u/Likes2game03

By the time the Keita era of the anime was rebooting, the ratings of the series were flatlining. The series itself was in steep decline. And by the time 2021 series happened, its ratings were in the toilet. So how could the run for over 90 episodes? Simple, it was extremely cheap. I mean, the first opening was the same key. Yes, there were some new lines & imageries, but it still used a lot of reused assets.

Secondly, the series only does the minimum. The same four main locations, if I'm being generous. It only animates the characters if it really needs to. It even cuts the Yo-kai dancing & summoning songs. On top of reusing Keita's animations.

Furthermore, I think what budget it did have was spent on the returning main actors. Think about it, it's another continuation no one was clamoring for in a series that was dying. Must've scraped what the studio could it get these actors back these many times.

So yes, you could tell the studio was on a shoe-string budget with this one. Y-School Heroes was the step up while this was a definite step down. It's dire when you can tell the Japanese VAs don't sound that enthusiastic. Got any thoughts?

Can you name any isekai party members who are undersold for how powerful they really are?

I mean it when I say the story should've done more with the two. I could've been more invested in them had the game cared to elaborate on in the main story. The game commits the sin of telling rather than showing us their strife. Which is a shame because this is actually where the story is: the Crystal Guards corruption. Gotta be honest, I'd drop Minette & the Grace family from the story if that meant we'd get Janne & Nikolai's hookups with the CG shown to us. As shoddy & manufactured as Yew's relationship with Denys is portrayed, at least the game showed us some of it.

Moreover, they're gassed up to be the Kaiser's right-hand men & the most loyal, but the way they end it was thoroughly underwhelming. After we beat them the final time, they just talk it out. After everything they did & their heavy, willing involvement, the game does nothing to make it seem like it mattered. They're just laughing it up with the people they wrong so severely. No repercussions.

Ultimately, their stories could've been more interesting. Them & the Crystal Guard present-day corruption. But that gets lost in an ocean of eye-rolling & head-scratching storied decisions. Your take?

I've said in an earlier post that the odds of the English VAs returning for YW2 remake was less than 0. However, I think the chances for her VA is even less likely. Inaho/Haily Ann has always been a divisive character within the fanbase. The main reason why she's been used less & less in Yo-kai Watch content since 2017. But that's beside the point.

Another reason being, she's voiced by Aoi Yuki. You know, MaoMao from Apothecary Diaries & a whole lot more. The women is BUSY and like I said, Yo-kai Watch is the furthest thing from a priority series. Don't she'll jump at the chance to play a character whose reception is mixed in a franchise that's neglected her since 2020.

On the slim chance that YW3 is remade, Level 5 will probably get another VA to play Inaho. Your take on her VA returning for this case? Be honest.

I mean, compared to the Vesperia Definitive Edition (which people also dissed on release), it's lacking. No gameplay improvements, no frame enhancements, & no new content. It's just a beefed-up Switch version of the game. Also, I'm on the opinion that Arise should've released on the OG Switch years ago. Nearly five years after release is something else.

Yeah, it seems when it comes "editions", Bandai Namco isn't that great at it. The only definitive edition of a Tales game they got well was Graces F Remastered. Where they wisely choose to just use the best version of Graces and enhanced it. With Arise, they just made it more available. But that's my take, what's yours?

If Edens Zero was a bit more famous, there'd be a clearer answer. I mean, everyone in-universe likes the way she looks (including machines). But does the fandom think so too? If the series had more games, she'd prolly be that to gamers. What's your take.

Yeah, I think it's less than 0. If Yo-kai was a priority series, they could. I mean, the Persona series doesn't do it. And it's LIGHTYEARS more popular than Yo-kai Watch. Plus, its parent company has a lot more employees & resources.

Moreover, games Megaton Musashi W didn't even have an English dub, but it still released worldwide. And Yo-kai Watch becoming a third-rate, thrift series, bringing back the OG dub is just long out of the conversation.

Overall, the series can barely pick itself back up after in the 10 years since it's last successful game. I mean, even its "dedicated" fandom hasn't bothered to release any more subs of the last anime from 2021. Guys, just be grateful if it comes out subbed at all. But OG English dubbed? No, that ain't happening.

Ethereal Queen in every game after 4 has been a disappointment. Those of you how know get it. Even in SO3 she wasn't the strongest superboss. Hopefully, whenever Star Ocean 7 comes out, it can make her good again. Show of hands?

I think the only major gripe people have with it is the latter portion of the game. Beyond that, nothing else. However, for the other two; there's a lot fans can pick apart or dislike. Bravely Second's tropeyness or Bravely Default II's blandness. And those are just the general problems with them. Yes, they make improvements to the gameplay, but nothing else really. So yes, the first has a notable degree of general quality the others haven't matched, and I won't pretend that isn't the case.

I don't think Reshel Mae gets enough credit. She's only one episode, but she definitely makes use of that one.

The in-game character models are terrific but having the Skits based around them was not the best choice. Especially when Arise came out when JRPGs & anime were on the rise in the cultural zeitgeist. Now whether it helped it in marketing is up for debate, but it will always be a shame how Arise never had of the most charming things about the series. Always next game.

This one is my pick. I'm invested in this. It started out decent but man, as it goes on, there's a lot of writing choices that will actively piss you off. For one, it goes the harem route. Then there's making the title character so dense & passive. There's also the three main girls vying for the main guy's affection like an actual competition. Along with a whole lot of other things. Over 230 chapters and majority of it is what I described. Unfortunately, I'm invested. Not because it's good, but more like I want to see how it ends. Got any recs like this?

I know that they went back to Keita fast, but I forgot it was THIS fast. One year & several days after the OG series ended? And before Yo-kai Watch 4 even released?! Was the Shadowside era really that divisive? I don't think fatigue was to blame. Just fans unwilling to accept change. Which hurt in the long run.

You, Digimon waited more than a decade to revisit its most popular era. I guess in Yo-kai Watch case it was a matter of trying to be popular again. I have no clue what happened between 2016 & 19 that made them go pivot so aggressively. I only remember that time being dominated by SS. Either way, whoever is responsible for such mismanagement, I hope they got fired.

I don't think Lonsdale gets enough credit for being one of the best asterisk holders in the series. But this scene made me love this dude. It's a natural way to humanize an antagonist without it feeling jarring. Unlike a certain hot spring scene between brothers. Anyway, this was one of the better moments in Default II. It's so well-directed.

I think the only scenes that come close are the ones with Edea, Kamiizumi, & Braev before she fights them. Bravely Default II gets a lot of crap for its story & characters, but this is one of the highlights of the game for me. Lonsdale is how you make a loyal character without him feeling so dogmatic. Your thoughts?

It doesn't have to be villains; it can also be heroes or supporting. But I can't think of anyone more hated than these guys.

I'm asking; what are YOUR overall opinions on these "reboots"? Unfiltered & unbiased. As in, looking at them without your series nostalgia/love talking. How do they hold up in comparison to the earlier days of the Keita era. Are the series written as enjoyable, funny, or endearing. Are the characters and/or material overall decent? How do they stack up to their (then) contemporaries. Be honest, brutally honest.

Really sucks how Bravely Second doesn't really commit to the promise of a war. Like, its story is more of the bog-standard. As in, it doesn't feel like the party is ever in some large-scale, world-reeking conflict. Which is sad, because they promoted the Kaiser & a war to a notable degree in the advertising. It's even on the back of the box.

Moreover, the story itself feels like there's never any urgency with the heroes & Glanz. Like, there's always some kind of distraction until they get to the Skyhold. The subquest never touch on the larger happenings in the world either like the first game. Speaking of which, the first never tries to advertise anything that isn't promised. Which is a grand adventure in Luxendarc.

Lastly, what happens in the final chapters affirms this claim. As if the writers couldn't play this whole conflict thing straight. overall, it really is a loss. Because Bravely Second has this reputation of being a retread of Bravely Default. Could've done more with this concept but it squandered it in the end.