Last time, going through a cave!
Carbink. It’s part fairy, because…?
Born from the temperatures and pressures deep underground, it fires beams from the stone in its head.
You know, why isn’t my frilly sauropod the rock/fairy one? I mean, of the two, which looks like rock/ice and which like rock/fairy?
That’s right, my amaura does.
Also, looks like it doesn’t evolve.
I run into stupid Orange who gives me flash and explains now its purpose is to make fewer pokemon attack and by the way I’m super cool I don’t care Orange I want to earn these things.
A ferroseed drops down but I faint it.
This has been a nice cave. I was a bit worried after the first cave was an actual shortcut, but this is nice and has a lot of little side trails. Also, it’s making me think you could use the currently pretty mirrors in service of horror – once we get used to the idea of the reflection matching what’s there, start having stuff not match up. Have the item ball in the mirror not disappear as quickly as the one we picked up, have our reflection face the wrong way…
But that wouldn’t fit this area, weird trainer comments aside.
And traded for a tyrunt! It’s rock/dragon, which is a) awesome and b) illustrating my point that ice beam is the balance for dragons. (Also apparently in the pokeworld the saurapods murder the t-rexes and feast upon their remains.) It’s the royal heir pokemon, and also, someone gave me a girl one! Thanks again, Japan.
This Pokemon was restored from a fossil. If something happens that it doesn’t like, it throws a tantrum and runs wild.
Also, I’ve been feeding my pokemon more pokepuffs! I’m really loving my espurr, she is perching right on the cute edge of the uncanny valley, poised at any moment to leap into its abyss of spidery dead-eyed horror. Precious baby!
Shalour City
A city of awakening.
Orange and Green arrive behind me.
Orange: Hey, Lady S! How’s your journey going?
Green: Hello, Serena! Let’s compare our Coastal Kalos Pokedexes and see who has seen more kinds of Pokemon!
Note the “seen”. We’re still doing that shitty easy-mode where all that matters is seeing the damn things.
To put it another way, I’m challenging you to my own kind of Pokemon battle. Didn’t you say that already?
He loses again. Does anyone know if there even is a win option here?
Oh! So, you’ve seen Kangaskhan too, Lady S?
What is this “too”? You still haven’t told me what you’ve seen. And then he goes on about how happy he is that we’ve seen the same pokemon again. Weirdo.
Orange: Get this! I’ve found some great Pokemon dancers!
END STUPID SUBPLOT END
Green: Oh yes, I just remembered. The professor told us to say hello to the Mega Evolution guru when we reached Shalour City… God damn you game you already told me this.
Orange: That’s right! He did say that! Ummm… Who were we supposed to say hello to again?
Green: A person called the Mega Evoltuon guru.
Orange: Oh, that’s right! He did say that! Well, I guess we should look for the Mega Evolution guru, then! Where do you think he is anyway?
Green: I heard he’s in that imposing building deep in the city–the Tower of Mastery.
Well I heard you need to SHUT THE HELL UP AND GO AWAY.
Arg now Orange is stopping me again.
Lady S, check this out!
My choices are then A new dance? or Check out what? and obviously the second one.
Isn’t this stone cool? I got it from this person called the wandering stone collector for showing off my dance moves! It might be a Mega Stone! Here, Lady S, you can have it! I want you to have it, ’cause you’re such a great Trainer and all… I still remember our battle on Route 5.
And thus, Serena obtained the Intriguing Stone.
Look. Game. Yes, I complained a lot about last game where no one noticed me and talked around me. And I’m glad you’ve fixed that. But people handing me shit and saying I’m awesome isn’t actually what I wanted. I wanted to earn those things. This is better than ignoring me, but it’s still pretty bad.
Well, let’s explore.
Eternal life, huh… says the girl with the pink-haired punk look. It probably seems nice at first glance, but I’d definitely get bored with it! What? Who was talking abotu eternal life? Is that what the plot’s about.
A shining stone that emitted great warmth was discovered… And then a great tower was built to house and protect the stone.
Hey, soothe bell. That should help getting my stupid riolu to evolve.
Then the camera moves over so we can see the mastery tower and he says it’s that and tells us to think it’s cool.
Well, let’s go into the tower.
There’s a giant statue of lucario. Inside…
Two people, one the gym leader and the other in pants, so presumably male.
Oh, says Pants. You must be Serena, then. Sycamore told me you would be coming. I’m called the Mega Evolution guru. I guess you could say I’m an acquaintance of his. Oh, but Mega Evolution guru isn’t my real name, of course. Now, come here for a moment, will you?
I walk over, prompting the exclamation mark of confusion. Hm? Only one of you? I thought he gave five kids a Pokedex. Isn’t there anyone else with you?
Cue green box: Oh!
Orange: Who’s that you’re talking to, Lady S?
Stupid title: People call me the Mega Evolution guru!
Orange: Uh, my name is Tierno. And that’s Serena over there.
Green: My name is Trevor.
Stupid title: Pleased to meet you, Sycamore’s pupils! But there are still only three of you, huh?
Oh christ.
What’s this, now? Were you the one who found that Intriguing Stone? And Serena has the chance to lie. But even if she were that sort of person, the guy who knows is standing right behind me! What’s with you, game?
Orange: What?! Uh, it was you who found it, RIGHT, Lady S? Wtf.
Stupid title: Well, who found it doesn’t really matter. What’s important is that you were honest. If you tell lies, the truth is clouded and eventually lost… And while we’re being honest, that Intriguing Stone is just an ordinary rock. Hm? Sure a lot of hubbub out there. Does that mean everyone has arrived? And he wanders away. Hey there! So you made it to Shalour City! Lucario is in its Poke Ball, but it’s really happy to see you! Well, we should go see what’s going on, too! And then we go out to see alt-me and Pinkie have arrived.
Hmm! Looks like everyone is finally here.
Pinkie: Lady S!
Altme: How are your Pokemon?
Green: It feels like it’s been some time since our whole group has gathered in one place.
Orange: Yeah. I think it’s been since we met up on Route 7. Mr. Mega Evolution Guru… I’ve been wondering this whole time. Who is that over there?
Stupid title: This is my granddaughter Korrina. She’s Shalour City’s Gym Leader. So, Sycamore’s pupils. Now that you’re all here… I supposed I should explain Mega Evolution to you. I assume you all know about Pokemon Evolution.
Pinkie: I know! I know! Um… You have your Pokemon battle a lot, and then they grow stronger and evolve! Oh, and there are Pokemon that evolve with certain items. Musical note.
Altme: Some Pokemon evolve through friendship, and others only evolve in certain places.
Korrina: Exactly! And it’s likely that Pokemon evolve in a lot of other ways as well! But Mega Evolution is an Evolution that transcends all other Evolution! Just accept I don’t care that much, game, talking it up isn’t helping here.
Indeed! says stupid title. Mega Evolution is a transformation of Pokemon that were thought to be unable to evolve any further! It’s a whole new level of power!
Green: So in an Evolutionary line like Charmander, Charmeleon and Charizard… Does that mean Charizard would be able to evolve even further?
Seriously, why the hell am I even involved here?
Yep! Exactly right! says Korrina. But not all Pokemon have a Mega Evolution. Yet.
Stupid title: There’s a reason why I used the word “transformation” a moment ago. Mega Evolution differs from Evolution because it ends after a certain amount of time. In other words, it’s a temporary Evolution. You know what would’ve been nice here? Getting to find all this out myself.
Pinkie: What?! It evolves, but then it goes back to what it was before?
Korrina: Yes… Mega Evolution is a special kind of Evolution. Dear god will they ever shut up. That said, we still know very little about it. Just enough to tell me everything about how it works and which pokemon it affects. What we know now is that it requires special items. And the most important element is the trust between Pokemon and Trainer.
Altme: Trust… In other words, the bond between Trainer and Pokemon!
Stupid title: To make Mega Evolution work, you need two items: a Mega Stone for the Pokemon and the Mega Ring, which has a mysterious stone set in it, for the Trainer. Since Professor Sycamore entrusted each one of you with a Pokedex, I would like to give these items to all of you… I’d like to share them with you, but…
But? repeats Pinkie obligingly. I’m hoping for stolen. But what? Just come out and say it already! Game, characters complaining doesn’t fix the problem they’re complaining about.
Anyway I’m sick of this so summary: he’s only got one ring, we have to pick who gets it, by battling. Orange quits immediately, followed by Pinkie, dammit Pinkie, she’s all “well it would be an awesome memory but I pass because girls can’t be assertive”, Green explains his OCD won’t let him start a new task until he’s done with the pokedex. You can’t finish it without mega evolutions, you idiot. Then they say me and alt-me are great and should battle for it.
Alt-me: Serena, let’s battle for it! Fucking finally. And oh god he keeps talking about blah blah good chance to compete blah.
I will master Mega Evolution and set myself apart from other Trainers. I’ll also do it for my Pokemon–we’ve come so far together, and they never stopped believing in me, their Trainer. You and your Pokemon are stronger… I can tell just by looking at you. But I’m not going to lose. The winner of this battle will be me!
What the fuck, game.
Really, everything in this is just so unearned. You’re constantly told things and handed things and you never have to actually earn it. Making me battle for the right to get the ring was a good idea, but then even that’s tainted by telling me I’m just bullying someone weaker than me.
My team:
L26 amaura
L31 riolu
L28 pancham
L23 espurr
L24 inkay
L30 helioptile.
Anyway. L28 meowstic, L28 absol, L30 starter. Battle does not go well for me. Also, probably should’ve healed my pokemon first…Mostly though, that meowstic just tears up my team.
Hey, riolu can evolve while fainted. That’s good to know. I think I’ll replace him with my litleo.
Anyway, the game doesn’t acknowledge my loss and just gives me the chance to battle again. Second time goes much smoother now that I knew to be ready for the meowstic. Inkay and amaura take that down, then helioptile for once doesn’t suck and wipes the floor with his starter.
So he accepts he lost and says my bonds to my pokemon are really great and everyone starts talking about winners and losers and sad music and god damn game you suck the fun out of everything and then everyone’s talking about being the best trainer in their own way blah blah cutscene end already. Finally, only Pinkie is left to tell me she’s just very glad we’re all traveling together.
ARG. There’s a lot I like about this game, and I certainly hated last game’s plot way more, but I still don’t have any chance to earn respect here and there’s still the problem that there’s absolutely no rivalry with the rival characters.
Amaura and Tyrunt will only evolve during night and day, respectively.
Inkay has one of the weirdest evolution methods I have ever witness into a pokemon game. I’m curious if you have figure it out.
I have no idea what the first person who figured it out was doing.
Me neither, but I’m having a lot of fun imagining.
I am pretty terrible at that, but I’m really enjoying having her on my team so I guess it’s okay. I’ll look it up if I finish the game without evolving her.
I hate Trevor and Teirno SO much. I was mashing the poor A button like crazy every time those two wastes of data showed up.
They should’ve been combined into one loser, or even better, not exist at all.
What I really don’t get is that there’s already two other rival characters! If Alt-me and Pinkie weren’t around, I would just be thinking the plot writer was an idiot who couldn’t think of anything better but those idiots for rival trainers. But there’s two other comparatively better characters, and then there’s some moron who won’t shut up about dancing and pokedex-failure boy.
Been raising my Sylveon. Fairy type is incredibly overpowered. I have no idea what they were thinking. (Also, why the hell is it strong against dark instead of weak? That makes no sense.)
I think fairy being strong against dark has some merit. A lot of fairy attacks involve lots of shiny light (has your sylveon learned moonblast yet? Fighting evil by moonlight indeed!) plus if you go by the whole ‘fairy tale’ motif evil is frequently defeated by the end of the story (dark type is actually called evil in the literal Japanese isn’t it?). What I don’t get is why it’s strong against fighting type. I guess with the amount of things fighting is strong against it could’ve used another weakness…. OR they could’ve made ice no longer weak to it!
But the dark type is built around beating up the “shiny” type that is psychic, and umbreon have a healing move called moonlight!
Plus, if we’re saying it’s magical-girl/hero type fairy, then it’s basically the type that’s designated victor, which is a bad lens to be using if it’s supposed to be balanced.
(Maybe it’s strong against fighting because fairies are tiny things that dodge and flit about? And weak to poison because that’s what killed Tinker Bell? I don’t know, I’m really not clear what they mean by “fairy”.)
I actually got a little lost in Reflection cave. It was kind of fun. There’s another cave I got terribly lost in and didn’t have an escape rope on me. Lots of nostalgia there! Surprised you had problems with your rival – I can’t remember him ever giving me much trouble. Though I had just gotten my umbreon at this point in the game so that really helped against his team.
You know what I find really disappointing is that right at the end of the game you meet a character who would’ve been a much better rival then any of the ones you get. This person even has a tie in to the main plot but you don’t find it out until long after it’s over. As it stands beating them is a lot more fulfilling to me then beating any of my actual rivals.
I was impressed by Victory Road!
I did too! It wasn’t exactly Mt. Moon, but in fairness, Mt. Moon probably was a bit too hard.
Well, I was mostly lower level than him and my team wasn’t able to handle psychic types well, so his espurr beat me up and then I didn’t have anyone left to handle the rest. Once I knew to plan around that it was easy.
Yeah, I was really weirded out by everyone showering praise on my Pokémon, especially because my Pokémon were woefully underleveled the entire game. Like, Calem went all “oh, I can see your Pokémon are stronger than mine” and all I could think was “WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT MY POKÉMON ARE TEN LEVELS LOWER THAN YOURS AND YOU ALREADY BEAT ME ABOUT THREE TIMES.”
(Being underleveled is easy; you just train way, way, way more than six Pokémon, and the experience will get spread so thin you’ll be losing to wild Pokémon in no time. I was rotating two whole boxes’ worth of Pokémon with my team for a time. Although by now, since I’ve been ditching old Pokémon once they’re fully evolved, I’ve only got one full box and am kind of catching up. Still losing all the time. Seriously, if you want to make your game more challenging, I highly recommend this. It’s also a fun way to get to use lots of different Pokémon that you wouldn’t use normally.)
Incidentally, I don’t know if anybody mentioned this before, but turning the Exp. Share on does not actually decrease the experience your battling Pokémon get. The Pokémon that battle get the same amount of experience regardless; the Exp. Share just adds giving any nonparticipating Pokémon half of the experience the battling Pokémon got. So carrying “experience sinks” won’t do you any good in this game, and in fact it will have been giving you more experience than you should have otherwise.
Noted. Is that a glitch or something, because I thought the person said that it would divide up the other half of the experience points, not that it was a multiplier, and if there’s absolutely no tradeoff it’s weird they even give you the option of keeping it off.