Right before I started typing, a Clefairy popped up on my radar. Good news, I caught it.
As you can tell, Pokémon Go has been pretty much been top of mind as of late. Not just in my life -- the whole world seems to be playing! I remember when it was first announced and knew Pokémon fans would be all over it. But never would I imagine Pokémon Go would have this much of an impact in little over a week.
Y'all have seen the news coverage, the promotions from small businesses and big corporations, and the Snapchat stories of people ranting and raving. But what really inspires me is how much appeal this game has for fans and non-fans alike. The day right after Go came out, I got in the office pretty early -- two of my coworkers walked over to show me their collection. One of them had never played a Pokémon game before, so it was really cool to relive the sheer joy of discovering Pokémon through a new player's perspective. Soon, the office started a chat group and organizing Pokémon hunts during our lunch break. Pretty much everyone got into it -- even my manager! Even if she didn't know its name, she was pretty pumped to catch a Weezing.
You hear that, Weezing? Someone likes you!
Pokémon Go honestly brought me back to my VGC days. Oftentimes, you'll start chatting up with random strangers on these Pokémon hunts. On our second visit to the Capital, we helped a couple of trainers find a Pikachu. A few days later, I talked to a gentleman about a Squirtle he caught, gave some tips to a lady about what to do with all her Zubat candy, and pointed a couple to a Bulbasaur at Walmart. These are people who, under any other circumstance, I might have not said hi to. There's something magical about how a simple game can bring so many people together.
You can talk about the cool AR features and how revolutionary this game is -- it's all good. But the appeal of Pokémon Go for me is the same appeal as any other Pokémon game. It's a shared experience -- something that breaks down barriers and can be understood in any language. Pokémon Go just breaks down that barrier even further. So whether repping Team Mystic (like your boy Smiles), Valor, or Instinct, go out there and make new friends! After all, that's what Pokémon's about.
Exhausted after a long week, I almost didn't make the three-hour trek home. I had everything packed and ready to go, but paused momentarily at the door. It would have been easy to take it easy and rest up for the weekend, but I quickly dismissed the thought -- I could do it. I could make the drive. Besides, it was the least I could do for my parents. As expected, my mom was thrilled to see me for her birthday (which coincidentally is the day Mewtwo was born).
My mom and Mewtwo aren't related.
The following day was also a big day -- the Super Bowl. The game was more background noise for me, but there was one commercial I wanted to watch. I've already seen it, but I wanted to see my folks' reaction. After all, they were the ones who allowed me to go on this crazy Pokémon journey in the first place.
The 20th anniversary commercial made its TV premiere, and it was everything I knew it would be. Inspiring, motivational, uplifting -- judging from my mom and dad's reaction, it seemed to have captured their imagination. Of course, my dad and brother made some small quips about our past VGC days, but it was all in good fun.
What resonated with us was the phrase "I can do that." I remember saying something similar to myself when I started the drive home. I remember saying something similar whenever I have a ton of assignments and try to squeeze one more in. Heck, I'm saying it right now as I type this up, trying to stop myself from falling asleep on the keyboard! Everyone in the commercial saw someone do the impossible and challenged themselves to accomplish greatness for themselves. That's how I felt at least, so I wanted to share that with my parents.
So, in the spirit of Pokémon's 20th anniversary, I'm going to train on. That means making new posts, as opposed to the one last year. That means getting out there to face new challenges. That means pushing my limits even further to achieve new goals. It's a huge commitment, but I'm ready to be the very best like no one ever was. Soon, I'll change "I can do that" to "I did do that."
Namco and Pokémon officially announced their marriage of
fighting games and Pokémon, two of my favorite things in video games, and I
couldn’t be more excited! Pokkén Tournament, a mix of Tekken gameplay with
Pokémon, is planned for an arcade release for Japan in 2015. There’s no
confirmation of a console release yet, but judging by Namco’s history of
releasing fighters like Tekken on arcades first, it’s safe to assume a console
release is inevitable. Worried that Pokkén Tournament will remain a
Japan-exclusive? Pokémon Conquest was a cross-over between Pokémon and Nobunaga’s
Ambitions, which is a rarely known series outside of Japan. If that got an
international release, I’m sure Pokkén Tournament will.
The first trailer
show Lucario and Machamp duking it out in the countryside. A flurry of punches
an Aura Spheres are thrown in this otherwise peaceful backdrop. While Pokkén
Tournament’s fighting style is similar to Tekken, there also seems to be a hint
of Dragon Ball Z fighting games like Raging Blast. In one scene, Lucario’s back
is completely turned to the camera as he wales on Machamp. While characters in
Tekken can circle around an opponent, their back never turns completely against
the camera. Taking cues from DBZ fighting games might be a good way to balance
the projectile-based attacks used in Pokémon.
Side-by-side comparison of Pokkén Tournament and DBZ Raging Blast
Ready to bust a move! Credit to Zweilous on Tumblr
Character selection make or break a fighting game, which
Namco in the past has handled well. We already know that Lucario, Machamp, and
Blaziken (teased at the Pokémon Game Show in 2013) are confirmed, so there’s definitely
an emphasis on Fighting-type Pokémon. With that in mind, Hitmontop and
Heracross would be my top choices for contenders. Yes, I’ll admit my choice is
biased due to being my favorite Fighting-types, but they would bring welcome
diversity. Hitmontop just screams Eddy Gordo! Heracross could play a mixed set, utilizing
physical contact moves like Close Combat in his normal form, and then Mega
Evolve to use more projectile attacks like Pin Missile.
If he can fight in Smash Bros, he can fight here
Hopefully, Pokkén Tournament will expand its roster to
include more than Fighting-type Pokémon. It’d be a shame to miss out on
powerhouses like Charizard and Tyranitar. It wouldn’t even take much to imagine
their moveset. They got claws, they got a big tail, Charizard can fly and
breathe fire, Tyranitar can throw rocks and cause earthquakes, they got all
they need to be perfect fighters. Other hopefuls for me include Greninja,
Mewtwo, and Shiftry.
*UPDATE: Pokkén Tournament producer Katsuhiro Harada
confirmed via Twitter that other types besides Fighting will be
represented. There's hope for Charizard!
Tekken does a great job of including joke characters like
Kuma and Roger Jr. and still making them play well. At first, I couldn’t think
of a Pokémon that would work well in this game while being somewhat of a joke.
Then it hit me, like a stick to the head.
Farfetch'd!
It’s not a farfetched concept to imagine. Farfetch’d could
use his stick to attack, kick up dirt with Sand-Attack, and peck things with
his bill. The hype would be unreal if Farfetch’d won EVO! While the final
decision of characters is up to Pokémon and Namco, a man can dream. But Farfetch’d
would be pretty sweet.
While there isn’t much information, I’d expect in the coming
months to hear more about Pokkén Tournament and what the King of the Pokémon
Fist Tournament will bring. I’m excited about the first Pokémon fighting game,
and know it’ll do well in Namco’s hands.
Pokémon Worlds. In a sense, it’s like challenging the Elite
Four and Champion at the Pokémon League. The countless hours training are put
to the test fighting against the best of the best. There’s no turning back, you
can only hope for the best with the team you brought and just keep moving
forward. While I didn’t attend this year’s competition, I enjoyed watching the
stream and seeing how much the community has evolved since my last foray in
2011. Pokémon Worlds offers the highest level of play, so how does one prepare
for the biggest battles and become a Pokémon Master in real life?
The coveted Worlds trophy. They even give you a card!
Know the game. This goes beyond knowing what moves are super
effective. It’s about knowing the trends of the metagame and what to expect
before the first Pokéball is sent out. Looking at player statistics from Pokémon's Global Link, Charizard
ranks as one of the top used Pokémon in doubles. Thanks to its useful Mega Evolutions, Charizard is a force to reckon with. When building
your team, ask yourself “what do I have to take down this threat?” If you don’t
have a good answer, go back to the drawing board. It’s impossible to deal with
every threat, but be prepared for the common ones like Charizard, Kangaskhan, and
Garchomp. Plan on using a Charizard of your own? Know ways people tend to
counter it and address those issues. Maybe have a Wide Guard user to stop Rock Slide, speed control like Icy Wind or Tailwind so Charizard
outspeeds opponents, Pokémon like Marowak who can switch in and redirect Electric moves that threaten Charizard, things like that.
Do you have a plan in case of Charizard?
Once you know the metagame; take past assumptions and
turning them upside their head. A great example of this is Germany’s Markus Lie
and his Machamp. When one sees a Machamp in Team Preview, they’ll most likely
come to the conclusion that:
·Machamp will abuse No Guard and Dynamicpunch to
spread confusion with a strong move
·Machamp will support his teammates with Quick
Guard and/or Wide Guard
·Machamp will be slow yet bulky and physically
strong
Markus’ Machamp went against convention to emphasize speed
over power and support. By holding a Choice Scarf, Machamp was able to outspeed
threats like Charizard before they could hit first. Many Charizard players,
including myself, are familiar with Wide Guard stopping Heat Wave. One way to
stop this is to single-target Machamp, letting it waste its turn with Wide
Guard while I knock it out. With Machamp out of the way, I can continue to spam
Heat Wave for game. So you happily hit the Air Slash or Overheat button only to
have Machamp knock you out before you can move.
Look how fast he goes!
But the surprises don’t stop
there. Instead of No Guard and Dynamicpunch, Markus’ Machamp uses Guts and
Close Combat. While usually an inferior choice, the current metagame makes it a
superior option. As I mentioned earlier, Kangaskan is a huge threat. One of the
ways to deal with physical hitters is to deliver a burn to half their attack
power. For this reason, Rotom is a prominent Pokémon thanks to Will-o-Wisp and
other support moves in its arsenal. Naturally, one would burn Machamp to weaken
it, and this is true if it was the No Guard variant. However, Guts actually boosts Machamp’s attack when afflicted
with a status effect. Players will instinctively burn Machamp, only to make
Machamp even stronger. A hindrance for physical attackers becomes an advantage
for Machamp, and the choice of Guts over No Guard is a great metagame call from
Markus.
Competing in live events differs from online competitions
due to human interaction. While it might seem weird to have a “strategy” for
it, human interaction can prove either helpful or hurtful depending on the way
you look at it and should be something to keep in mind before going into
battle. For one thing, you don’t want to go blabbing your mouth about how
trainers won’t anticipate your “Choice Specs Gyarados” only to have your
strategy fall flat on its face.
Quit your blabbing and start battling!
That example seems obvious, but even subtle
hints before you fight can be detrimental. During VGC Nationals 2013, one
trainer I fought was talking up about one Pokémon on his team no one really
expects. During Team Preview, I saw an Electabuzz and thought “he’s probably
means that.” Sent out my Landorus first turn and “surprisingly”, he led with Electabuzz
who immediately ran tail.
Of course, one could argue that someone could bluff
you with prebattle talks, so it’s best to avoid those mind games to begin
with. I find it helpful to introduce myself, shake hands, and maybe throw in
light banter to help people relax. During battles, it’s all focus. I don’t say
much and tend to just look at my screen when making moves. At the end, I’ll
extend my hand for another hand shake and compliment my opponent (Good
prediction with your Abomasnow’s Safeguard!). When you’re less nervous, it’ll help you think
clearer in battles, so have a plan to go in with a calm mind. Raise your
Special Attack and Special Defense by one stage!
Be calm young one.
Probably the most helpful advice I can give is practice. A
LOT. Coming up with winning strategies doesn’t happen by only reading articles
online or watching a few matches. You can only level up through experience. In
a previous blog post, I mentioned how Kangaskhan caused significant problems
for my team. So I battled and failed, multiple times, until I could finally secure a
strategy to effectively take her down. I might not have a trophy of my own, but I don't plan on giving up anytime soon. It took Se Jun Park, the current World Champion, five years to
finally claim his title. Any champion can tell
you their success comes from their failures. So never give up! Go out there and
battle to become the very best like no one ever was!
Getting off of work early, I rushed to my room and turned on my 3DS. Yeah, sounds like any other day. But the 2014 April Friendly, an official Pokémon battle competition, was already underway and my team wasn't ready yet! After a 4-hour grind session, my Pokémon were ready to proceed online. I could only pray that my hastily built team could pull some victories.
My team for April Friendly. I didn't have time to nickname them.
The rules of April Friendly differ from previous VGC rules. Each battle is singles, where trainers choose 3 out of 6 Pokémon per battle. Every Pokémon in the Kalos Pokédex were eligible. Yep, that means legendaries like Xerneas, Yveltal and Mewtwo were permitted to wreck havoc on unsuspecting trainers.
The legendary deer in all its glory
I always say fight fire with fire...just make sure you have coverage against Fire-types. With that, I picked Xerneas as my legendary of choice. The set wasn't anything special, just the usual Power Herb+Geomancy combo. Geomancy is Xerneas's signature move that increases its Special Attack, Speed and Special Defense by 2 stages. It usually requires 2 turns to activate, but consuming a Power Herb changes that to 1. As this set was common, I had to prepare myself for counters like Scizor and Talonflame.
Mega Aggron, the Greatest Wall of Ever
And thus, I give you the star of my team, Mega Aggron. He's more of a "Super Ultra Mega Titan Behemoth" Aggron. Seriously, Close Combat tickles him. The idea was to use this Great Wall of Pure Steel to slowly wear down opponents until Xerneas could come in and proceed to sweep. When Mega Aggron's HP got low, I just used Rest and Sleep Talk. Very few Pokémon can reliably 2HKO him. I mainly paired Mega Aggron with Florges or Rotom-Wash to deal with really strong special attackers.
Besides that, I had a Greninja and Talonflame whose task was to break down walls. While straightforward, they did their job well.
Delirious, I recorded my first set of battles. I look quite pathetic, so feel free to laugh and cringe as I perform my rendition of "New York." First match in, I throw away a 3-1 lead by clicking Psyshock instead of Moonblast! I'll never live that down.
The next day, I managed to maintain a winning record. While most of the teams consisted of the same standard Pokémon, I was impressed by the few creative movesets I ran into. Rest Quagsire, a Greninja with King's Rock, and even a Pikachu! Unfortunately, Pikachu couldn't scratch Aggron, but it's the thought that counts.
Sorry Pikachu, you just don't mess with Mega Aggron.
The number of matches dwindled on the last day of battling. Don't get me wrong, I had fun competing. But after fighting match after match of faceless opponents and recording virtually every match, competing became a chore. With my Pokémon-playing friends out of town and my brother deciding not to play, it got lonely. This competition lacked the atmosphere and excitement of a live competition. There was one brief shining moment when I convinced my mom to commentate a battle with me. I felt bad though; I constantly talked over her and I could tell that half the things I said went over her head.
For throwing my team together at the last minute, I managed to squeeze in a decent record and placed in the top 9%. I earned a final rating of 1647 with 27 wins and 18 losses. The inclusion of legendaries was an interesting twist, but most trainers stuck with standard teams. This battle competition was fun, but maybe it's time I take a small break from Pokémon. My fighting spirit has all but vanished, and the time away might be just what I need to reflect and refresh myself for the next competition. At the very least, April Friendly gave me the opportunity to experience Mega Aggron's girth, and I look forward to using him in future teams.
With the latest generation of Pokémon out for a solid 5 months, the online battling scene has evolved into a harsh environment. The days that you can take your in-game team comprised of your starter, HM slave, and random assortment of creatures into battle are over. Thanks to the release of Pokémon Bank and breeding shortcuts, it's now easier to quickly prepare a team of battle-ready Pokémon. But with these new tools comes a more developed competitive scene, something I failed to keep up with.
After preparing a team I was comfortable with, I hopped online to challenge trainers from around the world. In 2 days, I had about 20 battles. I lost none. I even had trainers ragequit (meaning I was doing something right). I was so confident, I recorded live gameplay and posted it on YouTube. You can tell by the optimism in my voice that I haven't touched the cruel world of rated battles yet.
Spent 200 battle points to change it's ability...
So after my romp in free battles, I took my "skill" to rated battles. First match, I get wrecked. Second match? Equally bad. Third? I manage a win, and then get crushed in the fourth. I quickly realize that my strategy is not very effective and go back to the drawing board. I get back online and still can't manage to pull a winning record. Frustration gets the best of me and I continue to play recklessly. Simple prediction errors cause my team to struggle with me on the losing side. Bitter at my online experience (and Cloyster, whose lousy Twineedle only hits twice!), I took a small break and reflected on how to improve my game.
In doubles, Kangaskhan, Talonflame and Meowstic all pose a considerable threat. While I've successfully played around Talonflame, I still can't manage to break through Meowstic and Kangaskhan. While I hate to admit it, my team can't possibly be competitively viable if I don't have answers to deal with common threats. To improve my team structure, I've watched a good amount of battles online. I am by no means a Pokémon Master, so getting new perspective from trainers better than myself helped me come back with renewed strength. I got some new tricks up my sleeves, but I don't want to spoil them just yet. ;)
Don't let that baby fool you, it's a menace!
An important lesson I've learned time and time again is that Pokémon is a game. Victory Road is filled with hours of struggle, training and Exploding Gravelers. It's a mental game that requires you to outwit your foe to emerge triumphant. I've made stupid mistakes and will continue to make stupid mistakes. It should have been obvious that Twineedle only hits two times, especially with "twin" in its name! But regardless, I will learn from them and grow. Being a Pokémon Master doesn't mean you win from every battle, it means you learn from them.
Pokémon Go honestly brought me back to my VGC days. Oftentimes, you'll start chatting up with random strangers on these Pokémon hunts. On our second visit to the Capital, we helped a couple of trainers find a Pikachu. A few days later, I talked to a gentleman about a Squirtle he caught, gave some tips to a lady about what to do with all her Zubat candy, and pointed a couple to a Bulbasaur at Walmart. These are people who, under any other circumstance, I might have not said hi to. There's something magical about how a simple game can bring so many people together.
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