THROWBACK REVIEW: Pokémon: Mewtwo Strikes Back

Twenty years ago, a franchise emerged in Japan that would impact, mold, and shape culture that we grew up in, particularly if you were what we like to call, a 90's kid. Ah, the 90's, the time of butt-scooters, Wonderballs, and weird dance music (hey at least I can go to my Alice in Chains or Pantera if I'm not in the mood for Fatboy Slim). Growing up in this little time Era was a lot of fun. Yeah, maybe for a time, the movies weren't exactly the best, but you know what, it was still a lot of fun. And there are certain things that were done back then that I wish were done today, particularly that of kids animation. I've long praised Kids WB, as it was my go-to channel for everything cartoon after school, and Saturday Morning. And it was the birthplace for Pokémon Fever in the United States. If you were a kid,  you were hooked. If you were older, you just had to deal with it.  I was a fanatic. The game, the cards, the books, and the show. I loved it all. And you can bet that once I heard about the movie, I was gonna go see it.

The hype behind this movie if you were a kid may as well be compared to that of a new Star Wars movie. The advertising, these weird collectable cards you could collect, the endless...and I do mean endless trips to Burger King, who had all 150 Pokémon toys in their kids meals...it was every definition of an early Christmas. I went into that theater with my friend, my dad (who I feel sorry for), and sat myself down, ready to indulge in nonstop action, fun battles, and just immerse myself, wondering what exactly it was like to be in the shoes of a trainer called Ash Ketchum.

Yeah...it's hard to imagine that was only 18 or 20 years ago.  Regardless of whether you like it or not, no one can deny the impact that Pokémon has had on pop culture, for better or for worse. It's not nearly as big as it once was, but you know what? It doesn't need to be. It was big for us, and that was what mattered. And so to celebrate 20 iconic years, I'm going to sit through each and every Pokémon movie that was ever made, and I'm going to give my thoughts in a review. Strap yourselves in guys, this will be a tough one. It's not that they're terrible, it's just that I'm going into this with the mindset of both an old fan, and a critic. And the fact that there's 18 of these damn things right now...and they aren't slowing down either. What can you do? So I hope you'll join me as I go through a marathon of Pokémon movies as I look back on my childhood, and see if the movies still hold any life.

Please note that I will only be reviewing the feature pictures themselves. That means the shorts that occasionally came before them, like Pikachu's Vacation will not be reviewed. So...what are my thoughts on Mewtwo Strikes Back?

Whether it's for nostalgic reasons or whatnot, This tends to be the film that most Pokéfans regard as the best, or like talking about the most.  And you know, for their first attempt at filmdom, it's not half bad. In fact a lot of it is surprisingly still pretty dark for the franchise. Particularly the opening segments revolving Mewtwo's birth, and rampages in which Mewtwo kinda just...kills a large number of scientists. And that's not even the only death in this movie.  When Mewtwo is conjuring up this storm, there's a trainer flying across the sea on their Fearow (God help me for remembering all these names), and they doesn't make it to the island...did they drown?

Now there are a few moments I found myself laughing at watching this again.  Particularly regarding the legends of Pokémon tears and whatnot...which serve as absolutely nothing more as a hint as to why the silly revival of Ash Ketchum at the end makes sense...oh by the way Ash kinda dies too. I'd say spoiler alert, but if you haven't seen this movie by now that's your own fault.  However another thing that kinda gets me is the missing Nurse Joy plot.  Throughout the series, we are led to believe that Nurse Joy is part of a very large...identical family of numerous cousins, sisters, sister-in-laws, etc etc etc...yet one Nurse disappears for one month, and they shut down the Pokémon Center she's a part of? Couldn't transfer another employee temporarily at all?  I'm certain they got someone laying around...

Team Rocket...While we'll get to their roles in these movies, they ironically have their biggest role in this film if you ask me, in which they have...albeit very small character development, but seeing how Mewtwo erases everybody's memory at the end of the film, I guess it's pretty much pointless. Though the fact that this is actually one of the few instances in which our heroes mingle with Team Rocket, and they don't just serve as background fodder for the film. Though the Vikings thing? "They mostly live in Minnesota!" ....har har har....come on. I don't think even our heroes can be that incompetent. Oh who am I kidding?

I may be nitpicking a lot here, but as far as whether or not I like this film...well I do.  You can say there's a nostalgia factor here, but for the most part, the story is competent enough, and I gotta say that the origins of Mewtwo in this film are some of the best storytelling elements of the franchise. It's also worth noting that the debate over who is more powerful between Mew and Mewtwo remains undetermined, and an iconic debate in the fandom...though future films will kinda glorify Mew. And there are some legit jokes that keep me chuckling, like when James verbally asks "Who's that Pokémon?" And the change that Mewtwo goes through in this film, from a raging angry Pokémon, hellbent on purging the world to a more understanding Pokémon towards the end is something that the fandom still holds in high respect. The message for the younger viewer is solid and understandable.  And some of the sound effects I gotta say...they sound like they came straight out of Star Wars. Pretty cool.

Factor in the classic action of Pokémon in battle, and an actually pretty cool musical score, and you got a fun movie that remains a solid favorite and steady movie amongst the franchise.  Maybe some don't like or understand it...but hey...I guess it only makes us like it a little more. All this factored in...I'm gonna go ahead and jump to the final verdict.

Mewtwo Strikes Back earns a three star rating out of four.  Despite some silly aspects, and black and white morals, and character problems, the story is still fun, the action is still pretty impressive to watch, and the message is still regarded as one of the franchise's finer messages it's ever attempted. If you're a fan, and you've not seen this film, it's a must see.  And though for a while, it was out of print and hard to find recently it's found its way back onto the shelf, even if the new cover isn't at all as cool as the old...but that's not too much a factor in the movie itself.  

Well...thanks for reading my thoughts on Mewtwo Strikes Back, I'll return next week to talk about movie two, while I search for the rest of the movies I need, and try to write some stronger reviews (I found myself slightly distracted on this one).  Please feel free to suggest any movie you'd personally like me to take a look at in the near future.  Leave a comment down below, discussing your own thoughts on the film, and as always, thanks for reading. 

Final Verdict: 3/4

Review: Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon

If you missed my throwback review to Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time/Darkness/Sky last week, you may not be as aware of just how much I love this little spinoff series of Pokémon. Mystery Dungeon has quickly become my biggest love of the franchise. The intricate storytelling, the lovable characters, it's a treat for me. Some don't care for its repetitive gameplay, or style, and I will just say that's fine, it's not for everyone, but when a Mystery Dungeon game is coming over here to the states, you better believe that I'll be in line to pick it up. The fact that Super Mystery Dungeon came out on my birthday, made this all the more special for me. 

But how is Super Mystery Dungeon as a game? I was asking myself that over and over again as I unwrapped it and put it in my 3DS. I was nervous. If you don't know, the last entry of the franchise was a HUGE disappointment for me. Gates to Infinity had a few redeeming things, but all in all, it doesn't feel like a legit Mystery Dungeon game. It lacks the heart and soul that made me love this series in the first place. No interesting story, a bland partner Pokémon with little likable personality, no real tension or drama in what they call a story, and whenever there WAS tension or drama...I just didn't care. It just felt empty, and I never finished playing it. Well I've been playing Super Mystery Dungeon for the last few days now, and though I've not finished the main storyline, I am pleased to announce that Mystery Dungeon once again has that heart and soul of a true game in this series! 

Right off the bat, I was happy to see that the quiz has returned for the series.  In Gates to inifinity, not only were your choices for player and partner Pokémon extremely limited, but simply chose right off the bat what you wanted to be. Well, Super Mystery Dungeon brings back that quiz, and the extensive choices of who you wanna be.  BUT for those of you who will continue to complain about how the personality quiz just keeps you from your favorite Pokémon to play as, well guess what, you're in luck.  It asks you if the Pokémon it chooses out for you if satisfactory.  If it's not you can choose whatever one you want.  The same goes for your partner Pokémon, which is does a small new thing of trying to choose one out for you as well.  Some might argue that this nulllifies the quiz entirely, but honestly, I'm glad the quiz is back in the game, regardless of whether or not you choose who you want to be.  And I gotta say that the game has a clever subte intro when you first start up the game.  The top screen goes into the camera mode to simulate your presence in the actual human world, before this orb of light transports you into this tunnel where your quiz happens, and your Pokésona is revealed to you.  I thought that was pretty clever.

Already I was happy to be playing this game. But I was still nervous for the story.  What would we be doing? Now as I've said, I've yet to finish playing.  I don't know how close I am to the finish, or whatnot.  I never do.  And while the fist few levels can be kinda slow in story, the game does pick up and it's already grasped my imagination and my interest.  There are so many features and things about this story that have been improved over the last few Mystery Dungeon games, and after the triumph that was Explorers of Sky, that's saying a lot.  Speaking of which, this game does have its fair share of cameos from the previous games.  And by fair share, I mean they are all over the place.  They don't even count as Easter Eggs, they're all over the place.  In my short time, I've run into Corphish and Sunflora from the Wigglytuff Guild, Hydreigon, Quagsire, and Rampardos from Gates to Infinity, the game has Igglybuff, Wooper, and Budew in what I assume is a little homage to the bonus story mission of Igglybuff the Prodigy, and I even have full access to Team ACT from the very first games.  I'm not kidding.  I can send a level 56 Alakazam, a level 55 Tyranitar, and a level 36 Charizard on an expedition if I wanted to.  That's just a small handful of cameos I've come across, and I am betting I'll run into even more.

One thing I absolutely love about this game is the partner you choose.  Now the partner Pokémon has always been a favorite feature of these games.  The Pokémon you grow with, bond with and explore this world with is always loveable...for the most part (damn you Gates to Infinity), and it must be said that the personality, and overall character of you partner Pokémon has improved TENFOLD.  And I mean improved over each and every game in the series.  Even my beloved Sky.  While I will always love the partner pokémon of those other games, this one's personality is brought to a new life.  He shows more emotion, he's jittery, he's downright silly at times, and it's hard not to crack a smile at it at times.  He's a bit of a goofball, but a loveable goofball.  You join him, after you both are kinda outcasted amongst your other Pokémon friends, and begin to explore outside your town further and further, joining him in his dream to travel the world, map it, and eventually join what is known as the Epedition Society.    Yeah yeah, it's similar to the Wigglytuff Guild, but it's still cool in my eyes.  nd it absolutely needs to be said that your partner Pokémon and other Pokémon you take nito the dungeons are MUCH smarter than in previous games.  How smart?  They will notice if you're close to dying, and offer to heal you with an Oran Berry.  If you're fighting an enemy, they will position themselves in ways to lend assistance to take out that enemy.  If the room is covered in items, they will help you gather those items up.  This is impressive.  I've never seen the partner pokémon able to do all this before.  And your choices of teams will only be as diverse as your imagination, as this game features all 720 Pokémon, which is the first time such a game has been made.

Gameplay itself has evolved somewhat, and in many ways for the better.  It is more convienient to use moves now, and before Gates, I did not understand why I'd want to link moves, well this game gives you a reason to do that, and it's much more convienient to use those linked or alliance moves.  And this game will make you get in the habit of doing it more than you might want because for a long time, this game may just frustrate you beyond believability.  Super Mystery Dungeon might have earned it's title of super, because it is the most difficult Mystery Dungeon game I have ever played.  Where are I could plow through dungeons left and right in the other games, I found mysef scratching my head when moves that were SUPER EFFECTIVE were only doing ten damage to the opponent.  Yeah, during the first pat of this game, you really gotta strive to strengthen yourself, because you're gonna be tossed around.  A lot. One of the first missions, I found that I had to fight a Salamance at level 50.  I don't think I was past level 10 yet.I didn't do ANY damage to him in moves that surpassed 10 damage.  I had to continuously do Alliance moves, get revived by those Tiny Revive Seeds that aren't the same as normal revive seeds, until finally I just ate a blast seed and blasted his dragon ass away.  Yeah.  This game is ruthless.  It makes you think outside the box at times, and makes you prepare for expeditions in ways you never would before.  You'll find yourself maybe taking at least four evive seeds in with you, along with plenty of elixers, plenty of apples, and plenty of other things, that normally I wouldn't require more than one or two in the previous games.  Thankfully, the stronger you get the less stuff you'll find you need as you travel along, but in my case, I'm always overpreparing with the Revive seeds.  And remember, I've yet to run into things like those blasted Monster Houses...

There are other things in gameplay that I don't particularly care for.  One is the "pushing" of your partner Pokémon.  In previous games before this, if you wanted to backtrack, you could simply walk backward, and your partner would switch sides with you automatically. Now if you want that to happen, you need to hold the B button to switch, otherwise you'll just push him like a trainer pushes a boulder in Rocky Cave outside Cerulean City or wherever the heck that place is.  And while pushing can be beneficial at times, especially for me being a water Pokémon, who will often wander into the rivers and lakes of the mystery dungeons, I just can't help but feel that this push system could have been tweaked a bit more so that it wasn't so frustrating.  It's clunky, and I'm already missing the older system of just switching places, and having an inconvienient warp now and then.

Another thing, though this is mainly coming from my perspective as a 25-year-old adult male, is the fact that when first playing this, I found it weird that I was playing as a child in this game.  The game has you go to school in the beginning, the other Pokémon will talk to you like you're a child, you'll often run into problems that are pretty childish, but that's not so much a thing I am nagging about.  It's just something to look out for if you're anything like me, and enjoy playing games that aren't exactly targeted towards you as an audience. The music of Super Mystery Dungeon has also improved greatly.  I will say I miss the theme from Explorers of Sky, but the dungeon music sounds absolutely gorgeous, easily capturing the adventure spirit, and the mystery heart.  But even more than that, the simple music when you're with the other child pokémon just completely captures the moods and feelings.  It's another thing that cracks a smile on my face.

There are just so many things I want to talk about in this game that have been done right, that it's mind boggling.  I almost want to say that if you've not cared for the series before now, to give it a try.  It makes full use of the 3D screen unlike X, Y, OR, and AS do, with all the cameos, there are plenty of homages to the other games, and plenty of improvements and new features in this game that I've yet to try, heck I've already traveled to another Pokémon town, which is already a new feature.  It makes this world you're exploring seem bigger in so many ways.  And if that's not enough, Nintendo actually made a Buizel character.  I always wanted to see Buizel have a bit of a role in these stories, and Nintendo made one that almost fits my wishes to a completely.  In fact, I almost feel as if this game was made for me.  It came out on my birthday...so it might as well have been made like that for me.

Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon is a solid eight out of ten.  A must have for other Mystery Dungeon fans, and one you might wanna consider buying if you've not been in the Mystery Dungeon crowd before.  Even if you didn't like it, I wanna say give it another shot.  Rent it or something.  I feel that so much of this game has been improved.  Now whether or not the story itself is as good as Explorers of Sky for me may forever be a mystery, but already it's up there amongst my favorites.  And after the disappointing Gates game...that is always a welcoming sign.  I would sit here and type more out, but if you'll excuse me, I must return to Lively Town, and continue with my partner Jolt the Pikachu to map this world out, and discover the answers to the mystery as to why the world is acting like it is (the whole thing with Pokémon turning to stone is really boggling my mind right now).  Gotta get those answers!

Please feel free to share your thoughts on the game down below.  And as always, thanks for reading.

Final Verdict: 8/10