Author Archives: dahubbz
How to obtain a sweet new Pikachu in Sun and Moon!
(Picture pulled from the Pokemon website. All rights reserved to their owner.)
Hey guys! I just discovered this the other day and wanted to share! It ends on Monday at 11:59 UTC (You’ll have to use a converter for your specific time zone. I know I have European readers too.) I believe that it is 7:59PM Eastern if that helps.
You’ll need to load your Sun and/or Moon game. Go to mystery gift and hit receive gift. Select get with password and connect to the internet. Enter PIKACHU20. Speak to the delivery person in the Pokemon Center like any other gift and enjoy your new Pikachu.
For those of you interested Pikachu will be Male Lv. 19 with a Hardy Nature and Static for an ability. His moves are Thunderbolt, Quick Attack, Iron Tail, and Electro Ball.
Here’s the direct page if you need any more assistance:
https://www.pokemon.com/us/pokemon-news/pikachu-dons-a-classic-chapeau/
I hope you all are able to get him in time! Look forward to more Pokemon for a very special Pokemon Halloween Week!
Manga Monday: Clay Lord Master of Golems
Okay. Not that Lord of the Golems, but hey. A boy can dream!
(I do not own the rights to any pictures used in this blog. All rights reserved to their respective owner)
Clay Lord is written and drawn by Jun Suzumoto. It began it’s publication back in 2013 before coming stateside a few years later. It is published through Seven Seas Entertainment, at least here the States.
Spoilers: Just spoilers for the first issue and not the overall manga.
Plot: The plot is fairly unique from what I’ve seen. People began making golems out of dirt, clay, mud, and tools. The main character, Young Master Clay, is special. He carries with him a very exceptional and potent bloodline. It allows him to make very awesome golems with little resources. The roles of the golems have evolved over time. Some put in manual labor while others offer companionship. The overall plot of the manga takes some time to eventually build up. Clay is the last decedent of the Earthgaia bloodline. His blood is worth more than gold. A character even goes as far as to call it an elixir. Clay is stolen by a black market dealer. However, the plot moving forward is a little up in the air since the conflict has been resolved and the story is currently in a flashback.
Character: We will be going over Clay while lumping his three golem companions together.
Clay- Clay is pretty interesting. He is babied and protected by his golems. I have a mother who can be this way at times, so his reactions fit mine sometimes. That’s an aspect I think readers can relate to. There’s a scene where Clay mentions being tired, so the golems break down the door carrying the bed over their heads. As I said earlier, thanks to his blood he makes some super cool golems already! Clay was abandoned in life early. His two older brothers (and that’s the only family we hear about) die while Clay is still a child. For him, these golems are his only family. Even though they drive him up the wall, he loves them because they are the only family he’s ever know. Speaking of the golems, I suppose its time to introduce them!
Kurogane, Shirogane, and Rose- We will start with Kurogane. Kurogane is the one on the right hand side that looks like a psychopath. He is loyal, determined, and pretty ruthless. He is the handyman who isnt afraid to get his hands dirty (Golem puns!). He adds a nice dynamic that I enjoy. If you like a psycho muscle man who is funny, you will like him forsure. Shirogane is basically the polar opposite in that he is not violent. Shirogane is like your parent who is determined to help you out (cook, clean, and like I said bring your bed to you!), while Kurogane is like your parent going off the deep end. Shirogane adds a nice loving touch which is appreciated in these styles of manga.
Lastly, Rose- I could not find any pictures of just Rose, so refer back to previous group photos. She cannot speak, yet she has the power to exude calmness. She presents a stare that emits a clarity so commandingthe others cannot help but feel confident. She is also powerful, loyal and not someone you’d want to mess with. It may be easy to overlook her, but she’s the glue(dirt?) that holds the gang together.
World: The world is not too fleshed out, but I also do not know how in detailed it will get. They cover the golem makers and describe the unique relationship present between molder and golem. There’s also a black market. Not sure if that will come up again, but it is there.
Recap:
Action: There is action, but it is not the driving point.
Romance: No. I don’t think Clay is into that kind of… stuff.
Plot: Still developing, but has potential.
Characters: To me, this is the selling point. If you like the potential of the described characters, I’d pick it up.
The World: Still relatively unexplored, but enough to get your interest.
Humor: Yes. It is funny.
Verdict: Displaying that you have potential is both a blessing and a curse. It definitely has me wanting more, but in the same take I don’t feel like I read enough to judge it.
Score: 7.5 out of 10. Clay Lord was very enjoyable. I bought it for 4 dollars! A manga for 4 U.S. dollars is a steal. One of my local stores has more and they are on sale as well so I will definitely be picking up more issues and reviewing more of it later. If it keeps building on the momentum it will definitely be worth it.
As always, thanks for reading!
Stay connected through my twitter and youtube (Both Dahubbz) for more content. and do not forget to follow my blog if you do not already.
Let’s Talk: A Hat in Time!
Hey guys A Hat in Time came out yesterday. I will be doing a review once I finish the game. If you do not feel like waiting and you’re on the fence with the game. You can go over to my Youtube channel and watch my Let’s Play. I’m two episodes in and I upload often.
Anyway, follow the blog so you know when I post my full review.
I’m hoping to bring other reviews back soon (Mangas, Animes, Games, and Top Fives).
As always, Thanks for reading!
Twitter: @Dahubbz
Manga Monday: https://dahubbz.com/category/manga-monday/
Youtube: Dahubbz Channel!
Idea for upcoming reviews!
My latest semester of college is over in a week and a half. That means hopefully some more free time. Now’s the perfect time to recommend a Manga or anime. Remember, as far as animes go I mostly just watch on Crunchyroll, so that’s your best bet of getting me to watch it. Its been entirely too long since I’ve done a review on here. Hopefully I can change that within the next two weeks.
As always, thanks for reading and have a great day!
Let’s Talk: Pokemon Trailer.
The latest trailer of Pokemon Sun and Moon came out today, so check it out.
The question of the day is: Which starter had the craziest super move? I, personally, am team water, but turning the area into a WWE match and dropping a hundred arrows on your foe’s corpses is pretty sweet as well.
Bonus question: What is Dugtrio’s band name?
Lets Talk: New Nintendo Console!
So, the Nintendo Switch or NX or whatever you would like to call it has been revealed. Be sure to go check out the release trailer if you have not already.
This is definitely something worth talking about. I give Nintendo the benefit of the doubt, so until the actual release, I will be waiting with great excitement. I only just watched the video and there was a lot to digest. I, in no way, have all the details, nor have been following it very attentively. With that in mind, I am going to turn the discussion over to you guys.
What do you guys think of this new console? Will it reinvent the home console? Do you believe it is just a gimmick? Will this revitalize Nintendo or officially run them out of business. I’ll do a follow up blog once I’ve viewed more of the games and understand the features better.
I’ll leave you with some of my early thoughts to generate discussions.
Games Showcased: Obviously, Breath of the Wild is the money maker. Nintendo, in my opinion, was smart holding onto this big boy. It can help get the Switch off on the right leg. Remakes of great Wii U games seem plentiful. Mario Kart and Splatoon to headlined this. I missed Splatoon on the Wii U so this might be a good chance for me to pick it up. I typically do not do remakes unless it is of games I love. However, I know remakes helped carry Xbox One and PS4 early on with the Last of Us remake as well as the Master Chief Collection. I do not know if that was Mario remake showcased or a new title. They also showed an NBA game as well as 1st person mid evil looking game.
Mechanics/Portability: This has been a highly debated topic sense the Wii tried to reinvent gaming back in the day. However, this one looks like it makes sense. The “On the go” gaming looks like a good selling point. I mean, who doesnt want to play video games in cars? I think it is great and they have a traditional controller if this does not interest you. The real question is will this hurt the 3DS? I dont know because Pokemon should keep the 3DS alive.
So, If Nintendo has lost you over the years, what does this console have to do to win you over? The biggest fault I have with Nintendo is not the hardware, but the games. The first party’s are still amazing and the Switch is shaping up to keep that trend alive, but they do need a bigger 3rd party support. I have a One because I too need to branch out at times. Fallout 4 and Witcher are great games Wii U owners will never get to experience.
Show me great 3rd party support and this console should save Nintendo. They have moved past naming everything Wii, so hopefully there is no marketing disasters.
Here’s to hoping March is a great month for gaming!
Pokemon Sun and Moon Latest Update!
Pokemon hit us with it’s latest video. If you have not seen it yet, check it here Pokemon Sun and Moon Video.
Let me just say, I have loved everything Gamefreak is doing with this installment. Some Pokemons are still hit or miss but the ideas and creativeness they are trying with mechanics and style is welcomed.
Here’s some of the takeaways.
#1 Pokemons getting fresh make overs:
Have you been playing 20 years of Pokemon? Well Gamefreak is giving some new life into old pokemons, and I like it, personally. Vulpix and Ninetails are getting ice forms as well as Sandshrew and Sandslash. They retain their design but get new colors and typing.
Exeggutor has an Alola form as well. I’m more or less on the fence but I am sure it will work out.
#2 Region based forms are back:
Much like Shellos in Diamond and Vivillion in X and Y, where you catch a pokemon matters. Shellos would be green or pink depending on where you caught it. Vivillion would have different designs depending on where you caught them. Oricorio will have four different forms depending on which island you catch them on. The four forms are the Baile form (Fire/Flying), the Pom Pom form (Electric/ Flying), Pa’u form (Psychic/Flying) Sensu form (Ghost/Flying).
This is a pretty sweet addition if it works how I think it will, because it will be four Pokemon for the price of one. I don’t know about you, but I am always down for more Pokemon!
Their ability is dancer which I did not realize how powerful it can be the first time I watched it.
Here’s a list of all “Dance Moves”
Quiver Dance- Raise Special Attack, Special Defense, Speed by one stage(Most have special based typing so this my be the most useful to steal)
Dragon Dance- Raise Speed and Attack by a stage
Rain Dance- Summons rain for 5 turns (Seems redundant)
Swords Dance- Raise Attack by two stages (Depends on stats and move pool, but does not seem as good.)
Teeter Dance- Confuses all other active Pokemons (Seems like a funny interaction)
Lunar Dance- KO yourself, heal the next Pokemon up (This could be used against you, be careful)
The rest of the dance moves are all attacking moves, we will have to wait to see how this interaction works out.
It’s an awesome ability that could stop a dragon setting up dragon dance, but it does not stop there. Assuming it works how I think it will, it becomes amazing in double battles. Have Pokemon A use Quiver Dance and your Oricorio will copy it. However, I do not know if this counts as your move. If it does, it becomes worse then I think it is. If it does not count as your turn, it can get pretty broken in double battle.
I wish the wording was “Copy the effects of dance moves”. Also I could see Bellossom getting this ability.
Minior has shields down, which seems to act like a substitute ability (much like disguise), and it has four different cores. Not much has been shown yet.
#3 Island Trials
We now have an Island Trial on the four islands, beating them will unlock the leader of each island. This is how you will gain access to new islands. I’m curious to learn more about this aspect.
#4 Z attacks are a thing:
They look broken. Just look at this
Here’s a couple things that stand our about Z attacks.
Look at the levels. It shows Rowlet, Litten, and Popplio, and Pikachu. All baby forms. So how early do you get access to this broken mechanic?
Also, as the video shows, the trainer is the one doing the dance, so it is possible that any Pokemon can use its corresponding type attack.
With new forms, z moves, and tons of variety, this could shake up competitive play as well as how we play Pokemon in general.
The future is as bright as the Alola regions, and I for one, am super excited for what it hold.
Three Take Aways from the Latest Pokemons!
I am not reviewing each Pokemon this week because, well, they were mostly bland. Here’s the three big take away though.
#1 Mudsdale looks legit.
Own Tempo can make him a sweeper using moves like thrash or even in a double battle swaggering it. Stamina is a new ability that allows him to raise his defense. I can easily see this guy being a mixed sweeper, for sure.
#2 Substitute is now an ability.
Mimikyu is a terrifying little guy I almost brushed off just by looking at it (This is literally a Pikachu clone). However, he is actually kind of cool. He is a ghost/fairy who made a Pikachu disguise most likely out of bed sheets. Disguise is an ability that nullifies the first hit it takes once per battle. Pretty sweet. People have already mentioned the idea or fear of using substitute on the first move to safely set up. Do not worry. I doubt they would slap this ability on anything relevant.
#3 This generation might just be the scariest one yet.
Just when you thought Mimikyu was going to be the scariest thing on this blog.
The bear and fist in question do not seem to go together, but hey, that’s why we play this wacky game. Take a second to realize how deadly this guy might actually end up being. Plus GameFreak is rolling in the bear puns. Bewear and Beartic. I love it.
The Cat Returns- Anime Movie Review
Today is a first here at DaHubbz! Our first Anime Movie Review (Hopefully the first of many). I’m reviewing The Cat Returns.
The Cat Returns is Studio Ghibli (Spirited Away, Only Yesterday) 12th film. It was directed by Hiroyuki Morita and Reiko Yoshida and was released in Japan in 2002.
We’re about jump into this but I want to add a couple disclaimers before we go.
First one:
I watched the Blu Ray English dub from Disney. The Cat Returns moved to America in 2005 and starred Anne Hathaway in the lead role of Haru.
Second One:
I watched Spirited Away in my younger years, so for review purposes, The Cat Returns is my first Studio Ghibli film.
Spoilers: Spoiler free as I can get.
Okay, here we go!
Studio Ghibli is a studio known for it’s heart warming characters, enduring animations, and timeless story telling. The Cat Returns delivers on all three fronts. After my first viewing I was torn. I knew it was a good movie, but I struggled to stick with a score. The best part of it for me the first go round were the characters. Anne Hathaway was great as Haru. Peter Boyle (Everybody Loves Raymond) as Muta and Kristen Bell (Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Frozen) as Hiromi and the other cast I think all did great jobs with their respective roles. After it was said and done I struggled to find the meaning of the film. I was getting hung up in the stuff that bothered me and did not make sense.
For starters, The Cat Bureau. It seemed like such a cool idea. Objects are given souls and come to life. Unfortunately, we only see the Cat Bureau once. I also struggled with a purpose for the film. Honestly, I think that boils down to being so caught up in everything else, the meaning just went right over my head.
Thankfully, I watched it a second time. It hit me and stuck with me. Biggest mistake I made going into it was assuming this was a movie about Baron, the kitty cat on the cover. Well it is not. This is a story about Haru. As cool as they try to make Baron out to be, he has to take a backseat to Haru. This was not something I was willing to let happen my first viewing. I wanted more of Baron and Muta and the Bureau. Big mistake on my part.
I’ll break it down by topics moving forward.
Plot: The Cat Returns is a story of Haru, a young teenage girl. She oversleeps, has secret, little crushes, and most noticeable struggles with who she is. This is very apparent through dialogue with her friend and mother. She saves prince Lune, prince of the cats, and news travels fast to the cat kingdom. The king makes it his priority to return the favor. This part is cute as the cats offer her several live mice among other gifts. The most noteworthy is Lune’s hand in marriage. She tries to run away from the cats, but these cats are willing to risk all nine of their lives to get Haru to the kingdom. Baron leaves her with more or less these words, “never forget who you are and you will be fine.” Good stuff. Needless to say, Haru gets caught up immediately in the kingdom. Haru turns away from her human side and becomes a cat. I’ll avoid major plot spoilers. Baron shows up and save hers in more words then that.
Characters: While I said the characters were the best part of this movie, and stick by it, there really is only one character to do a major analyze on. For starters I think this movie is great, but so much of it depends on Haru. Haru is a character we have been taught has issues. She begins thinking maybe the cat kingdom is where she belongs, but she does it everywhere new. First, it is the Cat Bureau, then the kingdom. It is at least consistent in that regard. Watching her evolution is a beautiful yet unfulfilling event. I think getting wrapped up in the kingdom and the other characters is why I did not realize how much of this movie hinged on Haru. This is why I’m sad it did not hit me the way I had hoped. When she has the dramatic change from cat back to human it felt rushed or unexplained, I guess. I felt the urgency from Baron to get Haru back to the human world, but not Haru’s. Maybe that is just me. Even in the end, she has to be saved from falling off the tower. I guess the one big take away is that she did choose to ultimately leave the cat kingdom, even if I’m not sold on it. This makes me doubt the Haru seen at the end, even though I do enjoy that Haru.
The World: Another great part of this movie. The Cat Bureau and Cat Kingdom are great, beautiful, and lively. The cat kingdom is bustling with heart, character, and humor. This place is filled with secret agents, explosions, mazes of death, epic falls, and a crazy ruler. I never got a sense of dread or darkness. Seriously, even during all these crazy parts, it is still fun, energetic, and up beat.
Verdict: What I’m ultimately judging this film on is this movie through Haru’s eyes. This differs from the score I’d give if I was just judging it as a whole.
Score: 7.5 out of 10.
Conclusion: This movie is awesome and well worth the watch. I dare say it could be a classic. It is charming and enduring. It bolsters amazing characters, well timed humor, and a vibrant world. Haru did not connect with me the way I wanted her to, and the grade reflects that. In the end I do not actually believe she has undergone any change, or more so, the change feels forced. Her coffee line at the end did not hit me the way I think the studio had hoped.
My Thoughts: Pokemon Sun and Moon: Salandit!
They did it. They actually did it. I know what you’re thinking. “What did who do?”
Pokemon! Someone at Gamefreak seems to be a fan.
In all seriousness though, back in September I was messing around with ideas for future types, moves, and abilities. Check it out if you haven’t already. If you know anything about me and Pokemon, it’s that I love poison Pokemons and I constantly try to think of ways to make them OP. I tossed out a theme revolving around the word rancor. I came up with a standard 120 base power poison move called Rancorous Blast. It had a 20% chance to poison any type of Pokemon. Obviously, I despise steel Pokemons and this was my way around them. Well earlier today Game Freak gave us Salandit:
(My Hero)
Okay, so before we get carried away, let’s evaluate him for what he is.
He is based clearly on a salamander. Parts of him seem off, but not enough to take away any points. He is Poison/Fire. So right off the bat is a slam dunk in my book. A steel fire Pokemon just feels like a win. This typing would have been amazing in prior generations. Poisons suck against steel, so fire would have been a nice touch… and still is, mind you. Now, though, poison Pokemons have access to the ability corrosion.
Corrosion, a great name for this ability as well, means the user can inflict poison damage on any typing of Pokemon. And yeap, you guessed it, even steel types. But Game Freak did not stop there. Nope. You can even poison poison Pokemons.
This is truly a great day for all us Brotherhood of the Poison Pokemons.
I really do think he is going to be a big deal. They clearly used him to illustrate this new ability (a huge ability at that) for a reason, and they slapped fire on him too. I think he can be a trend setter for awesome Pokemon to continue and shake up the landscape. I am honestly getting super excited for this region.
I’ll hold back from giving him a 10 out of 10 just yet, but now the only question I have is why couldn’t he be a starter over Litten!
Oh, and Pokemon Go came out today. I’ll talk about that tomorrow.
Da_Hubbz 