Get Rescued in the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Series Here — 2023 and On!

By LUDWIG VON KOOPA - I'll rescue you through passwords or QR codes, for any applicable game.

It might be challenging to find support for games in the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series, especially older ones. They aren't “mainstream” but can be difficult to beat. Developer Chunsoft, for most games in the series, wanted to encourage community among players by allowing a player to rescue another if they get a game over. But since the franchise is not in the public eye, where do you find quick and active rescuers?

Look no more, since we at KoopaTV are big fans of the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series, spanning from Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team to the more-recent Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon on the 3DS. We'll even be nice people and rescue you, just for the sake of being nice. (And encourage others to buy the games along the way.) So, I have set up this page as your resource to get help that you can trust.

How to be Rescued

1. When you faint in the game, select the prompt saying you'd like to be rescued. The process is a little different for each game, but in general, there are options to Send SOS Mail out. You want the passcode from this
2. Leave a comment in this article (or via e-mail to Ludwig's e-mail address provided on KoopaTV's contact page) with your rescue request, including...
1. Dungeon you fainted in
2. The floor you fainted in
3. The game you're playing
4. An image or transcription of the QR code (Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon) or passcode (every game)
5. If playing Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon, what format you want your code in (QR code or passcode)
6. A request for what item I should attach to the Thank-You Mail. If you don't say anything, it'll be up to my discretion
3. When commenting, you should check the Notify Me button so you can get a notification of my response
4. I'll respond to you, and hopefully soon after (or in that very same response, if it's a short rescue) I'll give you the Rescue Mail so you can save yourself
5. Use the Rescue Mail and be saved! I'd appreciate it if you then replied with a Thank-You Mail so KoopaTV knows you're safe

Below are the games in the franchise that I own and some commentary on my extensive capabilities in each. Note: I've read that rescue requests are region-locked, so I can only support those in the Americas. Additionally, it does not matter if you are playing the older games via DS cartridge or Wii U Virtual Console. Same rescue system.

Impressions on the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX Announcement and Demo

By LUDWIG VON KOOPA - Beautiful graphics and quality-of-life improvements. But is it worth a buy?

Last week, we had the January 2020 Pokémon Direct. While most of the time was spent on the Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield Expansion Passes, the first two minutes was spent on another announcement: Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX, which is a Nintendo Switch remake of Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team from the Game Boy Advance, and Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team from the Nintendo DS. That makes the source material over 14 years old.

I wrote, around when the last Pokémon Mystery Dungeon game was released (late 2015 with Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon for Nintendo 3DS), about all of my Pokémon Mystery Dungeon history and experience. I like the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon spin-offs much more than the mainline RPGs. That means that while those mainline games are disappointing, the Mystery Dungeon titles make the franchise worth it. Though there wasn't one for Generation 7—all there were for spin-offs were stupid made-to-be-mobile titles.

That means I should celebrate Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX's existence, right? Well, before giving thoughts too pre-emptively, I wanted to play the demo. And yes, they released a demo that goes from the very beginning up right before you can enter Mt. Steel...which for those who don't know, is pretty early in. It transfers save data to the full version. Still, from that, I can definitely give you my impressions.

Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon Making Me a Better Person?!

By LUDWIG VON KOOPA - ...How dare it!

I am the naughty prince of Koopas and proud of it. Most people out there would make the value judgment that I'm a “bad person” who enjoys the misery of others. I wouldn't make a spirited argument against that.

However, ever since Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon came out, things have been... changing. Just a bit. I hope it's only just a bit!

As I noted before, Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon brings back player-to-player rescue missions. It works like this:

1. Player A fainted in a dungeon. They send out a rescue request in the form of a QR code/password and post a screenshot of that somewhere, be it Miiverse or GameFAQs or ludwig(at)koopatv(dot)org
2. Player B finds that QR code/password and goes to Pelipper Island in their Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon copy. They talk to the leftward Pelipper and select Pick up mail and input the password/scan the QR code. (Please, please, please share the QR codes it's so much faster than an 80-character password.)
3. If Player B has been to that dungeon before and has previously reached the particular floor Player A fainted on, they can go save 'em. Player B then goes through that dungeon up to where Player A fainted and rescues them.
4. Player B goes back to the leftward Pelipper and selects Send mail and chooses Reviver Mail corresponding to Player A. They give Player A the QR code/password. They may choose to attach an item (which they won't get back) to the Reviver Mail, such as an Escape Orb or a Reviver Seed.
5. Player A enters the QR code/password and can play where they left off. 
6. After Player A finishes the dungeon and returns to the main menu, they can go to Pelipper Island to the leftward Pelipper and select Send Mail (Thank-You Mail). Player A may choose to attach an item.
7. Player A gives Player B the QR code/password for the Thank-You Mail. Player B returns to the usual place and gets thanked.

It's a lot simpler than it sounds.

Just remember that THIS is the important Pelipper.
By the way, like the Lillipup? That's Robert E. Lillipup, who has his own adventure you can play here.
He's the best character of 2015!

Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon Saved the Whole Pokémon Franchise

By LUDWIG VON KOOPA - Pokémon asked for a Rescue Team! And it got one.

There is this gross trend lately among Pokémon games. Someone among Nintendo and/or The Pokémon Company is getting all these third-tier development teams like Genius Sonority to make a slew of addictive-yet-destructive free-to-start Pokémon games for the Nintendo 3DS (and then to mobile). We've seen it with Pokémon Shuffle, Pokémon Rumble World (where it brings up very concerning ethical issues), and the just-announced-and-now-released Pokémon Picross. The latter of which was the only new game announcement from the last Nintendo Direct in November, amusingly enough.

Basically, Pokémon has devolved (in a series supposedly about evolution) into a series that uses manipulative revenue models to restrict great gameplay, all while preying on children. It sucks, and maybe it's the cost of not having a mainline game in the series this year. The Pokémon Company needs to leverage its brand for SOMETHING that will constantly be money-making, since it's specifically dedicated to just one franchise compared to other companies that have multiple levers to play with.

So hey, let's have games that would be over pretty fast if people could play them whenever they want. That means we don't have to work that much on content if people access it really slowly! Or pay to proceed. Or pay to access the content.

Yet one Pokémon game stands to defend the old way of gaming. One game... comes to the rescue.

Friends to the Rescue! No, not the show.

Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon.

Ludwig's Pokémon Fate Finally Lacks Shells

By LUDWIG VON KOOPA - Just started and bought Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon! Might be as far as I get.

Once upon a time, there was a game series called Pokémon Mystery Dungeon. It was on the Game Boy Advance as Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team and it was amazing. You became a Pokémon and had a partner. The Pokémon you had was based on a personality test. Back in Red Rescue Team I was Treecko, and my partner was Squirtle. My team was Team TeamKoopa... 'cause I didn't know they'd prefix "Team" to the name you picked.

Then there was the sequel! Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time was what I got, and I was destined for Turtwig! My partner? Once again, Squirtle! We had some amazing shell-shocking action, and my team was Team TeamKoopaRedux. (This time the redundancy was an intentional tribute.)

After that, there was Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity, generously gifted to me by a fantastic KoopaTV reader for my birthday. The same fantastic person who is sponsoring November-December's KoopaTV Loyalty Rewards Program prizes of a $30, $15, and $5 Amazon codes! (And anyone, including you, can and should try to win those. Start by reading that page to figure out how.) I wouldn't have gotten it myself, since I've heard some bad things about it. Those bad things were... more or less right. 

There was no fate, destiny, or personality test. You just got to choose between five Pokémon (instead of having, like, nearly 20 possibilities from the previous titles): Axew, Pikachu, Snivy, Oshawott, and Tepig. I chose Axew as my character and Oshawott as my partner. We were known as "The KoopaTV" in the game, which gave many opportunities for screenshots. Except the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity Miiverse community doesn't allow for screenshots. There were no opportunities for anyone with a shell in Gates to Infinity. There was a very lacking selection of Pokémon in general, while its prequels and sequel have every known Pokémon in them. Let's pretend it never happened.

Fortunately, Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon's does have a personality quiz! And so, you may be wondering... who am I there?

Watch Fugitive Wendy O. Koopa's Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX Stream

By LUDWIG VON KOOPA - Arguably deserved for killing her Geodude. (And unaffiliated Tauros.)

Tonight Wendy O. Koopa returned to her streaming fun, with Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX. It's a game we all endorse at KoopaTV, especially if you haven't played the original Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team or Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team. (Though she has played the original.)

Tonight she climbed through Great Canyon, fled through Lapis Cave, and attempted to climb Mt. Blaze, as an Eevee named Chika with a Chikorita at her side. ...Strange naming, but...

The channel is intended for mature audiences 'cause she swears a lot. It's fine. I watched through it and chatted!

Watch So I'm just going to blow up. :)))) from Capt_Murasa on www.twitch.tv

Good call back to the Alberta fires that Koopa Kingdom was responsible for.

Wendy notes that Chikorita's tickles would be far more effective if she used her leaf and not her... head?

Ludwig by-lined this because he wrote this little write-up while Wendy is playing, but obviously the content is Wendy's work! As of publishing this, she's struggling to even reach Moltres. Will she be able to beat it? She thinks she's “so screwed. So screwed!” ...And if she manages to beat Moltres... can she beat Articuno, too?

Out-of-Place In-Game DLC Advertisements

By LUDWIG VON KOOPA - Very transparent grabs at your money that come off as odd.

Ever play a recent videogame that has downloadable content (DLC) and just feel like it's...really pushing you to buy it? Something seems really different about the part of the game where the DLC store or content lies, like you're in another realm and it breaks your suspension of disbelief. And in some games, like Fire Emblem: Awakening, it really IS just a warp to another realm just sitting in plain sight.

Um... not really. Perhaps the YoshiRider123 that used to be our friend swapped places with this jerk robot Chrom guy through the Outrealm Gate?

 
We generally don't like this corporate money-snatching intrusion into our in-game world, but that doesn't necessarily mean we want it in our menus. After all, that can go horribly, horribly wrong just as much, if not worse. Let's discuss.

No Sword/Shield National Dex: What About The Spin-offs?

By LUDWIG VON KOOPA - Plus, a... poem of sorts at the end.

While I think the vapourware state of Town is the current biggest controversy regarding GAME FREAK at the moment, literally no one else cares about Town. In fact, you most likely disagree with me and think GAME FREAK's biggest controversy is the lack of a National Dex (more like an International Dex) in Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield. While I think Rotom becoming a smartphone is the biggest culprit in why there will not be a comprehensive Pokémon registry, most people seem to blame GAME FREAK being an incompetent development team and Junichi Masuda personally. ...And as someone who equates Masuda as the Pokémon version of Shigeru Miyamoto (that's a bad thing), I'm not going to try to defend GAME FREAK or Masuda.

Since I have nothing outrageous to add about GAME FREAK being bad at planning or lazy or that they shouldn't have announced Pokémon Home until after Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield released (because who is going to pay interest to the Nosepass running Pokémon Bank now?), my main concern isn't actually the Pokémon not being in the Galar National Dex. It's the increased chance of deleterious effects it may have on downstream spin-offs.

If a Pokémon won't even be programmed into the flagship Generation 8 game—keep in mind that previous games don't let you catch every Pokémon in-game but they're still in the code—what chance do they have of being in spin-offs based on Generation 8? Quite low.

Meet Team Skull in Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon!

By LUDWIG VON KOOPA - I already met them in Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time/Darkness/Sky.

We just talked about new Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon news ten days ago. ...So? It's not enough! More news dumps means more articles on those news dumps, and I'm happy to oblige because the November-bound Pokémon Sun/Moon are among the top three games KoopaTV is anticipating that'll be released in 2016. (The other two are Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney — Spirit of Justice in September, and Paper Mario: Color Splash in October.)

For a summary of the news dump, Nintendo of all companies put together a press release. And, naturally, we'll embed the video version of the release right here:

That thumbnail has a lot of action going on, so let's break it down. And by let's, I mean me.

KoopaTV's Nintendo Direct MICRO June 1 2015 Live Reactions

By LUDWIG VON KOOPA - Micro Direct gets a micro log in preparation for... E3.

Apparently Nintendo of America is bored and created a Nintendo Direct as an afterthought. So it's a "mini" one. Well, okay, we'll react to it. They just put it on their YouTube channel but we still watched it together!

I'm Nintendork 13 13, and RawkHawk2010 is RawkHawk2010. Watch the video here and read our reactions too!

 ...Warning: The Direct may become disturbing at times.

Mostly related to weird stuff Bill Trinen does.

It's Time For Adventure, Diamond and Pearl!

By LUDWIG VON KOOPA - Before it inevitably happens, let's establish some criteria.

Two days ago on April 22nd, 2017, Pokémon Diamond Version and Pokémon Pearl Version (weird to think that “version” is technically a part of the name) had their tenth anniversary in North America! While I normally don't care about anniversaries, I know you guys do. Plus, KoopaTV's staff are made up of a bunch of Sinnoh supremacists, so hey, might as well take the opportunity to talk.

The Sinnoh-related thing on every Pokémon fan's mind is that we're supposed to be getting Sinnoh remakes soon. Just three years ago at around this time of year, The Pokémon Company International announced Pokémon Omega Ruby and Pokémon Alpha Sapphire to everyone's acclaim except my own. (That was eleven years after Pokémon Ruby Version and Pokémon Sapphire Version were released.) There's a pattern of new generation, third version (or sequels, if you're really tricky), and remake of two–three generations prior (Generation 5 ended too quickly to have the Generation 3 remake). We just began Generation 7 last year when Pokémon Sun Version and Pokémon Moon Version released, and Pokémon is arguably an annual release. What will happen this year?

Plus, there's this new Pokémon movie with Marshadow in it that is a throwback to Ash's original Kanto adventures, but there is a girl with a PIPLUP and a guy with a LUCARIO in it for some reason... Hm... What could they POSSIBLY be doing there...? A promotion of things to come?

[There used to be an embedded video of the trailer here, but SOME companies don't want us to promote their promotion.]

Personally, the Sinnoh-related thing that's also still on my mind are all of the Super Contest references in KoopaTV's videogame, The Wonderful 1237, so I'll start off by talking about that and then move to a variety of other concerns.

Consider Enrolling in the Big Brain Academy!

By LUDWIG VON KOOPA - Tuition-free, so it satisfies Bernie Sanders. There's a mandatory student activities fee of $6.99, though.

Today's Wii U Virtual Console releases include the Nintendo DS Touch Generations title Big Brain Academy. Not everyone is enthusiastic about it.

...In fact, only one guy is. (No, it wasn't free in Europe.)

People point to other countries' Virtual Console services. Yes, Europe just got Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team and Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team on the Wii U Virtual Console this week. Amazing games — the first ones in the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series — and if you live in Europe, own a Wii U, and have never played either before, you really need to pick one of them up.

However, Big Brain Academy is still pretty good, and a lot better than some of what the DS Virtual Console has gotten before. I know. I own it on the DS. It's really fun. The title music even got remixed for Super Smash Bros. Brawl, and brought back for Super Smash Bros. For Wii U.

Nintendo New Year's Digital Sale 2019 — Actually Worthwhile Sale

By LUDWIG VON KOOPA - The tagline is FAKE NEWS, though.

If it feels like I just wrote an article about a Nintendo eShop-based sale, it's because I did — the CAPCOM Winter Sale 2018 that lasted from December 17, 2018 to January 2, 2019. Immediately coming to replace it on January 3, 2019 and lasting until noon on January 10, 2019 (also known as very soon since we've had other important articles to publish since then) is the Nintendo New Year's Digital Sale of 2019. Like CAPCOM's sale, it's actually extraordinary in its scope and quality, and also notably features the one snub from CAPCOM's sale. That's right... Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy is on sale right now for Nintendo 3DS, quieting thoughts that the Trilogy's soon-to-be release on the Nintendo Switch would result in its 3DS incarnation not being discounted.

The sale features fantastic games and a game I'll buy.

First of all, Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy is 60% off. The tagline from Nintendo is “Save up to 30% on select digital titles that are sure to brighten up your New Year.” The idea that Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy would not brighten someone's New Year is preposterous. It's the one game I'd most recommend someone with a 3DS purchase.

And you should get up-to-speed with it quickly, because tomorrow's article is going to be Ace Attorney-related with content from the third game in Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy. (It's a trilogy because it has three games in one. And these are each lengthy titles. EXCEPTIONAL DEAL.)

Pokémon HOME NOW Links to Pokémon Legend Arceus, Brilliant Diamond, and “Shinning Pearl”

By LUDWIG VON KOOPA - I'm arguably a fake Pokémon fan (lol), but I can at least point out typos no one else will.

After The Pokémon Company International announced last week that players will “soon” be able to link Pokémon HOME (their cross-platform cloud subscription service that allows for transferring Pokémon across games and generations) with Pokémon Legends: Arceus, Pokémon Brilliant Diamond, and Pokémon Shining Pearl, they surpassed people's patience expectations by making that available... as of publishing. (Not counting people's expectations this should've been done right at those games’ launches.) Version 2.0.0!

That means that you can transfer Pokémon from Shining Pearl, Brilliant Diamond, Sword, and/or Shield to Pokémon HOME... and then trade them to any of those, or to Pokémon Legends: Arceus. If they go there (back in time), they'll be put into a Strange Ball, which is this minty colour Poké Ball. Pokémon from Pokémon Legends: Arceus can also go to any of those games too (and may also appear in Strange Balls... when transferred to a Galar game, it's a normal Poké Ball)—though it won't work out if they're exclusive to Pokémon Legends: Arceus or not in a game's Pokédex. Pokémon moves and levels may also be changed... They aren't deleted though; if you put a Pokémon in, move it somewhere, and move it back to where it was, it can still have its original info (including moves, ball, and Alpha status).

Spinda cannot be transferred to/from Pokémon Shining Pearl or Pokémon Brilliant Diamond to Pokémon HOME.

16 and 32-bit: The Best Graphics

By LUDWIG VON KOOPA - Honestly not just nostalgia.

I fondly remember the days of sprite comics back on the Nintendo NSider Forums. But that's not the real reason why I find the SNES and GBA graphics (and some DS spritework too) to be the best graphics videogames have to offer. ...I don't really know how to explain it, but it's what's in-between the pixelated blocky crap that indies relish in these days, blocky polygonal crap that no one really likes, and the hyperrealism of today's games that keeps getting only marginally better with every new hardware generation. Here we had STYLE. Artistic FLAIR. And you didn't have to worry about clipping or anything that polygon models suffer for today. So below I'm going to provide some comparison screenshots to support my assertions: A lot of games from yesteryear look better than their predecessors and their successors.

KoopaTV's January 2020 Review Newsletter

By LUDWIG VON KOOPA - I've surprisingly been very good about writing that it's 2020.

Look at me, crowing about 2020. It's already February...3rd! (2020.) Well, it can't be a newsletter reviewing January 2020 without January 2020 actually passing by first. KoopaTV waits for things to end and then reminisces. That's why we have our Game of THAT Year Awards in January, as opposed to some other places, which pretend the year ends in November so they can reminisce in December. Nuh uh. No way. At KoopaTV, we do it correctly. That's our guarantee to you.

You can see that work ethic exhibited in our articles and content from January 2020. Just have a gander throughout this newsletter:

KoopaTV's Top Five Recommended Experiences of January 2020

KoopaTV is all about the premium (at the cost of nothing to you—no money, no personal data handed over... just your time) content, so here's five of the recommended experiences from January 2020, in chronological order. ...If something isn't here, it's still worth it.

1. Pokémon Sword/Shield Expansion Pass: GAME FREAK's Scumbaggery — Ludwig believes that the Expansion Pass for Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield combines every anti-consumer practice out there for this kind of content. Read his persuasive argument!
2. Impressions on the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX Announcement and Demo — But on a much more positive Pokémon note, he endorses the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX demo, and suggests you try it out.
3. Learn in 7 Seconds Why Byleth Isn't An Interesting Choice in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate — Ludwig, on behalf of all of the Koopalings (and Bowser Jr.) explains why Byleth isn't interesting and is inherently contradictory. It's an issue that's very personal to him.
4. I Brought A Drednaw Plushie To My Dentist Appointment — Writing of what's personal to him, Ludwig tells the story of his dentist appointment in January, and what reactions he received to bringing a Drednaw plushie there. (Photo included.)
5. Ring Fit Adventure Fitness Log Week 11: Three Sucky Friends at the Valley of Wishes — Ludwig finds the storyline of the 11th world in Ring Fit Adventure to be fairly engaging, so he wants to share that with you in his fitness log series.

KoopaTV's 2015 GOTY Nominations!

By LUDWIG VON KOOPA - And other categories.

These were decided and talked about in our [Koopa Keep] AOL Instant Messenger Blast. Behold!

The déjà vu from years past is intentional. (To be eligible, those running have to start their existence in America from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2015.)

And just so you remember, that stands for "Game of THAT Year". That's the KoopaTV touch.

There is no “Worst KoopaTV Comment” of 2015 because, uh, y'all were actually good this year. I think the KoopaTV Loyalty Rewards Program got most people to want to comment non-anonymously, which resulted in people not commenting total trash because they would be putting their name to it. OR after being around for so long, everyone who hates us has us blocked already. We may be one of the most blocked websites on the Internet, then!

But yeah, this isn't just about gaming, but also ourselves. 'cause we're art to be recognised and applauded, too.

KoopaTV.org's Game of THAT Year 2015!
Nominations! And other categories!

The KoopaTV Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Report

By LUDWIG VON KOOPA - Will be updated all the time. Not just once a year!

Dear readers, players, fans, trolls: Welcome to KoopaTV's Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability Report. We at KoopaTV's staff are strongly supportive of doing good in our world and yours.

We've also been reading what the consultants are saying. People, especially younger people (Millennials) in our target demographic, want to be part of something greater than themselves. A community. That goes for both customer and potential future staffers. To that end, and without sacrificing or selling out our principles in any way, we're publishing this always-active Corporate Social Responsibility report. This will look at our activities from a variety of perspectives, demonstrated by the headings.

In fact, we'll have a table of contents:

KoopaTV's Social and Societal Contributions

Disaster Relief in Sierra Leone

Accessibility Activism

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Free Rescues

KoopaTV Promotes Literacy and Self-Worth Across Koopa Kingdom

KoopaTV's Environmental and Sustainability Contributions

Pokémon Sun/Moon: Rotom's Recharged Resurgence

By LUDWIG VON KOOPA - Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon news of June 2nd. Features devouring.

As promised, The Pokémon Company has some Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon news for us this Thursday morning, localised world-wide.

Meet Solgaleo and Lunala. They're the cover legendaries. Solgaleo is Psychic/Steel, and Lunala is Psychic/Ghost. (Those type combinations are...unexpected for both. That said, Game Freak knows what they're doing more than you do, so stop condemning them this early.) The Sunne Pokémon and the Moone Pokémon.

Last time I checked, the species names were supposed to be actual words. For example, Xerneas is the Life Pokémon.

Solgaleo apparently “devours the sun” (sounds world-ending) and has “a new Ability that no previous Pokémon has had.” It's “Full Metal Body”, which does the exact same thing as Clear Body. Basically, it's a furry Metagross with a new move, Sunsteel Strike.

Lunala merely “calls the moon” as opposed to eating it like its counterpart, despite the moon being made of an actual food (cheese). Lunala's Moongeist Beam attack disregards enemy Pokémon's abilities (Shedinja destroyer, along with Sturdy) while its own ability is Shadow Shield, also described as “a new Ability that no previous Pokémon has had.” It's just Multiscale.

Anyway, just check out the “Explore the Alola Region in Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon!” video:

...Yeah, there's stuff here that needs more explanation.

Not a Dream: Link's Awakening (Switch) and Nintendo Switch Lite Out

By LUDWIG VON KOOPA - I wouldn't mind if it was a dream, though.

My first look and thoughts article on the Nintendo Switch Lite, out in stores today in Yellow, Grey, and Turquoise, is still my current impression. It's clearly not for me, so I don't care about it. I think it's obviously inferior to the normal Nintendo Switch (with new battery). The only personal benefit to me is that it's most likely responsible for the destruction of the Nintendo Labo, which has been a KoopaTV goal for a long time now. Of course, if after I publish this article there's a fifth Labo kit, then that benefit won't apply.

Meanwhile, the The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening remake is also releasing on the Nintendo Switch today—and it supports handheld mode, so you can play it on the Nintendo Switch Lite. It better support handheld mode, because it was originally a Game Boy title. Then it was a Game Boy Color title in the form of The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening DX. That's how I played and beat the game—though in a non-handheld form, by using my GameCube's Game Boy Player. I think I played it in the early 2010s, sometime between 2010 and 2012.

My impression of Link's Awakening is that it was nothing special. Nintendo's press release deems it “one of the most beloved games in the Legend of Zelda series” and I don't know how anyone can really have that opinion. It's an average game in an above-average franchise. I think one of the issues is that it lacks a gameplay-defining gimmick, unlike most other The Legend of Zelda games with their oceans, time travel, season-changing, Kinstones, or whatever. All The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening has are those secret seashells (which I didn't know were optional when I was playing the game, and trying to get all of those without a guide or a way to keep track of where you found them already is horrible game design) and a bunch of cameos from other game franchises, since it's all a dream.

SECRET SEASHELLS ARE AN OPTIONAL SIDE QUEST.

The Switch remake does include some differences, mostly quality-of-life changes to the controls. Instead of only having two face buttons on the Game Boy, Link will always have his Sword, Shield, Pegasus Boots, and Power Bracelet equipped, plus two more items set to X and Y. The in-game map has also gotten an overhaul. There's also a Chamber Dungeon where you can build your own dungeon, room-by-room, and get some chambers with amiibo or collecting them in-game. ...No one cares about that, though.

The Nintendo Switch Lite is $200, while The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening is $60. You can also buy The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening DX ported to the Nintendo 3DS for $6. Just figured you'd want to know you can save $54 on the game if you want to save $100 on a console.


Ludwig's immediate attention is on tomorrow's Super Smash Bros. Ultimate North America Online Open September 2019, so... whatever, give your thoughts on the Switch Lite (again?) and on The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening DX. In terms of portable The Legend of Zelda games, he'd rather endorse Oracle of Seasons, Oracle of Ages, and The Minish Cap.


The Nintendo Switch Lite and Link's Awakening are being purchased together, frequently.
While Ludwig was mean to Link's Awakening, will he be consistent and therefore mean to Pokémon Mystery Dungeon for having the exact same buffs that Link's Awakening's remake brought?