Faults in My Stars

(Source: Photo by EvgeniT via Pixabay)

Let's clear up something before any expectations enter the chat. ✋🏻😅

No, this isn't a review or retrospective of anything, including The Fault in Our Stars. I heard great things about the 2012 hit novel by John Green, which was later adapted into a feature film more than a decade ago. But I haven't read or seen both. The young adult genre has never been my cup of tea, even if the offered brew comes with the finest quality. 🍵🤷🏻‍♂️

Likewise, this piece won't be about how the novel came under scrutiny for being banned from libraries. Why did that happen anyway? Unreasonable censorship is not something I'd personally condone. Of course, I'm also not credible or knowledgeable in the matter to say more about such a serious incident. 🤫🤐

Instead, allow me to focus on the origin of the title. Sources stated that Green found the inspiration from William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar. To be specific, it came from these lines, spoken by Cassius, 

"Men at some time were masters of their fates. 

The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, 

But in ourselves, that we are underlings."

The plural word "stars" uniquely carried the weight there. People in ancient times believed the celestial bodies controlled their lives. Not just the Romans, as the play's setting naturally would be, but it went much further to the Egyptians. Nope, even as early as the Babylonian era! The Chinese civilization also had its own ways for deciphering the stars. How cool was that! 💫🤯

A Greek astronomer, Hipparchus—the father of Trigonometry— received credit for being the pioneer in creating star catalogues and maps. Ptolemy later expanded and perfected the mapping. He pretty much popularized the system into those familiar names we all now know and, perhaps even, love: 

The Western Astrology, or as the Greeks would call it, the Zodiac. 🌟

So yeah, this piece is about star signs, or at least my personal take on the matter. Don't worry! I'm equally not an expert in these extragalactic entities. Maybe it's just a calculated curiosity that has inflated into astronomical proportions? Hahaha 😁

Here Comes the Sun

I've known about the Zodiacs, or their more popular name, Horoscopes, for as long as I could remember. My memory might be fuzzy about who shared it with me first (sorry, I'm not a genius who can remember events in my toddler days). But I can say for sure, from very early on, I was already aware of my star sign name because of the month I was born. 🤔👨‍👩‍👦‍👦

The advent of iconic 90s manga-to-anime series, like Saint Seiya and Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon, made the zodiacs even more exciting. It most certainly helped boost my fascination with Greek Mythology, and astronomy to a lesser extent. Of course, the trend has existed far beyond Japanese entertainment in the first place. Magazines and tabloids would almost always include the Horoscope readings for the day. Among my elementary to high school classmates, especially the girls, the topic often came up. 📺📚

On the other hand, Astrology doesn't necessarily have an all-around positive connotation, either. Several religions, which I won't explain in detail, explicitly call it demonic or downright heresy. They have their astute arguments, which I'm not here to agree or disagree with. But yes, that's a repeated reminder of my life, too! "What are you doing? Reading up Horoscopes is a sin," is a statement I often heard from others around me. 👿🤪

Personally, sheer logic has always shaped my opinion. My inner query has always centered around, "There's no way we can generalise people based on their star signs." I mean, claiming that a Pisces drifts away this way, while a Taurus stubbornly charges forward that way? That feels too specific and hard to believe. 😅

Ironically enough, over time, the emerging power of curiosity and observation started to seep in and sway that logic. In what way? Well, because I'm literally surrounded by people who share a specific star sign. Thus, as I paid extra attention to their behaviors, a pattern emerged. 👀😮

That's when an internal rebuttal ascended, "My, oh my, they do behave so much alike, don't they?" I then took another step and examined other people whom I know were born in the same zodiac window as mine. The result? "We're too much alike!" No wonder I can relate to them, or we get along so well! Bizarre, eh? 😲💭 

Once in a Blue Moon

Halfway through last year, a lethargic day overtaken by procrastination eventually spiraled me into a new interstellar territory. The exploration of the Natal Chart! What is a natal chart or a Birth Chart? 🌏🌃

"A natal chart (a.k.a. birth chart) is an astronomical snapshot of the stars based on the exact day, time, and place you were born."

To be fair, I HAD heard or read the mentions of Aries Sun, Leo Moon, and/or Sagittarius Rising in various media before. But honestly, I never knew or, to be fair, even bothered about what they meant. I wasn't THAT interested in digging up more info about them either. Somehow, a casual let 's-kill-some-time chat with ChatGPT ended up expanding my horizon on how my star sign is more complex than I thought. 🤔💡

Based on my natal chart, my star sign isn't just a single, generalised zodiac after all. That's only the Sun, or the dominant part. Other star signs can appear on the Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, and more, on the day I was born. Each one supposedly represents a different facet, respectively, Moods/Emotions, Communication/Thought, Love/Pleasure, Sex/Aggression, and so on. 😶

Let's use an example, if that sounds too complex. Say, a lady — not based on anyone, just make-believe — was born on July 8, 1988, at 08:08 in London, United Kingdom. In general, she would be identified as a Cancer star sign, which spans from June 21 to July 22. However, this is the result from Google Gemini when I asked it to describe the lady's natal chart in detail:

Sun in Cancer: At her core, she is deeply intuitive, protective, and emotionally driven. Her identity is tied to creating a sense of emotional security, home, and belonging.

Moon in Taurus: The Moon is exalted in Taurus, making this an incredibly stable emotional placement. While her Cancer Sun feels things deeply, her Taurus Moon ensures she processes emotions with immense resilience, grounding, and a need for physical comfort and predictability.

Ascendant (Rising) in Leo: Her outward persona is vibrant, creative, and warm. She projects confidence and a regal, expressive energy to the world, which beautifully balances her private, sensitive Cancer Sun.     

That's only the core big three, as her other planetary placements share distinct details. Furthermore, the Astrological Houses define her specific traits even more. It all leads up to this surprising summary:

This chart weaves a beautiful paradox. She is an intensely private, sensitive soul (Sun/Mercury in the 12th) who possesses a radiant, expressive outer shell (Leo Rising). Supported by a rock-solid, grounded emotional nature (Taurus Moon) and an independent fire to create and achieve (Mars in Aries), she has the perfect astrological blueprint for turning deep, intuitive insights into tangible, creative mastery.

My reaction? Mindblown! Hahaha! 🤯😃

At the very least, the detailed reading pretty much breaks the generalised perception that all Cancers are the same. The most common trope of a Cancer female is the highly sensitive mother-figure who may retreat into her shell when things go sideways. It's much like its designated Zodiac, or animal statue, the Crab, that symbolizes the sign (a fascinatingly fitting choice on its own, I must add, but that's a different discussion). However, the 1988 lady in the example is very much different than that, right? 😏

Is she sensitive? Yes. But expressive and grounded? Also, yes! The lady isn't a fragile Crab as people may assume on first glance. She's a deeply intuitive individual who's equally bold enough to stand her ground. 😮👍🏻

Simply put, that discovery became a project that lasted many days. I began exploring the possible readings of some people I know. My thinking was, "Maybe I can learn and understand them more!" What began as something to fill the boredom turned into a truly thrilling side quest. Heck, you might even remember how I included an exploration of the Libra sign in my essay last year. 🤭

Well, until something transpired a few months ago. 🛑

   

A Fascination Rising

Have you been seeing those intriguing, or maybe annoying, ads on YouTube (or social media) that confidently brag about "Sketch and Discover Your Soulmate"? It was so rampant on my phone that on one cloudy, clinic-prescribed medicine-induced daze, I got super curious and tried it. Hey, it doesn't cost much. And I could cancel right away if I don't like it. No harm, no foul! 🤒🤷🏻‍♂️

It turns out the ads directed me to a spiritual app called Nebula App. The service (one of many, it turns out?!) features various psychics or supernatural advisors, with varying ratings based on their past work. Users can consult them about romance, career, and other things. For an extra price, that is. A deeper analysis and longer chat will be dangerously costly, that's for sure. 👀💸

Many of them are South Asians, by the way. Not that I'm surprised, since spirituality is a strong part of the region's culture. 🤔

Anyway, the soulmate sketch didn't use that, thankfully enough. After supplying data, I waited for the result. Much to my astounded amusement, the hand-drawn image was a startling, specific person. It was A COMPLETELY RANDOM UNKNOWN FACE who I do NOT know, I have NOT seen anywhere, and highly likely will NEVER meet considering the regional improbability! 🤣🤦🏻‍♂️

That really made my day as I hadn't had a good laugh for quite a while. But hey, laughter is the best medicine! Come to think of it, the very likely AI-rendered result was on par with the waves of the clearly AI-created ads. So, I shouldn't have expected more. 😝

Still, as I said earlier, I'm not here to review anything. And that applies to Nebula, too. If the app works for other users, then I'm happy for them. Some people, as in the experts in the app, have special gifts that enable them to read more between the lines. Maybe people do find enlightenment or guidance through their help. The app is most DEFINITELY not for me, though. It only lasted a few days on my phone. 👋🏻😌

Nevertheless, there was one thing that I benefited from that short-lived stunt (so short I doubted I could write it into a Fool's Errands piece). The app surprised me by pointing out a glaring inconsistency: ChatGPT's reading from several months before was far from accurate! ❌😒

The planetary placements in Nebula's natal chart were completely different. And by different, I learned ChatGPT's version was astronomically IMPOSSIBLE to be the celestial chart of my birthdate and location. There are actual scientific records of that! Unless I was born in an alternate universe with a warped space, I suppose? 🤨

For the sake of privacy and mystery, particularly from a jury of irony, I'm not going to share what the star signs are. Let's simply say that ChatGPT's claim of my Moon alone was FIVE SIGNS and SEVEN MONTHS off from the actual one. Hahahaha. 🤣

Basically, our good ol' ChatGPT hallucinated, and I fell for its words for months. Remember, folks! AI CAN make mistakes. So, don't go believing their outputs too easily without cross-checking them first, okay? Just a public service announcement for your sanity. ✋🏻😤

With new information on hand, I embarked on a clarification process. ChatGPT's (wrong) description narrated many traits that I have, even if some felt off, and eyebrows were raised (which makes sense, now, eh?). But when the seed of doubts is bigger, it's better to question more. 🤔

I asked my South American friend, who has more knowledge and experience with celestial objects and cosmic events. What does this new Moon mean for me, especially in relation to my primary Sun? His answer, revolving around potential connections, was intriguing, to say the least. 😲

   

Henceforth, I decided to recheck the reading of my natal chart. This time around, I used the aid of Cafe Astrology instead of deploying AI services. For the sake of transparency, I can confirm Google Gemini and Claude AI's star mapping results were totally in line with the Nebula app. 😅

That was when I had a second mindblown moment. Cafe Astrology generated a thorough list (which printed as a 37-page-long PDF, my goodness!) that described my traits and quirks. If you've ever read something and suddenly felt, "This piece is eerily talking about me," then you can imagine my response. 😳😨

My new natal chart reading pretty much listed my tendencies, including the dark and unpleasant sides, as the impact of the star compositions. The more I read it, the more each line caught my eye. Yes, I do this, that, and those acts often. And I emote or withdraw this and that way. It even explains why I'm more interested and invested in international connections over local ones. That's precisely like what Mi Amigo has told me! Kudos to you, my dear friend... 😆👍🏻

Pondering in Retrograde

Has that converted me into a believer in astrology? Well, not exactly. ☺️

The divination aspect to it? It still isn't something my logic-driven brain can adjust, more so naively accept as-is. In this case, it refers to whether the position of planets will affect certain star signs positively or negatively for a period of time. You know, those predictions about our success, health, love life, and the like. 😅

It's ALWAYS a fun piece to read, though. Without a doubt! I'm not going to lie, I enjoy perusing through those articles sometimes. Yet, I rarely (since using the word "never" seems too extreme) necessarily put my faith in them. They still often seem too generalised for my liking. 🙅🏻‍♂️

How can we be sure that every Gemini person will find financial luck on the same day? That's like, I don't know, around 8.33% of the planet? 680 million to 700 million individuals! 😛

In my head, it's usually just a fleeting mindset of, "Oh, this will be cool if it does happen." As an example, a popular website published this part about my star sign for this final week of May:

"Your dreams feel stronger and brighter as you are driven to make them a reality after this weekend." 

See? That WILL be cool IF it happens. But honestly, no fingers crossed right here. Unless a miracle happens out of the blue, my dream may not transpire in seven days. 😉🤷🏻‍♂️

The natal chart, on the other hand? I'm more than inclined to keep an open mind and embrace it for two reasons. Firstly, the reading does not try to forecast or predict the future. We're always the ones holding the wheel towards tomorrow. And while fate exists, I'm doubtful it's set in the stars. Secondly, the chart describes or inspects who we are as a person. Or, at the very least, it helps point out the characteristics that appear or still lie dormant within us. That sounds more like an internal observation and exploration of our existence. 🧍👀

Admittedly, astrology is considered pseudoscience. That's a fact that I won't even try to argue. Regardless, the ancient figures who mapped the stars were people of science. The exploration and expansion of the framework itself has spanned through many moons, if not eons of eclipses. Remember, it all dates back to the 3rd millennium BC. Should we dismiss the work so casually, with our modern metrics, without giving it the benefit of the doubt? 📝⏳🙆🏻‍♂️

Okay, maybe that's a little too grand to think about. Let's think small, then, much smaller. In my opinion —feel free to disagree or laugh about this, though—any means that can help us better understand ourselves is valuable information. As a living being who's constantly growing and evolving, we often can't or haven't fully grasp who we truly are. A few people find that answer fast. Many of us, however, take time, often plenty of years, to get there, and are still figuring it out until our dying breath. 🌞🌚

Even then, there are still mysteries that we won't particularly know. Is our existence as a speck of dust in the universe really without meaning? Or did the stars align during our arrival for a reason? To map a blueprint that makes each dust different from the others. Nobody can answer that precisely, as it's an understanding that exceeds our mortal minds. I do think, however, that there's a reason why every living being, more so humankind, is unique. We're not just cannon fodder that pop up to populate the universe. ✨🧺

Case in point, I resort to punny poetry when I'm down or deserted. Apparently, there's a psychological reason for that. But was that all there is to it? Does everyone practice the same thing like a factory-built robot? Or is it because I was born with that quirk, an expression of my need for personal space and vivid imagination? 😢🎵

Moreover, should we blame the stars for the way we've turned out to be? If that's your thing, then it's your choice. That said, maybe, just maybe, we can try seeing it from a different lens? After all, the natal chart may also work as a step towards acceptance, the opposite of resentment. 🔭😌

We can understand ourselves better the more we know how or why we roll or work through things around us. The stars, through astrology, are one of the many ways (blood types, love languages, Enneagram, MBTI, to name a few) that may provide such insight to self-reflection. Instead of being overly hard when we stumble and fall, it may help us embrace, "That's indeed my trait. So, what constructive action can I take to work around that?" 🤔❣️

If it can guide a discovery of meaning in our lives, then why not? If it can be a catalyst for betterment, to be kinder to ourselves, then why not? If our star-mapped blueprint can help us find or fit into the missing puzzle pieces of other blueprints, then why not? 💭🤍  

To sum up, YES, I hereby acknowledge that there are faults in my stars. Then again, I don't think ill of them anymore, as they made me who I am. An overly curious listener who can be erratically talkative when with the right company! Someone who values harmony but struggles with self-discipline (hence the weeks of vanishing acts). And above all, just an art-loving person who enjoys expressing things through writing. Because, believe it or not, that's, indeed, written in my stars. 🌟😉

(Source: SEGA via NexTone Inc.)

Fool's Errands #006 — Re-Mixed, Re-United, and Re-Done with Yet Another Pass!

*****

This is a non-regular series I dub Fool's Errands. Why? Because it will chronicle, or at least, tell about an act or attempt I have or had taken, could be small or big, that was... well, presumably pointless, unnecessary, or even crazy to some. 😅

It would not always be the case, of course. Maybe it was merely a mundane thing I just never really got around to doing before. My goal is to learn something from it. Whether I intend to continue doing it or not is up for grabs. But, hey, maybe such an action will lead to a fun discovery... 😉

*****

Whoa, it's April 1 already, eh? Oh, wait. That means it's April Fools' Day! 🤡

For that very reason, I said to myself (not out loud, of course 😅) how it would be such a missed opportunity to not post a Fool's Errands post. I already fumbled my window last year. So, it would be foolish of me to repeat the same foolish fumble. Hahaha. 😜

The problem with that inspired goal: What's to write about? I haven't conducted any new experiments since my last one. All I've done is go through the updates and changes in the Pokémon games I've already talked about in this series. 🤔

Hold on, but that's actually a good idea! I can share whether my sentiment towards the three games has changed (or not). So, without further ado, let's explore in reverse chronological order. ⏳📅

(Source: Pokémon UNITE Official on Facebook)

Pokémon UNITE: Bots be Burdensome!

On the eve of Pokémon Day 2026, I published my Fool's Errands about The Pokémon Company's proud, yet problematic MOBA. To refresh memory, I mentioned a newly added feature called Solo Mode. Besides the arrival of an event that granted players Zapdos for free, to be precise. Both brought me into the battlefield of Auroma Park, Shivre City, Theia Sky, and Mer Stadium once again. 🏃🏻🏇🏻

Did the new Solo Mode feature reignite my excitement or reunite my interest with the game in a whole new light? Honestly, yes. INITIALLY, at least. But before I explain that, what is Solo Mode? 😮

From the way I see it, Solo Mode is practically Solo Challenge 2.0. After all, players can no longer access the Solo Challenge battle directly. It has been included inside the Solo Mode map, which consists of 36 stages. Players will start from the intro stage and make their way toward the final checkpoint on the opposite side of the map. Simple as that! 🗾📈

Occasionally, players will encounter a crossroad where they can choose to ignore a path and go straight ahead. But there's a catch. If they really want to obtain the bonus reward, a free License (to choose one of fourteen offered Pokémon)? They must complete EVERY stage and EVERY task required in it. Each stage comes with three tasks/objectives, such as "Knock out 5 opponents" or "Eat 3 Sitrus Berries." When they are cleared, they are marked with a star. ⭐️✨

Solo Challenge isn't the only battle style in the map. Most of the regular and quick battles in different areas are also part of it. Only Auroma Park is confusingly excluded, which is a peculiar decision considering the unique tasks it can offer. Panic Parade is naturally excluded, since it has its own Aeos Shooter system. Meanwhile, the likes of Electrode Volleyball, Charjabug Scuffle, and the infamous Boss Rush made it into the pool. 👀

Infamous, how? Defeating the Bosses themselves is not that challenging. Clearing the three tasks, however? THAT will be a pain through pointless repeats. All over again, the Boss Rush mode—of which there are 3 in the Solo Mode map— will remind players about an ongoing issue of the game. It has annoyingly awful BOTS! 😩

The Boss Rush tasks are super simple, really: landing the last hit on all three bosses in a match. But what happens when the bots mindlessly steal that opportunity from the players? It becomes a nagging issue. Players need to clear all three tasks in consecutive order: Final hit to Boss 1, then Boss 2, and finally Boss 3. If they fail the task on Boss 1? They must start again, even if they clear the next tasks. The game somehow doesn't record each task separately, only when all three are cleared. So, imagine if the bots steal the finishing blow on the second, or worse, the third Boss? 🙄

NOTE: I've been hearing that the Boss Rush tasks have since been updated to no longer require delivering the final hits. I haven't checked it myself. But if this is true, then it's helpful, and you can ignore what I typed above. 😲👍🏻 

Disappointingly, that's not all. The whole ordeal with the bots continues throughout the map. Who else will fill the player's team in a Solo Mode besides bots, right? That's the reason players must spend Aeos Shooter Points to upgrade stats like Attack, Special Defense, and more. The same applies to Held Items. Each upgrade will strengthen the bots to survive the stage and grant an easier victory. 💪🦵

But I digress! Even if players upgrade the Aeos Shooter Points to reach the recommended Combat Points for a certain stage, it doesn't guarantee the bots will perform better and ensure a win. As personally experienced, the bots are still running around like sugar-rushed toddlers in a spacious playground. If players don't keep an eye on them, they will only doom themselves. After all, the opposing team, which also consists of bots, somehow plays like experienced players instead. Solo Mode truly upholds the mentality of "It's a one-man show" in that regard. 🤪🙇🏻😴

I almost forgot! After reaching stage 20, the recommended Combat Points increase significantly per stage. So, players have no choice but to replay previous stages to collect more Aeos Shooter Points. What started as an enjoyable mode suddenly becomes a grindy chore of gathering Aeos Shooter Points, to ensure the bots don't get KO-ed on the spot. Growing pains, eh? 🐌🐢

Credits where it's due, developer TiMi DOES fulfill their promise that there would be more ways to earn License Points besides Battle Passes. Each stage in Solo Mode rewards 100 License Points! Assuming players clear it with THREE STARS, that is. 🤦🏻‍♂️💫

Initially, my friend boldly claimed, "Solo Mode is showering us with License Points." Such a positive sentiment quickly plummeted once the first Boss Rush stage appeared. Even a menial task like "Blocking a goal" can feel impossible to pull off. Moreover, each stage in Hard Mode, which demands an even higher number of Combat Points, only rewards 50 License Points. Shouldn't that be the other way around, by offering a better reward? What's the point of doing them? 😑🤷🏻‍♂️

Oh, and no, replaying the stages does NOT give more License Points. It's a one-and-done deal if players already achieve three stars. On the bright side, the numbering of the stage (1-1 to 1-36) seems to imply the map is not a one-and-done. Maybe there will be an expansion or a new 2nd map in the future? Let's cautiously wait and see. 🤷🏻‍♂️

When this post goes up, it'll be 6 days since I last played UNITE. I've gone into another hiatus after acquiring the free License for Moltres from its limited event on March 26. Luckily, Articuno's event will not debut until April 10. That means I can stay away from the grind for a bit longer. 🥱⛔️

Deep in my heart, I'm also silently hoping the announced Johto starters will NOT be getting free limited events. Because frankly, I'm enjoying my downtime more than the thought of being reunited with the game. Patience is, as always, a virtue in this game. But I think mine got knocked off by a bot, somewhere. 😒🚯 

Pokémon Café ReMix: Time-out to Teatime... 

In the previous Fool's Errands post, I mentioned how Café ReMix "has transformed so much that around half of what I described there has already felt 'outdated.'" To clarify on that statement, the more I thought about it, the game system has remained pretty much the same. The jargon, elements, and even the basics of the Modes/Features I wrote last July still apply. So, while the packaging for the Modes has changed, it doesn't really alter the grindy gameplay. 🤔

This one truly surprised me, by the way. And I'm just going to say it now: it's the least unpleasant update of the three titles I'm writing about here. Maybe not "the best," but it definitely doesn't bother me much. Even when the casual mobile game has disappointed me in one specific way! 👋🏻😥

Last year, I mentioned the Outdoor/Garden Tea Party mode was a personal favorite. It felt slow but entertaining, and somehow engaging to experience. Sadly, as you can deduce from the heading above, the Tea Party is no more. 🙅🏻‍♂️☕️

At first, I assumed Genius Sorority only added the new mode, Café Pop-Up, to diversify the Modes. It turned out that Café Pop-Up has officially replaced the Garden Tea Party, starting September 21, 2025. They devised an in-game excuse that the Café has acquired a Food Truck. So, the players, being the chef, along with Leah, the manager, and the Staff Pokémon, are now taking the vehicle to travel to faraway places and serve new Pokémon there. 🍛🍹

It's an okay twist, but also bizarre and, well, money-oriented. Bizarre because the game just expanded the areas of the Café, only to spend less time in it. Hahaha. With the same excuse, Leah constantly reminds players that, because they cannot bring every ingredient, the Food Truck can only prepare 5 packages of meals per day. It comes in the form of these limited Food Storages, an item that's given for free each time the game undergoes a daily reset. 🥡🍱

Where's the monetizing of that? The limited Food Storage means players can only serve 5 times to the customer each day. That will not reward enough Delicious Level to unlock, more so to recruit the featured Pokémon right away. If players are very eager to do so on the first day, there's a solution: by BUYING AN EXTRA FOOD STORAGE using Golden Acorns. Each one costs 1,000 Acorns. There's also the Mighty Menu option, purchasable with real bucks, that will boost the final score even more. See? Money comes into play. Wohooo! 🤑💸

Silly premise aside, the Food Truck mode initially made it harder to score enough points to recruit the featured Pokémon. Yellow Flower Flabébé, for example. I couldn't recruit her in my new account because I forgot to play for one or two days. 🥺🌼

Fortunately, the developer, much like Pokémon Masters EX's DeNA, monitors feedback. I can't say for sure. But based on the developer message posted with the next update? That drastic change most likely backfired on them. Perhaps it caused the game to lose players? Seriously, even I almost called it quits at the time. 🤦🏻‍♂️🙅🏻‍♂️

That's not the case anymore. The update lowered the required points. And just like that, the game became casually playable again. No more risk of missing out on a featured Pokémon. By logging in daily, players can stack the Food Storages, as they don't expire if not used. With enough patience, players can eventually gather more than enough to recruit the featured Pokémon. 😌🙏🏻

How about Delivery and Decoration? The Delivery system is still a broken Gacha model. Even so, besides sporting a new look, the points now accumulate through every Delivery, making it arguably easier to obtain the featured Pokémon. Decorations are also VERY easy to obtain. I was worried the game might monetize this feature. However, apart from some unnecessary sales that would entice hardcore fans, the decorations are easily obtained through the events. 😁🎏

Of course, the most delightful update is Café ReMix's ongoing franchise 30th Anniversary event. As seen above, the welcome screen featured Eevee, Pikachu, and EVERY starter Pokémon from Gen 1 (Kanto) to 9 (Paldea). That's not a random festive face-value frills! Since Pokémon Day, the game has had log-in bonus (or 30 Year Celebration Stamps) events and Mission Bingos that reward the Starter Pokémon wearing a Commemorative Brooch. Before this, some of them, such as Torchic and Popplio, were only obtainable from Premium Pass! 😱💵

Today, alongside the debut of Meowstic (yes, they've continued adding new species), the game will kick off the 4th log-in event that features the Gen 6 (Kalos) and 7 (Alola) starters. It's certainly a rewarding gift for long-time and new players. Yes, the Mission Bingo ones still require players to grind in the events a bit. Around 15 to 20 rounds per Mission, to be specific. Nevertheless, just by logging in, they could already recruit some rare Pokémon. It doesn't need to be a continuous streak either, as long as the event is active, they're still obtainable. Fun freebies for fans! 🤩😝

I will certainly miss my dose of Garden Tea Party. But at least, the rewards are making up for it. Best of all, I haven't felt "forced" to play this game for more than a few minutes a day. 😅

(Source: Pokémon Go)

Pokémon GO: Passing Pointless Passes?   

For the third and final game, let's revisit the title that started the Fool's Errands series. The three-parter-plus that went up a year and eleven days ago. 📅

But before I jumped into the beefy section, I must start with a confession. As noted in that premier post, I've been playing GO since launch. I also mentioned how and why I had developed a growing irritability to it. Well, last week, on March 23, something inside me just snapped. After claiming the reward for the recent GO Pass: Bug Out, I held the app icon a little longer, and when the pop-up appeared, I tapped UNINSTALL. 📲🔨

It's back on my phone now. And later today, I might log in again, maybe after this post goes up. After all, I still haven't claimed the rewards for GO Pass March despite clearing it almost on the same day as Bug Out's. There's a new event that, surprisingly, debuts Mimikyu in the game, too! Following years of Halloween demands from players, the Ghost/Fairy Pikachu-wannabe has been assigned as the April Fools' cover model. Hmmmm. FINALLY! 👻🧚🏻‍♂️

Mimikyu will also be the reward for a new GO Pas—ugghhh, here we go again! Just thinking about that almost made me hit Uninstall again. Have you noticed how many times I've typed the word Pass already? That, my kind and cunning readers, is one of the reasons why I suddenly couldn't care less about playing the game last week. Nowadays, there seems to be yet another GO Pass, free for all, with extra rewards for Premium one, in almost every event. Outside of the monthly one! 😣🤮

In the conclusion section of my piece about GO, I mused about one concern. The community claimed that Scopely, the company running GO (although Niantic's name is still on the app), has a history of toxic or aggressive monetization methods. I guess that point's proven, eh? Still, in the spirit of fairness, it wouldn't feel right if I didn't address some of the other notable additions in the game. 🤷🏻‍♂️

First and foremost, GO rehauled the leveling system for all players on October 15, 2025. The previous maximum level cap was 50, and now, it's 80. Luckily, the new rule changes the required XP needed for each level. That means most players automatically received a higher level. My main account went from level 46 to 70 when the update went live. The second account I used for this experiment now sits at a comfortable level 50, thanks to that. ⚖️📈

Secondly, starting this month, evolved Pokémon that appear in the overworld can be Shiny. Before, only its first form could be Shiny. Now, the chance of seeing a sparkling Charizard or Blissey is no longer a Zorua illusion. Players, VERY LUCKY ones, that is, won't need to evolve their Shinies and keep a living shiny dex. 🌝🌚✨

Third, a feature that has been in demand for years is now possible: Remote Trading. Or, at least, technically, possible, for players who haven't unfriended their remote friends upon reaching a Best Friend status. It requires a new level of friendship called Forever Friends to achieve that. And that warrants 90 more friendship points, as in 90 days of "playing together" (or opening Gifts, for those who cannot form a Party in close proximity). 👦🏻👩🏼‍🦰

Thankfully, despite debuting with a bug, the Weekly Challenge has been active since December 2, 2025! Players can team up with up to three other friends (or random players through matchmaking), regardless of location, and clear a shared task together. It can be as easy as "Spin 150 PokéStops" or as exhausting as "Catch 500 Pokémon." Completing a Weekly Challenge will reward an extra 7 Friendship Points. That will cut the Forever Friendship requirement to around half. 👨‍👩‍👧‍👧🤔

Regrettably, I have yet to reach any, and probably won't anytime soon. So, I cannot share precisely how the Remote Trading works. Back to GO Pass, then! 😅

Players climb the ranks in GO Pass by doing Daily Tasks and Weekly Tasks (this one's different than Weekly Challenge). The Daily Task is simple: "Catching 15 Pokémon." It rewards 200 points, which boosts the rank to 2 spots. Weekly Tasks are more elaborate, including "Hatch 3 Eggs" and "Win a Raid" among others. 📅👀

Does that sound exciting to you? Good to hear! For me, the reality speaks differently. Having done that over and over again for months clearly took a toll on my nerves. It feels like being stuck in a loop. I'm fortunate to live next to several PokéStops and a Gym, so I can clear the Raid task easily with a 1 Star Raid. Even so, the wild spawns have oddly appeared scarcer lately and become harder to catch. So, clearing the Daily Tasks suddenly requires more time than completing one regular battle (10 minutes, not counting the waiting process) on UNITE. 😑⏰

To make the situation worse, the wild encounters aren't inspiring. Or should I say, BORING? It's always the same old sets, recycled again and again. A new Pokémon either debuts via Raids, Eggs, or as a single reward for completing ranks in GO Pass. Even when they are available in the wild, they rarely appear. Previously, Café ReMix felt like the grindiest Pokémon mobile game. Now, it seems UNITE has beaten it to it, with GO taking the top spot. 🥱😵

In short, players who want to complete a GO Pass to claim every reward MUST play daily. No, I mean GRIND daily. Those who no longer care, like yours truly, have ignored it altogether. I don't even catch all the Pokémon rewarded from it, either. Besides flooding the Pokémon Storage quickly, they are weirdly hard to catch, too. Looking at you, Snorlax and Lapras. 15 Ultra Balls or Golden Razz Berries don't even work on you! 😒🤦🏻‍♂️

So, it's beyond bizarre that despite that casual approach, I still feel exhausted by GO. GO Fest is around the corner, and it will debut Zeraora alongside Mega Mewtwo, who was teased 5 years ago. Yet, hearing that news didn't spark excitement inside me. My instant reaction was, "Nope! Another PASS for me!" 😅🤷🏻‍♂️ 

Well, not really bizarre, I guess. In July 2016, Niantic CEO John Hanke shared that the goal was to make GO "facilitate the real-life stuff." I guess they've achieved that, huh? Including making it exhausting and boring, much like life often feels, too. And I suppose there's no end in sight until players decide to end it and walk away. 🙅🏻‍♂️🚶🏻‍♂️

This July, GO will celebrate its 10th Anniversary. A big number and a grand achievement, no doubt! Then again, with all Galar starters having their Community Days this year, that means no more starters left to feature in that monthly event. The next mainline Pokémon titles are set to launch, presumably, late 2027. What will next year be like for GO then? Should the 10th Anniversary serve as the final checkpoint for my run in the game, then? Wait, that's not a bad idea... 😲👍🏻   

(Source: Nintendo of America)

Future Forecast: Choosing Champions? Weathering Winds with Waves! 

To complete this post, let's return to the present and gaze toward the future, some near, another far. 🏆💨🌊

While many Pokémon fans around the world are busy revitalizing and redeveloping the post-apocalyptic world in Pokémon Pokopia, more fascinating titles are on the way. Pokémon Champions will launch just a week from now, on April 8. Currently in development, the next mainline Pokémon game and the 10th Gen, Pokémon Winds/Waves, will be released in 2027. ⏳📅

As announced last August, Champions will serve as the official platform for the Video Game Championship competition in the annual Pokémon World Championship. I'm not into the competitive scene of this franchise, and Champions is definitely aimed at that. So, that's a glaring mismatch already. But instead of swiping left right away, I'm keeping an open mind to try it first. I thought I would never play UNITE, and yet I already have all the released Legendaries and Mythicals in it now. Hahaha. Besides, that will be a nice experiment for the next Fool's Errands, right? 🤼‍♀️🤭

Winds/Waves, on the other hand, hit very close to home. There's no question that it's something I'm already looking forward to playing. It made me realize I haven't even considered writing about Pokémon Scarlet/Violet or Pokémon Sword/Shield. Alas, the ships have already sailed to the Isle of Armor and Blueberry Academy (long story short, I enjoyed the former, not fond of the latter. That's all). Of course, it's still many months away for Winds/Waves to arrive. I'll cross that underwater bridge next year, then. Hahaha! 🚣‍♀️🌅

In that case, the final question to wrap: Will I continue playing UNITE, Café ReMix, and GO? The respective answers, as already hinted above: Depends on the update, Most likely, and Still not sure. 🤷🏻‍♂️🙆🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️

Earlier this month, Keza MacDonald published a piece titled "Even for fans like me, the Pokémon 30th anniversary 'stuff' is a bit much" for The Guardian. That headline resonated with me, even though the exhaustion written there is somewhat different. So, right now, I'm enjoying this relaxing break from being stuck too deep in a Pokémon well. At least before I let the floodgates reopen again by playing GO to catch a stalking ghost. Ooof, I hope I won't get suffocated to death. 😵😅

But no kidding, in the end, we're the bosses of ourselves. We decide which game we want to play. Moderation is important, even if it's tough to practice. Taking some time out and not being bothered to play a game is not a bad thing either. Quite the contrary, a pause might be necessary to realign our view about it. Or as MacDonald explained it, to reclaim the sense of wonder that has been lost. 😌😍

Even video game characters need proper rest to replenish their energy anyway. Otherwise, they could get KO-ed by annoying low-level bots right away. Would you agree? 😝 

Happy April Fools' Day, everyone! 👋🏻😄

Thanks for reading, and don't worry, this writing is neither a practical joke nor a prank. Unless the joke is on me, for being THE FOOL by tiring myself too much. Hahaha. Oh, well. Let's all strive to be less foolish today and this year, especially when playing games. Re-member to Re-lax! 🤭🤡

(Source: Pokémon Asia ENG)

From Me to You: It's Been 30 Years...

 

(Source: PokemonCoJp)

😁🎉🙌🥳

Fool's Errands #005 – United We Stand, In UNITE We Brawl

*****

This is a non-regular series I dub Fool's Errands. Why? Because it will chronicle, or at least, tell about an act or attempt I have or had taken, could be small or big, that was, well, presumably pointless, unnecessary, or even unthinkable to some. 😅

It would not always be the case, of course. Maybe it was merely a mundane thing I just never really got around to doing before. My goal is to learn something from it. Whether I intend to continue doing it or not is up for grabs. But, hey, maybe such an action will lead to a fun discovery... 😉

*****

When I said my farewell to Pokémon Masters EX (even though the app is, bizarrely enough, still asking for updates), one sense of regret loomed large in my head. I never really pulled a Fool's Errands experiment about it due to technical hurdles. Therefore, that makes me think I should at least try making one for other available titles, before the chance to do so is completely gone. It'll be my first for 2026, too, and that's a double benefit.  ✌🏻😌

As mentioned before, starting Pokémon Masters EX from scratch would require a separate smartphone or tablet. After all, the game is unplayable on other platforms, such as Nintendo Switch or PC. The same limitation, unfortunately, applies to Pokémon TCG Pocket. So, I figured I should go with a title that has been around far longer and is easier to work with. 🤔

Besides, Pokémon Day, which celebrates the 30th Anniversary of the first games and franchise in general, will arrive just around the corner. So, this feels fitting as a tribute. Moreover, it's my way to anticipate the future of the franchise and its offerings. 🥳😉

(Source: Pokémon UNITE)

Before Entering Mer Stadium...

And so, what title are we talking about here? 😏

 

The very on-the-nose answer to that rhetoric—from this post's title and the video above— is none other than Pokémon UNITE. UNITE is readily available on smartphones, tablets, and, best of all, the Nintendo Switch systems. Being one of the most complex free-to-play games on the console, it's very easy to install and try. For this experiment, I only needed to run the game via my alt Nintendo Account, and everything started fresh. 😁👍🏻

Similar to my first 3-Parter for Pokémon GO, a curious question served as the fundamental, driving force. "How about UNITE? Has the game become more enjoyable and appealing to new players in 2026?" 👀⁉️

With that said, the biggest concern in choosing which mobile title to explore/experiment is the ever-evolving updates to its gameplay, really. In just a short span, things could suddenly shift into a completely different experience. For example, in July last year, I wrote about Pokémon Café ReMix. Annoyingly enough, that game has transformed so much that around half of what I described there has already felt "outdated." Even Pokémon GO has also seen various quality-of-life updates, and the vibe is no longer the same as it was last April. 🤦🏻‍♂️🙄

That's also the case with UNITE, to be fair. From the recent news alone, there will be some significant additions and changes happening soon. Nevertheless, delaying this piece also feels pointless. I can always wait to experience the new updates first for one, two weeks, or a month. But another major update might land by then. It'll be an endless cycle of waiting. Ugh. 😑⌛️

In short, please consider this disclaimer before proceeding to read this:

This Fool's Errands will cover my experience to re-experience UNITE from December 5, 2025, to February 14, 2026. For complete transparency, that includes a gap from December 31 to January 30. Any updates that transpire beyond that time frame will be discussed only based on official information and not through actual experience. I still haven't yet mastered time travel to make that work. 😅🙅🏻‍♂️

Why December 5 of all dates, though? Precisely a day earlier, the much-disdained, if not downright controversial, update, entitled License Journey, entered the arena and changed the discussion. But hey, that makes for a fun starting point for a Fool's Errands experiment, as I can consciously compare it with how things used to be. Right? 😇👿

(Source: Pokémon UNITE)

Rewind through Remoat

History and backstory talk, to start! 🧐📜

On a late June 2020 exclusive Pokémon Presents (did it even air in the USA or Europe?), The Pokémon Company announced UNITE as a partnership product with Tencent Games. Shenzhen-based TiMi Studio Group serves as the developer of this cross-platform game.

As written in the official press release, UNITE is touted as the first strategic Pokémon team battle game. The free-to-start title plays like this:

"Players face off against each other in five-on-five team battles. During these battles, players will cooperate with teammates to catch wild Pokémon, level up, and evolve their own Pokémon. They will need to defeat their opponents' Pokémon while trying to earn more points than the opposing team within the allotted time."

It's a Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) in a nutshell. The news might come as a surprise to many. But considering the cooks involved, it felt like a natural progression, I suppose? 😮

The Pokémon Company loves diversifying its game library with new innovations. Tencent was already a known name in the MOBA circuit. Furthermore, the company has overseen the region-locked Nintendo Switch system in China. China has always been a promising market that Nintendo wouldn't want to miss. Its potential is so high that the closing of the Chinese eShop, which will begin next month, has become a global hot topic. 😟🤷🏻‍♂️

Anyway, looking back, upon hearing UNITE's announcement, my instant reaction was, "MOBA? Nope!" ✋🏻🤨

Was I familiar with what that genre is supposed to be? Also NOPE! 😅

But seeing the names of titles like League of Legends and Dota 2 was enough to give me an idea of what it would be like. I never caught the bug for that gameplay when my college friends did. 😐

Cut to the present time, and UNITE most likely ranks third of the Pokémon games I've played the most (After Pokémon GO and Pokémon Scarlet/Violet). What changed my initial sentiment? Several reasons. 😅

First, it's a Pokémon game. Naturally, the allure and my curiosity are too high to ignore. Second, UNITE is FREE. When I finally bought my reasonably-priced Switch (the price hike during the COVID-19 pandemic was ridiculous, ugh 😞), I hadn't purchased any games. After days of using the console only to organize Pokémon HOME, I decided to add UNITE to my library to expand my options. Third, the game just "worked" when I ended up trying it.

"Worked" as in I got the hang of the game system unusually fast. For someone with ZERO experience in MOBA, that was quite a feat! The list of available Pokémon on launch was attractive. Each one was designed and animated nicely. 👀😳

One of my favorites, Talonflame, is part of the roster. That means I only need to collect enough in-game currency as fast as possible to obtain its permanent License and bench out Pikachu, the free starter. The urge to ascend the Fire/Flying-type Kalos native towards the opposing team was too strong to resist. 😤😜

Also, the music? My goodness, it gave that sense of wonder and uplifting energy that didn't even need to be that good in the first place! I mean, listen to that catchy BGM for the Character Selection Screen. Hearing that upbeat rhythm immediately riled me up to jump into the stadium. Mer Stadium, if possible (00:28-01:10 was the cool part)! The attention to detail in the arrangement put it on par with Pokémon Masters EX, and undeniably leagues higher than the simplistic Pokémon GO. Hahaha. 🤩🎵

(Source: Pokémon UNITE Music)

A Walk in the Auroma Park?

Of course, music is just a supporting element. We play a game to play it, not to hear the BGMs alone. So, how does UNITE play out? 🤭

As the MOBA description above stated, each battle assigns us to a team. This team can consist of other players who enter the Lobby randomly, or they can be NPCs. What we call an NPC applies to both fellow team members and the opponent. If we wish to play solo? Then we'll be the sole player with generated NPCs to fill in the rest of the players. If we go with the CPU Match option? We'll play with "other players" while the opposing team consists of all NPCs. 🙋🏻‍♂️👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

We, as in the Pokémon that we choose to play, by the way. Even though we're the trainers, there's no human in the stadium. What we're controlling is the Pokémon themselves (under a gimmick called License, which can be Permanent or Time Limited). I mean, like any Pokémon game, they are the stars of the show who must do all the work. Trainers only stand, watch, and give orders. Anyone familiar with the Synchro Machine in Pokémon Scarlet/Violet's DLC would know how that plays out. 😅

The stage is split into two sides, as symbolized by the orange and purple colors in UNITE's title. Each half serves as the base area of one team. But that's also the primary objective for the opposite team to conquer or clear. The circular rings situated along the top and bottom paths are the Goal Zones. ⭕️🏃🏻

Every Pokémon of one team will level up to its final form while gathering Aeos Energy by defeating wild species that are popping up around the stadium. They then try their best to score the energy as points in the goal zones. Upon reaching a certain number of points, the goal zone will vanish. Once the Pokémon eliminates a goal zone, the path toward the next one will be easier to traverse. 🙆🏻‍♂️🏃🏻‍♀️

That doesn't necessarily guarantee a victory, though. Sometimes, even after every goal zone is cleared, the other party can still turn the tables and win anyway if they manage to score more points. For that reason, both teams must race against time to score as many points as possible. In theory, at least. 😐🤷🏻‍♂️

All roads eventually lead to the final goal zone located in front of the other team's off-limits base. When that happens, the opposing team can either try to defend their goal zone with their life or sneak out to launch an attack on the other team's area. A powerful or Legendary Pokémon (Rayquaza, Groudon, Kyogre, Zapdos, etc.) also appears at the center of the area in the very last minute or two. Defeating that beast will grant a boost in scoring points and double the points. 😱

Like any MOBA game, that's pretty much the core gameplay of UNITE in its entirety. A solid strategy surrounding what actions to take along the paths may alter the course of each battle. The five designated Roles of each Pokémon—All-Rounder, Attacker, Defender, Speedster, and Supporter— also factor in the synergy of a lineup. Moreover, a display of unity and teamwork will favor the team. Again, in theory, at least. In practice? It's a different story. 🙄

Some stages, added later on, do shake the formula up a bit. The general battle mode, either Ranked Match or Casual Battle, is a five-on-five member composition. While most have a fixed 10-minute run, First to 500 forgoes that and lets a battle be completed as soon as one side reaches 500 points. The stages of Quick Battles take it further. They come in a four-on-four or three-on-three format instead, as the map is usually smaller. The battle duration is also only 5 minutes. 🙃⏳

In the cramped arena of Shivre City, each team only has one goal zone to defend and score into. Meanwhile, in the laid-back Auroma Park, there are two shared goal zones that any team can focus on. The Catch 'Em stage that takes place in Mer Stadium allows a Pokémon to morph temporarily into any wild encounter they defeat. Both Pika Party and Eevee Appeal-o-Rama limit players to using the Let's Go Pikachu and Eevee mascots and their evolutions. 😀

Fancy a mini game instead? The Electrode Volleyball sees a team trying to bounce the explosive titular species, and blow it up on the opposing base. Meanwhile, the Charjabug Scuffle involves charging Charjabug to score 300 points. 😟

Oh, and yes, there are Boss Rush and Panic Parade, as well. True to its name, Boss Rush means a team must work together to defeat a series of three powerful and usually Legendary Pokémon. Panic Parade is the defensive opposite, with each team working together to prevent those powerful Pokémon from taking over the base. There are other holiday-themed limited battles, too. 👻🎅

(Source: Pokémon UNITE)

Gotta Catch 'Em All!

Boasting a flexible array of roster, the playable Pokémon (90 so far, counting the Mega Evolutions separately) will appeal to any Pokémon fan. As already mentioned above, they have Roles with their strengths and weaknesses. 📊👀

The All-Rounders like Charizard or Tinkaton have the flexibility to either go on the offense or defense. How about Mega Evolving? Yes, some have that ability. Defenders like Blastoise or Umbreon usually can survive hits longer to keep opponents busy while allowing Attackers like the surf-giddy Alolan Raichu or my trusted Venusaur to literally storm the opposing castle. And then there are Speedsters like Zeraora or Galarian Rapidash that can move fast to score points while creating a tactical diversion. Lastly, Supporters meddle with the balance by healing team members (Comfey), putting them to sleep (Wigglytuff), or deploying other kinds of hindrance, such as barriers or traps. 🤸🤾‍♀️

Unlike in my first run, UNITE now provides a helpful tutorial process to new players. Before, I had to understand everything by either asking another player or figuring things out on my own. So, in my second run (for this Fool's Errands experiment), I could better understand how to maximise the scoring process and other intricate aspects of the battles. Finishing the tutorial also rewards useful items, including a free License for some fan-favorite Pokémon, like the feathered archer Decidueye. 🏹🍃

Aaah, yes, there's also a Welcome Beginner campaign that gives more Gifts. Increasing the player's level will reward more permanent Licenses that enable more Pokémon of various Roles to play. Playing for 14 days awarded the cool, classy Alolan Ninetales, the flaming, sporty Cinderace, along with the slippery, stealthy Greninja! 🦊🐰🐸

Not to mention, there are limited-run events that practically give away the new, featured Pokémon's License simply by playing. Honestly, it all makes entering UNITE feel less like a confusing chore, which was what I felt during my first run, really. 😌

Likewise, it's now easier to find a community that plays UNITE. Many experts online offer free tips and tricks on how to achieve better results. The discussions often include which Pokémon is more recommended than the rest. Whenever a new Pokémon joins the fray, people will be posting their impressions and reactions. It's a nice way to check if it's right for one's preference or not. 😏📱

Speaking of preference, Holowears give a different aesthetic for each Pokémon. Curious to see how Garchomp will look as a scuba diver? There's a Holowear for that. How about Meowscarada as a dancer? Psyduck as a superhero? The options are growing with every update. 🕴🧚

Ranked Match and Casual Battles expand the social(-gaming) skill in-game by playing with friends or complete strangers. If anyone craves NONE of that and prefers playing on their own? Solo Challenge and CPU-Matches are available. Quick Battles also let a player finish a stage or two when they don't have a lot of spare time to play. In fact, winning just one is often enough to access the Daily Rewards. ☝🏻😉

(Source: Bulbapedia)

Full-Fury Across the Fandom

Unfortunately, getting a winning streak may not be as simple as it seems. What's an ongoing issue for a competitive game that continues adding more playable characters with different stats and abilities? The answer is, naturally, BALANCE. How to make every character have an equal chance of being good and bad. 👍🏻⚖️👎🏻

On the one hand, I must admit that TiMi, the developer, does pay attention to this. Every update in UNITE is the simple proof of that. It ALWAYS contains a balancing patch, whether it is reducing the effectiveness of a Pokémon's deadly moveset or increasing the effect of its status-inducing attacks. That implementation changes the flow of the battle, often inspiring (which is a softer word for "forcing") players to try out different Pokémon. Seeing people flocking to use Dhelmise, a bizarre Pokémon that likely has less fanbase compared to the ever-popular Eeveelution, is such a welcome change. 👏🏻😳

But on the other hand, does the gesture even work? I don't really pay attention to the nerfing and buffing of the Pokémon roster. However, overpowered Pokémon and/or Held Items always seem to be around. The recently added Vanguard Bell, for example, has made some Pokémon even more menacing than before. From the non-stop online discussion, it seems very rare (or perhaps, never at all) that TiMi could pull it off flawlessly, especially when monetization is involved. 💵😈

Yes, that's one of the loudest complaints filed against UNITE in recent months. The evidence? Up to November last year, when a new Pokémon was released, players could use two different currencies, Aeos Gems and Aeos Coins, to obtain it. Aeos Gems are PAID items using real money. Aeos Coins, on the contrary, could be collected by doing daily battles. It was the income that free players could optimize that gave a sense of a target. 💰⚔️

That said, the new Pokémon could only be bought with Coins after a certain span of time since its debut. Until then, only Aeos Gems were valid. Unsurprisingly, this limited window was when the Pokémon debuted overpowered. Hence, the pay-to-win accusation easily rose. 🤑💸

License Journey, the feature I mentioned earlier, has also become one of the biggest offenders. Before, if players played religiously and hoarded their Aeos Coins long enough, they could purchase a License for their personal favorite. Maybe they wanted to partner with the sneaky-ghost Sableye or obtain the hard-hitting Legendary Urshifu (both cost 12,000 Aeos Coins at the time)? With patience and perseverance, they could fulfill those targets. It's a simple, pleasing logic. 💪🏻😤

Regrettably, Aeos Coin has been retired with the December 4 update. Players can now exchange their leftover Coins for License Points for a limited window. As the phrase suggests, License Points is a crucial part of License Journey. Players need to earn enough points to obtain a License for free! 🧩💳

(Source: Spragels)

Wait, what's problematic about that? At a glance, it does seem harmless. Alas, the more players experience it, the more demanding grinding becomes apparent. Unlike the pre-December 4 all-out store, License Journey plays like a leaderboard with "select" Pokémon License available on each step. Emphasis on the word "select," which means players can only choose ONE of the offers on that step. As written in the official announcement: 

"Each time the player selects a Unite license to work toward, they'll choose from five available licenses."

To simplify the explanation, please observe the simulated scenario below. I'll use an image example provided on the official page (because somehow, I haven't been able to find the complete list on any fansite 😟). 

A: "Which Pokémon would you like to obtain next?"

B: " Oh, Espeon! Definitely Espeon. I have 1000 License Points right now, and it's only 980 to get!"

A: "In that case, choose between Sylveon, Lapras, and Lucario first on Step 2."

B: "Huh? But I don't even want any of those. Can I skip them?"

A: "No."

B: "Ugh, okay. In that case, I'll get Sylveon. Only 325 License Points. But after that, I can get Espeon, right?" 

A: "YES, you can! After you choose one from Step 3, which costs 490 Points."

B: "Eeeeeeh?! Then I won't have enough License Points when I reach Espeon in Step 4!"

A: "KEEP PLAYING."

(Source: community.pokemon.com)

Now, where can one obtain License Points? They are available as Battle Pass Rewards. Oh, but they come with this bold and blatant caveat:

"Some license points can be obtained via a standard battle pass, but players can obtain even more license points via a premium pass. This means premium passes won't just include high-quality Holowear—they'll also be a way to progress through License Journeys quickly."

In that case, what is a Premium Battle Pass? Well, it's another PAID feature, with real-life money, to unlock more rewards. For comparison, the No-Cost Pass that every player receives will give 700 License Points. Assuming the player clears the Battle Pass daily. The Premium Pass adds an extra 300! 🤨😰

So, a player can obtain Mythicals like Mew or Hoopa for free after clearing around TWO Premium Battle Passes. Yaaaay! Hold on, each Battle Pass runs around 20 to 30 days to complete. Don't want to use License Points as it takes too long? Remember, they can always use PAID Aeos Gems instead. 🤑😨

Can you see the message the developer was trying to say?

Can you sense why players, especially free-to-play ones, feel displeased, if not disdainful, of this treatment?

I'll let you do the math and decide if it's problematic or not. 

And then there's the ongoing issue of matchmaking. 👬🏻🧍🏻👫🏻

When playing Ranked Match, UNITE intersects random players from all walks of life. A rambling writer who posts on Blogspot and Medium can team up with a tech tutor, along with a pair of college students, in one battle. Likewise, the opposing team can consist of a long-time player who's paired with complete newcomers in the game. They can feel so clueless, it bears the question: have these players even graduated primary school yet? 🧓🏻👩‍🦱

My experience in my first and second runs was vastly different for that reason. I entered the stadium as an inexperienced player before, repeatedly failing to win despite trying my best. No regret, of course, as it let me embrace each loss as one valuable lesson: 

"Maybe just focus on Solo Challenges? Having to do the heavy lifting in most battles is tiring." 😥

In my second run, I came as an experienced, failure-forged player. The result? Well, I still did most of the heavy lifting. But at least my opponents this time didn't seem to know how to play. 😅

For days, I proceeded through Ranked Battle like a champ, with a perfect winning rate. Until one fateful day, I ran into what was seemingly an ALL-PRO AND PAYING players unit. Draped in expensive costumes, they were so in sync with one another that my team was obliterated almost immediately. They even, in unison, gave me thumbs up for bravely trying, while epically failing, at defending my goal zones over and over again. I guess they could also notice how my teammates were too busy going back and forth, hiding on the grass, or running scared toward our base to heal. 😏👍🏻😭

Famous content creators have fondly addressed my teammates as RAN-DUMBS. Although one or two could also be humanless BOTS, considering their odd tendency to hoard but never score points. And yes, I've caught them stuck running toward a wall a few times. The number of both has only grown the more I played. So, I decided to focus on trying to WIN most of the time, while considering that everyone else is useless. 😤

That's not really a healthy way to play a team-based game, eh? 👩🏻‍🚀

But, yeah. I'm not kidding. There's that, too. Be prepared to be paired with those bunch if you choose to give UNITE a chance. Don't worry! Whatever your impression shall be, you're not alone in thinking that way. Sooner or later, you'll get used to that (annoyed?) feeling over time. 🤷🏻‍♂️

I might be wrong on this one, but I also sense the game has favored the paying players more excessively. As such, free players are, at times, treated like cannon fodder for the higher-level paying players to beat up. Otherwise, they might stop buying Holowear, Aeos Gems, and Battle Passes. Hmmm...   

(Source: Night Krow)

What Lies Beyond the Theia Sky?

And just like that, before this spirals into an uncontrollable, nonsensical rant, allow me to return to my initial question. 

"Has [UNITE] become more enjoyable and appealing to new players in 2026?" 😐

It's a YES and NO, in my opinion. The game's way of showering new players with free Pokémon Licenses is appealing and will undeniably boost the excitement level. So, that's a "YES." The handholding approach and the existence of an online community to share insights are also helpful now. That will make the game feel more enjoyable. Another "YES." 👍🏻 

However, if patience is not their strong suit, that eagerness may likely die down once the freebies suddenly STOP. Gathering License Points only to waste them on a Pokémon they don't want can feel like an exhausting effort. Sadly, that sense of dread wasn't as profound before, as long-time players would attest; they felt their time playing was rewarding. Now? Not so much. That's the "NO" part. 👎🏻

 

For a statistical consideration, my second run is now at Player Level 19. Through the License Journey and free events, I've collected a total of 22 Pokémon Licenses so far. Sirfetch'd was the latest through its free Dice Event. The number could've been higher had I known Venusaur would be given for free just by Leveling Up. I wasted 490 License Points for that alone. Please don't make the same mistake! 🙄🤦🏻‍♂️

I've reached the "Special Selection" step on License Journey, where I can choose any License (from the list I haven't acquired). So, I've hoarded points to obtain one of the Mythicals or Legendaries. After all, their costs have equally skyrocketed compared to before. My License Points paused at 2075 on February 14, the day I stopped playing again to focus on life. 🥱😴

With the Kanto Legendary Birds arriving as playable tomorrow, on Pokémon Day, it seems I may be jumping back into the stadium until around April. They're likely a part of the 30th Anniversary celebration of the franchise. Zapdos will debut on February 27. Free event generally lasts around 2 weeks. So, Moltres and Articuno may presumably join in March before leaving in April. 🤷🏻‍♂️

Their debut will herald another change that has already been the talk of the town. First, the addition of the Solo Mode. That will be a new way to provide License Points for every player. Unfortunately, the second one, called the Move Path system, will see every new Pokémon, starting with the Legendary Birds, arrive "incomplete." The current feature of choosing a Moveset while in a stadium will be removed. And players can undergo the Move Path to add more Moves using a new currency. One step forward, one step backward? Hahaha. 😑🤦🏻‍♂️ 

It's too early to tell if both features will be good or bad. But it would be a lie to say that I'm surprised by the community's unfavorable reaction to the news already. Unlike other mobile titles, UNITE strides along so confidently without paying attention to its players. We live in an era of toxic fandom, and Pokémon is no exception. Of course, the developer's action and decision wouldn't sit well with many long-time players. Some have already left the game due to the License Points fiasco. 😞🤦🏻‍♂️

What happens if the player count continues to drop? Don't forget that Tencent's deal with Nintendo has started entering shutdown. What happens to UNITE if they decide to stop collaborating? Besides, UNITE may be one of the highlights in the annual World Championship. But a new cross-platform title, Pokémon Champions, is also poised to debut this year. Will UNITE players pack their bags (and wallets) and move to that new, greener pasture? The future seems bright, but also bleak at the same time. ✨🌑

Still, for me at least, there's a small reason I'm still playing UNITE, and may continue even if not daily anymore. In core Pokémon titles like Pokémon Scarlet/Violet or Pokémon Sword/Shield, and even spin-offs like Pokémon Legends Z-A, every player takes control of the protagonist. That protagonist will go on an adventure, befriend other trainers, and encounter the antagonists. Eventually, the protagonist saves the region from destruction or impending doom. ⚔️🤴🏻

Having been familiar with that formula, I've always wondered what it would feel like if I played as the antagonist instead. Instead of showing compassion and defeating thugs to rescue kidnapped creatures, what if I want to be the thug-like character? The figure who annoys and pesters others while beating the living daylight out of other Pokémon, wild or caught? Or for the sake of reaching a satisfying victory! 😈🤪

Yes, I know! That sounds too dark and disturbing to hear! But believe it or not, that's how I feel whenever I play UNITE. Of course, teamwork and camaraderie exist. They will always be required. However, the goal is still to win a match by ruthlessly stealing points from other players, if not sending them running scared to recover in their base. In UNITE, I feel like a villain, and I'm genuinely relishing that dark turn to the tee. Mwahahahaha! 😆👹  

Whenever life gets on my nerves, Petal Dance-ing or Brave Bird-ing against virtual opponents is the kind of brawl that helps unleash negative emotions. After all, there's nothing wrong with letting off some steam. Especially knowing full well that this game will never arrive on Steam. 😛

Anyway, will UNITE have a surprise in store tomorrow in the much-anticipated Pokémon Presents that's arriving less than 24 hours from now? Perhaps there'll be some positive light that hints at an optimistic direction to please the waning interest of its playerbase? Or maybe they've already revealed it all, and it'll be just business as usual. I guess we can only wait and see. 🙄🤷🏻‍♂️

***

HAPPY 30TH ANNIVERSARY, Pokémon! 🙏🏻🎉

May this year mark a milestone where your players and enthusiasts become more UNITE-d than ever, in a positive way. 🤷🏻‍♂️