Pokemon Moon for the 3DS--First Impressions

Let me just preface this by saying that I haven’t played a Pokemon game to completion since I played Pokemon Yellow as a tween. I have other Pokemon games, and I’ve played other Pokemon games, but I lost interest in them after a few hours of playing. I didn’t much like the new generations of Pokemon, save a few of them so I guess I wasn’t invested in the experience.  

Source: Pokemon-SunMoon.com

I bought the new Pokemon games simply because my daughter has been playing Pokemon and I thought that buying Sun and Moon would give us the opportunity to play together, trade together and so on. I was also going to wait to play it, because my daughter won’t receive her Pokemon Sun until Christmas. I thought I would just pick I up, play it for a little bit and see what it was like… but I found it hard to put down.

Now I’m 8 hours into the game, I just made it to the second island, and I’ve been enjoying it so much. I thought I would share some of my thoughts about it. I know that seems like a long time to only have made it to the second island, but I like to spend a lot of time leveling my Pokemon equally and trying to get some through the first evolutions.

I love the customization. At the very beginning I was disappointed by the lack of customization available because I thought that was it. However, once the game gets rolling you can buy different clothes to wear, cut and/or color your hair, apply lipstick, and colored contacts to change your eye color. These little things made me much happier! I feel that customization in any game is a good feature.

I’m also happy to see some of the old generations of Pokemon, the ones that I can recognize, come back to life. Growlithe, in particular, gave me a happy surprise! Meowth got an Alolan version, and I actually prefer the Alolan version to the original! That sassy grin, and prideful attitude is perfect for Meowth. I had heard about the Alolan versions through the grapevine, and I like them for the most part. Ratatta’s little mouse-tache makes me chuckle.

Source: Nintendo Wire

I think my favorite new bit in these games is being able to ride Tauros. After defeating the first Kahuna, you are given a pager to summon Tauros to ride around. He can break through rocks by charging, giving you access to new areas on the island. I saw that some gamers were upset that this rid the game of HMs, but I really like it! It’s a clever idea that puts that Pokemon’s skills to good use! Plus you don’t have to worry about keeping the Pokemon with the right HM in your party, which I appreciate.

The power-up with the Z crystals and unlocking hidden power moves for Pokemon is also a concept that I enjoy. Though, I would have liked to see more variety, or Pokemon specific power moves. "Breakneck Blitz" is a charging power move for normal-type moves. But it just doesn't suit my Meowth to be charging down opponents. A move with him utilizing his claws, utilizing some part of his personality(maybe stealing an item from an opponent, maybe?) or something would have been more fitting.

The new... enemy? It strange using that word in a Pokemon game, but I don't know what else to call them--They're called Team Skull. I don't know what their goals or anything are yet, but like always, they are out to steal Pokemon and cause trouble. The grunts I have run into are... goofy. Almost to the point of seeming annoying. They are like ridiculous gangsters. I've only had a couple run ins, and maybe I will learn more soon.

Just one more thing, the trainer battles are too easy! Most trainers only carry one Pokemon on them, and save for maybe once or twice when I was trying to level up my weaker Pokemon, It was over in seconds! I know that Pokemon can't be too difficult because kids will be playing and you have to ease kids into it, but I want a challenge! Even the Kahuna on the first Island was so easy! Maybe Game Freak should implement a difficulty setting or a challenge area? Make me work for it!

I’m looking forward to getting to play this game more and exploring more of Alola. I doubt I’ll do a full in depth blog entry about Pokemon Moon, and I don’t feel I’m qualified to do so since I haven’t played a Pokemon game in so long so I can’t make accurate comparisons. I highly recommend, however, that if you enjoyed Pokemon at any time, pick it up to give it a try. You might be surprised! If you play, let me know what you think about it!

Happy Gaming, Friends!

Bell

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State of the Blog Address--December

Hello, friends! Today, I want to address the month of December and what it holds for Gaming in Pajamas. We haven't been operating long, but I do have plans laid out for quite some time to continue blogging here and I appreciate everyone who takes the time to stop by. I'm open to all suggestions as far as games I should play, or changes that you would like to see in the blog. I won't take offense to helpful criticism.

So let's start with this: Game List. Clicking that link will take you to the list of games that I have played(specifically FOR this blog and not outside of it) and also contains categorized lists of the games I am planning to play. If you want to make gaming suggestions, please do so in the comments there.

I am going to try to make posts every Thursday. Why Thursday? Cause Thursday is the day that has nothing else going for it. Monday is Monday, Tuesday is Monday's slightly prettier sister, Wednesday is Hump Day, Friday is the Best Day cause it leads to the weekend twins. Thursday is all alone. So, Thursday is my posting day.

You can expect there State of the Blog Addresses around the first of every month so that we can look at the month ahead and know whats going on. Unless there is an emergency(knock on wood).

Now let's get to the fun stuff! For the month of December I'm going to start off playing Deponia: The Complete Journey. I played a Deponia game once before, a long time ago, and never got to finish it. So that's my plan now, to finish what I started! Deponia: The Complete Journey does contain 3 games of a 4 game Quadrilogy though, and I am not sure if I just want to play through one at a time or power through them all. After Deponia, I plan to pick up either LIMBO or Don't Starve/Don't Starve Together. Anything else I would play would depend on what I decide to do with the Deponia games.

Thanks for joining me once again!

Happy Gaming, Friends!
Bell

Attack of the Friday Monsters! for the 3DS

In the 1970's, Japanese TV was ruled by the "kaiju(monster)" television shows. Godzilla is probably one that is most identifiable worldwide. These shows captured children's' imaginations and hearts. The developers at Millennium Kitchen Co and Level-5 seek to restore that feeling of nostalgia and wonder with Attack of the Friday Monsters!

Source: Nintendo UK(link below)

In Attack of the Friday Monsters!--which shall be henceforth referred to as AFM! to save myself some typing--you begin with an opening song lovely sounding song, like something right out of a Studio Ghibli film. The music overall in this game is charming and well composed. The gentle flute tunes will relax you as you stroll about, admiring the scenery...

The scenery, by the way, is G-O-R-G-E-O-U-S. It's pre-rendered and looks almost like watercolors were used to paint the details in. The colors are vibrant and eye catching, and they fit the child-like aesthetic of the game perfectly. The 3D sprites aren't exactly amazing, but they aren't terrible either. Ps1 quality. Little blocky, a little vague, but it does have it's own charm to it.  

Source: Level-5 IA(link below)

Perhaps we should talk characters and plot. We get to play as Sohta, a transfer student to the town of Fuji no Hana. Every Friday in Fuji no Hana, a monster appears! But why? Where does the monster go? What does it want? Sohta and his new friends--Ramen, Akebi and A Plus--want to know. There are monster tracks, we just need to follow them and we can get to the bottom of this mess!

Aside from the main "find out the mystery of the monster" story line, there are a few other "side quests." I completed all but 4 when I completed the game and epilogue episode. There are also "glims" you pick up around town. They look like small sparkly dots, and if you collect 7 of them, you get a monster card. Once you have 5 cards, you can challenge your friends to battle! Card battles are work like rock, paper, scissors. If, for example, both cards are ROCK, then a secondary stat(power) is used to determine the winner. I rather enjoyed the card game myself. It's simple and easy to understand. 

What wasn't so easy to understand was the plot beyond "find the monster." When we first "see" the monster, there is some debate as to whether the monster is real or not. Then we learn about some aliens? How do they play in? Are the aliens controlling the monsters? WHO. IS. FRANK? It looks like a Captain America reject is fighting Mecha Godzilla right now. Someone, pinch me. I have to be dreaming....

Source: Polygon(link below)

Despite my confusion with the story line at times, I still have fun playing with this game. It was shorter than I expected, it took me less than a day to complete it, which is why I am posting so soon after my last post. It was cute, quirky fun that kept me interested from the moment I picked the game up until I put it down. I wish there had been more closure in the ending, though. After the credits started to roll I still had to idea what the heck just happened. After the credits is a little extra episode where you can finish some quests, get new cards and challenge new people to monster cards.... but I still felt there was a lot left wide open. 

I don't think this is a game I would replay. It has it's charm, but there just isn't enough substance there to warrant me to pick it up again. You can pick up Attack of the Friday Monsters! for 2.99 (ON SALE!) in the Nintendo store today! It's worth 2.99, I think. :)

Happy Gaming, Friends!

Bell

Sources:

Nintendo UK

Level-5 IA

Polygon

A Gaming Agenda

I decided this would be the easiest way to keep track of the games I have played or plan to play. Since I'm taking suggestions, I'll be updating this periodically so that you can keep track of what I am doing(game wise). Also, I'd lose my own butt if it wasn't attached so this will, hopefully, help keep things centralized so I won't lose my head.

So, here we go!

Games Reviewed:

Heart Beaten
Attack of the Friday Monsters!
Deponia: Part One
Limbo
Seduce Me the Otome
Mr. Massagy



Planning to Play:

Nintendo 3DS

• Kingdom Hearts: 3D Dream Drop
• Legend of Legacy
• Stella Glow
• Theatrhythm: Final Fantasy
• Fantasy Life
• Story of Seasons
• Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy
• Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask
• 999
• Virtue’s Last Reward
• Zero Time Dilemma
• Moco Moco Friends
• Bravely Default
• Doodle Jump Adventures
• The Legend of Kusakari
• Adventure Labyrinth Story
• NightSky
• Grinsia
• Journey to Kreisia
• Witch and Hero
• Fairune
• BOXBOY!
• Alphadia
• Chronus Arc

Nintendo DS

• Alice in Wonderland
• Golden Sun
• Rhapsody
• Dragon Quest Heroes: Rocket Slime
• Boing! Docomodake

Playstation 4

• Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons
• Saints Row: Re-Elected
• Unravel
• Flower
• Dragon Quest Heroes
• Tearaway Unfolded
• Root Letter
• LIMBO
• Don’t Starve/Don’t Starve Together

PSP

• Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel
• Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky
• Cube
• Phantom Brave: Heroes of the Hermuda Triangle
• Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth
• PixelJunk Monsters Deluxe
• Tactics Ogre
• Daxter
• Lunar: Silver Star Harmony
• Popolocrois
• Mana Khemia: Student Alliance
• Persona 3 Portable
• Breath of Fire 3

Playstation 1

• Vagrant Story
• Rugrats: Search for Reptar
• Heart of Darkness
• Final Fantasy Anthology
• Alundra
• Guardian’s Crusade
• Arc the Lad Collection
• Threads of Fate
• Alundra 2
• Xenogears
• Dragon Seeds
• Legend of Legaia
• Tomba!
• Suikoden 2
• Brave Fencer Musashi
• Grandia
• Wild Arms
• Tales of Destiny
• Tales of Eternia
• Thousand Arms
• Rascal
• Tail Concerto

PC/Steam

• Machinarium
• Adventure Manager
• Deponia: The Complete Journey

Heart Beaten for the 3DS

"What if someone loves you, but your only desire is to get away from them as fast as you can?"

This is the question posed to this game. And this game's answer is simple... YOU CRUSH THEM. CRUSH THEM MERCILESSLY.

Source: Nintendo(link below)

In Heart Beaten, your goal is to destroy his heart until there is nothing left. We do this by blending it, playing Duck Hunt with it, hitting it with a hammer, and dropping a bomb on it, to name a few. This game is composed different types of mini games, each prefaced but a short conversation between you and your... eh, ex-lover? The male is seeking to find a way to repair the relationship, and the girl responds to this with almost random insults--such as, "You're a bit overweight!" After which you get right to the heart beating. 

Source: Video Chums (link below)

The heart, by the way, is more anatomically correct than I expected, and I LOVE it. I had expected this to be a more cutesy game based on the cover, pink bubble letters and all.

The mini games are enjoyable, albeit frustrating at times. They get progressively harder the longer you go on, and has a point system with bronze, silver and gold ratings. You need to earn higher scores to unlock the higher levels--arcade style. In addition to many of the games having a "miss once and have to start over" arrangement, some the the levels require cat like reflexes and timing... um, which I do not have. It took me a while to get through some of the levels, but even so, I had the game finished in a an hour(I wasn't going for gold or anything, I'm more of a silver girl). 

The game's music is decent, although repetitive after a while. I ended up turning the volume down--which is sad because the music made me feel like I was in an arcade, but I wish there was more variety to it.  

Source: Video Game Legacy(link below)

You can buy Beaten Heart on the Nintendo shop for 2.99 right now, and it only takes up 277 blocks on your DS. So if you've got an hour(maybe two, if you're pushing it) to kill, this will fill that in for you. Sorry PC gamers, but it isn't on Steam(I looked).

Heart Beaten was overall fun, and I enjoyed playing it. The dialogue got a few chuckles out of me, the music was enjoyable, for the first 15 minutes anyway, and the mini games have a good variety of ways for you to smash/beat/burn that heart. I don't think the replayability is there--at least not for me. I'm not invested enough to try to get gold ratings on all of the mini games, and I don't have the skill required to do so(remember my lack of cat like reflexes?). If you have played this game, let me know what you thought of it!

Happy Gaming, Friends!

PS: This game has a rating of 7+. That seems a little low to me. I don't know that shotgunning hearts or putting hearts in a blender is appropriate for that age. But what do I know? 

Sources:
Nintendo Heart Broken Page
Video Chums Review
Video Game Legacy