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)

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. 🤷🏻‍♂️

Food for Tropes

What makes anime such a delectable delight to consume? 🖥🤨

For long-time experts of the entertainment medium, answering that question may feel like a piece of cake. I mean, even if I don't consider myself on that level, I can still offer my two cents with ease. Then again, those who aren't fluent in the art form may not have an answer. 🤔

Access to anime has gotten easier thanks to streaming services, unlike the early 1990s, when there were only local TV broadcasts and physical copies. Crunchyroll and Funimation (now under one company) seemed to be the only major English-language global distributors by the early 2000s. Now, streaming services like Amazon Prime Video and Netflix have diversified the market with exclusive titles. Lately, Disney+ has stated its aim to expand its library with original anime series. 🍥🐁

Such a positive development helped shed the outdated stigma that "anime is a Saturday morning cartoon." With millennials occupying the adult demographic, those who follow anime aren't sneered at as nerds anymore. They grew up watching anime and have continued to do so. Even when some ARE technically nerds, being an anime fan is no longer considered an embarrassing act. Nevertheless, that still doesn't mean everyone watches anime. 😅🤷🏻‍♂️

Of course, I'm not here to ramble about that. That topic is worth a separate think tank, to which I don't feel I have the minimum expertise to pull off. Instead, I'm focusing on my answer to the initial question. Although anyone might have guessed what that answer is, based on the title of this post alone. 😋🥪

(Source: Tonsuki 2 Episode 6)

Alluding Appetizer

Food has always been a part of my life. And, no, I'm not trying to sugarcoat the basic fact that it's one of the essentials for living beings. I'm talking about my upbringing. After all, it's not wrong to say that, growing up, my family's livelihood revolved around food. Or cooking, if I should be more precise. 🍽👩🏻‍🍳

Having immediate and extended family members who are/were great cooks further added to the recipe. Whenever we had annual celebrations or family gatherings, restaurant-purchased meals did not warrant many plates. In general, we tend to prepare everything at home. Oh, what tasty times those were! 👨‍👩‍👦‍👦🍱

Therefore, if you sneak a peek at my phone, you may notice how I have plenty of food photos. I'm sure my friends would gladly attest to that insufferable habit, as I've often shared those "cruel" savory snapshots. If I'm ever active on Instagram, food will probably flood my feed. What else? Hahaha. 🤳🏻👀

Besides, my YouTube history already consists of culinary-related channels. Whether it's legendary cooking guides like Chef John's Foodwishes and Cooking with Dog, story-driven variants like Max Miller's Tasting History and Dianxi Xiaoge's Yunnan living, or restaurant(-I-may-never-visit) reviews like DancingBacons, TabiEats, and Japaneats, anything food-related is my daily consumption. 🤤     

Well, were I blessed with a bottomless barrel of resources (time, tools, ingredients, space, etc.), I probably would've started my own food-themed channel, too. Then again, I have no cooking knowledge. And the best role I could fill is nothing but a kitchen assistant. So, maybe, I might've ended up as yet another traveling foodie? 🙄🛫

At this point, observant readers may be wondering. What does that nostalgia nonsense have anything to do with anime? 😐💭

Soup for Senses

Due to my art-based project—which will officially conclude for this year tomorrow—new anime titles have once again occupied my schedule. I need them as a reference anyway. Since I haven't been in the anime cycle/circle for quite some time, the first thing that clouded my mind was, "But what new show should I watch?" 🤔👀

Hilariously, this was the choice recommended directly to my face by the ever-spying Google:

(Source: MAPPA Channel)

Does that look exciting? The premise of Tondemo Skill de Isekai Hourou Meshi (Campfire Cooking in Another World with My Absurd Skill) is a familiar theme delivered with an unusual twist. Often abbreviated by fans as Tonsuki, the series centers around Tsuyoshi Mukouda, a salaryman transported to another world. While others who came alongside him unearthed impressive Role-Playing Game skill sets, Mukouda was shockingly "stuck" with a low-level, "laughable" ability. Online Grocery! 😲🛍️

I admit, the Isekai (meaning Another World) genre isn't usually my thing. Medieval RPG ranks the same in my preference scorecard. So, there was immediate hesitation before I decided to give Tonsuki a go. Also, the one currently airing is Season 2. Thus, I must travel in time to check out the prequel first. Oh, Nooo! 😩😪

 

Much to my surprise, that's not a decision I would ever regret. True to the title, despite the unusual approach, Tonsuki is still a COOKING ANIME! So, I chomped down the entire Season 1 like someone who just ended a hunger strike! 🤯🤩

My speed was definitely not as fast as Fel, Sui, and Dora-chan finishing Mukouda's homemade meals or delivery takeouts, since I could only watch it during breaks. The fact that I wrapped it up very quickly proved how enjoyable this show is, though, at least to my taste buds. Now I have no choice but to wait each week for a new Season 2 episode. 😅📅

Sure, I won't argue that PETA would probably have a field day criticizing the continuous carnivorous feasts. Furthermore, this show is basically a gigantic but not shameless product placement. After all, the branded sauces ARE ingredients, and the ad revenue most likely helps boost the animated quality. Thanks to that, the animation very rarely feels subpar. 🤩🖥

On top of that, the meals on Tonsuki almost always look mouthwatering. That's because of the method MAPPA deployed to assemble the cooking scene. Here's another example that should visually support what I just said:

(Source: MAPPA Channel)

A Salad of Selection

Watching Tonsuki brought an enlightening epiphany. No, not the philosophical kind, of course. It made me realize a pattern: "Cooking anime is a frequent item on my watch list, eh?" 😱

On a broader scope, the list has even included food-fronted manga-to-anime titles that don't involve cooking. Maybe it's about baking/pastry or drinks, like a café, teashop, and surprisingly bars! Something completely detached from any kitchen kerfuffle but still revolves around food, such as the Ramen-focused series Ramen Daisuki Koizumi-san (Ms. Koizumi Loves Ramen Noodles), is another must-watch. That's pretty much a fictional documentary of iconic ramen styles! 😁🍜

(Source: Anime Supreme)

Basically, my anime preferences mirror my YouTube history! The difference is that this history preceded the online video service. A trip down memory lane reminded me of one title that, if memory serves, was my first appetizer to the culinary/gourmet genre. 🧒🏻👨🏻‍🍳

Mister Ajikko exposed me to the magic of cooking anime, including the notorious exaggerated expressions. I'm sure the judges of competition shows (MasterChef, Iron Chef, and others) would roll their eyes upon seeing anime characters react to food in these anime. Sometimes I join that bandwagon, too, whenever the scene feels too over-the-top embarrassing. 😅🤦🏻‍♂️

That's one of the reasons I'm still wary of watching Shokugeki no Souma (commonly known as Food Wars!). The spicy salacious innuendo is too much for me! Still, whether foodgasm is humanly possible or not, we like it or not, the colorful commentaries add charm to the shows. If anything, it makes for a satisfying sense-shocker. 🥵🤯

(Source: Nightmare Awakened)

Since I already namedropped several titles, I might as well share more of what I considered memorable. 😅

Tonsuki isn't the only gourmet anime of the season. Kakuriyo no Yadomeshi (Kakuriyo: Bed and Breakfast for Spirits, often shortened to Kakuriyo) took me by surprise. It tells the story of a college student, Aoi Tsubaki, who was somehow spirited away into the youkai world by an imposing but cool ogre. It turns out her late grandfather, Shirou Tsubaki, promised the ogre that Aoi would be his bride, as payment for Shirou's debt. Inheriting Shirou's bravery, Aoi refused and decided to open an eatery, selling homemade human meals to pay the ogre. 👰👹

With the mention of Isekai and food, I would be remiss not to mention the two seasons of Isekai Shokudou (Restaurant in Another World). IseShoku for short. This on-the-nose title centers on a western restaurant, Nekoya, which has a unique, mysterious business shift. 👨🏻‍🍳🍱

During the workdays, Nekoya is an unassuming dining place located in Tokyo. However, on weekends, a rare doorway to another world appears inside the restaurant. So, even though the restaurant is closed, it's actually open for residents of that other space. IseShoku is popular. Rumor has it that a third season is in production, thanks to its positive response. The light novel source has more than enough material for more adaptation, anyway. 🔁🏞

Another show, Isekai Izakaya: Koto Aitheria no Izakaya Nobu (Isekai Izakaya: Nobu, the Japanese Pub in the Ancient City of Aitheria), or just Izakaya Nobu, functions similarly. This show is about Nobuyuki Yazawa, a Kyoto-based bar owner, and his waitress Shinobu Senke, who end up serving the residents of Aitheria, a singular city in another world. Not only does it have a fixed geographical setting, but an Izakaya is basically a Japanese bar. That combination puts this title's menu somewhat distinct from the previous example. Each food must complement beers here! 🧆🍻 

The final mention completely removes the Isekai concept. Nonetheless, I won't disagree if anyone states Rokuhou-dou Yotsuiro Biyori (Rokuhou-dou: A Pleasant Day in Four Colors) feels a bit Isekai. The architectural style of the traditional Japanese tea house/café, surrounded by those enchanting bamboo trees, gives a somewhat mystical vibe. It's as if it transports customers into ancient Japan. 🍣🎑

In this show, four dashing men (including one Italian barista) manage the business. The unofficial leader is Kyousui Tougoku, a cat fanatic. Kyousui quit his prestigious job to run the shop his late grandfather had left him. 🐈☕️

(Source: TV Anime Rokuhou-dou Yotsuiro Biyori)

Besides those, there are other shows with unique, even niche themes, that involve food as well. While I haven't seen some of them for various reasons, they have amassed a strong fanbase. 

Chuuka Ichiban (Cooking Master Boy) takes place in 19th-century China, centering on Mao, who travels around the country to become a Super Chef. That setting pretty much explains what kind of cuisine this series explores. Piace: Watashi no Italian (Piacevole! My Italian Cooking) is a series of shorts about a part-time waiter at Trattoria Festa, an obvious Italian restaurant. 🥡🍝

If the real world seems too basic, Toriko is undeniably a bolder, braver shounen-styled version of Tonsuki. The show explores its infamous titular character's journey to find ingredients in an outlandish era called the Gourmet Age. Emiya-san Chi no Kyou no Gohan (Today's Menu for the Emiya Family) is a slice-of-life spinoff of Fate/stay night. It focuses on Shirou Emiya, who buys groceries and prepares meals for the other characters. 🥩🥘

On that note, fancy more homemade dishes? Cooking Papa and Amaama to Inazuma (Sweetness and Lightning) are good options. The former is an old-school title showcasing Kazumi Araiwa's passionate effort to cook for his journalist wife and their son. Meanwhile, the latter tells a single father, Kouhei Inuzuka, who must raise his daughter Tsumugi. Nutritional troubles prompt Inuzuka to ask his student, Kotori Iida, to help them cook. There's also Maiko-san Chi no Makanai-san (Kiyo in Kyoto: From the Maiko House). It's a story from the perspective of Kiyo Nozuki, an aspiring maiko who ends up as a live-in cook in a maiko house instead. 🥪⛩

Futari Solo Camp, currently airing, is predominantly an animated camping guide. Even so, one of the two leads, Shizuku Kusano, is a chef. Preparing food was how she somehow infiltrated a camping session of a solitary camper, Gen Kinokura. Eventually, they formed The Odd Couple combo. Yuru Camp (Laid-Back Camp) is similar, but as a group setting. Craving bread or pastry instead? Yakitate!! Japan, Yumeiro Pâtissière (Yumeiro Patissiere), and Bonjour♪Koiaji Pâtisserie (Bonjour♪Sweet Love Patisserie) may satiate that palate. 🏕🍞

Message in a Main Course

Indeed, there's more to those titles than just cooking or food. Anime, like any other storytelling-based entertainment, threads through tropes. Both definitions of the word, in fact! ✌🏻😉

(Source: Oregon State University School of Writing, Literature and Film)

Over-the-top Food Glorification, as described earlier, is a trope. Characters that are Bad Female Cook, Lethal Chef, or Chef of Iron? Those are also familiar tropes we can often see. 🤪👀

Focus on food flourishes across and beyond the genre itself. Even anime titles that aren't food-related give extra attention to the presentation of meals. Take a look at One Piece and see how drool-worthy Sanji's cooking can be. An episode of Egao no Taenai Shokuba desu (A Mangaka's Weirdly Wonderful Workplace) used a neatly presented Nasi Goreng to explain how a manga cover designer works. Not that it's weird, though. Food is an art form of its own, and anime is, well, art. They are two peas in a pod. 🥗🖼

If we analyse that angle even further, one may also argue that the general cooking or gourmet genre itself is a recurring pattern that people feel familiarity with. Hence, a trope! In this case, the genre is embracing the second definition: "a figure of speech, a metaphor." 🗣🌬

(Source: Egao no Taenai Shokuba desu. Episode 8)

The more fascinating part is that, in anime, food serves more than just for sustenance. Meals often function as a plot tool. Behind the scenes, the writers and artists of these titles have already demonstrated their ability to weave, mix, and match food/cooking with another genre. The result is a mash-up of minced magnificence. Thanks to that, the cuisines presented aren't simply a random accessory. But they feed into a storytelling factor in each episode. They symbolize and represent emotions, growth, and even strength. 🌼💪

Kakuriyo makes good use of this method. It may be a supernatural romance drama. However, home cooking simmers as a vital ingredient. That's how Aoi could find her place, power, and purpose in a realm so foreign and fearsome to her. Seeing her meals open hearts and reconnect broken bonds is addictively endearing. Even when the animation quality was arguably so-so, GONZO never failed to make the meals look fine. 🤓🤤

The currently airing Season 2, Kakuriyo no Yadomeshi Ni, rolls into a more complicated political territory. But it maintains food as the heart, while expanding beyond the Japanese scope of Oden, Temari Sushi, and the ever-picturesque Washoku. As Aoi travels to other unseen regions in the realm, she fittingly introduces more Western tastes, such as hamburgers, unique delicacies like Borscht, and even sweets like Macarons. There's a new rival character specializing in Wagashi, too. Sure, incorporating food mission doesn't always blend seamlessly. Its assurance that a good meal can break the ice is as charming as ever, though. 😌🍙

(Source: Kakuriyo Ni Episode 1)

At face value, Tonsuki itself is an action-comedy RPG. Think a fusion of Pokémon and, perhaps, Octopath Traveler? But considering Mukouda, just like Aoi, is a human trapped in another world, anything he cooks grants an exclusive power boost to the natives of another world. 🌏🌚

Currently airing its second season as well, Tonsuki enters a glow-up stage where Mukouda raises his cooking level by using ovens and grills. The opening sequence hints that he may soon add seafood to the tray, too! As a character, he's growing and gaining new skills, much like his ever-gluttonous familiars. 🔥✨

Unlike Kakuriyo, the philosophical resonance of food may not be as profound in Tonsuki. Then again, his meticulous meals have helped broaden his network, attracting familiars and friends alike. More importantly, it proves his underestimated skill is an asset all along. I personally would NEVER mind having his convenient skill! 🤑💰

Speaking of skill, while fiery gourmet competition titles like Ajikko and Food Wars teach their audience about perseverance and confidence, series like IseShoku and Izakaya Nobu take food or drinks to a gentle, social angle. They've transformed into a melting pot of tropes where customers of various stereotypes meet and mingle over memorable meals. 🧑‍🤝‍🧑🤝👭

(Source: Anime Supreme)

Dragons of all colors? A legendary samurai and hardworking reptilian village leader? Royalties from a desert kingdom and a group of pixies? IseShoku doesn't discriminate against anyone and welcomes all. 🐉👳🏽

Each guest comes in with a usually predictable backstory. In the episodes, the curious customers find cozy comfort once they enter the elusive door and let their guard down inside the restaurant. Sometimes they run into kindred spirits who share a love for specific meals. Regardless of their differences, they dine and interact heartily. We live in an era when petty, pointless reasons tend to divide humanity. So, seeing unity perseveres in IseShoku or Izakaya Nobu is inspiring. 😌💞

Rokuhou-dou, Bartender: Kami no Glass (Bartender: Glass of God, a second adaptation after Bartender), and, to a lesser extent, Shirokuma Café, take that influence more personally. These serve as the classic iyashikei presentation. The featured cuisine generally brings clarity, if not peace of mind, to the troubled customers. Dining there allows them to let go of their worries and leave the establishment as a stronger individual. That give-and-take equally affects the main characters. And the "healed" customer usually returns with more people who need a similar release. 🍷💙

Series like Rokuhou-dou aren't flashy or extravagant in any way. The calm and mature vibe may not be everyone's cup of tea. Quite literally, as the lead, Kyousui cannot even cook, and only knows how to brew tea! But that teahouse tenderness sure touches my old soul's, uhm, soul. It sends a mindful message that can be uplifting to those who can relate. 🍵🧡

Much like my past family experience, good food brings people together. These titles remarkably remind me of that warmth. Like a gentle "It'll be all right" hug. 🤗💛

(Source: Anime Supreme)

Delicate but Delightful like a Dessert

And that's one of the (but not the only) appetizing appeals that make anime a delight. Or, should I say, one of the many possible answers to my opening question? 📜😉

Anime offers a variety of unexpected flavors through the genres. Even the cooking/gourmet side, as already served above, is chock-full of menu items that please distinct demographics. Every season sees the release of continuations and new titles, often making it hard to keep up. 📋👀

The fairest comparison I could think of is: anime is a regular TV drama delivered in animated format. In the sense that not all will please one's preference. Generally, though, a title or two would work well enough to capture our attention. There's one for everyone. Before we know it, we're already watching the entire first season and are currently halfway through season 2! 😂🧏🏻‍♂️

Moreover, gourmet is simply one genre. Don't get me started on sports-themed anime! I mean, seriously, please don't, because it's not a personal favorite! I wouldn't know what to say! Hahaha. For every long-running mainstream action title like Naruto or Dragon Ball, there's a diverse representation of other fields. Swimming, diving, cycling, or marathon? Anime titles exploring those stories exist. Rom-coms or just slapstick comedies featuring a range of convoluted circumstances? The list for that one is abundant. Horror, fantasy, psychology, parody? A show about a dictionary even exists! 👻🏊🏻‍♀️👍🏻

But please don't feel that's too much on the plate. Culinary aficionados may find the titles I've mentioned here serving as a quick start. Perhaps they might surprise with their complex storytelling or pleasing visuals. Or, they can inspire ideas for the cooking lab. 🤭👌

And if I may, I suggest watching those cooking anime while eating something. Sometimes, the vivid visuals will make a simple jam sandwich feel more delectable than it should! 😝🥪

Well, I hope this post hasn't been a mouthful. Here's a cherry on top, just in case. 🍨🍒😉 

(Source: Crunchyroll)