Well then... I guess I have a lot of things I regret saying (or at least now I need to eat a boot for saying).
POKEMON:
Starters 1st Stage/Mid Evolutions (Dartrix, Torracat, & Brionne): Yeah, I'm doing all three at once, what about it?
Why am I covering all three at once? Well I don't really have much to say about them individually. Dartix looks like a Rowlet evolution, Torracat looks like someone overfed their Litten, and Brionne looks more like a female version of Popplio than an evolution. However they all do the same thing to varying degrees: they confirm the leaked final evolutions.
*sigh*
Dartrix developing its feather throwing skills will easily lead into it becoming an archer (and I guess its fussiness to keep itself clean will lead to it wearing a leaf coat when it fully evolves)? Torracat is beginning to bulk up, it has gained a fiery accessory, is looking meaner, and is developing nasty battling habits (though not Dark-type yet). Finally Brionne goes from being a circus performer to a dancer (
CALLED IT!), it's even called the "Pop Star" Pokemon so its only an evolution away from becoming a singer.
And before I get to THAT Pokemon, let's look over some of the other stuff:
COOL FEATURES:
Global Link: Looking through the Global Link update it looks like they added some noteworthy new features:
- "Your Time" System: A battle on a time limit. Each trainer has 10 minutes with counts down when they're making a decision. If a trainer runs out of time before the battle ends, that trainer automatically loses. Also each trainer as 60 seconds per turn to make a decision (don't know what happens if you don't pick a move in time, I guess it chooses a random move?). An interesting system, will definitely make battles go a lot faster though I can imagine players who like to think out their moves not liking it and may blame the timer for losing be it having to make a hasty decision or running out the clock. I'm curious if VGC (which looks to be changed to WCS?) will use this to have the battles go faster.
- Gen VI obtained Pokemon will be allowed to participate in Rating Battles. So the Pentagon is still in affect.
- QR Rental Teams: You can make it so that other players can use the Pokemon you've registered in your Battle Box! A neat idea, though they say you can use them in Rating Battles which I'm curious will affect anything competitively (especially since VGC/WCS teams will be made available as QR Rental Teams). Anyway obviously you rent other player's Pokemon via a QR code because they implemented it and, by Arceus, they're going to use it.
- Global Missions: Players can now compete with and against each other on missions. Gotten via Festival Plaza (we'll go over that), its a limited time task given to players to complete and will be done at "regular intervals". The first mission also has been revealed "Catch a lot of Pokemon!", with details coming (aside the obvious you got to catch a lot of Pokemon, though species limit isn't a factor). Completing a mission will, of course, get you rewards and they say they're hoping to give a special reward for completing the first Global Mission! Sounds fun and a neat way to have players cooperating, but more importantly give even non-competitive players a reason to continue playing even after completing all that they can do with what the game offers in single player!
- Host Friendly Competitions: Finally, players can set up their own competition with their own rules! Of course how versatile this will be depends on how much control they give you. They also revealed you can either do Online Competitions (where you can have an open competition or invite only, also depending on how many join will affect Ratings) or Live Competitions (if all battlers are in one place, they just need to scan a QR Code to get the rules of the competition).
Mega Evolutions: They're confirmed back!
But no new ones have been announced. Infact its said to get Mega Stones you need to get them from either other characters or from stores. In other words no naturally forming Mega Stones. So could it be true there's no new Mega Evolution at all? If so, well what can I really do? Just say I'd be angry and disappointed? Not like that'll do anything, though I still would. Maybe if enough fans complain GF will realize that maybe they shouldn't keep dropping new mechanics as soon as the next generation comes along. If they don't want new Megas for the main game, that's fine, but you can make it a post game quest (you can even connect it with "completing" the Zygarde quest if you want some justification for it).
Also indeed your Z-Ring activates Mega Evolution, as explained by Dexio and Sina who look like they'll be following you around like they did in XY (though now more creepy as they're older teens/young adults), as soon as its been equipped with a Key Stone.
So... how ya going to do Mega Rayquaza, GF, especially if its holding a Z-Crystal? :P
I'm actually going to end it here for now. Why? Because the other new features are better talked about while commenting on the videos. But there is one last thing to talk about:
Sun & Moon Demo... AND ASH-GRENINJA!
The Sun & Moon Demo has been confirmed for
October 18th! You can get it via the Nintendo's Homepage via your Nintendo account or, like how everyone will actually do it, through the eShop. Yup, no needing to sign up for a newsletter to get a code, they kind of realized that was a mess and so are just making it a download. A round of applause, if you'll please.
But what does the demo contain? Details to come, but we're told we're getting one special Pokemon from it: Greninja. Who has a new Ability. It's called Battle Bond. It activates when it knocks out an opponent. What does it do when it activates? Why it turns Greninja into Ash-Greninja! Yeah, not even "Rainbow Greninja", just straight up Ash-Greninja. Well Ash I guess you ain't so special after alll, now are you!
BUT, I'm not perturbed from this. Why? Because if they keep it demo exclusive (for now) it makes it into a special event Pokemon. I was thinking how would if fit into the game but if you get it from the demo fitting it into the lore isn't that big of an issue.
Anyway from what it sounds like it is basically Greninja mega evolving just this time it replaces its Ability and you need to knock out an opponent to get the boost... Protean's better, not worth it. Alright, I'm being flippant, but still I would say that might play a major factor in its viability.
NEXT TIME: Videos, Poke Pelago, & Festival Plaza!