Liked Pokemon? Watch Puzzle & Dragons Cross!

• Episodes: TBA
• Aired: Jul. 2016 – TBA

3 Major similarities between Pokemon and Puzzle & Dragons Cross

1. Childlike Adventure

You, as many after you, probably watched Pokemon as a child, when you were able to fall completely into this world where cute but feisty Pikachus roam around like no one’s business. Ash was a young boy who set off on a journey to explore the greater world. Likewise, Ace is a young man embarking on a fabulous journey with new human and monster friends. You may be sitting there thinking, “Ah, they just don’t make them like Pokemon anymore.” Well, here’s the answer to your old fogey prayers. At the very least, Puzzle & Dragons Cross could be a great option for the young children in your life that you can enjoy together, even if that means you’re just pointing out how similar it is to Pokemon.

2. Cute monsters that battle a lot

Did we mention the cute monsters yet? Well, there are cute monsters, handsome monsters, and frightening monsters. In both Pokemon and PAD Cross, the characters are rather one-dimensional. The monsters and dragons, however, are deep, complex, and extremely varied in their characterization. The loyalty and intelligence seen in the monsters and dragons and other battling beings will remind you instantly of your favorite Pokemon pals. While there is a good bit of politics and social situations between the human characters, of course, the battles and the dragons are the main focus of the show!

3. Overall feel, and that OP

PAD Cross may very well be Pokemon advanced. Not only do you get one happy, dynamic kid Ace, but you also get a young badass-in-the-making Lance. Each episode will offer at least a little battling so you can enjoy the thrill of competition in each sitting. Dragon Callers manipulate magical drops while building their teams to take on tough opponents. Finally, PAD Cross offers a glorious opening theme from UVERworld titled “WE ARE GO,” that will get you hyped for each and every episode.

Liked Show Pokemon? Watch Tales of Zestiria the X!

• Episodes: 12
• Aired: Jul. 2016 – TBA

3 Major similarities between Pokemon and Tales of Zestiria the X

1. It’s a big, big world out there.

Something Pokemon managed to do even though it was a kids’ show was create an epic and vast world for all the pokemon to live in. Tales of Zestiria the X delivers the same feeling of wideness that you would expect from a Japanese RPG. The backgrounds from ufotable are breathtaking and paired with an amazing soundtrack. From the very beginning you can feel that this world is large, filled with potential friends and devastating enemies. Although not necessarily a kids’ show, Tales of Zestiria the X draws a clear line between good and evil and then proceeds to toe that line throughout the series. Sound familiar?

Each episode does a little world building so viewers can learn more about this fantasy realm while also keeping well-accepted motifs, such as legendary weapons and elemental strengths and weakness of the Seraphim. Of course these motifs are shown as legendary pokemon and monster elements in Pokemon, but they help fans get a good grasp of the world without having to know everything all at once, so it’s an easy series to get started with even without familiarity with the source game.

2. It’s all about the battles and friendship.

We watch Pokemon for the cute monsters, of course, and for the battles! Pokemon battles could vary between somewhat bland to truly thoughtful and epic. Luckily for Tales of Zestiria the X, almost all the battle scenes thus far have been visually epic. The fighting doesn’t last too long and, unlike Pokemon, does not find itself becoming repetitive. Each battle feels necessary and provides character development. It truly is a good grown-up anime to watch if you enjoyed Pokemon for the battle drama. Once you see the fight scenes, you’ll be craving for more. These scenes provide endless rewatch material, so you can take in that glorious fight sequencing perfection over and over again.

While Ash was off collecting pokemon, Sorey is collecting Seraphim. Seraphim are magical beings, or angels, as with its conventional use. Sorey calls upon their purifying abilities in the form of their legendary weapons and can also combine with them to become a super-powered, human-seraphim awesome machine. As expected, Sorey develops deep and meaningful relationships with the Seraphim and becomes a Shepherd, a person who can form contracts with Seraphim and thus purify evil monsters. While Ash has his forever companion Pikachu, Sorey has his best bud Mikleo, a Seraph of water. This friendship alone will also keep you coming back for more. Besides the main bromance duo, friendship has a strong presence in the anime already. Sorey’s choices on who and who not he chooses to be friends with are major plot points in the series.

3. Makes you want to play the game

If you watched the Pokemon anime but did not play the games, raise your hand. That’s what we thought. After watching Ash’s amazing adventure, it would take god-level self-control to not pick up the Game Boy and go on your own pokemon collection adventure. Tales of Zestiria the X does just that. Character designs are nearly identical, and the scenery makes you want to pick up your controller and explore these ruins, dungeons, and sprawling landscapes for yourself. If the main goal was to bring attention to this wonderful Tales series game, mission accomplished.

If you’re not in the actual gaming crowd but instead enjoy watching playthroughs and cut scenes from RPGs on YouTube, then this anime is exactly what the doctor ordered. Tales of Zestiria the X is the RPG experience without the RP or the G. Still, it offers all the wonderful story elements that have defined the Tales series and other Japanese RPGs through modern video game history.