We can't let a new Pokemon release go without coverage! As a treat, we invited Jen and Kyrie to join us and discuss the latest, and perhaps the greatest, from the world of Pokemon. ...Ok, not the greatest. But charming, thought-provoking, and distinctive, is how I would describe Pokemon Legends Z-A, and the four of us sat down to discuss its shortcomings, its successes, and the potential it shows in a series we all love. But also worry about.

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Ultra Necrozma? Done and dusted. Mina's Trial? Did it. Hapu's Grand Trial? Completed. Mt. Lanakila? Climbed it. The Elite Four? Smoked 'em. Hau? Bested. On this episode, we ran through the last stretch of Alola like a runaway train, smashing every remaining obstacle between us and the credits. There is, of course, more game after the credits roll. But that will have to wait for another time.

The Scanline Media Discord can be found here!

The way our discussion breaks down does not always imitate how our play sessions went. Sure, we spend a third of the pod talking about Aether Paradise. We talk Hapu and Seafolk Village, we talk the Altar of the Sunne and the Altar of the Moone, we talk Trials and Necrozma. But most of our time? Was fighting in the aptly named "Vast Poni Canyon." Yeah, that... that's a dungeon, right there.

Next episode, we are hopefully closing out the main story of Pokemon Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon! We'll be back for postgame stuff, but we'll take a break first: we both want to catch a breather, and also dig into Legends Z-A!

The Scanline Media Discord can be found here!

Team Skull. The island challenge dropouts have hounded us since the beginning of the game, kidnapping pokemon, blocking public roads, harassing bystanders. Oh, and trying to beat us up, though their efforts have been pretty laughable. But this week, they go too far. And it's up to us to head to their hometown to bring justice to them where they live. ACAB includes Nanu, in fact it might include him more than most fictional cops.

Our playtime for this ep leaves us at the base of the Aether Foundation- next time, we're playing the rest of that, and onward til we hit the Kommo-o Trial on Poni Island!

The Scanline Media Discord can be found here!

A haunting experience this week as we tool around Ula'ula, finally fighting the leader of Team Skull and challenging a throwback in the form of the Nugget Bridge, but it's all building to a shopping experience we won't soon forget. Sure, the Haunted Thrifty Mega Mart is spooky. But it's also really hard, with the Totem Mimikyu thrashing us within an inch of our lives. Past that inch, in some instances....

Next time, we challenge Team Skull on their home turf- Po Town! Then we'll knock out the Grand Trial, and hop on a boat to the Aether Foundation for some PLOT.

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New island, new us! Ok, I lied. Same us. Gardens, community centers, tile puzzles (???), even a gym ala Kanto, Ula'ula Island is immediately serving up some fresh and engaging spots for our tour guides. We get to the top of a nearby mountain at the end, but it's the rest of the island that's really proven so interesting. Plus: Six forgets what shape a Z is! All this and more.

We'll tackle the ghost trial next episode, continuing our Ula'ula Island Time!

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Leaving the volcano behind, we head for the coast and cooler climates. Then it's back into a hot and humid jungle to pick ingredients for a soup. We make some time for science and golf, head through tunnel taken over by an invasive species, meet the Ditto Five, fight Team Skull's strongest trainer yet, and triumph over Olivia. All in a day's work.

A lot waiting for us next time- the Aether Foundation's floating conservatory, Ula'ula Island, a gym?!? Should be interesting.

The Scanline Media Discord can be found here!

A shorter piece of game gives us time to linger and explore, and we're all the better for it. Akala Island has a lot to offer, from ?evil? scientists to definitely deranged influencers to our main topic- a friggin' volcano with a dance contest at its peak! Boy howdy, lot to dig into there. Plus: Hapu! She's the best!

Next episode, we will CONCLUDE Akala Island with Mallow's Trial and the Grand Trial!

The Scanline Media Discord can be found here!

We're leavinggggg! On a Mantine! Don't know why cuz I'm back again! ...Hold me like you'll never let me go? Or is that part BEFORE the chorus? I don't know the song that well. We finish our first island, leave, and then turn around and come back because hey we weren't actually done. But THEN it really is on to island number two, a watery trial, and a trailer full of infinite Pikachus. It's probably not cursed. Probably.

For our next episode, we're playing up through Kiawe's trial on Akala Island!

The Scanline Media Discord can be found here!

An interesting theme of empty homes this week as our journey through the Trial and Grand Trial of Melemele Island sees us stopping by the homes of both Ilima and Guzma. We start sticker collecting, learn to do Z-Moves, and... have Metal Gear Solid 3 flashbacks? Alola means "hello," "goodbye," and "enemy spotted."

For our next episode, we're playing up through Lana's trial on Akala Island!

The Scanline Media Discord can be found here!