack was devastating. Really wish she had more screen time, but for my money, Donna Beneviento was the best of the bunch. Her area was staged perfectly. Ramping up to the suspense and building on the psychological aspects was done to perfection and stole the show and I haven’t even talked about Mother Miranda yet. Who made for an intense final boss, who was a nightmare to everyone beneath her. Heisenberg saying that everyone, from him and the Lords to the people in the village have all been subjected to her terrible experiments, all to bring back her long deceased Daughter. Showing just how cruel and dark this desperate women would take things. Them you throw on characters like The Duke, a returning Chris Redfield, the Hag, and the constant mix-up of “Cannon Fodder” Monsters, made for a terrific ensemble.

All of this was made possible by the strong performances from the Voice Cast. Maggie Robertson was excellent as Lady Dimitrescu. Speaking with Class and sophistication that Lady Dimitrescu carries herself with. Nicole Tompkins, Jeanette Maus and Bekka Prewitt were great fun as the Sisters. Paula Rhodes was terrifying as Angie the Doll. Neil Newborn gave so much swagger and character to Heisenberg. Aaron LaPlante made Duke feel like the larger than life character that he is. Andi Norris may have had only one line as Beneviento, but I have so much love for that part of the game, I am shouting her out anyways, and so many many more. They put together a great cast who pumped so much love into each of their characters.

Spoiler time, Adding the bit that Spencer had been to the village, and Mother Miranda’s work with the Mold is what inspired him to create Umbrella and the T-Virus is an interesting choice that works for me. I appreciate the end they had so much they created and it actually caught me off guard. We have seen characters take a beating, but to have the twist with Ethan being dead. Dying at the hands of Jack at the start of Resident Evil 7, and this whole time, the mold has been keeping him alive was not only well done, but a needed one that took the story and elevated it to another level.

They needed that Jolt, because Ethan was a terrible Protagonist to have here. He worked so well in Seven, because they made it with VR in mind. Kept his personality next to none, because you were getting into the game and becoming Ethan. Something they did not have here. One step forward, even if you didn’t play VR. He was a new character, stuck in a house and dealing with all of this from new eyes and everything was shocking and could play to naivety. That doesn’t work here. He just says dumb things and started annoying me right from the start when he was complaining about the Village of Shadows story. They were aiming for a sad ending, but I was happy when he died and we got the play as Chris. Would have been happy to have ended the story with Chris, but as long as this is the end of Ethan’s road. Glad to move on from him. He isn’t the worst character, still better than Steve, but not mourning his loss. To be honest, think they could have kept everything with his sacrifice the same, but made Mia the main character at the end to fight Miranda may have worked better or just had Mia be the main character throughout.

A much smaller negative. they could have cut back on the number of puzzles. I know puzzles are a mainstay and should keep some, but when you have a Piano Puzzle, where all you have to do is slap buttons till you hit the right ones. That is not a puzzle. Just put the key on one of the Sisters, it’s fine and not just spam piano keys.

Despite the lackluster protagonists and tiny bits of negativity that really aren’t worth mentioning. The Pros far outweigh the cons. Resident Evil Village is still a great game. With gorgeous graphics and art design. A pretty decent blend of horror and action. Along with some great characters, I would strongly suggest picking up Resident Evil Village. Can’t wait for RE:Verse and where the series goes from here. Final Grade – B+

As always, I hope you enjoyed and….

Thank You For Reading.

Genwunner Plays Pokemon Shield

By: Justin Hopkins

We have come to the end of the line. Having started my little trek with Pokemon Ruby. May have taken a little bit longer then I expected it would, but here we are and as happy as I was going in, was sad at the same time. Have been having a lot of fun so far and didn’t want it to end quite yet. I know that there was a lot of dislike for this game, but other games had negativity around them that I really enjoyed so, with an open mind, lets talk about Mui’s final journey… for now that is.

Mui’s Journey

The game kicks off with a cinematic of a battle about to start, with the undefeated champion, Leon. Hyping up Dynamax before we jump to Postwick. Meeting up with Mui, who was rudely interrupted by her friend Hop. Whop was excited for Leon, his brother, was coming with Pokemon. After having to go get him because he would get lost.. walking a straight line, but he did have pokemon and it was very hard. Wasn’t really fond of any of the three, but settled with Stormy the Sobble. After beating Hop and a BBQ. Had to go rescue a Wooloo who busted through the gate and into the dangerous Slumbering Weld. Encountering Zamazenta in the fog. Only he disappeared when Leon came to get us out and the journey began. Meeting with Sonia for the Pokedex, Adding a Nickit named Ripley, and Professor Magnolia, who gave us a Dynamax Band, made from a wishing star that fell during me beating of Hop. Each of us earning sponsorship to the gym challenges by Leon. Getting some camping gear from Mom and after the train couldn’t continue because of more Wooloo, ventured into the Wild Area. A place that I loved. So much fun running around. catching Pokemon that I wouldn’t use and messing with the Dens. Keeping a close eye to make sure I didn’t over level or anything but had fun exploring before finally arriving at Motostrike. Exploring around the town, buying some clothes and made a card. Dedicating my run to the Pokeball Mascot before going to the hotel. Where I encountered this game’s gang. Toxic fans of Challenger Marnie from Spikemuth, called Team Yell that I imagined all talked like NXT’S Pete Dunne. Beating them in battle and a conversation with Marnie, time to call it a day, before registering at the Gym. I picked the number four and they forced ,e into a uniform and head out to basically say hello to the crowd, because that was it. I stopped in to buy a new uniform, Poison, but wasted my money, because I was never able to change from the white one during gym battles, yeah I was bitter about that. Anyways. On my way, another Hop beating and made our way to the beautiful Gala Mine number 1. Where we meet our next Rival, Bede. Sponsored by big CEO Rose for the challenges and to collect wishing stars. The rude jerk we have been missing for so long. After knocking him out, it was off the the next city. Learning a bit of Galar Lore from Sonia but I was sweeting the Gym fight. Milo was grass and Ripley and Nickit were badly matched. Took two shot, second had my team stacked to survive the Dynamax to take him down. From there, I ran into Hop was kind enough to warn me ahead of his next beating and off to Hulbury. Where my ignorance struck again for not building more than a team of 2. I added an Electrike after my first loss to Nessa. Meeting up with Rose at a restaurant as he talked about all the good stuff he has done, really hoping we weren’t going where I thought we were when I left. Venturing back toward the hotel, fighting with off Bede and Marnie back at the hotel, making a mental note of how tough her Morpeko was. before going to gym 3, with Kabu. Our first easy gym and as they saw me and Hop off. Knew I had to come up with a better team for the second half. While Bede was beating Hop, I added Angelica the Timburr, Iggy the Sizzlipede and replaced Electrike with Jamie the Helioptile. Learning some more lore before making my way to the next city, where me and Sonia are interrupted by Bede trying to break apart a memorial to get wishing stars. A very cross Rose revoked his sponsorship for it. When they leave, the memorial falls apart and another lay beneath. Throwing the mystery up in the air. From there I went and stomped on the Ghost Leader. Then it was Opal’s turn, who, even after beating her and answering her questions, wouldn’t’ give me her gym. Getting to mock Bede back in Hammerlocke, but to my dismay Opal takes a liking to him and forces him to come along. The long to Circhester and two more Hop fights later and not just Iggy who shined, but after he dropped, I forgot to heal before the Campion, Ripley came in and started tanking and dodging everything, and able to win the day. Adding my final team member, Jaime the Sneasel as I went to Spikemuth. A town in desperate times. They don’t have a power spot and without the ability to Dynamax, people don’t come. Despite Pier doing his all to show you can have entertaining battles with and generally felt rewarding fighting him. From there we were back off to Hammerlocke, to fight Riahan and I was worried. Was able to get what I needed to evolve Jamie to Weavile but wasn’t sure if she was strong enough to handle it and got even more worried by finding doubles, but she held fast and the 8th badge was ours. Trekking to Wyndon where the Semi Finals began. Having to first fight Marnie and Hop, kind of wish they were reverse, but I did win the cheer squad and Team Yell which was a nice bonus. After Leon was late for dinner we had to fight our way to the Rose Tower. Where we hear them talking, Rose is concerned about Power running out in a thousand years. Leon says he will help, but tomorrow, after the tournament, but Rose is not happy about that, but we are done for today. The next day, we got the next half of the finals, but after Bede comes out, with the position that I was suppose to have, Fairy Gym Leader and challenges Mui to a fight. Accepted and defeated. Followed by Nessa, the Ghost Leader and Raihan. Setting up for Mui vs Leon… but no. Rose kicks off another Darkest Day, and me and Hop have to rush to gather the Sword and Shield from the Slumbering Weld. Heading back, learning he summoned Externatus. To harness for unlimited power. Having to beat him to get access to the roof. Where we need to help Leon. The first fight was simple enough but when he Dynamaxed we used the sword and shield to call Zaican and Zamazenta to help fight. Weakening him down to find a new home in my bag. After a few days, Leon ordered the Championship Match and after a fun finale, Mui handed him his first L and became champion. Post Game had a full on story, with Sordsward and Shielbert made off with the sword, after Hop couldn’t beat him. Running around the gyms. Forcing Pokemon to Dynamax and go wild. Even have their sister infiltrate Sonia’s Lab to get access to Wishing Stars. Building up to a finale where they expose Zaican to too much power and made him made. Zamazenta came to the rescue. Ending with each of us having one, and during the final fight got to tell Hop I wasn’t feeling it. There was still plenty left to do, but after all this, time for Mui to return home and retire a bit.

My Review

There is a lot of positives to talk about. The graphics and colors were all pretty good. The City and routes were all nice and appealing. Felt special and unique. Liked the U.K touches, dialogue especially, The conversations were fun to have and looked forward to the conversations because they were different. I loved the Cinematics. Felt like they got the most out of them. How they hyped up the the Dynamaxes at the beginning of the game. Properly building on the idea of having a rival that could push you. Making Leon feel like a champion and they did a good job showing how powerful Externatus was when he broke a Pokeball that was used to try and catch him. Simple scene that they made feel like a big deal.

Bede felt like a much needed character. Missing the jerk character and the fact that you got the option to be a jerk later was such a nice touch. At the same time, he had a character arc. That his attitude lead him down a bit of a bad path, even with Opal but he was taking the idea that he was a Gym Leader now seriously. Marnie was fun to interact with. That she knows Team Yell can be rough and out of line, but they were her fans and appreciates them. Her hometown friends who just want to be happy for her success. Then there was Hop, who, although was another friendly, got an Arc that separates him from the last bunch, in that his losses matter. They affected him on a deep level. Knowing that the pressure is on, by being Leon’s brother. Not just a smiling goof who shrugs off loses and that makes Hop such a deeper character in my eyes. All three were well done.

I loved the Wild Areas. A lot of time just biking around and exploring. Amused by all the Pokemon that would not just show up, but legit just come at you. Sneasels are terrifying when you see one come out of nowhere like its about to take out an ankle and it was great. We didn’t get the follow option back, but did have fun with Camping. Playing ball with my Pokemon and seeing what concoctions I could cook up at random and that is one of the things I love about these later games is how much interaction you can have with your Pokemon and this was no different.

Then, there was Spikemuth and the whole idea around the idea of this town. A town of nice people who care for one another and even though they have a gym, people didn’t want to come watch the battles because they didn’t have the new shiny thing and that was very clever and well done. Kind of making Spikemuth one of my favorite towns in the series and of course we got to talk about Team Yell. They were great. Loved the fact they were based around Toxic Fandom around sports team. That they aren’t necessarily bad. Are not trying to take over the world or steal Pokemon. They just get caught up in the moment and are doing dumb things. Good change of pace for the gang idea.

Onto the negative, and it is with the finale. Going with Rose was a boring and never rackingly cheap way to go. I thought they maybe had an interesting seeded planted to swerve and have Opal turn evil. Which would have been an Interesting way to go. The closest way we have had to an Evil Gym Leader was Giovani. When she pulled Bede that could have set something up, but no. They went with Rose. Who even when he broke bad, didn’t make any sense for him to do so. He waits five minutes and Leon was offering to help him with his problem. Would have made sense to, now that Nui is the Champion, Leon could dedicate all his time and him and Rose set off to find a solution for the Power problem. Instead, the took an easy way out.

Why, oh why would you sell uniforms if you couldn’t change them for Gym Battles. I get that you can wear them outside of the gyms, but no, they sell them separately from the regular clothes. Why even give us uniforms if we can’t change them. They did a good job at making this feel like a sport but they handled the uniforms horribly.

And, I continue to complaining about lack of Roller Skates, could have been a lot of fun to roller skate around here. Please give me the skates back.

That’s all I got for negatives. I had a lot of fun with Pokemon Shield. There were some issues with story, uniforms, and no roller skates, but the positives far out weigh them The characters were a lot of fun to interact with. Hop, Bede and Marnie were all enjoyable to be around. Liked the fact we got to watch Sonia grow into a Poke Professor. All of the gym challenges and Gym Leaders and they left me excited for what they put out next. Final Grade – B+

As always, I hope you enjoyed and….

Thank You For Reading.

Genwunner Plays Pokemon Let’s Go, Eevee!

By: Justin Hopkins

As we inch closer to the end of the series. We take a short detour off the main road, for Pokemon Let’s Go. Their first on the Switch Platform and I was both excited and a little worried. Call myself Genwunner for a reason and the fact I got to go back and relive Kanto again, but I was a little nervous about what I was walking into. I knew a little about what I was getting into. About Catch Combos and Pokemon wondering about in the overworld and such. Picked Let’s Go, Eevee due to the fact I dislike Pikachu more, but still not a huge fan of Eevee either, but was still excited to get started and now that Mui’s journey is over. Lets break it down and discuss.

(Blogger note, Let me address Ultra Sun and Moon. I haven’t forgotten about them. Paulie held a poll about whether Ultra Moon was different enough from Moon to warrant a playthrough and the vote came back No. If you feel differently, please say so and I will take it under consideration.)

The Journey

The game kicked off with Mui waking up and being greeted by the villainous Paulie. Eager to get out and get our Pokemon. Like a pro that I am, skipped the Lab and went to the trail, where we were the one to catch an Eevee and watched the ball bounce away. Catching up to it at the Lab and despite my best efforts. Picked Eevee and named hum Majin Buu and after delivering Oak’s Package and smacking Paulie around. We were off to the races, but kind of slowed down. Playing with Buu and debating about how I was going to build a team. Had a pretty set team when I was a kid, but choose to try out another to mix it up. So, before we made it to Viridian Forrest. Added female Nidoran named Bulma. Building them up along the way by mostly catching Pokemon that I dumped into the bag. My focus staying on Bulma and Buu. Getting to Pewter where I got way to excited over babysitting a Slowpoke and getting real thankful over the fact I caught a Bellsprout and took my rage out on Brock for that dumb rule and had a true geek out moment at seeing Blue. After the nightmare in Moon and a slew of friendly rivals. Was so glad to see Blue. Whop lost a bit of an edge through him maturing, but still had a bit of sarcastic wit and happy nevertheless. Rejuvenating my spirit and tearing through Mt. Moon’s Rockets and Jessie and James. Saving Misty for later. Running through second Paulie fight mostly off Eevee. Wasn’t even over leveled. Eevee is just a hoss in this one. I went this way because I had a memory off Oddish and Abra being up this way. After spending an embarrassing amount of time. Started to doubt myself until I pulled up a list. They moved Abra a few routes south and to my horror. Oddish is Pikachu exclusive. Caught Vegeta the Psyduck but he wasn’t long for the team. Thanks to Zippy Zap, Eevee dealt with Misty and we moved on. Catching 18 the Abra on the way to the S.S Anne. Training him up during my run through the boat, but I was worried about Surge…Not as a trainer but his stupid trash can puzzle. That thing would hang me up for so long and it still rages on. I beat Surge faster then it took me to open the door, but it allowed me to move on to the next leg and I really needed to start building a team. It was still just Buu, 18 and Bulma and I wasn’t sold on Bulma yet. While I didn’t find any in Rock Tunnel. That changed quickly. Adding Tien the Hitmonlee and 17 the Gastly while we were saving the poor Cubone, in a satisfying ending to the Poketower that I never knew I needed. Once I got the flute though, it was a mad dash to Fuchsia Stopping only to catch Caulifla the Ponyta. Excited to see the Safari Zone. Only there is none. Replaced it with the Go Park. A place to shift Pokemon from Pokemon Go and after a bit of playing around, sent some over. Frieza the Alakazam and Kale the Vileplume. They were not over level. I never committed to Go long enough for that. Highest was Alakazem at 28. So grinding was necessary still, but the team was complete and it was time to start knocking off challenges. Caulifla dealt with Koga and Erika. We took Giovani in Silph-Co before 17 and Frieza tag team to down Sabrina and team effort for Blaine and Giovani again. Getting by Paulie with ease and immediately got lost in Victory Road. Stumbling on Moltres byu accident, but was luckily prepared for it. Managing to find my way to the League. Team of Frieza the Alakazam, 17 the Haunter, Kale the Vileplume, Tien the Hitmonlee, Caulifla the Rapidash and Buu the Eevee, and after one shot, became Champion of Kanto for the first time in decades. Kicked off Post Game by collecting the other two Legendary Birds and a slugfest between me and Mewtwo. Leading to the best encounter in the game, with Green. I laughed way to hard at her throwing pokeballs at me. Rematching the gym leaders and then came the hard part, The Master Trainers. Replaced Kale and Caulifla for Psyduck and Charizard (because I knew where they were) and started Catch Combos. One set included a 116 Gravelers which included no shines. i was high enough to win 6 and finally took down Red for a change. With all of that done, it felt like it was time for Mui to retire home and wrap up this adventure.

Review

I had such a great time playing this game. They really brought Kanto to life in a beautiful way. The colors all popped and the designs of the Pokemon were gorgeous. Places like Mt. Moon and Cerulean Cave were just amazing. The cinematic scene were a lot of fun that added to the place or situation. From little things like Eevee getting excited and running to inspect the fountain in Cerulean or even the dumb celebration of high fiving his tail. I was fine with the changes they did make, like seeing the heartbreaking Cubone Story and loved the fact he got to go with Paulie and grow into a Marowak of his own. To the more intense moments of encountering the Birds or Mewtwo. As corny as it sounds, they brought my childhood to life in the best possible ways.

I found that they really made it fun to catch Pokemon again, in my opinion. Finding myself just walking around. Watching what Pokemon came out. Going on random catch combos just to see which rare pokemon came out. Seeing pokemon like Chancey so early blew my mind, but got so much more fun at the end, when you see Dragonites and Charizards flying overhead. I spent so much time walking around and had a great time.

I loved the focus they put on interacting with your Pokemon. Eevee growing on me, from a pokemon that I didn’t care for going in and ended up loving it by the end. Interreacting and feeding him berries. Watching him moving around during the cinematics to see his reaction when around the Legendries. It carries over to the Pokemon that you pick to follow you. A component that should be in every game. True happiness is riding on the back of Haunter. I love the fact that you have the option to interact and feel like you get to bond with your pokemon and they are more then just go and fight the others.

It was fun seeing Red and Blue, despite how much it really throws the storyline out of the window. It was good to see Blue continue to grow and mature a bit. Being able to fight Red was fine, but Green stole the show. I wish we could have had her for a rival cause it was a blast dealing with her during the short time you do.

Mixed wise, Paulie was fine. Another friendly rivalry, which has run its course, but after the Nightmare known as Hau. He was fine here, and I feel like they could have done more with Jessie and James and having Meowth talk wouldn’t have been a big deal.

Negative… I am really hung up on the roller skates being taken away from me. They were so much fun. Please give me my skates back, but that is it for complaints here. Call me bias if you like, but I had a lot of fun with Pokemon Let’s Go Eevee. Brought the first Generation back in a wonderful way, love the cinematics, and adored the fact I got to interact with the Pokemon and seeing them in the wild was a nice way to go. Final Grade – A

As always, I hope you enjoyed and….

Thank You For Reading!

Genwunner plays Pokemon Moon

By: Justin Hopkins

As we inch closer to the end of the series, we arrive at the Seventh Generation, with Pokemon Moon. Going in I knew just a handful of things about Moon. Knew there was islands and that they replaced gyms with trails and added something called Z Moves and that was about it. While X was a fine game, thought they left a lot of places to grow on and was excited to see which way they went in Pokemon Moon. An unexpected change actually happened because of the Islands. Normally I would add a Pokemon or two as I go. Slowly building a team, but in this game, I really went in a different direction and staggered my team. Mixing and matching as I went till I had a team I liked. So, instead of telling who I had at what time. Just tell you how I had when I left each island. So, lets dive into Mui’s next chapter in the Genwunner series shall we.

The Journey

The game kicks us off with a chase scene of a little girl being chased around a facility by guards. When something in her bag teleports them to safety after being surrounded. Before we catch up to Mui and her first day on a beautiful night on Melemele Island. Professor Kuki comes around and takes us to meet the Island Kahuna. Which turns into us having to go find someone we never met before. When we bump into Lillie, the girl from the beginning and we save her Nebby, Cosmog, from a group of Spearow and leads us to being saved by Island Guardian Tapu Koku. Leaving a stone for us when he departs. Leading them back, meeting the nightmare known as Hau, we get to pick our pokemon. Which is a change from before the pokemon has to chose us to, but in the end, Kristen the Popplio is on the team. Getting our Z – Ring and Rolodex, and off to training school. After dealing with that and a regrettable first encounter with Team Skull. Finally slog our way to the first Trial. Were we chase Alolan Rattatas and fight Skulls till we Trigger the Totem Pokemon, an Alolan Raticate. Earning our first Z-Crystal. Which I took back and beat Kahuna Hala, with Kristen, Tree the Pikipie and Nacy the Alolan Grimer. Allowing me to move on to Akala Island. After a bit of confusion and battling the “edgy” Gladieon, who didn’t like Hau either. After a tough fight with his Null. We finally get to move on to some more Trials, Akala being home to three. First being to fight off some Wishiwashies. Getting 10 dive balls that I will never use. Two was a huge let down revolving around dancing Marowak and photos, but loved the third. Where we had to collect ingredients to make some food to tempt the Totem Pokemon out of hiding. Along the way we stop off at the Battle Royale, where we meet the Masked Royal and have an interesting 4 way fight and have to fight Pulmeria of Team Skull. Battling the Island Kahuna Olivia, with a team of Kristen, Tree, Sally the Sylveon, Sydney the Marowak and Alexandra the Phanthump. After we are rushed off to the Aether Institute. A place to protect and house abandoned or Pokemon in need. Lillie refuses to go, leaving me alone with Hau. Meet Lusimine, whose goal is to find an Ultra Beast and one appears, but leaves just as fast. They gave us a lift to the next island. Going to meet Kuki at the park and see not just him, but Guzma, the leader of Team Skull and the fight ensues and the fight with Team Skull continues at the Aether House after we leave the Park. While I was out taking pictures of Ghosts and fighting the Totem. They circle back and steal someone’s Pokemon. Leaving a message that we have to go alone to get it back. Which we did, but learn that Team Skull consists of people who have failed their own Trails along the way. This, of course, was a distraction, and Team Skull kidnap Lillie and Nebby. I want to just go and get them, but we have to fight the Kahuna, Nanu. With our team of Kristen, Tree, Sally, Sydney, Jaime the Panchum, and Minxie the Absol. ( I think. I forgot to note down when Absol made the team, but I believe she was added before this) Despite our best efforts and learn that Gladioen and Lillie are siblings to an awful mother Lusimine. She uses Nebby to open a wormhole and her and Guzma are sucked in and Nebby evolves. Leaving me and Lillie to go collect flutes. Which should help. Not before I fight Hapu, newly elected Kahuna. After playing the flutes, Nebby evolves again into Lunala and we enter the portal. Having to battle Lusaminie after she merges with an Ultra Beast, the Beast Mother, in a boss fight. Which was grueling. After, Lillie asks us to catch Nebby, which we do, and we drop Jaime from the team. Team going into the Elite four, is Kristen, Tree, Sydney, Sally, Minxie, and Nebby. The Elite four was nothing special, but Kuki ended up being a bit of a fight due to his snorlax, but third time is a charm, and the celebration began and we caught Tapu Koko. The post Game kicks off with a sad goodbye to Lillie, who is on her way to Kanto. To find help for her Mother, in Bill. Post Game has plenty but after Catching the Ultra Beasts, I was ready to move on and Mui retried back home.

Review

Pokemon Moon did so much right. I’ll start with the story. Which I didn’t think much off at first. I button mashed my way through a lot of the start, thinking it was just the usual quick stop tutorials, but as we went along. I found myself getting into it. I really liked seeing Lillie grow as a person. Going from someone who was scared and sheltered and watched her grow into her own person and she wasn’t a trainer. Which I liked a lot. When we ran into her she was there to talk and not challenge me and ramble about fighting me again. Team Skull got on my nerves, with the worst form of cringe, the moment they would approach me, but they were made almost deeper when you learn that they were trainers who couldn’t complete their trails and and came together and acting out because of their failures.

Really upped the graphics from X. The movements feel more smooth and loved the addition of the Z moves. Which looked amazing and loved the idea of this one time, all out powerful blow. Loved the designs of the Pokemon they added and the Alolan Pokemon ranked from awesome in Marowak to nice with Alolan Persian. Was amped up to see the Ultra Beasts, cause I avoided looking at them a head of time and the designs all hit the mark for me and the idea that your starter pokemon had to pick you too. Kind of wish that they would build on that idea and of course, the ride pager was spectacular. Loved running around on a Taurus.

The mix up from Gyms to Trails was a welcomed addition. Really fitting the Alolan atmosphere. I wasn’t a fan of the Marowak one. Thinking they could have done more with that, but I loved the idea of not only having to fight Totem Pokemon but find ways to lure them out. Whether it is making food or taking Pictures of ghosts to make Mimikyu want to come out for a picture. At the some time, battling was important and had to earn the right to fight the Kahuna.

One quick mixed feeling was the layout of the Islands. Got lost so many times and Island hoping felt weird and hard to backtrack for something specific. Not counting it as a straight negative because I’m fairly certain that it is on me. Just weird.

On to the negative and his name is Hau. Living Breathing nightmare known as Hau. Never wanted to beat a character more in a pokemon game more than Hau. We have been having this friendly rivalry for a few gens now, but this is the worst. Seriously, wanted Barry back and never missed Blue more. Even give me Silver. There are threats going on and he just keeps going on about the Trails and keeps smiling. At some point his tone needs to change and it doesn’t. Would trade for any rival just to get rid of his stupid smiling face.

They do hold your hand a bit to much. at the start. Button matched my way through some stuff that was probably important and they could have spaced some of this stuff out more. Which could have given you a bit more of freedom to play with. At least feel like it.

On a minor negative, way more personal, I hate the fact they got rid of the Roller Skates. They introduced such a fun way to get around and may never get over them being removed.

And that is all the negatives I got. Really had fun in Moon and loved what they brought to the table. From the designs, the story and Z moves. It did have some negatives, granted, looking at you Hau, but I can look past most of them. Seriously miss the Roller Skates though. Pokemon Moon was a blast to play and would gladly play again. Final Grade – B+

As always, I Hope you enjoyed and….

Thank You For Reading

Genwunner Plays Pokemon X

By: Justin Hopkins

So, this has been a project that got set aside for a bit. Having left off with Soul Silver back in December. Knew it was going to take a bit to circle back, but took me a bit longer than even I was expecting, but I am glad to be back to it. Enjoying myself more than I thought I would and looked forward to X in particular. There move to 3ds and a jump from 2d sprites. Curious to see how they would change with it. So, with that said, lets jump in and talk bout Mui’s journey through and my thoughts.

My Journey

Mui’s journey kicks off in Vanivelle Town. Daughter of a former Rhyhorn Racer and Professor Sycamore has called upon the five kids from town. Meeting up with them one town over, Shauna, who wants to make memories with her friends. Trevor, wants to fill Pokedex. Tierno, the dancer and Calem, Mui’s rival who you will grow to despise. Mui’s first act was declaring herself as Lady M… and took Fennekin and named her Asuka. Joined shortly after by Io, the Scatterbug. Working our way toward Santalune City where everything stopped when we got he Roller Skates and spent so much time skating around town. Getting a little to carried away and forgot to heal and lost my first shot at the gym. Got it the next time and went to finally meet the Professor. Meeting us all, and while he wants us to all have our on reason for adventure, really wants to know about Mega Evolution and challenges me to a fight and I get to pick from the original starters. My mind told me to go with Squirtle, but my heart won the day and Bayley the Bulbasaur joined the team. Trying to leave but bumped in Lysandre. The obvious baddie. Retreating a bit, to put off with meeting with Calem, I added a Honedge who I named Abadon, but I eventually went and met Calem. Listening to more of Lysandre’s rant to Diantha and finally got to move on. Becoming a duke and woke a sleeping Snorlax. Finding Maki the Mawile in Glittering Cave and chased off Team Flare. Picking the Jaw Fossil and the second gym badge. Added Hawlucha that I called Lita for a bit, but was short lived. After beating Korrina for her badge and lost the rematch, she won on a one hit crit. I decided to finally run with Lucario after passing twice before and Hirsch was added in place of Lita. Taking care of Flare at the power plant and destroyed Clemont for his stupid quiz. Getting lost trying to find Sycamore and spent a fortune in Cab fair all for a Calem fight and Lysandre rant, I felt cheated. Cleared out the Pokeball factory and stumbled into the Fairy Gym by accident, but wasn’t a problem, my team, may not be over-leveled but still swept her with ease. At the next town everything stopped again. Going to fetch a pokemon for the lonely widow, in the form of a Zigzagoon. Barely escaping another Calem fight after the gym because Lysandre finally went crazy. Threatening to kill everyone not involved with Team Flare. Fighting my way through his knockoff Team Rocket layer. Just to have them activate the Ultimate Weapon anyway. Powered by Legendary Pokemon Xerneas. Which I masterballed, didn’t have the resources or health to widdle him down. Escaping the explosion and went back to the circuit. Where I not only had to deal with Sycamore one time, but fight Shauna, Tiern and Trevor in a fun battle on a rope bridge. Which I had fun with, beacuse these three hadn’t hounded me the whole game for a fight. Asuka dealt with Wulfur with ease and off to the Elite Four. Where Bayley stepped up as MVP. Where she not only sole survived twice, one of which against Malva, to bring home the Championship. Post Game, I caught Mewtwo and Zygarde, which I named Sonya and Shayna. I did a few rounds in the Battle Mansion and traded a Kirlia for Dantha’s Ralts and since Shauna was so nice and didn’t challenge me every other town, traded Xerneas for Chespin, before retiring back home.

Review

We are going to kick off with the pros, and want to start with the obvious and the designs of the pokemon. Which I did really like. Pokemon like Honedge, Skiddo and Hawlucha had some really cool designs and relit my desire to catch as many different pokemon as I could. The introduction to the Fairies not only opened themselves up for some interesting designs but breathed some new life into Pokemon like Mawile who needed some love. Then you got the Mega Evolution. A fun mechanic that while I was fifty fifty on some of the looks, the ones I did like, I loved. Really built up the desire to seek out as many of the stones you could to see them all.

Thought this was a good first step into the world of 3d for them. It could be a bit wonky at times, when you are entering doors or trying to get someone’s attention at times, but felt like it was fine. The scenery looked good and liked the fact they added stuff to design your character and just help try to pull you into the game a bit more. A few of the gym designs, like the one in the city and the Fairy one were knockoffs of ones from Generation 1, but I did like the dollhouse aesthetic. Really loved the spider web and circular dimension in the psychic one and the roller skate rink which brings me to the next one.

I loved the Roller Skates. I was so happy and just skated around for the sake of it. Love roller blading and fact I got to skate around in game was such a blast. It is officially my favorite way to get around and, little hint, I have finished Moon as of this blog, hurts that they got ride of it. Was one of my favorite parts of the game.

To round off the pros, I liked the group dynamic they were trying for. Friends who all had their own desires. Not all trying for the same thing. Liked Shauna just wanting to have fun with her friends and Trevor just wanting fill out the Dex and got a kick out of Tiern just wanting to dance. None of them really wanted to fight but find different objectives, but at the same time they felt incomplete.

This game for all the good they showed, all seemed to leave things incomplete. We could have done more with Tiern and his desire to find dancing pokemon. That could have lead to a fun side mission. Didn’t even try with Trevor. Just reads your pokedex and says you won. That could have been a fun challenge to have in the game. To try and beat him in completing the Pokedex and Calem just got annoying. Friendly rivals don’t work. Pick a lane or don’t try.

Don’t get me wrong. I kind of feel bad for Team Flare. Team Plasma was such a good group, that it would have been difficult for them to have to follow them, but they didn’t even try . They are just there to be in your way and Lysandre feels so hollow. Seeing him die in the end was probably the only interesting thing they do with him because you don’t expect it to happen. But short of that, he falls short and that kind of carries over to Sycamore as well. He is just boring. Wants you to go for Mega Evolutions, but every time just shrugs his shoulders and says or whatever you want. Speak with some conviction, show you care. Only reason he is memorable is because you get a second starter.

Pokemon X almost sits perfectly on the middle. Some good things, some bad things. Had Megas and Roller Skates. Pokemon designs that love to hollow characters and a pest of a friend, but I didn’t hate my time in Kalos. It is an easy playthrough and glad I played and would play again and for those reasons I would give it a grade of B-.

As always, I hope you enjoyed and….

Thank You For Reading.