I was sent Pixel Ripped 1978 as a review code. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, this will be my honest review.
The evil Cyblin Lord is back! This time he has gone back in time to change the course of history and make himself the hero. It is up to Dot to go back and stop him before it is too late. With the help of Bug, a programmer for Atari, Dot must fight familiar enemies, find the time crystals, and fix bugs along the way. Can they stop the Cyblin Lord before it is too late?
Pixel Ripped is an interesting concept for a VR simulation game. It is a meta experience where gamers play a game within a game that pays homage to classic eras in gaming. Thanks to the official partnership, this game pays homage to the Atari era of gaming. In Pixel Ripped 1978, players switch between the two characters, each offering a unique experience.
As Bug, players pick up an Atari controller and play through a classic game in order to find bugs to fix. As they play, they will encounter real-world distractions that offer a different level of difficulty than the platforming. Bug has to deal with coworkers, answer phone calls, and deal with people blocking the tv screen while she is trying to beat the game. This mechanic is neat until the novelty wears off. If you are good at classic platformers, the distractions only pose minor inconveniences. But if you aren’t, the loop of distractions becomes tedious.
Don’t get me wrong, the distractions are fun and an interesting mechanic. The interactions are quirky, silly, and there are some fun little easter eggs sprinkled throughout. My issue isn’t that there aren’t more kinds of interactions because that isn’t feasible. My issue has to do with my skill level. Because I am not good at platforming, the interactions become an annoying taunt that got worse the longer I was trapped in the level. If you are good at platformers, this might not be an issue.
As Dot, you get to travel into the game and fix bugs. The world is vibrant, colorful, and cool. But as I mentioned before, once the novelty wears off, the gameplay feels a bit one note. Dot walks around the game world, shooting enemies and breaking pots. It isn’t a bad experience, but there isn’t anything special to it either. Combat is point-and-shoot, the movement is slow, and while I appreciate the humor involved in the melee attack, it isn’t any more fun. It’s okay for the first few minutes, but nothing that you should be rushing to try.
The boss fights are where this game earns some of its charms back. Boss fights start with playing a classic Atari title that will suddenly turn to life in a cool AR-like experience. Now players must beat a special level of the game by defeating the evil Cyblin Lord at the end. This introduces new mechanics. Players must control Dot through the level while dealing with real-world obstacles. For example, on one level, players have to throw paper balls at the boss while controlling Dot. I appreciate the creativity of the boss fights, but I wish the rest of the game had this level of energy.
It’s hard to recommend because once the novelty of the experience wears off, the game falls flat. The graphics are great, the music is fantastic, and the game runs smoothly, but the gameplay isn’t there for me. As platformers go, unless you have nostalgia for the Atari era, it isn’t great. As a VR experience, it has its moments, but there are certainly better titles. It isn’t a bad game, but it isn’t something I would be rushing to.
You can pick up for the Meta Quest, Steam VR, and PlayStation VR on June 16.
Nocturnal, the puzzle platformer where you get to solve it with fire!
I was sent Nocturnal as a review code. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I will keep my review honest.
Nocturnal is a unique Metroidvania game with an interesting mechanic and a beautiful art style. You play as a soldier who returns after years at war to find his home afflicted by an evil darkness. As you investigate the cause, you will face off against the monsters that now inhabit the island, dodge deadly traps, and fight citizens afflicted by the darkness. Will your flame be strong enough to rid the land of this darkness, or will you fall victim to its inescapable allure?
What makes this game unique is its light and dark mechanic. You have learned to wield the flame as your own. Use it to light your way through the shadow, fight shadow monsters, solve puzzles, and even heal yourself. But beware, your flame isn’t permanent. If you don’t tend to your flame, it will go out. Stay in the dark too long, and the shadows will consume you.
Like any other Metroidvania game, you have to memorize enemy locations, attack patterns, and trap locations. What makes Nocturnal unique is that you also have to memorize fire sources. Your flame is on a timer. The only way to recharge it is by hitting lit torches. Torches are scattered throughout the levels, but not all of them are permanent. Some traps and monsters will snuff out your flame, leaving you helpless. I loved this mechanic because of how creative it is implemented, and how intense it makes certain moments of the game.
There is a story to this game, but you won’t need charts to keep it straight. I enjoyed the flavor it adds to the world, but I enjoyed the gameplay more. Even though I am bad at this game, I had a lot of fun with this game. The art is beautiful, the music is fantastic, and the puzzles were creative. The combat can feel a little repetitive at times, but I didn’t find it to be an issue. If you are a fan of the genre, Nocturnal needs to be in your library. If you have never played a game in this genre, this is a great place to start. If you are a veteran of the genre, there is a harder difficulty, permadeath, and some nifty speed run features you might want to check out.
You can pick up your copy of Nocturnal on Switch, PlayStation 5, and Xbox for $19.99, and Steam for $16.99.
Deck Wolf of Friendship (ST-16) deck list revealed!
The decklist for the upcoming Deck Wolf of Friendship (ST-16) has been released, and I am very excited about this one. I love purple and there are some beautiful pieces I need for my collection. If you are a fan of the Garurumon line, you might want to get ready for the preorder.
Inherited Effect
[When Attacking] If you have 6 or less cards in your hand, ＜Draw 1＞ (Draw 1 card from your deck).
Card Effect
[On Play] ＜Draw 1＞ (Draw 1 card from your deck). Then, trash 1 card in your hand.
Alt. Digivolution Requirements
[Digivolve] : 0 from [Tsunomon]
Card Effect
[Start of Your Main Phase] If your opponent has a Digimon, gain 1 memory.
Inherited Effect
[When Attacking] [Once Per Turn] ＜Draw 1＞ (Draw 1 card from your deck). Then, trash 1 card from your hand.
Inherited Effect
＜Retaliation＞ (When this Digimon is deleted after losing a battle, delete the Digimon it was battling).
Card Effect
＜Retaliation＞ (When this Digimon is deleted after losing a battle, delete the Digimon it was battling). [Your Turn] When this Digimon attacks your opponent’s Digimon, lose 2 memory.
Card Effect
＜Blocker＞ (When an opponent’s Digimon attacks, you may suspend this Digimon to force the opponent to attack it instead).
Card Effect
[On Deletion] Gain 1 memory.
Alt. Digivolution Requirements
[Digivolve] : 2 from Lv.3 w/[Gabumon] in its name
Card Effect
[Security] You may play 1 [Gabumon] or Tamer card with [Matt Ishida] in its name from your hand or trash without paying the cost. [When Digivolving] ＜Draw 1＞ (Draw 1 card from your deck). Then, trash 1 card from your hand.
Inherited Effect
[When Attacking] [Once Per Turn] ＜Draw 1＞ (Draw 1 card from your deck). Then, trash 1 card from your hand.
Card Effect
[On Play] You may play 1 purple level 3 Digimon cards from your trash without paying the cost.
Card Effect
＜Blocker＞ (When an opponent’s Digimon attacks, you may suspend this Digimon to force the opponent to attack it instead).
Inherited Effect
＜Retaliation＞ (When this Digimon is deleted after losing a battle, delete the Digimon it was battling).
Alt. Digivolution Requirements
[Digivolve] : 3 from Lv.4 w/[Garurumon] in its name
Card Effect
[When Attacking] [Once Per Turn] By trashing 1 card from your hand, unsuspend this Digimon.
Inherited Effect
[When Attacking] [Once Per Turn] By trashing 1 card from your hand, delete 1 of your opponent’s level 4 or lower Digimon.
Alt. Digivolution Requirements
[Digivolve] : 3 from Lv.5 w/[Garurumon] in its name
Card Effect
[Hand] [Counter] ＜Blast Digivolve＞ (Your Digimon may digivolve into this card without paying the cost). [When Digivolving] By trashing up to 3 cards in your hand, gain 1 Memory for each card trashed. [When Attacking] [Once Per Turn] By trashing 1 card from your hand, delete 1 of your opponent’s Digimon with the lowest level.
Inherited Effect
Ace Overflow ＜-4＞ (When this card is sent from battle area or under your card to another area, lose 4 memory).
Card Effect
[When Digivolving] ＜Draw 1＞ (Draw 1 card from your deck). Then, trash 1 card from your hand. [All Turns] [Once Per Turn] When a card is trashed from your hand by your effect, you may play 1 purple level 4 or lower Digimon card from your trash without paying the cost.
Card Effect
[Start of Your Turn] If you have 2 memory or less, set your memory to 3. [All Turns] When you trash a card in your hand using one of your effects, by suspending this Tamer, gain 1 memory.
Security Effect
[Security] Play this card without paying its memory cost.
Card Effect
While you have a Tamer with [Matt Ishida] in its name, you may use this card without meeting its color requirements. [Main] Return 1 Digimon card from trash to your hand. Then, 1 of your Digimon with [Garurumon] in its name gains “[On Deletion] Play this card without paying its cost” until the end of your opponent’s turn.
Security Effect
[Security] Activate this card’s [Main] effect.
Card Effect
[Main] Delete 1 of your opponent’s level 5 or lower Digimon.
Security Effect
[Security] Activate this card’s [Main] effect.
There is a lot of nice flavor to this deck, especially if you are a fan of the original series. I think I prefer the this deck to the Greymon deck because of the aesthetic, but it is going to be hard not to pick up both. With a bit of tweaking, this will be a fun deck.
Digimon Seekers: Chapter 1-17
While the story for Digimon Seekers isn’t bad, the mechanical translation is. In an effort to save the story, I have taken it upon myself to try to fix the story’s awkwardness. The spirit of the story will remain the same, but it will hopefully read a lot better. Make sure you always read the original, but I do hope you enjoy my version as well. I’ll be releasing my version the Monday after the official release. If you enjoy this project, make sure you like, subscribe, and share it where you can. Make sure you start at chapter 1-1!
Loogarmon stands on top of the crimson mausoleum. Its bloodthirsty gaze scanned over the fumbling DigiPolice. Flames lick from the sides of its iron muzzle. The ruby gem on its forehead glows with the light of the magical flame burning around it. Loogarmon sniffs the air as its claws stretch and dig into the red brick below. A sly smirk forms under its mask.
“No fair” Satsuki hisses as her expression sours at the site of the massive wolf. “This Digimon wasn’t…”
Her voice trails off as Loogarmon’s booming laugh echoes over the cul-de-sac. Flames crackle from the gaps in his maw. “I am the Demon Wolf, and this is my castle. Bow to me, or burn!” Its command carries comfortably over the domain.
Eiji watches from the void inside Loogarmon, admiring his partner’s new stage. Eiji can feel the sudden burst of strength and power as if it were his own. As the shock of this new power passes, Eiji begins to look over the data populating the screens around him. “Hey, Loogamon..I mean Loogarmon. Does this mean you got your memory back?” Eiji asks into the void. There is no response. Instead, Loogarmon’s gaze continues fixed on the wretched Numemon.
Satsuki stands frozen as she stares back at the massive wolf above her. She grinds her teeth in frustration. “This wasn’t supposed to happen…” she mutters to herself.
An intense flame starts to bleed from the gaps in Loogarmon’s muzzle. A smile forms, licking up loose embers into the air.
-Howling Burn!
Before anyone can react, Loogarmon shoots a ray of fire at Numemon. This time, its mucus does little to quell the flame. Numemon wriggles as it burns alive. Its squeals are muffled by the Satsuki’s piercing screams. “NOOOO!” She screams as she rushes toward the Numemon. “Not my poor Numemon!” The heat from the flame stops her from getting close enough to help. The flame grows as it burns. Angry tears fall from her eyes as she turns her glare to Loogarmon.
“Numemon is heavily damaged. A retreat has been ordered. Recover the wounded!” A panicked voice crackles over the radio.
The DigiPolice scramble at the command immediately. The Corgodramon swoops down to pick up the burning Numemon. Its rotors extinguish the flames. A squad Commandromon carry the unconscious Numemon aboard before the Corgodramon takes off in a swift retreat.
Inside the Cargodramon, Satsuki tends to the unconscious Numemon. She grits her teeth as she gently cleans her chared partner.
“How dare they do this to my Numemon.” Anger floods over her as she recalls images of Loogarmon and Eiji.
“Captain, you’re exceeding the safety thresholds. You must deactivate the Mindlink!”
“No!” she snaps, not breaking away from her work.
“But…”
“Look at what they did to my Numemon! That insolent Code Cracker and his dumb dog!”She slams her fists on a nearby table. “Next time I’ll make them pay…”
Cargodramon continues its accent unmolested. Satsuki walks over to a nearby window and watches the Wall Slim’s Ninth Avenue shrink below them. “I’ll get you for this Eiji Nagasumi. Just you wait…”
Loogarmon stands on top of the roof of the red mausoleum as the Cargodramon flies away. Eiji appears next to it, and they watch it disappear into the sea of networks.
Eiji turns to his partner and stares in admiration. It was the first time he lays eyes on Loogarmon. Standing over him like a giant Rhino, the wolf smirks. Its eyes lost in the sky.
“I finally remember something after Digivolving,” Loogarmon says, finally breaking the silence. “I used to be the boss of Ninth Avenue.”
“Yeah I heard. The Demon Wolf of Ninth Avenue. Impressive” Eiji remarks sincerely.
Loogarmon turns to Eiji. “But there is still a lot I don’t remember. I mean, I must have lost my position at some point..right?”
Eiji thinks for a moment. “Maybe you just have to keep evolving. If its slowly coming to you, maybe you just need to get stronger.”
Eiji is at a loss. He only knows about Amnesia from what he’s seen in movies.
“Maybe you’re right” Loogarmon looks pensively over the empty cul-de-sac. “I’ll get it all back” He says finally. “My power, memories, everything!” His voice trails off.
A sudden rustling sound comes from somewhere in the shadows. A Digimon emerges slowly from a nearby alley. Other Digimon start pouring from the surrounding streets and begin filling the plaza below.
“What’s going on?” Eiji asks as the plaza begins to fill with unfamiliar Digimon. Eiji begins to feel defensive, but Loogarmon calmy overlooks the Digimon that gather below.
LOOGARMON!
The crowd begins to cheer and chant. Their voices fill the dormant castle, bringing it to life.
Loogarmon! Loogarmon! Loogarmon!
The gathered Digimon celebrate the return of their king. Away from the crowd, on top of a building overlooking Ninth Avenue, the cloaked Digimon watches unseen.
“So the Demon Wolf Returns,” the cloaked Digimon says.
“It’s impressive isn’t it?” the interviewer’s voice replies over voice chat.
“It was little overkill calling the cops like that, don’t you think?”
“I didn’t think they would send their own Mindlinker but never I knew they’d get out of it. Everything came out as expected. Loogarmon is a prototype Digimon.”
“What did you think of the Code Cracker?”
“I’m reserving judgement for now.”
“Looks like the mapping job was completed,” says the cloaked Digimon as it begins to receive the mapping tool’s data.
“Well of course he passed the entrance exam. I want as many Mindlinkers as I can get.”
“Do you think you can guide him? Eiji I mean. Can you take him to a new level?
“I have to.” Silence falls over the pair as they watch over the commotion below. The chants echo off the walls around them. “It’s going to be interesting, don’t you think…Dorumon?”
The cloaked Digimon takes off its cloak revealing a small fox-like dragon. Small dragon wings wriggle from the small of its back and a big bushy tail wags behind it. On its forehead, Dorumon has the same jeweled metal interface as Loogamon.
Digimon TCG: Dragon of Courage Starter Deck [ST-15] Full Deck List Revealed
This starter deck has already released in Japan, so we were able to get a full deck list for the newest starter deck coming to us in October. It has some very cool art, especially if you like the Greymon line. I will be adding it to my collection, but it might be worth picking it up for some of the black staples as well.
Inherited Effect:
[All Turns] [Once Per Turn] When an attack target is switched, this Digimon gets +1000 DP for the turn.
Card Effect:
[Start of Your Main Phase] If your opponent has a Digimon, gain 1 memory.
Inherited Effect:
[All Turns] [Once Per Turn] When an attack target is switched, gain 1 memory.
Inherited Effect:
＜Reboot＞ (Unsuspend this Digimon during your opponent’s unsuspend phase).
Card Effect
[On Play] Reveal the top card of your deck. If it is a black card, add it to your hand. Trash the rest.
Card Effect
＜Blocker＞ (When an opponent’s Digimon attacks, you may suspend this Digimon to force the opponent to attack it instead). [Your Turn] When this Digimon attacks a player, lose 2 memory.
Inherited Effect
＜Reboot＞ (Unsuspend this Digimon during your opponent’s unsuspend phase).
Card Effect
＜Jamming＞ (This Digimon can’t be deleted in battles against Security Digimon).
Alt. Digivolution Requirements
[Digivolve] : 2 from Lv.3 w/[Agumon] in its name
Card Effect
[Security] You may play 1 [Agumon] or Tamer card with [Tai Kamiya] in its name from your hand or trash without paying the cost. ＜Blocker＞ (When an opponent’s Digimon attacks, you may suspend this Digimon to force the opponent to attack it instead).
Inherited Effect
[All Turns] [Once Per Turn] When an attack target is switched, gain 1 memory.
Card Effect
[On Play] Delete 1 of your opponent’s Digimon with a play cost of 5 or less.
Card Effect
[When Digivolving] ＜De-Digivolve 1＞ on 1 of your opponent’s Digimon (Trash up to 1 card from the top of one of your opponent’s Digimon. If it has no digivolution cards, or becomes a level 3 Digimon, you can’t trash any more cards).
Inherited Effect
＜Reboot＞ (Unsuspend this Digimon during your opponent’s unsuspend phase).
Alt. Digivolution Requirements
[Digivolve] : 3 from Lv.4 w/[Greymon] in its name
Card Effect
＜Blocker＞ (When an opponent’s Digimon attacks, you may suspend this Digimon to force the opponent to attack it instead).
Inherited Effect
＜Security Attack +1＞ (This Digimon checks 1 additional security card).
Alt. Digivolution Requirements
[Digivolve] : 3 from Lv.5 w/[Greymon] in its name
Card Effect
[Hand] [Counter] ＜Blast Digivolve＞ (Your Digimon may digivolve into this card without paying the cost). [All Turns] [Once Per Turn] When either players’ security is reduced, you may unsuspend this Digimon.
Inherited Effect
Ace Overflow ＜-4＞ (When this card is sent from battle area or under your card to another area, lose 4 memory).
Card Effect
＜Blocker＞ (When an opponent’s Digimon attacks, you may suspend this Digimon to force the opponent to attack it instead). [When Digivolving] Delete 1 of your opponent’s Digimon with a play cost of 8 or less.
Card Effect
[Start of Your Turn] If you have 2 memory or less, set your memory to 3. [All Turns] When an attack target is switched, by suspending this Tamer, ＜Draw 1＞ (Draw 1 card from your deck) and 1 of your Digimon gets +2000 DP for the turn.
Security Effect
[Security] Play this card without paying its memory cost.
Card Effect
While you have a Tamer with [Tai Kamiya] in its name, you may use this card without meeting its color requirements. [Main] Unsuspend 1 of your Digimon. Then, 1 of your Digimon with [Greymon] in its name is not affected by your opponent’s Digimon’s effects until the end of your opponent’s turn.
Security Effect
[Security] Activate this card’s [Main] effect.
Card Effect
[Main] ＜De-Digivolve 3＞ on 1 of your opponent’s Digimon (Trash up to 3 cards from the top of one of your opponent’s Digimon. If it has no digivolution cards, or becomes a level 3 Digimon, you can’t trash any more cards). Then, 1 of your opponent’s Digimon gains “[Start of Your Main Phase] Attack with this Digimon”, until the end of your opponent’s turn.
Security Effect
[Security] ＜De-Digivolve 3＞ on 1 of your opponent’s Digimon (Trash up to 3 cards from the top of one of your opponent’s Digimon. If it has no digivolution cards, or becomes a level 3 Digimon, you can’t trash any more cards).
This week in the Digimon TCG 2023: June 11th
We’ve had another exciting week of reveals for the Digimon TCG. I have done my best to organize the reveals and announcements in a way that makes sense. I love the art of this set. The colors and the art style are really going to pop in my binder! Maybe I’ll even make a blue deck. There were also a few tournaments that might have shifted the meta.
Alternative Being Spoilers (EX4)
This set will be in stores June 23, so make sure you put in your pre-orders in and check to see if your LGS is running any pre-release events. The set is also introducing a new ability Alliance which might be worth reading on:
Alliance: When this Digimon Attacks, by suspending 1 of your other Digimon, this Digimon adds the suspended Digimon’s DP and gains <Security Attack +1> for the attack
This is a super cool ability to beef up your attacks. Check out the FAQ for more details:
This Terriermon is so sick! It has a search ability and it is eating a burger? I need it!
I love the art style for this one with all the divine Digimon fighting with Cherubimon. The color scheme is very serene, and the Alliance ability is a very nice touch for flavor and gameplay. You also get access to a nifty little debuff for using your Alliance ability? Sounds good to me.
This Renamon is so cool. I love the big full moon in the background and how it casts such a dramatic light on the figure. The smoke and energy coming off her as it fades into the dark is such a cool effect. I love the pinch of green she holds with her energy, it really makes this image pop. Not to mention that it has a solid on play effect and Inherited effect.
I love the painted style of this Gaogomon. The subtle colors and soft background really do it for me. That bounce ability and inherited memory gain on doesn’t hurt the appeal either.
This has a really nice bounce ability, but the vibrant colors and the art style are just so cool!
This is a such a cool looking card. The colors, the Digimon, the background! You get removal and either a discard spell or memory gain for a 3 cost? That’s a solid add to any green and purple deck.
Events for June – September 2023
Its going to be a busy couple weeks as the road to the 2023 Championships and the Ultimate cup continues. Make sure you check out the official page for events close to you! And make sure to check with your LGS to see if they are running the Store Championship.
Regionals Prize Support
Canoweissmon is the latest card to be announced as prize support for participating or being the top players in regional. Make sure you check the calendar for events near you!
Ultimate Cup Meta
And for those who enjoy keeping up with the meta, here is what has been shaping the Ultimate Cup. I always find it interesting how the meta shifts between regions.
Europe
Latin America
Oceania
Regionals
Here how it is shaping up in regionals!
Europe
Upcoming Releases
Bandai has graciously given us a roadmap for what is to come in the future. Lots of exciting releases, I can only hope my wallet can handle them all.
Thanks again for tuning in to enjoy the hobby with me. If you have been enjoying these updates, don’t forget to like, comment, subscribe, and maybe share this with a friend or too. I think I’ll be doing these every Sunday. See you then!
Pokemon 151 set list revealed!
Pokemon has officially announced the complete card list for their upcoming Pokemon 151 set releasing in Japan on June 16th. The Western release is scheduled for September 22nd, so make sure you start saving up now! This set is simply beautiful. The regular set is nice, but the alt arts are amazing! The set will feature the original 151 Pokemon, including Kadabra which hasn’t been available in a card for 20 years. There are 165 cards in this set with a few alt arts to pad it out. I will have to try my hardest not to collect them all. I don’t normally buy Pokemon cards, but I might have to snag a couple of packs on my trip to Japan for the nostalgia.
Citadel (2023): The most boring action series you shouldn’t be watching
I finally found the time to sit back and watch Citadel on Amazon Prime, and I am upset at how much time I wasted on this series. It was a struggle to finish Citadel and an even bigger struggle to find the strength to not skip around when this series got boring. Don’t watch this series. There is nothing for you here.
Citadel is about two spies forced into hiding by an evil organization hunting them down. One spy has lost his memories and is struggling with his identity. Is he a father and husband from Iowa, or is he the deadly spy everyone else knows he is? But he must decide quickly. The world is about to end, and only he and his generic female spy ex-lover are the only ones who can save the world. Can they do it?
I don’t know where to start with this series because it is so bad. The plot is terrible, but I would argue that the writing is worse. There are lines in this series that are so bad that I had to pause the series so that I could reevaluate my decisions. I took a lot of breaks trying to get through this series, and it almost broke me. The writing is so bad that I can’t tell you how bad the acting is. There are actors in this series that aren’t trying, but others, like the lead, are trying their hardest to make this terrible series work. Gods bless them. I hope they can find something better after Citadel.
This series tries to have this overarching mystery as you are trying to figure out who the mole is. It doesn’t work because it becomes obvious the moment they walk into the series. This was only a few minutes in, and For the rest of the series, I had to sit through terrible attempts at misdirection as the series built up to the dumbest big reveal you can’t possibly fathom. This series is so boring that I could only sit there and over-analyze every terrible plot point, overthink every plot hole, and scrutinize all of the science. I can suspend my disbelief in action thrillers, but they have to be good at distracting me with big explosions and fun action. Citadel had nothing to distract me from how terrible it is.
Citadel is the most boring to come out this year. There were a few decent fights, but not enough to be worth your time. Most of the run time is spent on relationships no one cares about and pointless filler. Had this been a movie packed with more action, it would have been better.
I don’t want to spend any more time on this series. You can stream it on Amazon, but I wouldn’t waste my time.
Mulligan (2023): The Forgettable Animated Series You Aren’t Missing out on
I just sat through one of Netflix’s newest animated series Mulligan, and it was okay. While I didn’t hate it as much as I thought I would, it isn’t a series you should be rushing to watch.
After a failed alien invasion, society as we knew it has crumbled. Only a few survivors are left. The success of society’s reconstruction lies in the hands of an idiot, a beauty queen, a scientist, a historian, and a corrupt politician. Do they have what it takes to shape a better world?
The series makes a lot of obvious quips about the current state of American politics and culture that have been done better in other shows. While the series does earn a few solid chuckles, most of the jokes are easy. The best part of this series is its cast. There are some genuinely funny people behind these voices, but I wish the series was better.
There isn’t much more to say about this series. The concept and story are fine, but you will forget you watched it. There are definitely worse series on Netflix than this, but I wouldn’t go rushing to see this either. Mulligan is a show you throw on in the background when you don’t need to pay attention to what you are watching, or just need a dumb comedy.
Pokemon TCG Live is Officially Out of Beta!
Pokemon TCG Online has officially shut down and been replaced by Pokemon TCG Live. You can download Pokemon TCG Live on IOS, Android, PC and Mac. While I am saddened by the end of an era, I am hopeful for the game’s future. While I have a decent win rate on both clients, keep in mind that I am speaking from an entirely casual perspective. If you are looking to me for competitive advice, I am afraid I won’t be very helpful.
Pokemon TCG Live is the best place to go if you want to learn how to play the Pokemon TCG. It’s free, it’s convenient, and the tutorial is fantastic. Players get access to decent starter decks, and they can earn more through gameplay. I wish they had trainer challenges where players could face off against AI for rewards as they had in PTCGO, but playing against real people has been great. There will be an awkward adjustment phase as the game tries to find your skill level, but this process felt quick compared to other card games I’ve tried. I only play ranked, so I can’t speak on matchmaking for casual.
I’ve been playing on the IOS app since the start of the beta, and it was rough. The game was so unplayable in the beginning that I almost gave up. Matches took too long, animations would lose frames, and there were a few noticeable bugs that made the experience terrible. There has been a bit of polish since, and I’ve been enjoying myself a lot more. There is still room for improvement, but at least on IOS, the experience is solid. I can’t speak on the experience for Android or PC.
While I am content with the state of Live, some changes will take some getting used to. I don’t like that they flipped the orientation of the gameboard. I believe this was done to accommodate for mobile devices, but it is awkward on the iPad. I’ve gotten used to it, but I have to lock the iPad so it doesn’t randomly rotate and force me into a smaller aspect ratio. I also miss tournaments and access to the theme deck format. I only played the theme decked format in PTCGO because it was the easiest way to get into the game, and I always liked trying the different starter decks. The grind for Live also seems a bit steeper than it was in PTCGO. While the grind is not as bad as in MTGA, it is noticeable. Finally, there is no more trading. I didn’t do any trading in PTCGO because I enjoyed opening my packs, but it is something to be aware of. Instead of trading packs for singles, you buy them through a dust system that works like any other CCG. I don’t buy enough cards to know how well the dust system works compared to the old way, I just know that it will be a while for me to get a meta deck.
As a casual in the space, I love Pokemon TCG Live. I love that I can play standard right at the start, I love that I can play on my phone, and love that I can play people that are around my skill level. I get stomped by people who spend money on this game on occasion, but I’ve also had some of the most intense and fun games in between. I will eventually build a meta deck, but I have been enjoying the game without one.
The best part about collecting Pokemon are the redeemable code cards you get from buying physical packs. I always feel weird throwing money into a game for digital assets that might not exist in a few years. I love that I can go to my LGS, buy a few packs, enjoy them in my collection, and then redeem them online. More card games should do this to incentivize players to spend money in the space. It bothers me that if I buy a booster box of MTG, I also have to buy it in MTGA just to play standard. Unfortunately, all my money is going into Digimon, but I like having the option.
What I love most about Pokemon TCG Live is how free-to-play-friendly compared to the other online TCGs. I know I’ve mentioned a grind, but it isn’t bad. I am speaking as a casual player who enjoys the game, but the grind doesn’t feel like work. I am sure if you do buy cards and spend money, the grind will be a lot easier, but as a free-to-play player, I have no complaints. You can unlock the battle pass for 600 gems, which you can easily earn in a few days. Unlocking the battle pass gives you access to cosmetics, packs, and more gems. I play casually and complete a reward track every single day. I’ve already decent collection without spending any money, and I’ve only been playing the starter deck. Any excess gems can be spent on decent bundles or themed decks to further expand your collection. It’s a great system.
If you are looking to get into the hobby, now is a great time to join. Pokemon TCG Live is officially out of Beta, so you won’t have to experience the rough stages I had to go through. The client runs well enough (at least on IOS), there is a healthy population of players, and Paldea Evolved is going to be a lot of fun to collect. I can’t speak about the set’s power level, but I am loving the art. The game is free. You can play on PC and Mac, and on Android and IOS devices. And if you have any of codes you aren’t using, shoot some my way!