LOG ENTRY: NEW ISLAND SECTOR
My hands are still shaking. Not from fear—though the psychic pressure on New Island is immense—but from the sheer adrenaline of cataloging a canon-divergent timeline. I just clocked out of the Mewtwo Strikes Back simulation, and let me tell you, the completionist in me is screaming.
THE ROSTER: ASH'S CANON
Usually, I look at a game and ask: Can I catch 'em all? Here, the directive is different. You aren't catching everything; you are curating The Ash Ketchum Collection. The intel confirmed we get all three starters. I can confirm this is accurate. Bulbasaur, Charmander, Squirtle. They are all here.
NOTE: These aren't your standard issue lab rats. The local biology is distinct. The Squirtle feels... different. Enhanced.
For a collector, this is a distinct flavor of dopamine. Living Dex is possible without cheats, assuming your definition of 'Living Dex' is restricted to the Anime Protagonist's erratic catching habits. Seeing the slots fill up with the canonical team felt righteous. I didn't have to spend three hours in the Safari Zone throwing rocks. They were handed to me like destiny.
QUALITY OF LIFE: THE NO-HM PARADIGM
If there is one thing that ruins a speedrun to 100%, it's needing a Bidoof (or equivalent) to cut a tree. This region has implemented advanced pathfinding tech. No need for HMs. Repeat: NO HMs. I didn't have to waste a move slot on Cut. I didn't have to teach Fly to a Charizard that deserves better. This streamlined the expedition significantly, allowing me to focus on the threat level.
THE ANOMALY: NEW ISLAND
The narrative adheres strictly to the Mewtwo Strikes Back historical records. The atmosphere shifts when you receive the invitation. It’s not just a battle; it’s a survival horror scenario for a collector. The clones... I tried to scan them. The Pokedex threw an error.
Missable event warning! Save before entering the cave. Once you initiate the sequence with the ferry to New Island, you are locked in. If you haven't stocked up on Full Restores, you are going to have a bad time against the Clone Army.
THE VERDICT
Is it the deepest region? No. It's a focused, linear injection of nostalgia. But for a hunter who needs to verify every timeline, it's a necessary entry. 100% completion took me 12 hours. Short, punchy, and it scratches the itch of playing through the movie without the fluff.
