Pokémon game-trailer parody evolves into Pokémon-naming marathon
The Pokémon video game franchise has not deviated from its successful, kid-friendly formula since its days as a Nintendo Game Boy staple in the 1990s. In the past two decades, lookalike sequels have piled up with distressing regularity, but unlike the creatures for which they are named, the games have not evolved. They’re still slow-moving, predictable, overly explanatory kid stuff with a weird undercurrent of slavery, including out-and-out auctions. These are the not-exactly-shocking observations made in “Pokémon Diamond And Pearl (Honest Game Trailers),” the latest video in the Honest Game Trailers series from Smosh Games. Typical excerpt: “Journey once more to the magical world of Pokémon,” says voice-over whiz Jon Bailey, “and prepare yourself to face yet another painfully slow tutorial segment.” Funny, sure, but standard fare for snarky parody videos of this nature.