How The Promised Neverland Season 2 Went Wrong (And How It Could Be Fixed).

All right: let's get to it. You may recall that I had an interest in The Promised Neverland, and was looking forward to its second season among many others. Then the season actually aired, and with it came less of a sophomore slump and more careening down an abandoned quarry. There are few promising anime that cratered this fast; with most reception pointing out how the second season created a litany of its own issues while also exacerbating ones from the manga. As someone who has read said manga in preparation for this; I think it's finally time for me to do a deep dive into this; and maybe see how it can be fixed. That is going to be your only spoiler warning to click away. This is how The Promised Neverland Season 2 went wrong.

Episode 1

The season opens roughly where the first left off; with the escaped children running from a beast in the forest and Emma forging the path. While not a bad idea in theory, we're admittedly already not off to a good start. This is only further compounded by Emma's exchanges with Ray during a quieter scene; in which they decide to find someone named "William Minerva." We will come back to this later; as it relates to another issue faced by this season: the changes from the source material. 

Episode 2

Case in point- this episode jumps ahead not just a handful of chapters, but volumes as well. I can understand if a scene sometimes has to be cut for pacing; but this leaves out numerous characters and story arcs; a problem that's only going to get worse from here. I know the big one people will be asking about; and we will cross that bridge when we come to it.

Episode 3

Three episodes in, and it's already becoming quite clear that this approach to the material was a mistake. The presence of the demons Sonju and Mujika alone in this episode and the last is going to be part of my final reasons on why this second season got it so wrong. Let's keep this journey going.

Episode 4

Emma and the others make contact with Minerva, and the pacing continues its accelerated rate. I am not against making changes in adaptation; but they really need to be changes that make sense. In a way, it's like attempting to condense an entire volume of A Song of Ice and Fire into a half-hour; and it only gets worse from here.

Episode 5

Here is where the idea of adhering so closely to the structure of the first season truly becomes a mistake; even before the more egregious cuts are revealed. While the manga had enough breathing room to build the atmosphere; this borders on the 2017 Death Note in terms of cramming too much material into a single space. That's not a comparison you want made, count on that. (Side note: Certainly hope the Duffer brothers do a better job with the next attempt, big fan of Stranger Things.) Bottom line- the only real events of consequence are trying to stay out of sight from the demons and eluding capture with help from. unlikely allies.

Episode 6

Here is where it all goes officially pear-shaped: while the creator of the manga reportedly wanted a different ending for the anime; the result was viewed as an overcorrection even among those who had issues with the manga's conclusion. Norman's escape in particular raises a lot more issues; as does the fact that Minerva is dead. The focus on the Grace Field group at the expense of the Goldy Pond arc and the removal of Yugo are particular sticking points. I'm not even saying an anime of this sort can't do a satisfying action sequence- both on and off this blog; I am known to appreciate a good bit of gunplay as much as anyone (I was contemplating at least two other works; but ultimately decided to delay them for now). The Lambda 7214 plot also has much greater weight in the source material, as does the character of Smee (no relation to the Peter Pan character, I'm afraid). Bottom line- there is a cure for the condition plaguing the world and its enemies; and this point carries into the next episode.

Episode 7 

The debate about whether or not to break the promise and use the cure (as well as a gateway to a world without demons) is not only more engaging in the manga to me; but the contrast between Emma wanting a peaceful solution and Norman wanting to take action just makes me want to shut this off and rewatch Nausicaa again instead. Yet, I've come this far; so I might as well continue.

Episode 8

Now comes the part where we find out the details of Norman's escape from Grace Field; and his subsequent falling in with the backers of Lambda 7214; including their late primary financier Peter Ratri. All things considered, both the character and this plotline should be enough to carry an engaging story... except most of the circumstances of his escape are condensed into a single episode. Moreover, the impact of the character's face turn is effectively nullified by compressing the adaptation like this. The manga built up the impact of the drugs Norman was given and the decision to not go through with the eradication of the demons properly. Here though, this turn makes no sense. That is a feeling that will continue through the remainder of this season.

Episode 9

Case in point- How easily Norman decides against his plan to retaliate against the demons. I have seen people compare the anime rendition of this turnaround unfavorably to the infamous "save Martha" exchange;  and I can understand why. Let's just say that his rendition of "I want to live" doesn't hold a candle to Nico Robin at all.

Episode 10

Here, upon returning to Grace Field; Emma, having learned the sickening truth; decides to confront Peter. If the story had actually been given the time it needed to flesh out on screen as it did on the page; perhaps this could have been serviceable. Instead, it seems needlessly and carelessly thrown together. That includes Isabella and her role in these last couple episodes; which recalls the "somehow, Palpatine has returned" meme. I that bit find amusing even as someone who likes The Rise of Skywalker. What I do not find amusing is the massive downgrade in animation this episode and the finale have. Condensing the bulk of the action into a bunch of still shots may not be the only side effect of the pandemic (finally got my booster as I type this), but it's one of the more egregious casualties of that season.

Episode 11

Now, the conclusion has come. Peter reveals his role in Minerva's death; and his attempts to justify his actions are among the worst faux philosophy psychobabble I've dealt with since finishing my look at Code Geass R2 five years ago. A significant chunk of the episode is also done as a glorified slideshow. That includes Ratri's backstory; which he divulges before refusing Emma's offer for peace and cutting his throat. On that subject, while I didn't have as much an issue with the children "adopting" Isabella as others in the manga; the shortening of events is once again the fatal flaw in this anime. No joke- the entirety of the final minutes are a slideshow condensing the Grace Field children venturing to the real world and Emma brokering peace with the demons; save the very last scene of Emma reuniting with Phil. It certainly isn't impossible to tell an engaging and coherent story in less than a dozen episodes; but this isn't the way to go about it.

Here is the crown jewel of mismanagement- this season attempted to compress the equivalent of 144 chapters of the manga into a single 11-episode season. For context, the first season only adapted 37 chapters into its 12-episode run. On top of the aforementioned pacing and cuts issues, there was enough material for several seasons of content and a more faithful adaptation. In the pantheon of failed YA stories with wasted potential, the second season ranks among the adaptations of Eragon and Percy Jackson as one of the most mishandled adaptations in any medium. The later volumes of the manga may have been contentious in their own right (with the ending in particular being divisive), but nothing compared to this.

So, with that in mind; if this story were to be adapted again, it's clear a reboot would be the only way to correct the mistakes made by the second season. Instead of cramming multiple volumes into one season, the content can be parceled out over the course of several. Even bigger IPs like Dragon Ball and One Piece still have to make changes, but they're typically changes that make sense. Being produced during the pandemic didn't help matters either; but when other series managed to make more sound changes (totally get why season 5 of MHA quite literally flipped the script on the main arcs it adapted), it's particularly baffling and disheartening.

Bottom line- few series this promising have cratered this fast. The second season of The Promised Neverland is a textbook example of how not to adapt a story into another medium. This may not be a conventional Halloween or milestone celebration (this marks my 700th post); but I am glad to finally have this done. No joke-  I started drafting this in my head the moment the second season concluded two years ago; and it has taken me precisely that long to dissect its failures. Rest assured, there will be other subjects to address that I will enjoy discussing much more. Thank you everyone; and Happy Halloween.

Pokémon- Distant Blue Sky (EN) Review- How to Master Emotion

Welcome to my full review of Pokémon- Distant Blue Sky. The English dub of this special marks the end of an era for the series; and in my honest view; a good one to go out on. Let’s open this up and get started.

A few things before we begin: the character Ren is called Len, because another character already used the former name. While Soh keeps his name from the JP dub; Sae is called Susan; and their son Haruto is called Sunny. As I go through this review, you’re going to find out why.

Courtesy- ShoPro/TV Tokyo/The Pokémon Company

The special opens on Ash swimming with water Pokémon; and having an encounter with Gyarados! Putting on his outfit, he has a battle with Len and his Machamp. There’s even a nice little moment of Pikachu bonding with other Pikachu by doing a “High Tail” with them.

At a nearby Pokémon Center, Ash takes a call from his mother Delia; who tells him is father will be visiting tomorrow! This special takes place in the I Choose You timeline, and I would not object to seeing more stories in this timeline if possible.

As a familiar looking group tails them, he and Pikachu spend the night in a hollowed tree stump near Gengar shrines. He gets woken up the next morning by a Lickitung, and notices his partner is missing!

Ash meets Sunny, who leads him to where Pikachu was taken! He’s being held by Team Rocket in a glass jar; and though they only have a single cracker to celebrate; more to come is promised. Ash dives down to rescue his partner, simply unlocking the jar with the key while they say their motto.

Sunny and Ash are introduced, and the way he doesn’t reach to take Ash’s hand is an early tell about who Sunny really is. Hijinks ensue as Ash tries to explain how touching a Pokémon feels, including a scene of them having to outrun some Beedrill.

Sunny is familiar with the area, and leads Ash and Pikachu to a garden of Oran Berries. Inside the house, Soh is painting the distant blue sky as Sunny and Ash bond over his favorite painting. Susan gives Ash some of the berries and two loaves of freshly baked bread. Ash offers Sunny a piece, but he lets him and Pikachu have it.

After Ash and Pikachu eat, Sunny asks them a favor. He had a hat taken from him by a group of Mankey, and asks for help to reclaim it. Ash agrees, saying that happened to him before. This also implies Primeape Goes Bananas is canon to the “I Choose You” timeline as well.

Pikachu wants to bring the thunder, but Ash suggests a different approach. He tries asking for it first, which causes the Mankey to throw things at them in response. Ash then proposes an exchange- his own hat; which also explains why he has different ones in the Mewtwo Strikes Back remake and Secrets of the Jungle.

Ash returns to Soh and Susan’s cottage, and Soh asks Ash about the hat. It’s then revealed that Sunny wanted to be a Pokémon trainer like Ash did. He was Soh and Susan’s son; who loved the distant blue sky that Soh has been painting. Sadly, he was also very ill, and he died a year before the events of this special. Moreover, the dub doesn’t try to hide this fact; and adds another factor I appreciate- like many projects that have seen release in recent memory; it’s helped me come to terms with my own brother’s passing.

This scene of their shadows on the painting is also a subtle indicator that I’ve wondered ever since I first saw this- though it’s not outright stated, the implication is clear: Soh is Ash’s father; and we get another hint that I will address in the denouement.

Soh vows to continue his art, painting even more landscapes and Pokémon his son loved as Ash bids him and Susan goodbye. I especially like this line from Susan- “things we assumed would always be around are now something to be grateful for.”

Before Ash leaves, he’s able to bond with Sunny’s essence using his aura; suggesting he has the power to sense aura in this timeline as well. If the opportunity comes, I would love to see more of the I Choose You timeline.

That night, Ash is given his original hat by his father; and as he sits down to a dinner of his favorite croquettes, I can now say I was right about what I suggested when I addressed the JP dub of this special. I am very grateful for the time I have spent with this series indeed.

There’s even an end of an era from a metafictional perspective-  this is the last project that James Carter Cathcart completed work on for the series; making him the longest-serving voice actor for the EN dub before retiring due to throat cancer. Not just from the series; but from voice acting as a whole.

The next morning, Ash is given breakfast from Delia as he heads out to find Entei with Pikachu in tow; closing out this special and this era of the anime on a very positive note.

As for what I plan to do next with this anime- I will continue to cover the last quarter-century of legacy content in some capacity. Haven’t quite worked out how I want to approach Horizons yet, but I do have plans for the video games lined up: past, present; and future.With that in mind, “Distant Blue Sky” is an ideal anime to close the book on this chapter of the franchise. 

Though I may not know what to expect going forward, I will always be glad to have spent time with this story and sharing my thoughts with you all. Thank you, treasured friends.

Trigun Stampede (2023)- A Conflicted Second Look.

Now that its initial run has ended, it's finally time. Some people have come around to this anime- I have not. I don't hate it; but I also don't think it's necessary either. Here is my conflicted second look at Trigun Stampede.

Courtesy: Crunchyroll/ORANGE

In order to explain my thoughts, it will be necessary to look at the whole first course of the anime (talk persists of more, but we'll see how that goes). I've already spoken my piece about the first few episodes, so let's go from there.

Now, on with episode 4, which actually starts off all right with some bandits eating insect meat and expressing interest in trying plant-based food. This is actually one of the few pure 2D sequences, and one of the few that actually captures the spirit of the manga (would have preferred if they focused on the cattle punk and desert punk aspects of the source material rather than the more overt science fiction parts). The episode; entitled "Hungry," doesn't take long to drift downward; with Wolfwood's entrance being an early mark at the end of the cold open. I could believe his counterpart in the manga and original anime was a scruffy, world-weary preacher. Here, he looks like a male model on his way to a GQ photoshoot. Kind of telling he looks more convincing after getting clipped by their caravan.

Episode 5 features an out-of-place "needle noggin" comment which makes no sense because of the way they redesigned Vash (it would be like calling the live-action Drax "green" when the GOTG movies made him blue instead), and is entitled "Child of Blessing." This was around the time I tapped out and decided to wait for the whole series to come online; though it admittedly wasn't the worst thing ever (stock storyline aside). From here on out, it will include my thoughts on the show as I view it.

On to episode 6, "Once Upon a Time in Hopeland." Don't let the title fool you- this episode has more in common with Call of Duty than Sergio Leone. Not even the sand steamer and a few decent gunfights could bring the experience above average for me. Even a hint at character backstory done in the style of old silent films just makes me wish the show had more visual inventiveness to go around.

Next up is episode 7, which has some 2D sequences with Wolfwood's adoptive brother Livio that I would have preferred the rest of the anime looked like. Yet, that's not enough to make up for the rest of the issues I had with it. In particular,  the Bad Lads' redesigns were not what I was looking for. Given how much I liked the original gang, I was not onboard for faceless goons that look like Borderlands cosplayers. Its name is "Wolfwood," which doesn't show up till the episode is almost over. Neglecting the previously mentioned sand steamer; I seriously don't understand the "Punisher" nickname for his character. He's honestly more like the Preacher; and I seriously think they should have leaned into the influence of Mignola and McFarlane more.

On with episode 8, and it's one I haven't been looking forward to addressing- the retelling of Vash and Knives' backstory. The original anime and manga took the time needed to build up to this storyline. Here, it just feels so rushed that the emotional impact feels forced as all get-out. It's called "Our Home," and they definitely walked into this one.

Episode 9 is known as "Millions Knives," and I honestly prefer the ninth episode of the Skywalker Saga. I am not among those who were onboard with the changes to Knives' character. Granted, I know the original anime took some as well; but at least they were built up properly over the course of the entire series. That, and the manga wasn't finished at the time of the original airing. Here- I do not feel that the depiction of Knives as the threat he's depicted as is earned; and his history with Vash feels forced this time around. I reiterate it is possible to show the contrast between their characters without effectively turning Knives into A-Train.

"Humanity" is an ironic title for episode 10; because the original source material and classic anime made me feel like humanity was worth saving. Here, however- seeing Ju-Lai depicted as a Great Value Midgar would have me rooting for the Worms... had they not been rendered like they came from PS2 shovelware. That, and they got Meryl's character completely wrong- she wouldn't be apologizing over and over for her actions; she'd be telling her partner to shut up and run before they got skewered. That, and Elandra turning against her creators feels less engaging than when even Mewtwo did it. Lastly, Roberto's death and giving Meryl her derringer doesn't feel earned to me; since nothing really changed in their relationship to justify this. He wasn't "unlucky" as he claimed- he was a boozing, chain-smoking cynic who never changed even with his blood in an elevator.

The final stretch begins with episode 11, which reveals Knives' true role in the story's events and a myriad of changes that completely shatter suspension of disbelief in their new context. The title, "To a New World" isn't revealed until the end; and though there are brief moments that actually show fidelity to the source material, I can't shake the feeling of "too little, too late" in my head. I'm doing my best to be fair, but it's one of those times where I can't really compliment anything without bringing up clear caveats.

The finale enters its second part in episode 12, in which Vash finally starts resembling his counterpart from the manga and classic anime in both looks and personality. Yet, it still has the aforementioned "too little, too late" feeling. The animation also has the quality I expect from ORANGE after they completed Land of the Lustrous and BEASTARS. The gunfight between Vash and Knives ironically makes me have even more conflicted feelings towards this anime, because it has me wishing the rest of the series was more like that. This is still contrasted by everything else looking like someone tried to make a Devil May Cry machinima in Unity. Also, the subtlety that was in Knives' previous portrayal officially goes out the window once he cuts a group of militia from Julai in half. Honestly astonished they tripled down on turning him into A-Train. Even worse, the final moments; which involves the two being launched into space (it happens) and crashing back down to the planet's surface smashes into the title, "High Noon at July." This caused me to ask the same twofold question I asked myself when I found out about this anime. If you're going to adapt this, why not do a more faithful adaptation of the manga or Maximum? If you're going to make all these changes, why not make your own story and not call it Trigun? This is a trap a lot of material falls into; where instead of making a complete story, they make a glorified teaser for one that we might never see happen. I fail to see how sending Meryl to the Insurance Society is a threat when that's what I wanted to begin with. It's like trying to punish me by serving me chocolate mousse and wild Alaskan Salmon. They also went the amnesia route to wipe Vash and Knives' memories, and justify their bounties in the main story. Smooth.

I reaffirm this isn’t the worst CGI anime ever (the 2016 Berserk exists, after all), but it's just not what I'm looking for. Honestly, I among many that would have preferred a direct adaptation of the manga and/or Maximum. I still would like that over a second course. I'll just deal with FLCL Grunge and Shoegaze as they come.

I would understand the creative decisions if this was made people that were unfamiliar with the source material, but no- this was apparently overseen by none other than the series creator himself; with the changes approved over drinks. There is talk about reintroducing familiar elements in the second course (especially fan favorite character Milly Thompson); but it's going to be quite the challenge either way. 

At this point; might be more feasible to just give this anime a "de-boot:" put this version in an alternate continuity, then do a direct adaptation of the original manga and Maximum with little to no CGI. Overall, while I don't think Trigun Stampede is a the worst thing I've ever seen; I also wouldn't put it on the same pedestal as I do the original. Though I am interested in the reprints of the manga; I am not as convinced about this being the blueprint for the franchise's future as others. That is all for now, and keep chasing love and peace.

Pokémon Presents 8-8-23 Thoughts.

Hey everyone- after much speculation, a new Pokémon Presents stream went out earlier today; presided over by Pokémon Company president and COO Takato Utsunomiya. As I continue work on my larger projects, here are my thoughts on the announcements shown off.

The presentation led off with an update about the World Championship in Yokohama, which will see the debut of a new animated project called “Path to the Peak.” The series will follow a young woman named Ava and her Oddish as they rise to the top of the competitive circuit in the trading card game. This looks interesting, and I’d like to hear more.

We also got more details on Detective Pikachu Returns, showcasing more gameplay and characters ahead of its release on October 6. In addition to Tim Goodman’s mother and younger sister getting shown onscreen after being mentioned in the first game, a new set of mysteries will lead him to finding his missing father Harry. As someone who enjoyed the first game and the 2019 live-action film, this will definitely be a day-one pickup for me.

The English dub of Pokémon Horizons has been reconfirmed to be “coming soon,” though official dates have yet to surface. The previous “2023 and beyond” date has potentially been impacted by the dual strikes currently in progress. I may have mixed feelings towards what I’ve seen so far, but I am still curious either way.

Now, onto some app updates. Alongside the upcoming Pokémon Go Festival, monsters from Paldea will be joining the game starting this September. The second anniversary of Pokémon UNITE is still underway, with bonuses that are currently live with the code “2NDANNIVERSARY” as shown. As the fourth anniversary of Pokémon Masters EX draws closer, fan-favorite character Nemona has joined the game in a new event. There’s also a Full Moon Event coming to the app Pokémon Sleep. Lastly, Pokémon Cafe Remix has a new event centered around the monster Tatsugiri, currently in progress.

We also finally have seen release of two vintage titles for people who have Nintendo Switch Online: Pokémon Stadium 2 on Nintendo 64 Online and Pokémon Trading Card Game on Game Boy Online. I love the former, and I am definitely interested in playing the latter.

There is also the OVA series Pokémon Paldean Winds coming September 6, which sees familiar faces from the bestselling Pokémon Scarlet and Violet join new students trying to make their way through the Pokémon Academy and the Great Treasure Hunt independent study program. I am actually more interested in this than the 2023 anime; to be completely honest.

While there is still no event for Captain Pikachu, we do have a Mew event that runs until September 18 accessed with the code “GETY0URMEW” as shown. On top of this, this event can be used in the upcoming Tera Raid against Mewtwo, which will run from September 1 to September 17.

To close things out, we finally have a release date for the first chapter of the Hidden Treasure of Area Zero, with the Teal Mask set to release September 13. The Indigo Disk is slated for winter of this year. There is also a host of new details; with the story and characters of both chapters set to build on what the base game established. I will likely do another post ahead of release to address them further, but I am liking the variety of new and returning monsters for now. I am very intrigued to see how Ogerpon and Terapagos factor into each respective chapter. Two new monsters that stood out at me are Dipplin, a branch evolution of of Applin that resembles a candied apple (no word on whether the shiny is caramel-colored as of yet); and Archaludon, an evolved form of Duraludon that resembles a mechanized bridge.

I look forward to sharing more information with you all as it becomes available; and I bid you all a good night. Take care.

Yo-Kai Watch 4 Finally Sees International Release... In China?

I know I tend to use this Eggman meme a lot, but... "I was not expecting that, but I was expecting not to expect something, so it doesn't count." After nearly four years of radio silence, Level-5 has finally announced an international release... in China, of all places.

Key art for Chinese release of Yo-Kai Watch 4.

The two nations have long had a complicated relationship for a variety of reasons, but I'd like to focus on the anime and gaming aspects for this post. So far, just the game itself was announced for Switch and PS4 in China; with no clear indication of the accompanying anime films seeing release at this time.

That aside, the Chinese release could go in any direction from here. If it manages to find an audience, then it seems possible further international releases could follow. Otherwise, things still remain highly uncertain for the franchise's future prospects. I've managed to go eight years without invoking the "ripoff" claim, and I'm not going to start now.

That honor is reserved for "Clues and Monster" here.

Admittedly, there aren't a whole lot of other details at this stage. I do intend to keep an eye on this situation as it develops, as this wasn't the start to August I initially planned. That will be tomorrow morning; and I still am working on other stuff that I have wanted to do for ages. 

As before, I will only review the fifth movie if the game makes it to the US, and with that said; I will see you all again soon.

P.S.: Go see TMNT Mutant Mayhem, it really is that good.

Convention Highlights- Anime Expo '23, SDCC+More

As a man I knew once said, and now for something completely different. With in-person events gradually returning alongside an endemic state; I thought I would talk about some anime highlights from some conventions this month. Might not have been my exact plan, but let's give it a go anyway.

Let's start with this year's Anime Expo. I am quite pleased to see more details on the upcoming stop-motion series Pokémon Concierge; which follows a young woman named Haru and her Psyduck as they work at the Pokémon Resort. As someone who has had very mixed feelings towards the 2023 anime (more on that in a bit), I am liking the more relaxed tone and style of animation; and I look forward to seeing more when the series streams on Netflix later this year.

On that note, Studio Trigger has announced new entries in two landmark series: Gurren Lagann and Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt. I have made no secret of the fact the former is my favorite anime ever (even saw the episode 5.5 OVA that came as a bonus with that game); and I think it's the right time for the latter to reappear. I am very eager to see the return of an anime that is every bit as hilarious as it is inappropriate. Fitting, as its creation came about after the people in charge spent a night drinking and watching Drawn Together. ... No, I am not making that up.

Now, let's talk about San Diego Comic-Con; which has grown from merely focusing on comic books to being something of a mecca for all forms of pop culture fandom. Though the first dual strike for the WGA and SAG-AFTRA since the 1960s has altered if not outright canceled several planned events, the first-ever presentation for The Pokémon Company International was spared. I may remain a skeptic on the long-term prospects of Pokémon Horizons (especially as the EN release date has changed from "2023 and beyond" to a much more vague "coming soon"); but the dub footage doesn't look like the worst thing ever. All the same, I have no plans to formally review it before it gets an official release in the states. I do plan to formally review the EN dub of the Distant Blue Sky special; and I'm exploring options for a full review of the "To Be a Master" miniseries as well.

One highlight is the 25th anniversary exhibit for Cowboy Bebop. With its influence on both sides of the Pacific still clear a quarter of a century, its impact is definitely worthy of this journey from subculture to pop culture to pop art. I'm nearing a decision on my 700th post; and the movie is one of the candidates. I'm very glad to know the impact of this anime is still being felt,

To wrap up, the interactive experience set up for the Dragon Ball franchise is definitely a treat from Bandai Namco. From scale models of familiar locations to giant balloons of beloved characters; it is an utter joy to observe. 

I may not have planned to post about this, but then again, I didn't expect to be so eager to drop the "Barbenheimer" this weekend either. That will be all for now, take care everyone.

Level-5 announces new Yo-Kai Watch game, Yo-Kai Watch 4 Localization Still in Limbo?

Well- I wasn't planning on addressing this; but here we are. To help celebrate the 10th anniversary of the franchise, a new Yo-Kai Watch game has been informally announced for release in the near future. Though details still remain scarce; this is is quite significant as it's been just over four years since the last main game released in Japan... which brings me to my next topic.

Yo-Kai Watch 4 has still yet to receive any updates surrounding an international release; nor have the anime films key to its plot (any review of Forever Friends will be dependent on a release of the game in the US officially). Though I am keeping an eye on both the new Professor Layton and Fantasy Life; and the new IP Deca Police; there is still a sense of limbo in the game many want to see from Level-5 the most. Unless there's something said or their other games sell well enough to justify it; it's still unlikely; though not impossible that we will see it happen.

As for the next game, that's another story. I will give the developers some leeway for factors out of their hands (the pandemic being a big example); but I honestly hope that Level-5 and the "blogosphere" (some of my younger readers may have to check the Urban Dictionary for that one) have learned from the mistakes made before, not that it hasn't stopped others from making them again.

At this stage, I'm not even sure whether the plan entails a fifth main game or another spinoff (since they're being deliberately cryptic once again). Whatever it entails, I intend to keep an eye on the prospect as well as one of finally seeing the oft-delayed localization of Yo-Kai Watch 4. That will be all for now, and I will see you all again soon.

P.S.- Go see Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning, it really is that good.