Adventures in Pokemon Y Part 11: I Hate Snorlax

Okay, it's time to wake up and try to catch that Snorlax. After buying some Poké Balls, I went to Route 7. Sure enough, the two men that were there earlier were still there, waiting to wake the Snorlax. Shauna had caught up with me, I guess she had wanted to see more of the Parfum Palace. We explored the Palace together, what the heck was there she wanted to see?! Maybe she wanted to see more of the gardens. We didn't spend a lot of time there...

Anyway, we arrive at the bridge, and that Snorlax is still there. It's like the thing is going for the Guiness World Record for Longest Nap. According to Bulbapedia, Snorlax is known for its massive appetite, you think it'd get up to eat the near half-ton of food it needs to satisfy its appetite for a couple hours.

I wonder what would happen if someone tried to put Snorlax on a diet? Maybe it would go on a hunger-induced raging rampage. I imagine in the Pokémon universe, there have been known cases of diet-induced Snorlax stampedes. You don't tug on Superman's cape, you don't put Snorlax on a diet.

I imagine that in-universe, Snorlax is one of those Pokémon that is only caught for zoos, or preserves. I can't imagine the average Trainer being able to handle Snorlax's dietary needs.

Anyway, I hand back the flute to the original owner, and he warned me to get ready. When Snorlax wakes up...it can get grumpy. The flute gets played, and the Snorlax attacks!

I hate battling this Snorlax. Every time I faced it, it ended up fainting. I even used an Ultra Ball I had on it after bringing its life bar to the red. It managed to break out of THAT. I saved before I faced it, so it wasn't so bad. I really want to catch that blasted thing. It drove me crazy!

Ugh, I hate Snorlax. But I will not give up. I will NOT give that fat blue blob the satisfaction of seeing me give up. I will not let it beat me! I will not let it get the last laugh! I WILL CATCH IT!

Age of Ultron Review

I finally got to see a film I have been wanting to see for quite some time: Age of Ultron. I figured that the film had to be better than the mini-series it got its name from. The mini-series never appealed to me, nor did it make me want to buy it. But the film...I wanted to see it. I wanted to see this movie, and now I got to. So, I decided to write down my thoughts on it.

I have to say, I really enjoyed this film. I think it was just as good as the original, if not better. The original cast of the Avengers returns, along with some new faces, and a couple actors reprising their roles from other Marvel films.

James Spader takes up the voice of the mechanical maniac known as Ultron. His Ultron really runs the gamut of emotions, choosing to portray the robot menace as a mix of megalomaniac and a little kid throwing an epic tantrum. He has some great moments in this film. The only thing that I didn't really like was that due to the changes in Ultron's origins for this film, I felt his motivation to wipe out humanity was a bit weak...or at least the film didn't really communicate it to me that well. To me, Ultron's hatred for humanity should've come from his hatred for his father, but I felt this version was a bit lacking in that motivation. Ah, well. Spader's performance more than made up for it.

Alongside a new villain, we get some new heroes fighting alongside the Avengers: The superfast Quicksilver (played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson), and the hexcasting Scarlet Witch (played by Elizabeth Olsen). I loved the Maximoff twins' arc in this film, and it was more like the comics than one would think. I especially liked the scenes with their interactions with Hawkeye.

Speaking of Hawkeye, I'm very glad this film gave him some more spotlight, as the last film didn't really give him much. Jeremy Renner really took advantage of it, and Clint felt like a much richer character and more three-dimensional. I also loved that he got to crack wise just like in the comics.

The final battle was epic in every sense of the word. One detail I really loved was that the Avengers put priority in protecting and saving civilians. These guys are heroes, and it's nice to see them acting like heroes should. I only wish that there was an opportunity for Thor to spit out one famous line when it came to Ultron.

My only real complaint with the film is, as I said earlier, I felt Ultron's motivations were a bit weak. Ultron's one of the Avengers' greatest nemeses, and I would've like a much more personal connection between Ultron and his creators. His altered origins could've still allowed for such a connection, so I felt it was a bit of a waste.

I do highly recommend this film, especially if you liked the first Avengers film and/or action movies. It's got some nice funny bits, some sweet moments, and a lot of heroes being heroes. It's a worthy sequel, and it's got me eagerly awaiting Avengers: Infinity War.

Star Fox 64 3D Review

Lately, I had an opportunity to sit down and play one of my 3DS Games: Star Fox 64 3D.

Star Fox 64 was one of my absolute favorite games for the Nintendo 64. I had beaten it several times, and I even spent the points to download it onto my Wii when it was available on its Virtual Console service. It was fun to play on a Gamecube controller, and it brought back some happy memories of this game on the N64.

So, when I heard that this enhanced remake was available for the 3DS, this was one of the games I picked up for the system. However, life (and Pokémon) got in the way, so I couldn't devote a lot of time to this game. However, I got some time, so I decided to play it.

If you have played the original Star Fox 64, you'll know that on the title screen, you can use the Control Stick to move the "64" in the game title around. The 3DS version one ups it by using the 2DS/3DS's gyroscope to move away and around Fox's Arwing. Neat little nod there.

One feature I really appreciated about the game was that it had two options for controls, 3DS and Nintendo 64 controls. With the 3DS control scheme, you can use the gyros in the 3DS/2DS to move the Arwing around. I chose to use the Nintendo 64 control scheme, because I didn't feel comfortable moving around my 2DS just to move the Arwing around. Kudos to the developers for doing this.

The training menu was nice, just like in the original Star Fox 64. It was very helpful learning how to control this game on the new system. My only complaint was that to answer Rob's supply call, you had to use the touch screen. It was a bit unwieldy to pull out my stylus every so often and tap the touch screen in the middle of space combat. It's a minor complaint, as I could use my finger, but I wish that you could also use the select button.

It was a lot of fun seeing the enhanced graphics of the game. Wow, the graphics. Everything is so much brighter and more colorful and more detailed. I still enjoy playing the original version today, but the new version blows it away graphics wise. It was especially cool playing one of my favorite levels, Macbeth. Yup, the Landmaster. I still remembered where all the switches were, ha ha.

A common complaint I have heard about this game is that it lacks online multiplayer. This didn't bother me that much, but another common complaint I have heard is that there really isn't anything new brought in. I have to agree with this. They essentially took Star Fox 64 and updated the graphics. It's still fun, but it has brought nothing new to the table.

All in all, if you want to play Star Fox 64 on a handheld, pick this up.

Spring is Here!

Spring has finally come at last! The trees are getting green again, the weather is getting warmer, the sun is out more (and longer), and people with seasonal allergies are stocking up on the allergy meds of their choice.

I do enjoy the spring. I like seeing the trees grow new leaves, and considering how cold the winters get up where I live (not to mention snowy), it's very nice to see the temperature going up and the sun shining for longer periods. I also will admit, I do like seeing the trees grow new leaves, and even the flowers coming back, even though I know it means my seasonal allergies will make a comeback.

Hopefully, the upcoming summer will be very nice.

I hope everybody had a wonderful May Day today!

One Productive Month.

Man, I had one productive month on this blog. This month, I wrote six entries for this blog. Well, seven if you count this one. That's a personal record for me. I'm hoping that next month just may be a bit more productive, with more entries and perhaps even some funny images or two, like these!

Putting up pictures is one of my favorite features of this blog, but it would get screwy on occasion, I will admit.

I do want to do some more comic reviews. I found an app that turns an iPad into a scanner, so I can scan pages from a comic book, but trades are a bit more of a challenge. Hopefully, I will think of something, as I do want to review the Skull the Slayer series and talk about why it's an underrated bit of 1970s Marvel.

It actually is quite fun, albeit a bit dated. I'll talk more about it once I figure out a way to scan the comics from the trade paperback without making them look stupid. And once it works out, maybe more comics will be reviewed.

I also will continue my Adventures in Pokémon Y series. I enjoy writing down my thoughts on the game, as it encourages me to keep playing it. I haven't beaten a Pokémon game since the original Red.

I still do want to talk about other things I also like, like games and movies. I am eagerly awaiting for Avengers: Age of Ultron to arrive, and I hope to type down my thoughts on it. I do hope Hawkeye gets a bit more spotlight and development. I've also heard that there are talks of a Black Widow solo flick, which I hope works out, and one does come.

Here's to this blog turning a year old, and hopefully, this'll be around many more years in the future, and who knows where it will go. Thanks for enjoying!

Adventures in Pokemon Y Part 10: Route 6 and Parfum Palace

Well, I planted an Oran Berry and a Pecha Berry, and one day later, I got a pleasant surprise. The berries blossomed into trees. And I ended up harvesting a boatload of Pecha Berries (plus a free Qualot Berry due to a mutation), and a bunch of Oran Berries. This is neat. I think I'll plant a couple more Berries. I also found a Miracle Seed in this farm. I'll keep it in my bag, I might have a use for it.

Thing is, you still have to take care of weeds and wild Pokémon. Got surprised by a couple of Spewpa, heh heh. Anyway, after planting the berries, watering the soil, and getting ready to leave, a woman approaches me, and asks me if I'm the owner of the farm. I tell I'm not. I don't think I am, anyway. The guy just lets me plant berries here. She tells me she is researching Berry mutations, and to meet her at the house. Neat. I can tell her about the free Qualot Berry I got!

I meet her in the house, and I'm guessing the woman is telepathic, because she remarks that the Oran and Pecha create a Qualot. Wait...how does that work? I only planted the berries! I didn't try to crossbreed them! Maybe it's a plant thing? Anyway, since I know I don't have to worry about watering them for a while, I'll hit Route 6 and check out Parfum Palace. Shauna's been wanting to go there anyway.

Route 6 is incredibly neat. It's a path that is lined by trees. The trees provide shade over the path, and I get the impression that I am entering a temple, with the leaves as a roof, and the tree trunks as columns. There are also a couple trainers along the route, so I can get some experience and some money along the way. And there's a couple areas of tall grass and more Trainers, and lots more wild Pokémon to collect.

One feature I think this game could use comes from the original Gold and Silver. In that game, some Trainers would exchange numbers with you and call you for rematches. I loved that idea, as I can imagine in this world, there would be rivalries between Trainers, and rematches may happen a lot. It also added to the replay ability of the game because you can continue battling Trainers. Would be even better if those Trainers came with stronger Pokémon, showing that like your character, they have grown stronger with time as well. That would be nice.

Passing through Route 6, I arrive at Parfum Palace. And I have to admit, the graphics on this thing are amazing. The palace is so beautiful, even at night. Looking at this palace, I am amazed by how the Pokémon series has grown graphically since the days of Red and Blue on the original Game Boy. In almost twenty years, the Pokémon games really have grown. I'm hoping that for Pokémon's 20th Anniversary, they give the original Red and Blue updates like they just did for Ruby and Sapphire.

One thing I can't help but wonder, though. I wonder why Shauna thinks we could learn more about Mega Evolution here? Does an expert on Pokémon evolution live there?

The Palace does remind me a little of Buckingham Palace, but since Kalos is modeled on France, I wouldn't be surprised if they modeled this place on the Palace of Versailles. I headed up to the front gates, which have Serperiors on them. A man there tells me that it will cost 1,000 gold to go inside. 1,000 Gold?! Do I look like I'm made of money?! Really?! Are you kidding me?! What, is this place only visited by dignitaries and entrepreneurs?

Thankfully, Shauna shares my outrage on it. The doorman, or should I say, gate man, explains that the owner believes that one can never have too much money. Ahhh, the owner is a greedy jerk. The man also explains that the fee is so high because the money goes towards maintaining the palace. That makes sense, actually. In real life, castles are very expensive to live in. Anyway, we pay the fee, and he lets us inside. Probably...

Jeez, this place is huge up close. Never thought I'd see buildings shown this...BIG in a Pokémon game. Anyway, we walk inside, and we see a man standing in front of a Milotic statue. He is screaming about not being able to find something. He's screaming about his Furfrou. Shauna suggests we help look for it, she saying that she empathizes with the man. I don't blame her. But I have no idea where to start. This place is opulent like you won't believe. It's walls are white with what I can assume is possibly marble, and there's lots of gold patterns on the walls, and busts of gold-clad knights everywhere. No wonder the entrance fee was so high.

I spot a butler in front of a pair of large blue doors. He states that beyond the doors lie the Palace's courtyard, described in his own words as 'too-vast'. I'll bet. A place as opulent like this, I'd be disappointed if it had a tiny courtyard, heh heh. I decided on exploring the place a bit. I found the King's bed...and I took a nap. Evidently the bed is a Pokémon Center, because my Pokémon feel good, too.

Walking around the place, you encounter various people, and through them, learn a bit about the mansion. I learned the current owner inherited the place. I also learned it was built when Kalos won a war with neighboring regions (A bard revealed the war happened about 3,000 years ago). That's interesting. Was Kalos warring with the regions featured in previous Pokémon games, or with other regions that haven't been seen yet? And Pokémon fought in those wars, too? Maybe that's where the battling thing came from. Gives you a lot to think about. Huh. And the same three paintings appear often in the place. That's funny. But I did find in one room a portrait of a person. It may have been the king who originally commissioned this palace.

Earlier, I spoke about how much the graphics in the Pokémon games have grown over the years. The second-floor balcony is further proof. It gives a view of...well, a too-vast courtyard. And it's quite a sight. You really get a sense of the size of that place. When I played the original Red and Blue on the original Game Boy back in the day, I never imagined I'd see a courtyard like this. Breathtaking.

Further exploring, I found what appeared to be a private library. Talking to the butler, he says that he heard a rumor that there was a book that contained a secret for restoring dead Pokémon to life. Foreshadowing, perhaps? He claims such a book is not in this library. Looking at the shelves, I found a book called "The Transforming Pokémon and the Mysterious Stone", about an incident in Shalour City. It's about Mega Evolution! Shame I can't take it...

Ah well, to the Courtyard! Once there, Shauna says she'll look around in the back. I get the front then, I guess. Looking around through the gardens, I find some items, including HM01, Cut. I also noticed the statues of Zekrom and Reshiram, the legendary Pokémon of the Unova region. A nod to Black and White, neat. Anyway, we find the Furfrou, and it runs off into a maze. We have to trick it into running into a dead end. Shauna and I manage to pull it off, though. It was pretty simple when we put some thought into it.

The owner is so overjoyed, he arranges a fireworks show. Wow. So, we decided to go up to the second floor balcony to watch the show. Shauna confesses she never watched fireworks with a boy before. Aww.The fireworks show is absolutely amazing, bright and colorful. We remember we came there for the Poké Flute, to wake up the Snorlax. The owner sends his butler to retrieve it. He explains that it was the treasure of Shabboneau Castle, but that he took it as payment for a loan. Sheesh, ever heard of payment plans? Anyway, the butler retrieves the Flute for us. The man advises us to always return what we borrow.

Shauna doesn't really like the Palace's owner, but the butler defends him by saying that running this place is hard on him. She then remembers that she was hoping to learn some things about Mega Evolution here, and she asks the butler if he knows anything. He explains the he remembers reading about it in the Palace's library. He also gives us TM17, Protect.

Well, now that we got the flute, it's time to wake that Snorlax!

Pokémon Obtained:
Quilladin (Chestnut) - Evolved from Chespin
Jones (Audino)
Venom (Venipede)
Braixen (Vulcan) - Evolved from Fennekin
Slash (Honedge)
Lookout (Sentret)
Frogadier (Neptune) - Evolved from Froakie
Weird (Oddish)
Psykitty (Espurr)
Goemon (Nincada)
Xerox (Kecleon)