Presenting a "Pokémon Presents" Christmas Eve Riff.

 Hey fellas: I would have liked to give you all something more substantial; and I once again apologize for the delays I’ve been facing. However, I would also like to take the opportunity to do something a little different for this Christmas: a riff on this year’s “Pokémon Presents” presentations they had earlier this year. They were both held this past June; and with the 25th anniversary being set in motion as we speak, I think it’s only right I give my belated thoughts on the matter in lieu of a full review of “Pokémon: Secrets of the Jungle” (which will happen after its English release). So, let’s go over all the announcements and I will give you all me brief thoughts on them.

Let’s start with the announcements on the June 17 presentation; which, in a year where E3 was off the table for fairly obvious reasons, was welcome. The announcement included games that were available shortly after the livestream finished: I’ve already addressed the “Isle of Armor,” which went live after the livestream finished, and I found it to be enjoyable; and still do. “The Crown Tundra” was announced for release that fall, later confirmed to be October 22: I’m almost done with that; just need to finish catching the Regigigas forms and then I can enter the Galarian Star Tournament! Once I do, my full review of both chapters will follow. Two new apps were also announced for release after the stream: one was on both mobile and Switch, known as Pokémon Café Mix. Much like previous titles such as “Pokémon Shuffle” and “Pokémon Trozei,” it’s a puzzle game that’s essentially the Pokémon version of “Bejeweled;” and surprisingly relaxing and addictive one at that. Another one is “Pokémon Smile,” while targeted at younger fans and kids; is a reminder/game that helps people brush their teeth and catch Pokémon in the process. Yes, folks; we’ve reached a point where they can sell us anything, including dental hygiene. 

Now, comes the biggest announcements from both this presentation and the one the following week on June 24. One was met with enthusiasm and excitement; the other, much less so. The big announcement from the June 17 presentation was “New Pokémon Snap”, a sort of sequel/re-imagining of the classic “Pokémon Snap” on Nintendo 64 with more monsters from the entire history of the series. The game is set to be developed in partnership with Bandai Namco, who will be taking the reins from HAL Laboratories. Though no release date has been confirmed as of this writing, the game looks great as a big fan of the original game. As for any comparisons to Generation VIII visually, personally; I think the art direction of both works for different reasons. Comparing the two would be akin to comparing Age of Calamity to the Breath of the Wild sequel they’re working on.

More infamously, a MOBA spinoff was announced in a partnership with the Chinese companies Tencent and TIMI: “Pokémon Unite.” I can’t go so far as to compare it with the infamous reveal of “Diablo Immortal,” but I will say that I at least have mixed feelings toward the prospect; though not for the reasons you might think. While the skepticism towards the companies involved is warranted to a degree; personally, I’ve seen far worse games come out this year. I have not played that many MOBA games personally (I know people that have), so I have nothing to compare it to. I will state that I don’t say “yes” to anything I cover until I have enough details in front of me to do so; and right now, I don’t have sufficient details to do that beyond the fact the game is coming to both mobiles and the Switch. That, and the announcement was the same day that both Ninjala and the HD rerelease of Star Wars Episode I- Racer came to Switch. I know many people were expecting the next main game or at the very least, a reversion of Gold and Silver in the vein of “Let’s Go Pikachu and Eevee” (talk persists of Sinnoh remakes); but personally, I’m indifferent to the spinoff even as someone who’s willing to at least try it whenever it does release.

That will be all for now, and I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year; because we all will need it. Later.