I thought I could sleep on this one. Surely, surely, they wouldn't have significant Pokémon-related news just two days after their last Mega Evolution reveal. Surely, there was no need to get up early again for an hour-long presentation that may or may not have Pokémon news in it.

And here I am writing a text reaction like a sucker, because I still can't be bothered to make a video at this time. Video below. Skip to about 48:25 if you only care about the Pokémon stuff.



Let's start with the other games I also want to briefly touch on.

Super Mario Galaxy. The movie, but also the games. But mainly the movie. My first thought was, "Why not Super Mario Brothers the Movie 2?" Which I quickly realized wasn't really going to fly.

First, the first movie wasn't about any particular Mario game. If anything, it was several games mashed together. Second, which Super Mario Bros. 2? The Lost Levels is basically the first game, only harder. Super Mario USA was Only A Dream, and is probably too different from the original to have a movie sequel based around it. Not necessarily the best routes for a movie franchise. Third, Super Mario Galaxy nostalgia is probably bigger right now than those other 2's put together.

Nintendo can't put all their eggs in one movie basket. They've got tons of IP just waiting to have their own movies, so they can't have the majority of them be Mario Bros. ad infinitum. Who knows how many movies this venture has in it, regardless? The best way to avoid sequelitis is to ratchet things up so high that the concept of another sequel is laughable. And it doesn't get much higher than outer space. Just jump the shark and get it over with. And if there's still demand for a sequel, then you start shoveling.

Also, Super Mario Galaxy 1+2 announced, either on one card or separately on the eShop. Little is new for either of them, except the storybook is now in both and has new pages. Also, a physical storybook, with just the old pages. Maybe I'll give them a chance if I find the time.

Super Mario Wonder Switch 2 Edition + Meetup in Bellabel Park. My first thought was that this felt like it should be Mario Party DLC, but it's using Wonder's mechanics so I guess not.

Yoshi and the Mysterious Book. Remember the stuttery animation in some Switch 1 games? Now it's an aesthetic.

Mortal Kombat Legacy Kollection. Will it have the SNES version with censored out blood? That remains to be seen.

Kirby Air Riders. Finally, another game that uses Figure Players. Also, the Amiibo uses the same technology as Skylanders Swap Force, probably. Character plus vehicle, but the riders can be swapped. Kinda have to wonder why Skylanders Superchargers didn't do that.

Dragon Quest VII Reimagined. Featuring what looks like a Team America: World Police character.

Virtual Boy Nintendo Classics. Did I tell you I won Nintendo Force's Player's Pulse giveaway back in January? My winning letter (the part they published, at least) speculated that the Switch 2 would be a "VR ready" console. Boy, was I close! Virtual Boy games are coming to NSO, and you can buy replica Virtual Boy peripheral compatible with both Switches to play them with! Or a cardboard version that's somehow worse! These would be cool to have, but not necessarily use. This is a failed console for a reason. If the games are playable without them, I haven't noticed.

Geez, what's next? The CD-i?

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond. Samus has a motorcycle now. That is all.

I actually found out about it through the Nintendo Today! app. The Vi-O-La is unnamed in the trailer proper, but if you squint you can see it on the Amiibo screen. Probably why it showed up in the app. Now I feel like I need to avoid the app if I don't want it to spoil reveals for me. Why did I even download this?

Donkey Kong Bananza DLC. Return to DK's home island, and apparently level it in search of emeralds for Void Kong. I'm sure it'll make more sense in the game. New perks, gear, and missions for the base game areas. Also a demo is out now. I'd play it right now if I hadn't decided to write this up instead.

Pokémon Pokopia. A Minecraft-looking game where you play as a Ditto disguised as a human that maintains a grove and befriends wild Pokémon, which unlocks new abilities to better maintain the grove. Watch the human-form Ditto morph parts of its body to use these abilities is kinda creepy. Looks like you can customize the Ditto's human form, though I doubt you can change its face. I kinda bounced off Minecraft back in the day, so I'm not sure if this is the kinda game I want to play.

Pokémon Legends: Z-A. Not one, not two, but three new Mega Evolutions, one for each Kalos Starter. No indication of how you get the starters, though. Does someone just give them to you, like with the Kantonian Starters in X&Y? Are they out in the wild, like in Legends Arceus? Do you have to transfer them in from HOME?

if that last one is the only way, that's going to make things a little awkward. The only way to get their Mega Stones is through Ranked Battles, for a limited time, in separate promotions, starting at launch. Greninjite is available immediately, with the other two in subsequent seasons with no established start date. Man, it'd suck if you wanted to play through the game with a Mega Chesnaught! Ha ha ha [beats my head against a wall] ha! Ha! Ha!

So my plan, as it were, if we had to pick from the Kalos Starters again instead an apparently-random selection, was to go with Chespin. I had chosen Fennekin in Y and got the Battle Bond Greninja in the Sun & Moon demo and transferred it to the main game. As far as I'm concerned, Chespin is the only one I have yet to train. Heck, I could still put it in my Z-A party, probably knocking out Mega Victreebel. The other two are even redundant types with my most locked-in picks (Psychic, Water, and Dark), further disqualifying them.

Too bad those two Mega Evolutions are so much cooler. And going first!

Don't get me wrong, Chesnaught has a quality Mega Evolution. I just like the other ones better. Maybe it's the judicious use of black, or their ability to apparently fly. Mega Chesnaught just doesn't do it for me.

Not that it especially matters. Acquiring their Mega Stones requires probably heavy investment in multiplayer battles. I'd put those off until the post-game if I could, especially if there are new (Mega) Pokémon I haven't seen yet. Who knows how long that'd take me! All three seasons could pass before I even got a shot at them! The website flat-out says this is the only way to get them, but that can probably change. I'll probably have finished the game by then, though. I don't know what I'd be doing after that.

So if it weren't for all that, Mega Chesnaught for the sake of completion. Otherwise, probably Mega Delphox. As it stands, none of them.

And I'm a little disappointed that Mega Greninja isn't just Ash-Greninja again. I'm kinda hoping it's back in Z-A. Even better if it's a customizable [Player name here]-Greninja!

Pokémon Legends: Z-A - Mega Dimension DLC. Oh, did I say three Mega Evolutions? I meant FIVE.

A paid DLC drops the same day as the base game, and features Mega Raichu X and Mega Raichu Y. The next best thing to a Mega Pikachu. Like Mega Dragonite, they sport features of both Pikachu and Raichu, plus some extras. Raichu X is Pikachu-colored, has two Pikachu tails (making it the X-shaped one), and apparently floats via electromagnetism. Raichu Y has Pikachu's ears and tail (albeit on the end of its whip-tail) and... antlers? (Making it the Y-shaped one) The website says it's horn-like fur, so alright I guess.

As I said, this paid DLC is available as soon as the base game launches (you can even pre-order it now!), but you can't play it until you've finished the main story. Remember how I once speculated Hoopa might be the one to isekai you into Z-A? That was wrong. Judging from the in-person demo, you take a plane to Kalos and a train to Lumiose. But Hoopa is the one behind the DLC, opening portals to what's being called Hyperspace Lumiose. Game Freak's really trying to get away from the Ultra Wormhole nomenclature, huh?

If I had to hazard a guess from the name of the DLC, you'll likely be able to encounter all the Mega Evolutions, even ones not seen in the base game, possibly either as wild encounters or as a boss rush. It's called Hyperspace Lumiose for a reason. It's probably got trippy colors in there, too.

Also, thanks, Game Freak. I was this 🤏 close to not having to invest money in this game (it was my prize from Nintendo Force's contest).

Anyway, the Mega Raichu are alright. Pikachu is likely available real quick, but its Mega Stone probably doesn't appear until the DLC quest unlocks. Even if you can get it right away (for a fee), I'm not enthused enough to put Game Freak's main mascot on my team when I already have so many other choices. Yes, even Mega Victreebel.

And what's this day-one paid DLC nonsense? Are tariffs really hitting so bad that the price has to be artificially inflated so soon? It's post-game content! This might be the only DLC this game gets, and you're pushing it out the door the day the base game launches? Granted, it's not without precedent, but still...

So, nine Mega Evolutions revealed, and I'm going with... The first three that were announced. And possibly one that hasn't been yet, because it's on the starter. And two from previous games, one because it wants to join you and the other because I use it in every game. 24 have been leaked, so there's probably fifteen left to see if they didn't add more.

Will we see them all before the game launches? Will Mega Victreebel finally get kicked off my fantasy team? Will the replica Virtual Boy be the worst-selling peripheral of all time?

Until the next reveal trailer, that remains to be seen.