Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl

POKEMON BRILLIANT DIAMOND & SHINING PEARL

And now, we come to the Generation IV game remakes, Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl. They are pretty much basically just flat remakes of the original games, just made in the chibi toy style we saw with things like the Link's Awakening remake, with no quality-of-life enhancements (not even the ones added in Platinum carried over), no additional content. Nothing. It just might be one of the laziest things we've ever seen Game Freak make. Actually, as I understand it, they didn't even really make it themselves.

Here's what we've got so far:

Characters:

All new Pokemon

Leah

Jamie/River: clone/semi-clone of Todd, with Illumina Orb in their moveset

Trainer System:

Victor

Gloria

Hop

Bede

Marnie

Professor Magnolia

Sonia

Ball Guy

Milo

Nessa

Kabu

Bea

Allister

Opal

Melony

Gordie

Piers

Raihan

Leon

Chairman Rose

Oleana

Swordward

Shieldbert

Mustard

Klara

Avery

Peony

Peonia

Stages:

Postwick

Wedgehurst

Motostoke

Turffield

Hulbury

Hammerlocke

Stow-on-Side

Ballonlea

Circhester

Spikemuth

Wyndon

Freezington

Isle of Armor

Slumbering Weald

Wild Zone

Galar Mine

Glimwood Tangle

Rose Tower

Dynamax Stadium

Smile-based stage? I don't know how that would even work really.

Pokemon Cafe

Florio Island

Belusylva Island

Maricopia Islands

Voluca Island

Durice Island

Aurus Island

Remoat Stadium

Auroma Stadium

Shivre City

Mer Stadium

Theia Sky Ruins

And that's about it! Next up, while this game wasn't so hot, the next game just might go down in history as one of Pokemon's Legends.

Pokemon UNITE

POKEMON UNITE

Next up, we have Pokemon UNITE, a mega-multiplayer online battle arena style game, similar to other games like League of Legends: Wild Rift and such, though I don't play games like those very often, so I'm not totally certain how they all compare. Basically, you play as an unseen player character, selecting Pokemon to battle for you across a big battlefield, each competing for a select goal and such.

Your playable options currently include Venusaur, Charizard, Blastoise, Pikachu, Alolan Raichu, Clefable, Alolan Ninetales, Wigglytuff, Meowth, Psyduck, Machamp, Galarian Rapidash, Slowbro, Dodrio, Gengar, Mr. Mime, Gyarados, Lapras, Vaporeon, Snorlax, Articuno, Zapdos, Moltres, Dragonite, Mewtwo, Mew, Meganium, Typhlosion, Feraligatr, Azumarill, Espeon, Umbreon, Scizor, Blissey, Suicune, Tyranitar, Ho-Oh, Blaziken, Gardevoir, Sableye, Absol, Metagross, Latias, Latios, Empoleon, Garchomp, Lucario, Leafeon, Glaceon, Mamoswine, Darkrai, Crustle, Zoroark, Chandelure, Delphox, Greninja, Talonflame, Aegislash, Sylveon, Goodra, Trevenant, Hoopa, Decidueye, Tsareena, Comfey, Mimikyu, Dhelmise, Buzzwole, Zeraora, Cinderace, Inteleon, Greedent, Eldegoss, Cramorant, Sirfetch'd, Alcremie, Falinks, Duraludon, Dragapult, Zacian, Urshifu, Meowscarada, Pawmot, Armarouge, Ceruledge, Tinkaton, and Miraidon, all filling Attacker, All-Rounder, Speedster, Defender, and Supporter roles depending on your playstyle.

The game takes place on a region called Aeos Island. The different stadiums for the matches are: Remoat Stadium, Auroma Stadium, Shivre City, Mer Stadium, and Theia Sky Ruins. Mer Stadium is kinda the one I always picture in my head for the game. Other cast members include Professor Phorus and her assistant Erbie, but there's not really much distinct gameplay I can ascribe to them, so they're mostly just here.

Here's what we've got so far:

Characters:

All new Pokemon

Leah

Jamie/River: clone/semi-clone of Todd, with Illumina Orb in their moveset

Trainer System:

Victor

Gloria

Hop

Bede

Marnie

Professor Magnolia

Sonia

Ball Guy

Milo

Nessa

Kabu

Bea

Allister

Opal

Melony

Gordie

Piers

Raihan

Leon

Chairman Rose

Oleana

Swordward

Shieldbert

Mustard

Klara

Avery

Peony

Peonia

Stages:

Postwick

Wedgehurst

Motostoke

Turffield

Hulbury

Hammerlocke

Stow-on-Side

Ballonlea

Circhester

Spikemuth

Wyndon

Freezington

Isle of Armor

Slumbering Weald

Wild Zone

Galar Mine

Glimwood Tangle

Rose Tower

Dynamax Stadium

Smile-based stage? I don't know how that would even work really.

Pokemon Cafe

Florio Island

Belusylva Island

Maricopia Islands

Voluca Island

Durice Island

Aurus Island

Remoat Stadium

Auroma Stadium

Shivre City

Mer Stadium

Theia Sky Ruins

And that's about it! Next up, a pair of games I hear were so Brilliant, the reviews for them were positively Shining! Right?

New Pokemon Snap!

NEW POKEMON SNAP!

Now, let's cover a new entry in the Pokemon Snap series, with much more updated graphics and way more Pokemon to photograph than just the Gen I ones. The gameplay is more or less the same, with you traveling along a mostly fixed course through several different areas, taking photos of Pokemon in their natural habitats. The biggest difference is the illumina orbs that cause various effects throughout the games.

Todd returns as a supporting character, while Jamie and River are your new customizable player characters in the game. You are helped throughout the game by Professor Mirror, as well as his assistant Rita, and your rival Phil. Instead of the one island and track, you now have an archipelago called the Lental Islands, with each island having a different biome. Florio Island is mostly a generic grassland/forest type area where your research camp is located. Belusylva Island is more of a dense jungle, the Maricopia Islands are home to a mostly beach and underwater course, Voluca Island is a desert and volcano combo, Durice Island is a frigid snowland area, and Aurus Island is the big finale area for the game.

Here's what we've got so far:

Characters:

All new Pokemon

Leah

Jamie/River: clone/semi-clone of Todd, with Illumina Orb in their moveset

Trainer System:

Victor

Gloria

Hop

Bede

Marnie

Professor Magnolia

Sonia

Ball Guy

Milo

Nessa

Kabu

Bea

Allister

Opal

Melony

Gordie

Piers

Raihan

Leon

Chairman Rose

Oleana

Swordward

Shieldbert

Mustard

Klara

Avery

Peony

Peonia

Stages:

Postwick

Wedgehurst

Motostoke

Turffield

Hulbury

Hammerlocke

Stow-on-Side

Ballonlea

Circhester

Spikemuth

Wyndon

Freezington

Isle of Armor

Slumbering Weald

Wild Zone

Galar Mine

Glimwood Tangle

Rose Tower

Dynamax Stadium

Smile-based stage? I don't know how that would even work really.

Pokemon Cafe

Florio Island

Belusylva Island

Maricopia Islands

Voluca Island

Durice Island

Aurus Island

And that's about it! Tomorrow, let us all UNITE to cover the next game!

Pokemon Cafe Remix

POKEMON CAFE REMIX

Next up, we have Pokemon Cafe Remix, a puzzle game and a spiritual successor to the Trozei and Shuffle games, with similar gameplay styles, but setting you in a cafe setting where Pokemon act as your customers and order various drinks that you then have to mix by playing the game. The game has a manager character named Leah, who would probably be the gimmick fighter for this if I add one. Which I probably will.

Here's what we've got so far:

Characters:

All new Pokemon

Leah

Trainer System:

Victor

Gloria

Hop

Bede

Marnie

Professor Magnolia

Sonia

Ball Guy

Milo

Nessa

Kabu

Bea

Allister

Opal

Melony

Gordie

Piers

Raihan

Leon

Chairman Rose

Oleana

Swordward

Shieldbert

Mustard

Klara

Avery

Peony

Peonia

Stages:

Postwick

Wedgehurst

Motostoke

Turffield

Hulbury

Hammerlocke

Stow-on-Side

Ballonlea

Circhester

Spikemuth

Wyndon

Freezington

Isle of Armor

Slumbering Weald

Wild Zone

Galar Mine

Glimwood Tangle

Rose Tower

Dynamax Stadium

Smile-based stage? I don't know how that would even work really.

Pokemon Cafe

And that's about it! Next up, we'll cover the next New game in a Snap!

Pokemon Smile

POKEMON SMILE

Next up, we're really getting into the era of Pokemon apps now. Pokemon Smile as a simple toothbrushing app that you can use that will guide you through the areas to brush and for how long, using Pokemon to represent plaque that you have to fight off. That's pretty much it. Moving on.

Here's everything we've got so far:

Characters:

All new Pokemon

Trainer System:

Victor

Gloria

Hop

Bede

Marnie

Professor Magnolia

Sonia

Ball Guy

Milo

Nessa

Kabu

Bea

Allister

Opal

Melony

Gordie

Piers

Raihan

Leon

Chairman Rose

Oleana

Swordward

Shieldbert

Mustard

Klara

Avery

Peony

Peonia

Stages:

Postwick

Wedgehurst

Motostoke

Turffield

Hulbury

Hammerlocke

Stow-on-Side

Ballonlea

Circhester

Spikemuth

Wyndon

Freezington

Isle of Armor

Slumbering Weald

Wild Zone

Galar Mine

Glimwood Tangle

Rose Tower

Dynamax Stadium

Smile-based stage? I don't know how that would even work really.

And that's about it! Next up, let's head down to the Cafe so we can Remix the next game!

Pokemon HOME

POKEMON HOME

As I've said before, with every generation comes a new generation's archive that you can send your collected Pokemon to and transfer into other games (with varying conditions). This year's model is Pokemon HOME, a mobile app that more or less serves that same basic purpose. Not much else to say, really.

Here's everything we've got so far:

Characters:

All new Pokemon

Trainer System:

Victor

Gloria

Hop

Bede

Marnie

Professor Magnolia

Sonia

Ball Guy

Milo

Nessa

Kabu

Bea

Allister

Opal

Melony

Gordie

Piers

Raihan

Leon

Chairman Rose

Oleana

Swordward

Shieldbert

Mustard

Klara

Avery

Peony

Peonia

Stages:

Postwick

Wedgehurst

Motostoke

Turffield

Hulbury

Hammerlocke

Stow-on-Side

Ballonlea

Circhester

Spikemuth

Wyndon

Freezington

Isle of Armor

Slumbering Weald

Wild Zone

Galar Mine

Glimwood Tangle

Rose Tower

Dynamax Stadium

And that's about it! Next up, everybody smile for Pokemon Smile!

Pokemon Sword and Shield

POKEMON SWORD AND SHIELD

Now, let us begin Generation VIII of Pokemon with our base duo of games for this round, being Pokemon Sword and Shield. The games this time were based in the Galar region, heavily patterned after the island of Great Britain, starting you up at the top in the area of Scotland and working you down to the greater London area by the end of the game. Just like last generation, the new Pokemon created here are all VERY British-inspired in one way or another.

Your protagonists this time are Victor or Gloria, with your professor being Professor Magnolia and her granddaughter Sonia, who takes up the position by the end of the game. Your rivals are Hop, Bede, and Marnie at different points in the game. The gym leaders include: Milo (Grass), Nessa (Water), Kabu (Fire), Bea (Fighting) or Allister (Ghost) depending on the version, Opal (Fairy), Melony (Ice) or Gordie (Rock) depending on the version, Piers (Dark), and Raihan (Dragon), with Bede and Marnie succeeding Opal and Piers by the end of the game. Instead of an Elite Four however, you compete in a grand championship against all of the other major trainers, and finally face the champion Leon at the very end.

The "evil team" this time around are Team Yell, who are really just obnoxious fans of Marnie, whose older brother and their leader is Piers. Instead, the true villains of the game are Macro Cosmos, the big tech company that sponsors the Pokemon championships, run by Chairman Rose and his assistant Oleana. There's also a Poke Ball Guy who acts as a sort of mascot around the gyms and such. He's fun. In the post-game, you also have two more enemies in the form of Swordward and Shieldbert.

The game recieved two DLC packs, The Isle of Armor based mostly on the Isle of Man, with Mustard as an old Pokemon master who trains you and Klara or Avery acting as your rival and gym leaders-in-training. The Crown Tundra takes you up to the far northern areas of Scotland, where you travel with a mountain guide named Peony and his daughter Peonia.

As for the stages in the area, your cities in the region include Postwick, Wedgehurst, Motostoke, Turffield, Hulbury, Hammerlocke, Stow-on-Side, Ballonlea, Circhester, Spikemuth, Wyndon, and Freezington, plus the Isle of Armor. There's also a forest called the Slumbering Weald, a general open world area called the Wild Zone, Galar Mine, Glimwood Tangle, and Rose Tower. Also, all major gym battles take place in a huge soccer stadium, so I feel like I need to include them too.

Here's everything we've got so far:

Characters:

All new Pokemon

Trainer System:

Victor

Gloria

Hop

Bede

Marnie

Professor Magnolia

Sonia

Ball Guy

Milo

Nessa

Kabu

Bea

Allister

Opal

Melony

Gordie

Piers

Raihan

Leon

Chairman Rose

Oleana

Swordward

Shieldbert

Mustard

Klara

Avery

Peony

Peonia

Stages:

Postwick

Wedgehurst

Motostoke

Turffield

Hulbury

Hammerlocke

Stow-on-Side

Ballonlea

Circhester

Spikemuth

Wyndon

Freezington

Isle of Armor

Slumbering Weald

Wild Zone

Galar Mine

Glimwood Tangle

Rose Tower

Dynamax Stadium

And that's about it! Next up, let's HOME in on the next game!