October 31, 2025, might be Halloween for many. It's a day when people dress up in crafty, colorful costumes from the corners of their fandoms. The ones that represent mastery and heroism in ways known only to the wearer. Parties and nightmare-themed events are available, held, and organized to be a celebratory experience that only happens once a year. ☠️👻
But for me, the nightmare didn't require any fake haunted houses. They landed on the comfort of my home. First came news from my brother that shocked me to the core, concerning an almost lifelong part of our lives. The next day, before the sun even peeked on the cloudy horizon, an eerie comment haunted me with dazed confusion, only to become a confirmation a few hours later. It shattered my reality, prompting me to retreat into a suspension of disbelief. "How could this even happen?" I lamented. 😫😭
Okay, yes, I admit that sounds cheesy and exaggerated. Isn't that a common reaction on social media nowadays, though? To resort to a hyperbolic response mode, as if one's rights and feelings are being attacked, assaulted, or violated by a cruel party without warning? 👺🙄
Hahaha, wait, that paragraph felt outlandish too, eh? Unnecessary social criticism aside, no, my reaction was far tamer than that description. My mouth did let out an instant yelp of "You're kidding, right?" And although my emotions weren't as vividly intense as described, I was indeed taken aback by both pieces of news. 😟
What news? Let's rewind to what they are, starting with the latter. Because it will be the first to chronologically transpire. And very soon. ⏱️⏳
"Our paths they did cross."
I have been using my Fool's Errands section to write about my experience in re-experiencing two Pokémon mobile games so far. Out of the slew of titles I am still playing, however, there's one I've never considered for this exploratory experiment (or pointless project, to some people hahaha 😅). The video featured above probably already spoiled any mystery. It is none other than Pokémon Masters EX. PokéMas, for short, in its country of origin. 🙋🏻♂️
Why haven't I tried replaying the game from scratch? The idea alone felt daunting and logistically challenging. The app doesn't allow switching accounts easily like Pokémon GO. While Pokémon Café ReMix shares the same limitation, at least it's available to install on Nintendo Switch, which naturally works as a separate medium from my main gameplay on my phone. Besides, Café ReMix's data size is somewhat small. PokéMas warrants a far bigger space—hence, the need for a separate phone—to pull off. 🤷🏻♂️📱
In all fairness, I somewhat regret not looking for a workaround to make it happen. After all, in just two days from now, PokéMas will bow out, making its grand curtain call. In my country, that is. Emphasis on that, so please don't freak out if you've been playing it, too. 🖐🏻😲
As long as your country hasn't received the END OF SERVICE announcement, you're safe to keep playing. Good for you! Please keep playing and supporting it! After all, there's always a risk of it happening elsewhere, too. My country isn't even the first, and it's just joining other countries that already prohibited access to the app (some from day one). 😔🤷🏻♂️
(Note: You can probably pinpoint which country I'm residing in from that info alone. Not that I mind, as it's not a scandalous secret anyway. 😜)
The brainchild of Ken Sugimori, the renowned designer who has created numerous characters and Pokémon species in the franchise, PokéMas shifts the focus onto the colorful cast of protagonists, Gym leaders, Champions, and even antagonists by bringing them all to one island. Canonical question notwithstanding (it's practically a multiversal meet-and-greet), that's the primary, and personally, thrilling appeal compared to the catch & collect-oriented Pokémon GO. 😊🙌🏻
Hey, at some point, I proudly declared PokéMas to be the best Pokémon mobile spin-off. Come to think of it, it's still kind of IS? I mean, where else can we see characters from different regions cross paths, interact, and form an unexpected bond? 🤔🌐
For example, the Team Galactic leader, the big baddie Cyrus from Sinnoh. He could exchange tech intellect with Sophocles, a nerdy boy from Alola who has zero interest in creating a perfect universe. How about Johto's resident Ghost guy, Morty, setting up an after-school occult club with Galar's Dark protege Marnie among the students? And don't forget the sweet, found friendship between Paldea-native Arven and Unova-based N, which, mind you, didn't happen so smoothly just because they had similar parental problems. 🤭💛
PokéMas has given these existing characters, along with future ones, the space to thrive and grow beyond the confines of their base games. In those games, their participation pretty much ends once the ending credits roll in, and maybe even earlier in the gameplay. Here, Kalos' renowned Sycamore could reunite (and arguably speaking, mend the bridge) with his former friend turned misanthropic eco-terrorist Lysandre. Steven and Wallace might have hinted there's something more between them beyond passing the baton of the Hoenn Champion title. Meanwhile, Red, Blue, and Leaf proved their battle bond by forming a formidable Kanto Legends trio together! 🥇🥈🥉
It's like literal fanfics coming to life! 🤩🥺
With that said, it would be a blatant lie if I claimed that my interest in PokéMas has stayed high. Following a mindful memory analysis, I realized that my enthusiasm started its downward trend around the game's 4th anniversary. At the time, I somehow encountered a difficulty in updating the app, and the customer support, who was usually very reliable, couldn't even assist me. Guess what? It's mindblowing what almost two weeks of absence can do in altering one's attachment to an app. 🤯👍🏻
Another major ongoing issue for me was the pattern of putting the spotlight on the same character repeatedly. Red and Cynthia, the Sinnoh fearsome Champion, are iconic fan favorites, yes. Even so, giving them various new alternate Sync Pair combinations with new Pokémon did NOT work for or impress me. The biggest offender, however, was the introduction of the obviously monetization-aimed Arc Suits (which, again, debuted with Cynthia's other new alt). 🙄🤦🏻♂️
Last year, PokéMas added the Terastal gimmick from Pokémon Scarlet/Violet. I enjoyed the Terastalization in my Paldean adventure. So, I assumed that would renew my interest in the app. Sad to say, it has been the complete opposite. Maybe because, once again, the app chose to assign the gimmick to the same faces. I have zero knowledge behind the scenes. However, I wonder if DeNA, the developer, had already shifted focus to Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket, which has since become a global hit, arguably more than PokéMas. 🃏💎
To prevent this from rambling into a more detailed rant, allow me to move forward with the other goodbye. Besides, the second one has a more profound impact. 🙁
"And so it goes, on and on."
My first official entry in this (new) blog explored the wonders of nostalgia that, in many ways, served as the start of facing a long-buried grief. The piece centered around a long-running entertainment franchise that has been, in many ways, influential on my growing up journey. It was already on TV before I was born, and has remained on air when this post goes up. Those multicolored heroes have come a long way, huh? 🤔🌈
That's why the irony hit somewhat hard. My brother's startling news a few months ago was, "SUPER SENTAI IS ENDING!" The initial reaction was a giggling, "You're kidding, right?" Even though I'm fully aware the opposite party isn't one for joking. Seeing his firm confirmation, the line turned into a higher tone, "YOU'RE KIDDING, RIGHT?" riddled with a wave of disbelief. 😮💨
I mean, I'm pretty sure ANY Super Sentai, or even Power Rangers, fans would react similarly. TOEI is currently airing No. 1 Sentai Gozyuger as the 50th anniversary season. They've been doing this for that long. Why would they suddenly stop a staple show that's been a part of generations of children's Sunday mornings? Have they gone mad? 😱👿
What was first blowing across the globe (from Asia to Europe and beyond) as a rowdy rumor soon burst like a balloon as an official statement. That it wasn't made up, and it was more or less REAL. Hollywood has been flaunting the phrase "Superhero Fatigue" for years. So, is that actually happening to Japan's entertainment industry? Not quite. ✋🏻😅
Although not explicitly confirmed, Kyodo News Agency and The Sankei Shimbun noted that the recent Super Sentai seasons, such as Bakuage Sentai Boonboomger and Gozyuger, have not been selling much. And by selling, that means toys and action figures. Despite the action scenes, compelling characters, and storylines in some titles, the most prominent aspect of the franchise is, no doubt, the live events and merchandise. The sales from those consumer-based practices fund the production costs, thus allowing the franchise to continue running. 🤖💰
Regrettably, the country's declining birthrate only means a gradual decrease in viewership numbers. Consequently, that spells less overall profit. Many no longer buy Super Sentai merchandise for their kids. Though, let's be real: who still does that anyway? With the rising cost of daily necessities, healthcare, and education, only super-loaded parents can even afford to buy those expensive action figures. Moreover, the customer market has already switched to adults in general, no longer serving the younger demographics. Why else would The Pokémon Company and LEGO market their recently unveiled collaboration for older enthusiasts? 💵🙆🏼♂️
Shinichiro Shirakura, a senior executive at TOEI, has since explained (via Asahi Shimbun) their creative reason. It's a massive Marvel Cinematic Universe-inspired decision, it turns out. A franchise that goes on and on needs to reinvent itself to avoid being run-of-the-mill. The fascinating thing was that he didn't confirm the financial difficulties explored above. Or the fact that the Super Sentai franchise has come to a definitive END. Shirakura called it a HIATUS. 🛌🏼⛔️
Admittedly, I could smell corporate sweet-talk right away, considering the explanation came a month later. Then again, Shirakura wasn't kidding either. In the same week, TOEI revealed the replacement show, which will be called PROJECT R.E.D. 🧧🏮
Cut to the present day, the official trailer and cast names for the project's first title, Super Space Sheriff Gavan Infinity, have been released. A week ago, on January 18, to be precise. BandaiJP channel has even released a video showcasing the (what else?) toys and merchandise. The new show, which will take over the Super Sentai timeslot, is set to start airing on February 15, 2026. 📅👀
"Your voice will still remember our melody."
In the end, an exaggerated response is not really necessary, eh? 😛🙅🏻♂️
PokéMas may soon become an empty, inaccessible husk in my country. Still, assuming DeNA doesn't wipe out our regional save data from their servers like a super villain, I can always continue playing when I visit or, who knows, move permanently to another country. 🛫📲
While Super Sentai is officially gone two weeks from now, the sci-fi replacement will introduce a team of three, not five, heroes. Kamen Rider Zeztz has already introduced two Riders with different color schemes, with three more debuting starting next week. Eventually, TOEI will merge Gavan Infinity and Zeztz to follow their Hollywood entertainment-inspired goal. Speaking of which, Disney has taken the baton and is currently developing a new Power Rangers series from scratch. Therefore, if we stop and think about it clearly, Super Sentai isn't really closing for good. Its multicolored spirit continues, albeit with a new name and title. 📕📽
My lingering qualm, if anything, is how I'm bidding farewell to PokéMas and Super Sentai with such an underwhelming emotion. I've never sensed the urge to try PokéMas's new Pasio Towers mode. The Pasio Academy feature, though fascinating at first, is yet another attempt to reuse the same characters again, this time in school-related attire. Apart from several episodes (Yuichi Nakamura's Gaia was a terrific guest star), Gozyuger has always felt like a chore to watch due to its unclear direction and lackluster quality (for my subjective standards, that is). Plus, there's that unsavory cast shake-up happening close to the finish line. Had the Super Sentai franchise concluded with the neatly written and passionately produced Kaizoku Sentai Go-kaiger, I'd probably be crying nonstop. But with Gozyuger? I'm not even sure what to say. Truly, this waning interest of mine has robbed me of the joy of enjoying both their final run. 🙄🤦🏻♂️
Nevertheless, do I feel sad about not being able to see more characters appearing in PokéMas or welcome more colorful themes in future Sentai teams? In a way, yes. Do I also feel I've wasted time, energy, and attention on something that in the end ends so abruptly? Yes, I do, and annoyed by it, I suppose. But do I regret playing each battle stage or watching the weekly episodes? That's a big N to the O. So, perhaps the best word to describe it is bittersweet? 🤔😅
Even if those were times that I could never rewind or take back, they weren't nothing or pointless either. One might only accompanied me for the past six-plus years, and the other was all my life. Yet, there was fun, joy, laughter, occasional tears, and genuine excitement just the same. Despite the ups and downs, I enjoyed and appreciated each moment. 🤩😢
PokéMas' delightful personalized musical arrangement will always remain an earworm in my earphones. I'll gladly listen and anticipate new melodies, even if I cannot experience the stories in person. I've grown up with Super Sentai as my heroes, my friends, my family, for every phase of my mortal voyage. Even if a Sunday without it will feel weird, there are five decades of library to rewatch and revisit. Heck, I can still sing the melodies of Dai Sentai Google V opening intro or dance to Zyuden Sentai Kyoryuger's catchy ending anytime my heart desires. 🎤🕺
Really, that's just the thing about life, right?
"We met, we laughed, we held on fast, and then we said goodbye."
Change is an inevitable part of the cycle. Good things don't last forever. There's a time limit for everything we encounter. But when one door closes, another opens to offer a new, unknown pathway that could lead to more good things. 🚪🛣️🤍
More importantly, let's not forget that the fond memories we've had or shared with them will silently but softly stay inside us. Over time, they may return to greet us with a familiar warmth. Maybe in a new form, maybe as a different shape, but they feel as if a long-lost friend. 💞⌛️
With that, I wrap this piece and whisper this melody:
Farewell, Pokémon Masters EX and Super Sentai.
Thank you for the years and decades of memories.
Until the day we cross paths again,
"Come circle round and grow deep in our hearts.
As long as we remember." 🙏🏻🎵
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