Review: Yo-Kai Watch

Courtesy: Nintendo/Level-5

Publisher: Nintendo

Developer: Level-5

Platform: Nintendo 3DS

Starring the Voices of Johnny Yong Bosch, Brent Pendergrass and Alicyn Packard

Network: Disney XD (Check your local cable or satellite listings)

ESRB Rating: E10+

Game Rating: ***/5

TV Show Rating: *½:5

“Yo-Kai Watch” is yet another multimedia franchise from Japan, based on the concept of mythological creatures known as “yokai.” While many are hailing the series as “the next Pokémon,” the result leaves much to be desired.

The series consists of many facets, two of which are a video game for the Nintendo 3DS and an anime series currently airing on Disney XD. The game may not be bad, but it’s also not a great game like a Pokémon game can be, or the previous role playing game (RPG) from developer Level-5; “Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch.” The anime series, however, while not the worst of its kind, is highly insufferable because of its wasted potential.

The premise of the series is as follows: mythical creatures known as “yokai” are often held responsible for life’s foibles. Essentially, if something happens to your internet connection or you forget your phone someplace; a yokai may be the cause. While these creatures may be invisible to the naked eye, a device known as the titular Yo-Kai Watch will enable the wearer to see them. While not a bad premise, the execution haphazardly tries to blend slice-of-life tropes

with collecting these creatures and having them fight, with mixed results.

The premise of the anime and the game are largely the same, but the execution differs significantly depending on the medium. Even though the game isn’t an outright copy of the formula established by the Pokémon series, it lacks the complexity that’s been an increasing draw among older fans. Barring a few special moves and the occasional need to heal your yokai, the combat is almost entirely on autopilot. There have been times where battles have been won with absolutely no input from the player at all.

Sadly, the anime suffers from poor voice acting and corny writing in dealing with its subject matter. The cast seems to be made up of mostly unknown voice actors, many of whom

are making their debut here. Even the normally lively Johnny Yong Bosch seems stilted as Nathan Adams. To call the cast’s performances wooden would be an affront to a useful building material. Even though the animation is slick and colorful, the show’s focus on life lessons isn’t well-implemented and is rife with bad jokes and dated pop-culture references. It ultimately lacks

the same level of quality that Disney XD has delivered with series such as “Gravity Falls,” “Star Wars Rebels” and “Star VS The Forces of Evil.”

Even though Level-5 is making long-term plans for the series in the U.S., including the localization of the sequels “Yo-Kai Watch 2: Bony Spirits and Fleshy Souls,” it may not be viable

to try to shotgun the series into “the next Pokémon.” In fact, that comparison ended up alienating many longtime Pokémon fans and has caused the game and anime to underperform despite surprisingly positive reception among critics.

If you’re looking for an alternative style of RPG, then “Yo-Kai Watch” might be worth considering. If you’re looking for a more engaging experience; however, it would be best to play “Pokémon Sun and Moon” and wait for the planned Playstation 4 sequel to “Ni No Kuni.” As for the anime: the writing has much more in common with the likes of “Barney and Friends” than Hayao Miyazaki’s epic “Spirited Away.” It’s enough to make the “Pokémon” anime look like “Akira” by comparison, and Nathan is so ineffectual as a protagonist that he makes Ash Ketchum look like Arnold Schwarzenegger. Although the animation is beautiful, it doesn’t really mean anything without a compelling script to bolster it. A small child might like it; but with better fare like “Gravity Falls,” “Star Wars Rebels” and “Star VS The Forces of Evil” available on Disney XD, it’s definitely not recommended.

Film Preview: Star Wars: Episode VIII-The Last Jedi (2017)

Courtesy: Walt Disney Pictures/Lucasfilm

Starring Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Adam Driver, Gwendoline Christie, and Domnhall Gleeson with Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Peter Mayhew and Anthony Daniels

Written and Directed by Rian Johnson (Based on characters created by George Lucas)

Release date: December 15, 2017

There will be any anticipated films over the course of the coming year, including the next installment in the “Star Wars” saga. On the official YouTube channel for the series, the title of the new film has been revealed as “Star Wars: Episode VIII-The Last Jedi.”

The film will see much of the cast of the previous installment, “Star Wars: Episode VII-The Force Awakens” reprise their roles; and the film will be written and directed by Rian Johnson. In addition to the film “Looper,” Johnson has written and directed many episodes of the TV series “Breaking Bad,” including the highly-acclaimed episode “Ozymandias” from the final season of the series. JJ Abrams, who directed and co-wrote “Episode VII” alongside Michael Ardnt (“Little Miss Sunshine,” “Toy Story 3”) and Lawrence Kasdan (co-writer of “The Empire Strikes Back” and “Return of the Jedi”) will serve as co-producer of the film alongside Ram Bergman and Kathleen Kennedy.

While not much is known about the story, least of all who is “The Last Jedi” in the title; anticipation for the film is high given the massive critical and commercial success of “The Force Awakens.” Johnson being the film’s writer and director has the potential to bring a new perspective to the saga as well as advance the story further. While Mark Hamill didn’t have any lines when he reprised his role as Luke Skywalker, his presence in itself has created large amounts of anticipation for “Episode VIII.” Among other influences, cast members such as John Boyega and Adam Driver have confirmed the script will be channeling the dark tone of “The Empire Strikes Back;” considered by many to be the best film of the original trilogy.

Additionally, the film will be the final appearance of Carrie Fisher as General Leia Organa. Disney confirmed that Fisher completed her work on the film when news broke of her death in late 2016. Lucasfilm has also begun talks of having 2019’s “Episode IX” rewritten as a result, presumably to retire Leia’s character in the process. The company briefly considered having a CGI recreation of the character in a similar vein to her appearance in the spinoff film “Rogue One” before ultimately deciding against it.

While other information on “The Last Jedi” is scarce at this point in time, people will definitely be turning out for the film when it opens on December 15. Disney will be actively marketing the film in many ways, including the planned sequel to the 2015 version of the “Star Wars Battlefront” video game planned to have special content to tie into it. Above all, be sure to keep an eye on “Star Wars: Episode VIII-The Last Jedi” this Christmas.

Film Review-Mad Max: Fury Road-Black and Chrome (2016)

Courtesy: Warner Bros. Pictures/Village Roadshow Pictures

Starring Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron, Nicholas Hoult, and Hugh Keys-Bearne
Directed By George Miller
Rated R
My Rating:
Theatrical Version: ****/5
Black and Chrome: ****1/2:5

In the summer of 2015, the fourth installment of the “Mad Max” series was released as “Mad Max: Fury Road.” While the film did respectably well at the box office, it had to compete with a large amount of entries from other big franchises. Still, the film has been widely praised for its unique visuals, explosive action and simple yet compelling story.

When promoting the film, director George Miller expressed interest in releasing a cut of the film in black and white. In 2016, Miller delivered on this with the release of “Mad Max: Fury Road-Black and Chrome.” The film adds a new visual dynamic by removing the color palette from the theatrical version. As a result, the film’s already-impressive use of practical special effects and intricate car stunts is given a much greater impact than was previously seen.

The story involves Max Rockatansky (Hardy, in the role made famous by Mel Gibson) being physically and emotionally shaken by the events of the previous films, having failed to protect the ones he cared for. The world has also been reduced to a post-apocalyptic wasteland, with oil and water now being valued commodities.

Then, after Max is captured by maniacal dictator Immortan Joe (Keys-Bearne); he must form a reluctant alliance with the Imperator Furiosa (Theron) and a “war boy” known as Nux (Hoult) in order to bring down Joe’s oppressive regime and bring hope to a world torn apart by insanity and war.

While the setup may seem simple on the surface, the film has a surprising amount of relevance for the world today. In a film industry that’s been increasingly dominated by complex storylines and elaborate action sequences, the simplicity of the plot of “Fury Road” has been lauded as highly refreshing. Rather than overshadowing the story, the action scenes compliment it perfectly. While there are one or two scenes that resort to CGI, including a fantastic sequence set in the midst of a sandstorm; Miller’s use of practical special effects is impeccable. The car stunts present a high-octane 2-hour demolition derby not seen from the series since 1982’s “The Road Warrior.”

Even with a simplistic story and minimal at best dialogue, the cast still puts on an impressive series of performances. While Hardy may not have the same level of gleeful insanity Gibson brought to the role of Max, few actors today have the range he does. Within the same scene, he can go from lamenting the loss of loved ones to using a murderous truck driver as a meat shield and blowing up his rig. The real star of the film, however; is easily Furiosa. Theron’s performance is equal parts mysterious stranger and driven warrior, generating great interest for a potential spinoff about her character.

With the release of the “Black and Chrome” version of the film coming after winning multiple Academy Awards, the black and white cut of “Mad Max: Fury Road” is easily the definitive version of George Miller’s blockbuster action film. While it remains to be seen whether or not the planned follow-up, “The Wasteland” will answer the question of “who killed the world;” it is clear that this version of the film will ride eternal in action film glory, shiny, black and chrome!

Remembering Carrie Fisher: 1956-2016

Fisher as Princess Leia Organa in "Star Wars: Episode IV-A New Hope" (1977).

The year 2016 saw the passing of many beloved celebrities and individuals, among which was Carrie Fisher. After experiencing a medical emergency while flying from London to Los Angeles, she was taken to a local hospital before her death on December 27 at age 60. After a series of tests, her death was later ruled as cardiac arrest.

Fisher in 2013.

Fisher had many film roles in her life, ranging from the 1975 film “Shampoo” to comedies such as “The Blues Brothers” and “When Harry Met Sally.” She was also the daughter of fellow actress Debbie Reynolds, who died the day after Fisher at age 84.

As an individual with bipolar disorder, she was a longtime advocate of mental health and even wrote a series of books about her life.  After her cremation, her ashes were contained in an urn shaped like a Prozac capsule. When news broke of Fisher’s passing, sales of her autobiography trilogy of 2008’s “Wishful Drinking,” 2011’s “Shockaholic” and 2016’s “The Princess Diarist” surged from online retailers such as Amazon.

While Fisher was never a stranger to the limelight, she truly became a member of Hollywood royalty when she was given the role as Princess Leia Organa in the “Star Wars” saga. She helped propel the role she was given to the status of a pop-culture icon as she played prominent roles in “A New Hope” in 1977, “The Empire Strikes Back” in 1980 and “Return of the Jedi” in 1983.

Fisher also contributed to television work such as a recurring role on “Family Guy” and an appearance in a special “Star Wars”-themed episode of the animated sketch comedy series “Robot Chicken.”

Before her sudden death, Fisher ended up reprising her role as Leia in the highly acclaimed and successful “Star Wars: Episode VII-The Force Awakens,” as well as having a CGI recreation of her character being done for the spinoff film “Rogue One.” While Disney confirmed that Fisher had completed her work on “Episode VIII” at the time news of her passing broke, the company also briefly considered the idea of digitally recreating Fisher before ultimately deciding against it. Instead, Lucasfilm has begun talks of having “Episode IX” rewritten to reflect Fisher’s passing; presumably retiring the character of General Leia in the process.

Even though Fisher may be gone, the legacy she left behind will last forever. Not only have many associated with her work in “Star Wars” paid tribute to her, Fisher has left a significant impact on popular culture in many forms. Her memory will be honored for generations to come.

Editorial: Nintendo Switch Direct 1-12-2017

Courtesy: Nintendo

After much speculation, the first Nintendo Direct event for the Nintendo Switch was streamed live on the evening of January 12. The president of the Japanese branch of the company, Tatsumi Kimishima unveiled the console and a selection of games for the upcoming launch later this year. While both the device and the president have a lot to live up to given the legacy of those before them, Kimishima has risen admirably to the task of bringing the industry headfirst into the ninth generation of video games.

Even though the company has seen increasing competition from Sony, Microsoft and mobile gaming in recent years; the Switch aims to build on the successes that Nintendo has built their name on. The company has had all manner of popular consoles since the launch of the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1985 and successfully brought portable gaming to the mainstream with the original Game Boy in 1989. With the Switch, the company opts to combine elements of both home and portable gaming in one device when it launches simultaneously in Japan and the US on March 3 of this year.

The console will be able to play games in HD when hooked up to a television via an HDMI cable and a power dock similar to the kind some of Apple’s devices use, as well as be used as a portable console when one has to go somewhere. Even though there are reports of the system using less processing power as a portable device, it can still be used in all manner of settings in public. More footage shown in the presentation shows the device can be used anywhere from a family barbeque to a commute to work or school. Each player can take one of two pieces of the device’s controller, the “Joy-Con” to play with in multiplayer, while single-player games can use both parts; the touch screen or an optional Pro Controller accessory.

A wide array of games for the system will also be available at launch; with more to come in the console’s first year on the market. A party game known as “1-2-Switch” will launch on the same day as the console that can show how the console will work with a single game, in a similar vein to “Wii Sports” and the Wii U title “Nintendo Land.” Using one of either piece of the system’s “Joy-Con” controllers, players will perform a variety of tasks such as a quick-draw shooting contest; shown off in a skit influenced by classic westerns such as "A Fistful of Dollars."

Another title slated for the near future is a fighting game known as “Arms.” Using both halves of the Joy-Con controller, players will use a combination of the buttons; analog sticks and motion controls to box against an array of cartoonish fighters with extendable, well, arms. The game sports an array of colorful characters, and looks to be a worthy spiritual successor to games such as “Punch-Out” as well as a promising new IP for Nintendo.

Of course, the console will also have a healthy assortment of existing franchises as well games from third-party developers who have pledged their support of the switch. Sega, alongside other partners such as Sonic Team and Atlus; have plans to release new entries in series such as “Sonic the Hedgehog” and the “Shin Megami Tensei” role-playing-game series. Electronic Arts will release new entries in their bestselling sports titles, and Bethesda will give the console its own port of the critical and commerical smash hit “The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.”

Many key games such as “Pokémon”, “Super Smash Bros.” and “Mario Kart” are confirmed to have new installments as well as enhanced ports of previous entries in development in the near future. The Virtual Console service of games from previous consoles also is planned to be expanded to include games from the Nintendo Gamecube.

There are also very highly-anticipated new entries in some of Nintendo’s biggest series. After much time in development, “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild” will launch alongside the console as well as a Wii U version on March 3. The game will commemorate the 30th anniversary of the series as well as introduce the lore of Hyrule to a new generation of fans. A new 3D entry in the Mario series, “Super Mario Odyssey” will launch in the holidays. The game will see Mario in a variety of new settings from lush jungles to lively cities, as well as a new mechanic of platforming involving the Italian plumber’s iconic hat. Last, but not least in the slightest; is a sequel to the surprise Wii U hit competitive shooter “Splatoon”, which will feature a host of new modes and weapons to take part in combat without; as well as a large assortment of colorful clothes and running shoes to customize your “Inklings” with.

While the ninth generation of video games will be one of the most competitive ones to come, Nintendo and Kimishima have risen admirably to the challenge with the Switch. As well as Kimishima, many people during the presentation from different backgrounds and developers have expressed great interest in taking advantage of the technology the Switch offers. At the tail end, both the president of the US branch of Nintendo, Reggie Fils-Aime and director of many key “Zelda” titles; Eiji Aonuma, both express great joy for both the console and “Breath of the WIld.” With the potential to unite Nintendo’s large and devoted fanbase as well as appeal to a new generation of gamers, the Switch will be quite the console to keep an eye on when it launches on March 3. Now let’s Switch into a new way of playing video games!

Introduction: The Year Ahead

Hello everyone. With a new year ahead, this blog will be used to represent a number of stories for my class at Linn-Benton Community College of Journalism 216.

There will be several kinds of different subject matter addressed here. Some will be assignments related to the class, other times will be topics that I feel deeply about. I'm not going to try to get too heavy-handed, but I will be quite enthusiastic about whatever I have to say.

Some of the things I have in mind include looks at current movies and anticipated video games over the year; as well as subjects that I couldn't normally address in prior blogs. One such piece is a tribute to the late Carrie Fisher, who was among many beloved people that we lost over the past year.

While I do not know where the year ahead will lead, I do know that there will be many opportunities for stories in that timeframe. I hope to share them with you all as they come. Thank you for your patronage. Have a nice day.