Cable 2.0, Grammy snoozefest and electric corgis
Issue #4
Welcome to the Lazy Desperado newsletter! This time I’ll cover the streaming wars after the release of Disney+, the mediocre Grammy nominees and Pokemon: Shield impressions. Well-rounded and info-driven drama and thoughts up ahead, so jump in.
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Streaming Wars IV: No Hope
Disney launched their long-awaited streaming service, Disney+. Even though they had a few hiccups (anyone missing any credit card info? Can you even log in? How many Simpsons visual gags have fans been missing?) the streaming service is off to a strong start with critics praising “The Mandalorian” and the beefy selection of good (and really, really bad) movies and TV shows from decades past.
To some of the general public, this is just ANOTHER streaming service to throw money at. Yes, the Marvel series and movies seem worth it for $6.99/month but that would be on top of Hulu, Amazon or a dozen other services available. It’s almost like cable had a cool twin but they’re less committal to plans and always ask for your money before you can hang out.
Here’s a guide I made for anyone overwhelmed with the streaming landscape. With HBO Max coming soon, it’s time to either cut the fat from your subscriptions or find alternative ways to gain access. Read on:
Pokemon Shield Review: simple yet satisfying
I’ll admit, I haven’t been this excited about “Pokemon” since “X” and “Y’ came out and I was fortunate enough to get my own 3DS for Christmas and play it after skipping multiple entries due to only ever owning a Game Boy Color. I’m pretty sure the last one I played before that was “Leaf Green” on a Game Boy Advance emulator on my laptop when I was a sophomore in high school.
“Sword” and “Shield," the first console entries for the main “Pokemon" series, take a lot of what makes the series fun (basic Japanese RPG combat, challenging battles, a variety of monsters to catch, cuteness) and played with the formula a little. There are Wild Areas that function like open area sandboxes, straying from the usual routes to cities within the game. If you want to you can fight (and probably lose) to an Onix in the first hour if you desire. Wild Areas are distinct enough for players to remember each location visually, and pokemon walking around are well-animated and will chase you if you’re not careful.
Dynamax Pokemon (or as I like to refer to them, Big Ass Pokemon) can be used during raids and trainer battles, literally turning the pokemon into a kaiju with earth-shattering moves. It’s a fun concept, but personally seems like a step down from previous additions like Z-Moves and mega evolutions, which are both absent from the game.
Given that the Dynamaxing is a gimmick in the same fashion as the previously mentioned features, it does it’s job. It doesn’t rule the game, but it adds a strategy-based aspect to battles. It’s a cool addition, but personally I am not entirely impressed and would not call it a highlight of the series.
The pure spirit of the series is still present throughout. Pokemon make all of their digital grumbles and the sound of a super effective move never gets any less satisfying. Gym battles are still epic and have a sense of accomplishment when you beat them, earn a badge and get to catch higher level monsters.
Side tasks, such as cooking in the Pokemon Camp where you can also see Pokemon interact with each other, breeding Pokemon, battling other trainers and, of course, trying to catch every single Pokemon (available) are great diversions from constant battling and catching.. Pokemon battles along your journey are just as quirky as usual, with NPCs giving off positive, friendly vibes while trying to kick your ass in an monster fight.
Players actually have concrete reasons to travel to previous sections to complete Dynamax Raids, which are team battles against big ass pokemon, for experience or to best pokemon they couldn’t catch or beat previously. The game is generally less straightforward, although it is very on the rails with routes directly to each town and stadium. The difference this time is that once you get past the first gym leader or so, it can be a little difficult to keep trudging on with so many side activities and Wild Areas to explore (which is a good thing).
While I do love the variety of pokemon in the game and new additions like the weather system and time-based elements that determine which Pokemon appear as well as the way raids work (you capture the pokemon and get a lot of rewards that allow you to upgrade your pokemon or give them new moves), the game is still too easy. Yes, you can set yourself up for failure by using your level 10 Grookey to fight a level 35 Gyrados, but why? At that point it isn’t difficulty, it’s repetition. If you grind more than the average casual player, you’ll blow through parts of the game while admiring the presentation and yawning at the ease of the battle.
At least the clothing, like hats, coats, sweaters and more, options make your character look stylish while their pokemon mows down a trainer’s entire team with single moves. There are also some really cool references to modern day UK and bigger cities in the area, which is the new Galar region is based upon.
Graphics-wise, “Pokemon” is what it needs to be: vibrant, clean and lively. Since “X” and “Y” the series has had a consistent art style that borrows from the anime while keeping the original art of the older games. Pokemon animations are hit and miss, with some moves receiving full animations while others simply have the pokemon shift from side-to-side. I have seen a ton of frame rate issues on my side when playing online, which is a hassle and has me disconnecting if I’m just trying to catch pokemon.
Is this the best “Pokemon” game? To be determined. Was it ruined or is it less innovative for the series because of the lack of the National Dex? Hell no. Are animations so bad you can’t enjoy the game? Not even a little.
If you enjoy smooth JRPGs with mini games (making curry for your party of pokemon and visiting other camps is about half of what you do in this game and it’s surprisingly deep), a kick-ass soundtrack, a light story, developing your own unique team and putting time into a vibrant world then this entry is worth a shot for your Nintendo Switch. It’s good, solid, addictive fun that only gets more engaging the more you play and discover the unique quirks of every pokemon and trainer.
Lingering thoughts:
Grookey, the grass-type starter, is an amazing main but his teenage phase is terrible.
Yamper, the electric corgi, was the cutest dog pokemon until he evolved, breaking my heart immediately.
Seriously, don’t try to fight those bigger pokemon with a weak team unless you want to laugh at yourself .
The gym structure is much improved with mini games. For instance, the grass gym leader, Milo, has you heard sheep while battling trainers and avoiding Yampers while the Water Gym Leader Nessa has players complete a puzzle to reach her.
I played the Shield version.
Dynamax battles will never not be hilarious. Big ass pokeballs and big ass pokemon.
Possibly the most boring Grammys of ALL TIME, if they weren’t all irrelevant
The Grammy Award nominations came out earlier this week and boy are they a snooze.
As someone who tries to keep up with the music industry and new artists bubbling to the surface, not only did the Grammys disappoint but they did so predictably. Everyone expected to be nominated for big awards for not very innovative or progressive music (Lizzo, Post Malone, Taylor Swift) are nominated for the main categories as usual, but the rap category is somehow worse.
Rap Album of the Year nominees were clearly chosen by people who do not listen to hip-hop avidly, opting for big name compilations and a non-rap album for the category. Take a look:
Not only did some albums get straight up snubbed (I could make an argument for Maxo Kream, Injury Reserve, Young Thug and Megan Thee Stallion) but the ones present aren’t exactly worthy of being the album of the year. ROTD 3 is great, but disjointed and weak in the middle. Igor isn’t rap, although it’s amazing. Championships arguably deserves to be there, although it’s more of a politics based move. YBN Cordae is Will Smith with curse words. The 21 Savage album was a turning point for the artist but not a stunning album overall.
All of this to say, the Grammys don’t dictate what music deserves the love it gets, but the award does a lot for the artist afterwards. It’s a crap shoot every year, and the less attention their lack of correct recognition for the industry gets the faster we can make them irrelevant. It’s time hip-hop disconnects itself from the Grammys. It clearly doesn’t pay attention to the current landscape of rappers and what listeners are in tune with. We have our own spaces like the BET Awards. We don’t need a committee of people who listen to Rap Caviar on Spotify and use that to determine their nominations.
I’m still salty about how Kendrick Lamar got snubbed (TWICE).
Recommendations
Salud Talks is a podcast about the San Antonio area from Salud America!, a local publication in the city that covers Hispanic and Latinx communities. They have a podcast hosted by a good friend and college buddy of mine Josh McCormack and Rick Carrillo. This episode about the company Alamo City Studios and how the make a space for Latinx art.
“Behind the Walls” is an awesome podcast from the Houston Chronicle from investigative reporter Keri Blakinger and Texas prisons union president Lance Lowry, where they speak with inmates, former inmates and more. Personally, I love the intros of the podcast where Blakinger goes into her own experience as an ex-con, which she embraces confidently and honestly.
This episode is about the possible fate of a member of the Texas 7, who devised and escape plan that went wrong. Blakinger interviews one of the members of the 7, Patrick Murphy, who is on death row.
Roundup 11/22/19
Here’s some new music from this week including songs from the much anticipated mixtape from Kenny Beats and 03 Greedo as well as a new album from YNW Melly. Note: Melly and Greedo are both currently locked up and still released these albums.
Thanks for reading this issue. As always, find me on Twitter @ChevallP, and if you have any comments or content to submit contact me through that platform or through the newsletter. Have a great weekend!