Santa Paws - Christmas Pet Advice

Here at Straight Outta Kanto it's not just Pokémon we care about – it's all little monsters, pocket or pet! Here's a few extra bonus tips and tricks I discovered while writing my “Pets Love Christmas” features for Ireland’s Christmas FM radio station in 2019.

Deck The Paws:

When decking those halls, check first what's on the naughty list! Items such as poinsettia plants, tinsel, and sharp pointy baubles should be kept away from curious little paws.

However, Christmas roses, traditional paper chains and shatter proof ornaments are animal friendly alternatives!

And while you may not want to see Mommy kissing Santa Claus under the mistletoe, artificial mistletoe is kinder to the environment and less hazardous to your pets for when you get merry this Christmas.

Holiday Hams:

Don't know what to get your hamster for the holidays?

An environmentally friendly gift for all small animals are cardboard tubes and boxes filled with sugar free yoghurt drops and light tissue. Build a small sand bath out of lollipop sticks and some card or string some unwanted festive socks as hanging hammocks in their cage!

This ensures no one gets left out of unwrapping presents this Christmas

Festive Fatties:

Christmas may be a time for giving – but careful not to give too much to the cat and dog when they come begging for a share in the pudding and mince pies! Light snacks made from animal safe ingredients baked in festive moulds and shapes mean your pet can join in the feasting – but not need to join a gym!

Rover Roasting on an Open Fire...

Make sure the heat's not too hot to handle for your pets this Yuletide!

When roasting chestnuts on an open fire always ensure a fire guard is in place on any holiday hearth and animals are not left unsupervised.

The same applies for candles! A classic centrepiece for festive displays – pet friendly alternatives are synthetic battery operated candles.

And while fairy-lights add a twinkling magic to any Christmas tree, those little bulbs and wires should be banished to the naughty list when tiny teeth are around!

Animal Advent:

Advent Calendars are a great excuse for a sneaky bit of chocolate – I mean CHEER, in the mornings! A purrfect way to include your pet in a nibble this Nollaig is to make your own animal friendly advent calendar.

Take an old cereal box and cut out 24 little windows. Fill the box with soft tissue then place a healthy, animal safe treat behind each window.

This is ideal for animals with a restricted diet or fussy tastes.

Encourage your pet to open the Advent Calendar windows with their paws – let them entertain themselves – and the family.

Hoppin' Around The Christmas Wheek:

Do you prefer rabbits to reindeer? Guinea Pigs over the Grinch?

One way to keep your family fur-balls hoppin' around the Christmas tree this year is with some home-made presents that are kind to your pocket – and the planet.

Cut out the bottom of an old cylindrical pop-up laundry basket, lay it on its side – and you've got a DIY bunny tunnel for hours of fun.

Old card board tubes stuffed with hay provide environmentally friendly feeders and boredom breakers.

Want to feed your pets and entertain your guests at the dinner table? A small twine washing line between table legs with fresh lettuce leaves pegged on make for an unforgettable dining experience!

Chilly Willy:

The weather outside may be frightful, but that doesn't mean winter can't be delightful! Wrapping up like a Christmas present isn't just for humans – your pets need to stay warm too!

Keep all beds, cages and tanks out of cold, draughty areas. Animal safe heat pads and lamps in and around your pet's sleeping area is a hot idea for chilly nights!

And, if you want to keep your pets as cosy as a pair of fluffy socks on a snowy day, cutting up and re-purposing old Christmas jumpers and pyjamas is a cost-effective, and fashionable, way to provide extra blankets and bedding for your four-legged loved ones.

Winter Wildlife:

Want to ensure we can all keep walking in a winter wonderland? Helping out your local wildlife in a few small ways this season can ensure that everyone big and small can have a Merry Christmas.

Leave undisturbed wild areas in your garden. Piles of leaves and grass can make the perfect nest for animals to hibernate, hide and rest in.

Food for birds is scarce in winter so providing a range of seeds, fresh unsalted peanuts and table scraps such as apples, pears and cheese, dried meal worms and wax worms will really spread good cheer to our feathered friends!

Clean water and food will encourage any local hedgehogs to return regularly. Minced meat, fresh liver, tinned dog food and scrambled eggs are all a little hoggy's holiday favourite

Paupers can Pamper Too:

Being brilliant on a budget can be a challenge at Christmas! However, home made DIY presents mean you can pamper your pets without being a pauper.

For cats and dogs, old clean socks filled with either their favourite cat nip or squeaky toy can be a handy stocking filler. Some strong rope wrapped around a small plank of wood can be a low-budget cat scratcher while a hollowed out tennis ball filled with treats can make any doggie smile.

For heart felt festive ornaments, take an imprint of your pet's paw in some non-toxic air-dry modelling clay and then decorate the imprint with glitter and ribbons once it's dried. Another crafty family favourite is to take an old photograph of you and your pet and create a decorative frame out of card!

Binge Babies:

Twas' the night before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring... except maybe... the dog!?

The festive season is the perfect excuse for scrapping the usual day-to-day life and indulging in long, lazy nights in front of the T.V. with a good old box set – but try telling that to your pets!

While we may enjoy a break from the norm, it's still important to ensure your pet maintains its daily routine to prevent any seasonal anxiety or stress. Turn walking the dog into a fun family activity. Make sure meal times stay the same.

And, if your home is about to filled with returning friends and family from afar, ensure your pet has a quiet safe space to relax away from the hustle and bustle while introducing them to any new guests one at a time at the pet's pace.

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Listen to the Straight Outta Kanto Podcast Radio Show https://open.spotify.com/show/0FRul8v6Xpy8JFD8clhlok?si=-f1uecxqT5erPBqigRIALg and the music of Venus de Vilo https://open.spotify.com/artist/7hSAeNpNk7ydf8lgE93sHn on Spotify.

Comic Con tricks and tips 101

Greetings! While the conventions of 2020 were mostly held online, it can't hurt to prepare in advance of next year's (hopefully) in real life events! Thankfully, Straight Outta Kanto is a convention veteran and is more than willing to impart their sensei-wisdomness to you...

1. RESEARCH:

What are you in to!? What is your nerd-dom!? If you're more introverted and like video games a smaller, local gaming con might suit you better than diving straight into one the hyper-huge DC/Marvel specific Comic Con style cons. However, if you like the wild crowds and even wilder big names then you dive right in to the deep end, baby!

Conventions are always a freight train of emotions and sensory over-loads at the best of times so a quick Google search or chatting to knowledgeable nerds in your community can be a great starting point for finding out what the local scene has to offer.

Whatever con you do decide to start out with, make sure you book your accommodation and source your travel well in advance - take it from me, no one wants to be stuck in the back arse of no where after a convention is over with no way to get home and all the hostels in the area fully booked. (Again...)

2. The Bare Necessities': 

It feels weird reminding adults to eat food and drink water but it's so surprising how easy it actually is to forget - especially during the excitement of a convention! I know the thought of bringing a large bottle of water and a packed lunch with you to a con is a cumbersome pain in the arse idea. Who wants to be carrying lunch around like an over-grown school child!?

The reality is however, depending on the location of your event, water and basic food may not be provided by the venue. On the occasion that refreshment is provided at a convention, it's usually grossly overcharged, undersized and not filled with any sort of the good stuff designed to help your body last through a long hot slog through winding convention halls. Take care of yourself - and your wallet!

3. BAGS! 

 Hands up if yer mammy has a plastic bag filled with lots of other little plastic bags somewhere in the house!

RAID. THAT. BAG BAG.

One of the top complaints at every convention I have ever been to is "Ah sure... my backpack's full, I can't carry anymore otherwise I'd buy this/that/the other." Fill your big bag with little bags and bring it with you to the con.

Vendors and artists don't always provide bags with their merchandise, and if they do, how long d'ya really think a small paper bag is going to fare over a full weekend of conning and travel!?

Think about the planet, think about your poor weak arms, shove a few placcy bags in your coat pockets and shop to your heart's content!

4. CASH IS KING: 

While the future is plastic and Tap-pa Tap-pa Tap-pa reigns supreme on the consumer trends - bring physical legal tender cash money to a convention with you. Larger merch stalls or big store vendors may have card payment options, but the chances are smaller stalls, artists, charity donation buckets, raffle tickets and a whole host of other convention related traders won't. Also, I've seen it myself endlessly - card machines break, wifi wanes and batteries die - cash is KING. Take the pressure off your plastic and deny yourself no convention pleasure.

5. Pain in the neck...

 Going to a convention in full Cosplay!? Cosplay clothes are the epitome of "Fashion Before Function". Be realistic - can you realistically walk, run, sit, stand, pee, poop, eat, drink, BREATHE, walk around a jam packed arena unimpeded in your costume!? If not, get some advice and make some cheat adjustments.

Same goes for non-cosplayers! Conventions in general are hot, crowded, long and tiring. You will sweat in strange places, your feet will hurt and you'll (hopefully) be carrying loads of amazing rare merch from your childhood that you've just bought...! While looking glam at a con is the goal, not ruining your own day by wearing too much (or too little) and the wrong shoes is also a perfectly acceptable goal. Do you. Be comfortable.

6. Support the Arts:

Conventions are an amazing opportunity to buy merch and memorabilia that you wouldn't always have the chance to buy in mainstream stores. But, before you drop another twenty quid on yet another Pop Figure from the local Game Stop who just so happen to have a big ass vendor stall - think about the little folks in the artist alley who have reasonably priced, thoughtful unique and hand-crafted prints and wares just dying to be bought. You've all year to buy generic mass produced merch from big stores, when are you ever going to see this travelling artist or prop maker again?

7. Permit me...

 Conventions are photo-opportunity of the year! Almost everyone makes a massive effort costume and Cosplay wise. Even if you don't, you'll still be making precious treasured memories with friends that you'll want to commemorate forever. HOWEVER. When wanting to get a photo with anyone at a convention, always ASK first! It's just common sense and basic manners. Just because someone is all dolled up doesn't mean they want to caught off-guard by your sneaky flash! Chances are, someone who has spent months hand making a costume WILL want to have their work admired and photographed, but give them the chance to say yes and the right to say no.

8. Shake ya ass, BUT watch ya self...

Yes, conventions are (mostly) filled with happy shining people who are a magical bretheren of nerds and super nerds just waiting to take you under the wing of their fandom - but there are weirdoes and predators out there. Ya get'm in all walks of life and conventions are no different. Not everyone who wants to hug you or take a photo with you will just be a nice person. Sadly.

Make friends, but exercise caution. Trust your gut instinct. Practise basic 'stranger danger' - EVEN IF YOU'RE AN ADULT. Try not to go alone to places - and if you do have to split up from the group STAY IN CONTACT.

There's all sorts of chancers out there, don't let them take a chance with you.

9. VOLUNTEER! 

Want free tickets to a convention? Behind the scenes access to all the excitement and activities? The chance to meet new people and gain experience for your C.V.!?

VOLUNTEER AT A CONVENTION!

Yes! It's exhausting. Yes! It's full-on. Yes! It's WORTH EVERY SWEATY TANTRUM OVER FORGOTTEN DOOR-CODES AND FAILED POWER POINT PRESENTATION IN A ROOM FULL OF EXPECTANT GUESTS AND PANELISTS.

It's good for you and supports your local scene - try it at least once.

10. DON'T HOLD BACK:

Conventions are the one place you can forget about the real world and fully immerse yourself in absolute fantasy. DO IT. Attend as many panels as you can. Buy as many boxes of Pocky as you can cram in your mouth. Sample that Saké. Get an over priced photo of yourself on the Iron Throne. Speak Pigeon-Japanese to your peers. Befriend an artist. Buy back issues. DO. IT. ALL. Conventions come and go and are only once a year - don't regret ANYTHING.

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Pokémon Mystery Dungeon DX Review

Alola, PokéNerds! Welcome to this week’s Straight Outta Kanto blog post. Straight Outta Kanto is Ireland’s number one spot for Nerd Culture, Nightmares and Nostalgia.

Answer me these questions three and find out what Pokémon you'll be...

You all know by now that here at Straight Outta Kanto we are hardcore GenWunners and devoted beyond reason to Game Freak, but even we've had trouble staying loyal of late. Lack lustre, incomplete feeling, rushed, half-hearted releases by Game Freak on Nintendo Switch have left us wondering whether there is any hope for the future of Pokémon!

And then along comes Pokémon Mystery Dungeon DX - the first new Mystery Dungeon game in four years. Pokémon Mystery Dungeon DX is like that one last game-changing Full Restore you spam during those final crucial moments in your battle against the Pokémon Champion. There is hope!

Anyone familiar with the Mystery Dungeon spin-off series of the Pokémon games will consider the storyline to be fairly standard. You are a human who has been magically transported to the un-named Pokémon world to help save the day for various apocalyptic reasons.

You answer a quiz at the start of the game to determine what adorable Pokémon avatar you will embody for the course of the game. You also get to select your goofy but earnest Pokémon partner. You and said partner build a small base-camp and become stalwart members of the Pokémon community - helping out local neighbours and merchants by going on adventures, or, "explorations" in "dungeons" and generally saving the day.

You participate in these explorations for monetary/material rewards, add new members to your exploration team and advance through the Pokémon exploration ranks. There are addictive side-adventures to keep you occupied as well as the quests that further your progression through the main story line.

As I said, the story line is fairly basic and contains less plot-twists and content than previous Mystery Dungeon games - for example, the epic and heartbreaking Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Explorers of Time/Darkness. That being said, it's still engaging and tear-jerking at times.

The endearing soundtrack and unique, charming, almost crayon drawing style of the animation gives a familiar game a refreshing face-lift. There is a huge amount of content and areas in the game - both as you play the main plot and post-game.

The "dungeons" are challenging and rewarding once completed but not soul-destroyingly grinding like in previous games. (They at least have the decency to leave most of the grinding misery for the post-game!) Increased battle functions and options make adding new team members and battling with them in the field more user friendly.

A more in-depth story to make the game feel less like a series of fun mini-games would be my main complaint. To be frank, this game is one of the few things that has kept me sane this last month during the Covid-19 lockdown here in Ireland.

Yes, the game contributes nothing majorly new to the Pokémon franchise, but playing it is like a comfortable and reliable encounter with an old friend. It definitely sucks you in and engages you for hours at a time so it's release during this turbulent time was ideal! It's also the best Pokémon release for Nintendo Switch.

4/5  PokéBalls.

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The Birth of Mewtwo: Pokémon Radio Drama

Alola, PokéNerds! We here at Straight Outta Kanto hope you’re staying safe inside like a Cloyster or Clamperl with a shut shell and being as neurotic about hand washing as I would envision Psyduck to be!

As we’re currently without a day job like many of you guys out there right now, there’s not really a major reason to keep to normal routine hours. Not gonna have a great impact on my health down the line – but for now I am loving an almost twenty four hour devotion to all things Pokémon with no interruptions.

Last night, I finally got to tick off one of the Pokémon related items on my nerd bucket list! I’d heard whispered years ago about a Japanese exclusive Pokémon radio drama called “The Birth of Mewtwo” that aired in 1998 in advance of the Mewtwo Strikes Back movie.

(Fun fact, the title “Mewtwo Strikes Back” always confused me as a child. As far as I was aware, this was the first movie – I didn’t understand why Mewtwo was striking back when technically speaking he hadn’t been struck in the first place…!)

This five part radio play was written by Takeshi Shudo and according to Bulbapedia aired on Japanese radio over the five Sundays preceeding the release of the movie. An animé adaptation quietly followed.

I found all five parts of the radio play adequately subtitled and readily available on YouTube. Obviously this was released right at the start of the Poképhenomenon and therefore that meant it was much more flexible in its freedom with regards to plot and characters that we know now, but were still fresh and unformed twenty two years ago. Fan fiction writers – buckle up!

The five short radio episodes are narrated by “Sakaki”, or, as we know him: Giovanni. Enigmatic Daddy and mastermind of Team Rocket. However, while Sakaki narrates the present day, he refers to an incident twenty years prior involving the then Boss of Team Rocket… his own mother. Not only is Giovanni’s mother the Boss of Team Rocket, her underling is none other than… Jesse Rocket’s mother.

Both women are represented as cold, materialistic, domineering and maternal-rejecting profit seekers. Miyamoto, Jesse’s mother, even proclaiming to have left Jesse (or Musashi) up for adoption so that she Miyamoto can continue working tirelessly for Team Rocket.

The plot initially starts out with Sakaki’s mother and Miyamoto examining their South American fossil finds. Enter Mew’s eyelash fossil. Team Rocket are thrilled. They hand the fossil over to their science team – fronted by Dr. Fuji – with the intent of trying to replicate the original Mew from such a small fragment of fossil through the power of cloning and genetic mutation.

However, the plot darkens considerably as the series progresses and travels through time from the twenty years old find of Mew’s fossil all the way to the present. Dr. Fuji has been endeavouring all this time to create Mewtwo and… something else.

I will not spoil the highly dramatic and emotive plot twist, but let’s just say from episode three get your tissues ready, the feels just got real.

For a promo show for what is in essence a children’s movie, the radio play gets very serious with regards to making the listener think about the morals and ethics of human/animal cloning and genetic manipulation. How far is too far in science?

Don’t get me wrong, the show isn’t heavy all the time. Miyamoto, Jesse’s mother, is the main comic relief character for each episode. There are also elements of audio slap-stick comedy that really add charm and warmth to the drama. Also, the backstory and insight in to the family backgrounds of the well known characters is fascinating and adds an alternate perspective on current accepted theories.

As a fan of the Pokémon franchise for twenty one years, I can honestly say this was one of the most unique and stand alone additions to the Pokémon universe cannon I have come across.

It may be too left of centre to be everyone’s cup of polteageist, but for hardcore fans who’d like to expand their PokéLibrary of knowledge – I would highly recommend “The Birth of Mewtwo.”

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Pokemon Platinum Remakes - Sinnoh Wishlist

Alola, fellow nerds! Here at Straight Outta Kanto (https://www.facebook.com/StraightOuttaKanto91/ or insta: @straightoutta_kanto twitter: @KantoOutta) we are majorly excited about the new and imminent Sword and Shield Expansion Pass releases.

However, one is never satisfied with what one has and always yearns for the elusive and out-of-reach. I for one am still dreaming of a Pokemon Gen 4 remake and will not rest until I see this dream realised for Nintendo Switch.

For those of you currently unfamiliar, “Gen 4” refers to the Pokemon Diamond, Pearl and Platinum series of games from 2006 – 2009. The games are the franchise’s fourth RPG line and is set in the stunning fictitious Sinnoh region. This generation of the Pokemon series has continuously been overlooked for remakes and reboots so often by the game’s creators so that this fact is now a long-running in-joke amongst Pokemon pop culture community.

If you are amenable dear readers, I would like to share with you a few snippets of my vision (and based on discussions with members of the https://www.facebook.com/groups/1623889321229114/ Pokemon Fan Club Ireland) for what a Pokemon Diamond/Pearl/Platinum reboot for the Nintendo Switch could look like.

I have ten points, in no particular order, of things I feel we all would dearly love to see.

1. A Mt. Coronet/Snow Point Wild Area.

Yes! Can you imagine a region as vast and beautiful as Sinnoh having certain routes upgraded with Gen 8 Wild Area function!? Mt. Coronet and the routes proceeding Snow Point City in particular offer ample opportunity for such an upgrade. The post-game resort and battle areas also lend themselves with ease to becoming Wild Areas, as do the three legendary lakes. The improved cinematic graphics and audio capabilities of the Nintendo Switch as well would greatly enhance an already winning soundtrack and region.

2. HD Cynthia.

Cynthia is hands down one of the most strategically strongest (and toughest) Champions of all time, one with an extremely interesting background and is a hands-down fan favourite. Cynthia is a badass. Cynthia and her historian grandmother both. Cynthia is one of the most hands on champions in the game with regards to tackling the evil Team Galactic and frequently re-appears in later games to continue kicking your ass. There’s many rumours circulating that Cynthia is a mother and has a child who is also a Pokemon trainer. Were there to be a Gen 4 remake, I think a good meaty dose of Cynthia with plenty of, if not backstory, then “what happened next” style story building around her would be welcome by all.

3. Distortion World Post-Game Side Quest.

Forgive me for being greedy, but if we get a fleshed out Cynthia in the remakes, I also want a fleshed out Cyrus! I WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO CYRUS AFTER HIS BUTT WAS ORIGINALLY KICKED IN THE DISTORTION WORLD! Where did he go!? Did he ever return from the Distortion World!? IS HE STILL THERE!? A Distortion World post-game story in the style of the Grovyle;s from Mystery Dungeon Explorers of Time/Darkness could be phenomenal. Also, Distortion World as a Wild Area, anyone!? A Wild Area with perhaps legendary Hoopa rings similar to the OR/AS reboots, because let’s face it, a Wild Area Distortion World ain’t gonna have no boring old Pidgeys in it…

4. Pokemon follow you!

Yeeees! Let’s keep this trend of Pokemon following you around outside the pokeball going! Reserved for Yellow, G/S/HG/SS and the Let’s Go games, this is a feature that the adorable and kick ass denizens of Sinnoh deserve! I. Want. My. Piplup. To. Follow. Me. Around. Adorably. 

5. FREE THE HM SLAVES!

Alola’s Ride Pokemon changed… everything! No more HM (Hidden Machine) moves were required to take up precious space in your Pokemon’s move list and the Bidoofs, Sentrets and Zigzagoons of the world were safe! Sinnoh was such a horrifically HM heavy region I would desperately hate to see the new and improved game functions regress from their current state of freedom to HM locking certain areas and Pokemon. The Let’s Go games got around the HM issue in a pretty nifty way, by having your Pikachu/Eevee learn a special trick to get around the HM requiring obstacles, the game creators were able to make a faithful remake without cumbersome features.

6. Sinnoh Mythology Explored.

Each Pokemon game and region comes with it’s own unique and layered culture, lore and mythology but Gen 4 is where the game creators really start hinting at some meaty history. Allusions to eating Pokemon and possibly marrying them all the way to Pokemon and humans being one and the same, Gen 4 raised a lot of questions we all want answers to. Cinematic flash-back cut-scenes fully explaining the histories hinted at in the Canalave City library would be AMAAAAZING. The screen of the Nintendo Switch alone is huge, and also hooks up to your telly – so imagine a big dramatic Pokemon history re-enactment about the origins of Sinnoh on the big screen!? Come on lads! DO IT!

7. Underground Wild Area.

Underground Wild Area, anyone!? Or, failing that, just a really juicy, mini-game filled visually spectacular Underground feature for Nintendo Switch. I would play the heck out of that. It was enjoyable as a clunky little poor graphic game for Nintendo DS, there’s no excuse for it either not feature in a Gen 4 remake or to be less than its original DS incarnation. Making it a bit more like the Secret Bases of Hoenn is probably asking too much…

8. A Full Darkrai and Cresselia post-game quest.

Darkrai is one of the coolest rare Pokemon additions in the decades long list of Pokemon and is the antagonist in some of the darkest Pokemon storylines that the franchise has created to date. That coupled with the fact he has a direct opponent in Cresselia – the Holmes to his Moriarty if you will – has left me wanting some class of in-game Darkrai/Cresselia showdown for years. What better venue to stage this showdown than on Sinnohs very own Full Moon island after a dramatic battle to save Sailor Eldritch’s Nightmare-ridden son… I’m telling you. The Darkrai/Cresselia/Sailor Eldritch Arc of Pokemon D/P/Platinum is one of the saddest non-entities of the franchise. The possibilities for an epic post-game duel and rescue mission are endless. I want this post-game quest more than I want the Distortion World one. And I really want the Distortion World one…

9. Sinnoh Formes.

I have actually really enjoyed the regional variants added to the later games since Pokemon Sun and Moon and I for one welcome our new Sinnoh Forme overlords. While regional formes felt gimmicky initially with the Alolan ‘mon, I actually think Game Freak hit the nail on the head with the Galarian Formes and would love to see how some of the national Pokemon can be updated for a region as diverse and lush as Sinnoh.

10. More. Eeveelutions.

I DON’T CARE WE ALREADY GOT TWO NEW EEVEELUTIONS IN SINNOH.

I. WANT. MORE.

It’s been years since our last new Eeveelution – we deserve a new Eeveelution and as Sinnoh has already proven itself to be a region where new evolutions of Eevee cann thrive – I WANT MORE!

So that’s it in essence! Of course, there are many, many arguments for and against a multitude of other functions and features and characters and plots in the Gen 4 games that are not discussed here today, but that’s what the official Straight Outta Kanto social media is for!

Twitter: @KantoOutta and @VenusDeVilo

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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StraightOuttaKanto91/ and https://www.facebook.com/VenusDeViloTheVoiceOfHorror/

Join the Pokemon Fan Club Ireland Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1623889321229114/

Listen to the Straight Outta Kanto Podcast Radio Show https://open.spotify.com/show/0FRul8v6Xpy8JFD8clhlok?si=-f1uecxqT5erPBqigRIALg and the music of Venus de Vilo https://open.spotify.com/artist/7hSAeNpNk7ydf8lgE93sHn on Spotify.

Pokemon Cafe Mix - A Prelude to Ranger on Switch

Alola, PokeNerds! Straight Outta Kanto here - feeling like a Froslass caught in a Fire Blast! I am just not enjoying this dull, muggy, humid August weather. Hopefully you guys are enjoying your summer more than I am.

Out of sheer no-pub/no-holidays related boredom last night I acquiesced at last and gave Pokemon Cafe Mix an auld download there on my Nintendo Switch. I'd been initially apprehensive about the game as it is a pay-to-play aimed at a more juvenile audience. However, after playing for a while last night I thought I'd share my thoughts with you fellow nerds and see how we match up.

First off the bat, the game's unique art style is charming and utterly adorable. It's like watching a lovingly pure motion picture of the sweetest Pokemon fan art. The plot is extremely basic. You and your Eevee are hired to work at a new local cafe and "mix" food and beverages for your Pokemon clientele.

As I mentioned already, the game is aimed at a much younger audience than normal and therefore the game play itself is as basic as the plot. Utilising the touch screen mechanism of the Nintendo Switch you literally (and simply) "mix" up and match assorted Pokemon shapes and icons to complete an "order" from a customer. Mix and match the required amount of shapes and icons successfully and earn miscellaneous points, acorns and friendship values of the various 'mon customers to advance within the game.

Speaking of game advancement, I hadn't been playing even a full thirty minutes before I was brought to the Nintendo eStore to pay to continue working on an order for a kawaii Charmander... In all honesty guys, that's where I stopped playing. I'd seen enough.

This is a fun boredom breaker of a game for toddlers or older. Also, its a great little way to introduce the glory of Pokemon to whole new generation of future trainers. Unfortunately, I don't think there'd be enough engaging content to hold the attention of, or warrant the expense, for older fans of the franchise. (However, each to their own - anything that brings you joy is never wrong!)

One thing in particular about Pokemon Cafe Mix was that it did give me hope that there could feasibly be a Pokemon Ranger remake on the horizon. One thing we discuss often in the Pokemon Fan Club Ireland Facebook group is how hard it would be to replicate the game play mechanics of Pokemon Ranger on the Switch. Ranger's capture methods were based entirely around the Stylus feature of the DS, there is certainly no stylus with the Switch! We'll never see a Ranger remake... OR WILL WE!?

The game play of Pokemon Cafe Mix revolves around spinning your finger on the touch screen in a circular motion while an energy gauge fills up based on the precision and success of your finger spins. That is literally the exact identical capture method used in Pokemon Ranger!!!

Game Freak are known for testing out features and functions in smaller games before trialling them properly in main games so perhaps... Cafe Mix is their way of seeing how a Pokemon Ranger remake could be adapted to the Switch!?

We live in hope... And you heard it here first! ;)

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Listen to the Straight Outta Kanto Podcast Radio Show https://open.spotify.com/show/0FRul8v6Xpy8JFD8clhlok?si=-f1uecxqT5erPBqigRIALg and the music of Venus de Vilo https://open.spotify.com/artist/7hSAeNpNk7ydf8lgE93sHn on Spotify.