Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road sells 500K at Launch.

Well, this is another pleasant surprise, even if it's not quite the outcome I expected. After the oft-delayed Fantasy Life: The Girl Who Steals Time saw release earlier in the year, another title has emerged after nearly a decade of development at Level-5- the soccer RPG Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road.

Despite spreading to multiple consoles and PC (quietly canceling its 3DS port after the official end of support in 2023), the game has actually sold decently across all formats since launching last week; moving 500,000 units to date. Though critical reception remains scarce (once again, Level-5 chose not to send out review codes); most people who have played it seem to enjoy it.  

While I once again reaffirm I am not a fan of the franchise, I am glad that the lengthy development cycle appears to be the only thing it's sharing with Duke Nukem Forever. Maybe I'll check it out after updates arrive (currently training for the next season of the Z-A Royale, and I opted into Mega Dimensions too),  and there's a sale. That's all for now, and I will see you again soon.

Why Dan Da Dan Worked in the US Where Yo-Kai Watch Didn't

Hey everyone- I have been contemplating how to do this for a while now; and now I have it all figured out. It's interesting how much difference 10 years time can make for fiction, especially with how one franchise a decade ago utterly flopped in its attempts to Americanize itself; and a more recent one instead leaned into its exotic foreign aspects to great success. Here is a look at why Dan Da Dan worked in the US where Yo-Kai Watch didn't.

1. Appreciation over Homogenization

One of my and others' biggest issues with the EN localization of YKW was the attempt to take a concept as intrinsically Japanese as youkai and make it palatable to Westerners; which went about as well as you'd expect. Turning the Japanese New Sakura Town into the flyover country, USA setting of Springdale, Idaho in particular aged less like a fine sake and more like a small fry order stuck between the seats of an '88 Chevrolet Celebrity.

That was a mistake that I'm grateful the people dubbing Dan Da Dan didn't repeat. Not only does it fully commit to its very Japanese take on the paranormal; the setting is indeed intrinsic to the story, visuals, characterization and humor. We'll touch on that last one again in a bit, but two early fights are dependent on the position of the characters near a shrine's "torii gate" as well as the provinces of a Japanese township. It won't be the only time that Dan Da Dan proved to be the anime I wanted YKW to be either.

2. A Much Clearer Target Demographic

As part of a whole slew of hit series to come out of the "dark era" of Shonen Jump; the desire for new stories combined with the typical fan skewing older than past years worked tremendously to the benefit of Dan Da Dan. With this, the debut of the anime from Science Saru was certainly primed to do well. The breakout success the anime got wasn't forced either- it was instead carefully cultivated all around the pacific. Best of all, the age of the audience was firmly established with the 17-plus crowd: let's just say the anime earns its TV-MA rating.

By contrast, YKW never really did nail down whether they wanted to appeal to kids, fans of Japanese culture or even a more general audience. The attempts from Level-5 to appeal to all of them ended up appealing to none of them. No matter what a potential video game adaptation of Dan Da Dan ends up being, it's safe to say it will be M-rated as can be.

3. Humor that embraces the bizarre instead of sanitizing it

Another benefit that Dan Da Dan had in its armory that helped it succeed was fully committing to the offbeat humor that's baked into the concept. Though I certainly am willing to admit YKW wasn't without its weird aspects; I also admit trying to sanitize them was a mistake. A large amount of dated pop culture references in the dub didn't help either. Fortunately, that was not an issue faced by Dan Da Dan at all. On top of a major plot point involving the theft of Okarun's "naughty bits," lots of humor is mined from both the designs and behavior of the various creatures our heroes encounter. Plus, I just find the idea that Momo's grandmother looks and acts like a Japanese delinquent teenager hilarious on its lonesome. 

4. Cultivating an audience over forcing the affair

While the enthusiasm Level-5 had was admirable on a surface level, the attempts to force YKW into being the next big thing ended up having the opposite effect. There was even a plan to bring over the fourth game, but the pandemic and the closure of Level-5 Abby functionally scrapped it. Holy Horror Mansion could work as a spiritual successor, but I would appreciate if they and other devs cooled it with their AI obsession. Maybe Deca Police will work, maybe it won't (I do like games with detective aspects lately). The new Inazuma Eleven seems to finally be keeping to its release date, though given the competition (Hyrule Warriors Age of Imprisonment, Kirby Air Riders and the same week as Black Ops VII); it's got an uphill battle after nine years in the works.

That didn't happen with Dan Da Dan. Instead, the manga and anime took the approach I prefer- releasing and letting people make their own judgment. As word of mouth spread, so did the show's popularity. Even with someone who admits to approaching most works with a mixture of skepticism and cautious optimism, my curiosity was rewarded. Whenever a work makes me feel a multitude of emotions and provokes nigh-endless thoughts, it's done something right no matter the quality.

5. How all the elements are presented

All of the.previous points,  and others I did not mention are all connected to the contrast between how one IP became a huge hit and the other became a pop culture footnote a decade on- how all the elements are presented to audiences.

While Yo-Kai Watch was continually hyped as the next big thing, that has a habit of not always panning out. It certainly didn't for YKW, which even in Japan has functionally been "on hiatus" for a while now. If there's anything I've learned in the last few years, no brand is bulletproof- even Super Sentai is airing its final season after 50 years (I'll wait till Universe Heroes debuts to judge it). Maybe Holy Horror Mansion will work, maybe it won't. I will say this- this "next big thing" malarkey needs to go. 

In contrast, Dan Da Dan grew far more naturally as it went from subculture to pop culture. I myself came up on it by chance one night, and it's become a standout anime in a year full of them. It's more than the second season of Shadowside I never got- it's what I wanted YKW to do when it debuted a decade ago. That is all for now, and I will see you again soon.

So I Finally Watched Dan Da Dan. The Results Pleasantly Surprised Me.

Happy Halloween everyone- now that I have finished the first season; have begun the second ahead of the newly-announced third, and even started reading the manga (in an incredibly rare instance of enjoying it more on the second time around than the first), here is a post showing what I have found from watching the smash hit anime Dan Da Dan.  

From left- Jin "Jiji" Enjoji, Momo Ayase, Seiko Ayase, Ken "Okarun" Takakura, Aira Shiratori and Turbo Granny.

The basic setup is as follows- boy meets girl. He believes in aliens, she believes in ghosts. The two set out one night to prove each other wrong, and instead prove each other completely right. Moreover, the boy; Ken "Okarun" Takakura ends up imbued with the powers of an ancient yokai known as "Turbo Granny" (whose consciousness later ends up inside a maneki-neko plush with all the sass intact), and the girl, Momo Ayase awakens dormant psychic powers after narrowly being probed by aliens for her "banana organs." Her grandmother Seiko (who has been her guardian since the untimely death of Momo's parents) is also a powerful medium in her own right; who ends up being vital to helping the teens deal with a whole slew of very Japanese aliens and paranormal threats. 

I will admit I was skeptical, but unlike some people who dig their heels so far in they're touching the bedrock; I'm not above being proven wrong when the results are better than I imagined.  

The anime comes from Science Saru, a studio who has worked on a number of anime I've enjoyed. Their work here is incredibly impressive, capturing the look and feel of the manga by Tatsu Yukinobu in a way that hooked me with a pleasant surprise. I've always had way better luck choosing my own entertainment than others trying to do it for me. So, I've had great pleasure adding it to my weekend rotation alongside One Piece, Dragon Ball Daima and Bleach: The Thousand-Year Blood War.

There are multiple key elements that I can credit for this anime being an international hit as well as one in its homeland. Wholeheartedly embracing the Japanese takes on aliens and ghosts, the creative fight setups, the offbeat humor (the popular girl, Aira Shiratori faking her ditziness is balanced out with Okarun fittingly having his reclaimed private parts being put back in with a shot below the belt) and surprisingly engaging character drama. Horror fans are an obvious demographic I can attribute to the worldwide success too, as the scenarios are indeed as spooky as they are bizarre.

On top of Momo's childhood friend Jin "Jiji" Enjoji complicating their budding love life, he is a character I was yet again pleasantly surprised by. I won't be getting into all the details right now- but I will give you the short version: he also lost his parents at a young age, but despite growing into a very handsome young man; he's arguably even more "adorkable" than Okarun. He's even yet another character who gets infused with the power of an ancient spirit- wouldn't be the first time somebody was beating the stuffing out of enemies while wearing his underwear on the outside. Though not the first story to use these elements, it's the way they're presented that definitely helped this title become a breakout hit of the "dark era" of Shonen Jump.

In many respects, this anime succeeded stateside in every area Yo-Kai Watch failed in. Some compare it to another take on Shadowside; but I will go a step further and say it's what Level-5 should have done a decade ago- fully embracing the Japanese elements instead of trying to homogenize them. I'm seriously considering expanding on that contrast another time.  

Suffice to say, I'm pleasantly surprised with my experience so far. It's not many works I've experienced where characters can have a bond as a found family after the deaths of their real ones while also having grandmother that looks and acts like a teenage "yankii" who spends the time she isn't fighting spirits drinking, chain-smoking and watching "Shoten." That will be all for now, and I will see you all again in November. Happy Halloween everyone.

Chainsaw Man: The Reze Arc opens at #1 in the US!

Well, looks like Infinity Castle wasn't just a fluke; and there's much more of a market for this than one might think. So, this All Hallow's Eve; we have a rather interesting update.

Following the breakout success of the hit anime and manga (both of which I would like to catch up on), Chainsaw Man: The Reze Arc has seen release in theaters around the world. Though not even the first anime to hit this milestone this year; it's another example of an emerging market for the medium in theaters.

Opening on the weekend of October 24, the movie took in $18 million in the United States from 3,003 theaters. To date, the film has seen considerable commercial success the world over; taking in over $108 million worldwide. Having mentioned horror fans as a key demographic more than once, it's also clear that a similar business model was employed- the production budget was a modest $4 million USD; meaning return on investments is stellar even before promotional costs are considered (definitely saw a solid amount of ads each night).

With this, I will see you all again on Halloween night with something I've had cooking a while.  That's all for now, take care.

Star Wars Visions Season 3 (2025) Thoughts

Happy Halloween everyone- seeing as how this is another year I'm a DIY Jedi Master (with dual-wielding lightsabers), it's nice to know my tastes haven't changed that much in my life. So, let's talk about another great entry in a great spinoff; and open up Star Wars Visions Season 3!

Having seen most of the season thus far, the show once again has a host of unique stories while also expanding on ones from previous seasons. I will go over them briefly now. The season opens on "The Duel: Payback," following from one of the most acclaimed segments of the first season from Kamikaze Douga and Anima. I also heavily enjoyed "The Song of Four Wings" by Project Studio Q; which had some strong magical girl vibes to it. "The Ninth Jedi: Child of Hope" from the esteemed Production IG hints at more to come; and I am eager to see it should the opportunity arise. "The Bounty Hunters" from Studio WIT was also an entertaining approach to one of the most interesting occupations in the saga outside the Jedi order. I'm certainly always game for some John Woo-inspired blaster duels against a corrupt industrialist.

The season concludes with "The Bird of Paradise" from Polygon Pictures; where a young Padawan must master the Force to overcome her vision impairment, and a more experimental short from David Productions simply titled "BLACK."

If I had to choose my favorite episodes of this season, they would be "The Smuggler" from Studio TRIGGER, closely followed by two from Kinema Citrus- "Yuko's Treasure" and "The Lost Ones" (one of the aforementioned stories that expands on the previous seasons).

I will have a couple more treats ready to go before the end of Halloween night. You will just have to wait and see what they are. That is all for now. May the Force be with you all.

Pokémon Legends Z-A Sales Snatch a New Record!

Hey everyone- I know it’s five days to Halloween and I have other stuff I want to do with the franchise headed into the 30th anniversary, so I’ll make this quick. Even as the conversation around the game continues (no story spoilers, but I got the Greninja Mega Stone and I’m already 48 hours in), it was always clear it would sell well. Now, we have info on just how well.

Since its launch on October 16, Pokémon Legends Z-A has sold 5.8 million to 6.5 million copies worldwide across both the base Switch and Switch 2; numbers accounting for all available formats. Despite claims otherwise, I guarantee you no game sells that well if absolutely no one wants it.

Using another example from this same year, I'm reminded of the reboot of Superman for the DCU. More extreme figures aside, there was doubt the film could succeed given the current landscape and the divisive reception to previous DC outings. Instead, the movie was highly acclaimed and successful; marking the first time since 2008 a DC comic adaptation outperformed their rivals at Marvel. Functionally, I can say all the detractors' statements amounted to another case of the Streisand effect- what was meant to deter people instead ended up as glorified free marketing.

On top of what I already have in mind for looking at the anime, one of my plans for 2026 is to review the game in full after completing the main quest. Mega Dimensions will likely get its own review; and I will opt in after I clear the main quest or have a firm release date (whichever comes first). I will keep an eye on sales, especially as people keep (unsuccessfully) fudging the numbers. I would give you a fun size treat ahead of the filling the whole goody bowl. You’ll definitely get a few things I’ve had cooking a while- you’ll just have to find out which ones I have ready by then. Take care, and seek out all Pokémon.

Pokémon Legends Z-A (Switch) First Impressions- Like a Dragon-Type: Pocket Monster Saga

Hey everyone- now that I am about five hours into the main quest (currently at rank X in the Z-A Royale, training for the next rank and the Greninja mega stone); here are my first impressions on Pokémon Legends Z-A. I will do my best to not give away too much about the story, that can wait for a full review after I beat it (so, definitely not before 2026). So, let’s open it up and get started.

First, I will state I don't have a problem with the tech or visuals at all. Even as someone who doesn’t have a Switch 2 yet (plan to upgrade ahead of Generation X next year); it does make a good game to send off the main series on the base Switch. While I don’t put as much stock in graphics as others, I can definitely say the extra year worth of development made all the difference. I don’t really focus on one window pane or building; I focus on the entire city. Given how the whole game takes place in the Lumiose City hub world, its sheer scale builds tremendously on when we first saw it in Pokémon X and Y. The frame rate and color palette look great in both home and portable mode; and if we got along nearly three full decades without voice acting in-game; I have no need for it now. I will say the arrangements of the music are as great as ever, especially with the expanded shop themes. I especially like the variety of cosmetics you can acquire. They've even taken a page from Animal Crossing and Splatoon in making gear that can be worn by any player avatar. Honestly the best approach to the issue- choosing not to make it one.

Next, let’s talk about the biggest shakeup- the real-time capture and battle gameplay. Though I am still acclimating to the new control scheme, I actually rather like the approach they took. I have long believed real-time combat is not your enemy, and it does a great job of building on what Legends Arceus did as well as its contemporaries in role-playing games. Not into Xenoblade, so I can't verify that comparison. I can verify as someone who's into Persona/SMT and the Ryu Ga Gotoku canon that it reminds me of their approach to real-time combat encounters; especially the latter. I've always preferred rotating attacks to just spamming a single move over and over, and even the dodge rolls have a Souls-like element for traversal and collision detection.

Though I am not currently at liberty to confirm or deny all of the details that have come to light in the most recent data dump from last year’s “Tera Leak,” I will say that the reveals intrigue me and I am willing to do so at a later date. As for the anime impacting the planned redesign for Pikachu come the next generation- I’d just as soon say that it’s more to do with the shift in hardware (I did figure the next titles would be Switch 2 exclusives). It does make sense for the design to be bookended that way, starting and ending use with games set in Kalos.

Overall, my first impressions on Pokémon Legends Z-A are not only positive; it’s on my shortlist for game of the year (no small feat given this has been a surprisingly good year for games). I will continue to enjoy this game well into next year and a prospective hardware upgrade (to say nothing of the upcoming Mega Dimensions expansion). Before I go, don't forget what happened to the man who got everything he ever wanted: He lived happily ever after. Take care, and seek out all Pokémon.