Elite Four: "Courses" vs. "Selections"

While on the subject of new fifth-generation paradigms, there is another notable one, and it concerns the penultimate portion of the game, which is none other than the Elite Four. Ever since the first games, the Elite Four has served as a test of skills prior to the exit from the main storyline, pitting Trainers against the hardest Trainers in the region. For the first four generations, these Trainers were sequentially arranged in a certain order, forcing all Trainers to battle them in that order like a "course". In the fifth generation, this was changed; the Elite Four could be battled in any order, removing the "course" aspect and making it selective. This might seem like a trivial change, but it still has some implications.

With a course, the order is set; however the Trainers are arranged, they must be battled in precisely the order given. This might pose a problem for teams of certain compositions, and as a result for those teams, a strategy needs to be precisely structured so that the Elite Four members can be defeated most efficiently while still coming away relatively unscathed after battling with each in order. Like it or not, there's only one path for how things must be done, and any adjustments must be done along that path. It is a real challenge in that way.

The change to a selective approach means that the members of the Elite Four could be selected and battled at will in whatever order is desired. In fact, since there are four members, this means one of 24 possible orders. This also means that strategies can be more loosely adapted for efficiency, though in the end everyone needs to be battled anyhow, necessitating particular strategies depending on team compositions. With so many orders and possibilities, the challenge could be mitigated or increased in different ways.

Neither approach is completely right or wrong, nor is either approach completely easy or hard. They're just "the way things are done", which may be the reason the former approach persisted in the third generation remakes. What is clear is that the Elite Four remains a challenge to go through regardless of the approach. A Trainer needs to know how to deal with the challenge of the Elite Four and then actually realize it so that they can say they have been fully tested for Pokémon battles - a paradigm that hasn't changed.

Unified Centers and Marts

When the main series of Pokémon games turned over to the fifth generation, a number of new paradigms took effect. One of them was the unification of Pokémon Centers and PokéMarts. What were once two separate establishments in former generations were now united under one roof. Any kind of change, though, has implications for two sides, and these deserve to be explored and thought upon.

On one hand, the Pokémon Center is now truly a "center" with the merging of PokéMarts into it. Trainers can do most of their business in one place, and one that is recognizable, to boot; no more wandering is needed from one place to the other, as it is likely that both places are and were far apart. This change totally makes sense from the convenience aspect in that respect, and I totally welcome this approach. It also simplifies the overworld, as there no longer needs to be a second essential place to be put up. It's a good and positive change to be sure for these considerations.

On the other hand, with the merging of these two places, there is now one place less to get specific advice, in particular on items, which the characters at the PokéMart often give. I enjoy their banter though I don't often need it, yet others may do. This change was also not carried over to the remakes of Ruby and Sapphire, which were created after this change and had many sweeping changes of their own; this one wasn't included despite that some areas were nearly completely changed. And yet the benefits had clearly been seen in three pairs of games before it. The former is a nostalgic thing while the second one is a little puzzling.

Whatever happens, this change is here to stay - Sun and Moon as the first members of the seventh generation games have this implemented, and their Ultra counterparts will almost assuredly have this change. The fact that this change has persisted must mean that it indeed does work even if it sacrifices a few things and is sacrificed in the remakes. Still, no shifts in paradigm are without two sides, and they are useful to consider for the present implementation as well as the future.

To Teach and To Delight

In my duties today, I was reminded of a particular observation. It has been said that the prime objective of someone who writes can be encapsulated in a Latin expression: "docere et delectare", which means "to teach and to delight", the exact title of this post. I write a blog about Pokémon things, so I'm not excepted. Whatever I write should be able to do either on their own or both collectively, fulfilling the objective in some way. As it turns out, this objective can be considered to go beyond writing and even to the thing that I write about, Pokémon. It's an elegant way to think about the objective, as much as the objective itself is elegant.

In a way, I am indeed teaching with some of the posts on this blog. Posts like the details on Enhancements and Competitive Stages in Pokémon Shuffle are designed to inform how things are, yet they are also indirectly "educative" to players who wish to take advantage of them. Content like these are akin to something on an online game guide or a strategy guide; I don't have enough patience to write up a complete guide of my own, but at least I can write up about specific elements of the game and how I deal with them. But then again, who knows. It has also been said that little bits add up to a lot, and if I start to write up a lot of these little bits, I might as well eventually gather them up as a guide, especially if there is a demand for it. Thus interred, that process of guiding is very much like teaching.

At the same time, I am indeed having fun, and this fulfills the function of delighting. I enjoy playing, watching, and doing things with Pokémon, but I especially enjoy being able to share that experience. That is why I discuss things like game progress, episode content, odd things I find, and even what I imagine so that others may do the same. No person can stand to enjoy everything - and even I can't - but by the same token, I try to present something that others may not be able to enjoy so that my and others' fun experiences complement each other. By accomplishing this, it becomes the essence of my efforts to delight with Pokémon by way of writing.

Meanwhile, in the world of Pokémon, no people quite like Trainers do the job of teaching and delighting better. Some Trainers are full-fledged teachers, and even if they aren't, they can still teach others how to battle better by their experience. And of course, every battle is a delight in and of itself, no matter who comes out on top in the end; there's something about exchanging moves and techniques that is enigmatically fun to do and experience. They may or may not write about their experiences, but what they do in battle can and does invoke the same objective.

Teaching and delighting are noble objectives, especially when accomplished through the power of written words. That being so, this blog serves to do the same, with the incorporation of Pokémon, which itself can be considered to facilitate the objective. To like something and to show that I like that something through writing is pleasing, but it is even more pleasing to know I can accomplish something as noble as these objectives. Pokémon is what I like, so I'm pleased if I could teach a few things and delight with others about it. I hope that you may find those qualities within my posts.

Pokémon Stuff at a Neighborhood Store

It's amazing how Pokémon stuff can be found in many places, if you know where to look. I found some at a local store in my neighborhood that furnishes household goods at a relatively cheap price, which could explain its popularity. Anyhow, I stopped by a couple of days ago to shop while escaping the rain, and I found a few goodies that I immediately snapped up while shopping for other things. They were among the cheapest goodies that I could get since I didn't feel like splurging.

On the top are a couple of Pokémon coloring books. I love art to some degree and even have the art game app for Pokémon on the 3DS, so to me, these books are good precursors to great art, even if some of it has already been provided (as outlines). However, seeing as these coloring books are effectively my only copy, so if I want to do anything special with them - that is, make art - while preserving them for later, other uses, I have to copy them to apply physical artistry or scan them to apply computer creativity. Either way, I'm prepared to do what it takes to realize some interesting works.

On the bottom is wrapping paper, but not just any wrapping paper. I've covered wrapping paper before on this blog, but I'm always looking for interesting finds, and this is one of those. Because of the images present on it, I've come to dub it as the "Mega Evolution" wrapping paper, which is neat, because that means this wrapping paper has a great theme. The other thing is that it's not a wrapping paper so much as it is a wrapping bag - that's right, bag; the paper is already cut and formed into a bag that can then be immediately filled with a gift and enclosed. That's why there is a jagged edge on the right - that is where the top is. It's a smart and convenient solution that I've yet to see anywhere else.

These are all great stuff, and what's more, they're officially licensed merchandise, so in a way they have been "blessed" to appear as they are. And it shows; everything is beautifully designed and they look neat, making me proud to have them. All this, and I found them in a place that's not too far from home. I wonder what other Pokémon stuff I can find in places that are not far removed from where I live. I can't wait to explore and find out.

Strong Opinions

People have opinions - it's a natural thing. If they like or are interested in something, then they will have opinions for that thing. I like Pokémon, and I certainly have my own opinions too, which is why I started this blog, so that I could share my opinions and possibly discuss them with other fans, those who have an interest in Pokémon. So when I saw a "recap" of how certain fans reacted to the announcement of Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon and how this is similar to reactions to Black 2 and White 2, I felt that I have to give my opinions about these opinions, and now I want to take this post to do just that.

As I've noted in my post about new paradigms, made the day after the announcement about the new games, Black 2 and White 2 against Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon have parallels, more than just how the games look at first glance. They eschewed prior paradigms - "third games", generational procession, console continuance - in favor of something different though similar to the main series games before them. It seems for some fans this just does not sit well, and they still expect something of the previous paradigm. Further, they also think that the new games don't bring anything new to the table.

It is my opinion, then, that these opinions are somewhat overblown for their strength. While it is valid to expect something of a previous paradigm, such as a "third game" or remakes, it is as equally valid to have something different yet similar as well. Also, if other things in life are any indication, it is that appearances are not always suggestive of what's inside - so the new games to come might just have enough going for it to almost be considered a totally new game. In the end the games are obtained and played anyhow, and by then opinions such as what have been given are effectively quashed.

I suppose it is fine to have strong opinions, but not as strong as these that they end up being overblown. It is important to keep in mind that everyone has ones of their own, which may or may not be strong; the key is perhaps to normalize them through discussion in some way. I like Pokémon a whole lot, and while I have my own opinions, I see that they are just that: mine. A fellow fan will think differently about what I think, but that's OK. We are people after all, and we have our own opinions - let them be different, but may our interests be the same.

Enhancements in Shuffle

Pokémon Shuffle has a special class of items which are called Enhancements. They are called as such because they enhance or power up Pokémon in various ways. These started from just one kind, and today there are several kinds that aid players in raising and maximizing the abilities of their Pokémon. I do too, though I'm somewhat conservative about their use, mainly because they may be a little hard to obtain; but once obtained and used, they are quite helpful. Here then, are the Enhancements:

Mega Speedup. This was the first Enhancement present before it was called an Enhancement. It allows Pokémon that can Mega Evolve to do so sooner, if the Mega Start is not used. Use of this Enhancement may help to save Coins in doing so with an appropriate Mega strategy. The Enhancement can be used on all Pokémon that can Mega Evolve, but to different degrees - some may be able to have more than others, which may be adjusted with further updates to the game.

Raise Max Level. This Enhancement bumps up the maximum level of a Pokémon one level beyond its current maximum - "unlocks" the next level, so to speak. Prior to this Enhancement, all Pokémon in Shuffle were limited to 10 levels; now certain Pokémon may have greater levels. Like the Mega Speedup, this is different for different Pokémon, and further updates may allow this to be used on other Pokémon and/or to a greater degree.

Level Up. This is the "Rare Candy" of Pokémon Shuffle. It simply elevates the current level of a Pokémon (but not beyond the maximum, which needs the Raise Max Level for that). I find this quite wasteful if used on a Pokémon below level 5 as there are only a few hundred required experience points total among those levels, and this can easily be gotten elsewhere. But on higher levels that need thousands of points, by all means. It is still a rare Enhancement - true to its main series counterpart - so it demands to be used wisely.

Experience Boosters. These Enhancements give experience points to Pokémon that can still earn them. Three sizes (S, M, L) are available, with the larger sizes giving more points. These are helpful when a Pokémon is on the verge of heading to the next level but short by only a small amount of points; giving them these brings them up to the next level conveniently without having to go into battle.

Skill Boosters. These Enhancements "train" the skills of a Pokémon, making them more likely to occur and/or more powerful. Like Experience Boosters, three sizes (S, M, L) are available, and the larger sizes are more useful in later "training" levels; these apply to any Pokémon whose skills have not been maxed. It should be noted that some Pokémon may drop a Personal Skill Booster in applicable stages after they are caught; these are immediately awarded rather than being stored for later use, yet tend to have a lesser effect than the "universal" boosters.

Skill Swapper. This Enhancement allows changing of the skill of certain Pokémon to a different one, akin to the Ability Capsule of the main series. Only Pokémon that possess multiple skills can have the Enhancement, and only one skill is carried in memory at any time. For that reason, this is not an Enhancement that I use often, preferring the use of different Pokémon.

All of these Enhancements certainly have high utility, especially when used appropriately and wisely. To that end, I try not to be too liberal with them and only use them where and when they are absolutely needed. Whatever the case, these items are truly handy and helpful for Shuffle players to get an edge in certain stages by helping their Pokémon help them, powered up to a better degree.

Pikachu with Regional Caps

Throughout the past few months or so, a number of Pikachu have circulated with an interesting feature: they wear Ash's distinctive cap from the regions he has been to, including Alola. Pikachu with different appearances are nothing new; in the previous generation there were the Cosplay Pikachu that wore different outfits. However, this Pikachu is not only different, but also widespread. It becomes a more unique Pikachu in that regard.

There are six Pikachu in all; official terminology states that they have the Original Cap (for Kanto and Johto), Hoenn Cap, Sinnoh Cap, Unova Cap, Kalos Cap, and Alola Cap. Their appearance is not too different from Pikachu in general, except for the caps that they wear, which are exactly the same as those which Ash wore in the different regions. This is different from the Cosplay Pikachu in that they are not completely dressed, but are only outfitted with a single accessory. They do, however, share a commonality in that they cannot evolve, which not only retains their Pikachu qualities but also makes them true to the anime.

These Pikachu are also now available with a code for those who possess the U.S. region game after being initially available for players in Japan. The catch? The code can only be used once, for a particular form. Right now, at the time of this post, it's for the Original Cap; the available form changes each week starting Tuesday. Interestingly, the evidence for their existence was discovered even before the actual Sun and Moon games were released when the demo version was checked for hidden data. Now that they're available, it's time for players to get in on the fun - of course, with their selected form. I happen to like the Hoenn Cap version since I have some attachment to this saga, so that's the one I will get.

For Shuffle players, however, all the cap forms can be gotten... or should have been gotten, since they were initially given a couple of months back and redistributed once. I was fortunate to catch the redistribution and now I have all six. For Go players, only the Original Cap is (or rather, was) available as of yet, but there might be the possibility of the others showing up as the later generations are added, but that'll be a long time from now. Those who didn't get them might see them again, though this may not be a guarantee.

All things considered, the Cap Pikachu are quite unique novelties. They may not have much purpose outside of aesthetic complements, but they do affirm one thing. The fact that they have a feature of the anime means that the anime is still properly recognized as a major part of Pokémon. As a fan of all things Pokémon and especially the anime, I quite appreciate this nod and gesture, as do and should others who enjoy the exact same things.