It’s getting harder to buy the latest Pokémon cards! A Tokyo store, Bic Camera, is now requiring customers to pass a Pokémon quiz before they can purchase products from the new Ninja Spinner expansion (known as Chaos Rising in English). This is an attempt to stop resellers and ensure the cards go to genuine fans. The expansion originally launched in Japan in March.
That’s what makes Pokemon Champions so captivating at the moment. The smaller number of available Pokemon creates a dynamic and unpredictable competitive scene, but that won’t stay that way forever. As new Pokemon become available, we’ll likely see strategies from Pokemon Scarlet and Violet become popular again. While powerful Legendary Pokemon can definitely influence the game, the biggest impact will likely come from reliable, common picks that offer consistency, can throw opponents off balance, and work well with other Pokemon. These seven Pokemon, when added to Pokemon Champions, are almost guaranteed to significantly change how the game is played.
This list highlights some recent movies that, despite having all the right ingredients for success, didn’t get the attention they deserved. They had the potential to be much bigger hits, but for whatever reason, they didn’t generate much buzz, and likely flew under the radar for many viewers.
As a movie critic, I’m already gearing up for a jam-packed summer! We’ve got the big superhero showdowns from DC and Marvel coming, plus a serious dose of nostalgia with new takes on Mortal Kombat and Masters of the Universe. But it’s not just reboots and sequels; there are some genuinely exciting original films and shows on the horizon too. Below, I’m sharing a preview of everything I’m most looking forward to, including some exclusive first looks and quotes. Let’s jump right into the movies I’m planning to see on opening day…
Now that Nintendo is adding guest characters to its games, it would make sense for Street Fighter to do the same with other popular Capcom characters. Figures like Morrigan from Darkstalkers or Leon S. Kennedy from Resident Evil could easily fit into the fighting game. While crossovers already happen in games like Marvel vs. Capcom, these characters would be true ‘guest stars’ because they’re central to their own franchises, and each has a unique personality, potential moves, and backstory that would make them great additions to Street Fighter.
Rei Ami, who voices Zoey in KPop Demon Hunters, spoke frankly about the challenges women face in the entertainment industry. She explained that it’s often incredibly difficult being a woman in a field dominated by men, often requiring twice the effort with a constant need to appear positive while facing constant criticism. She described the impossible standards women are held to – being told they’re either too thin or too heavy, too quiet or too dramatic. Ami emphasized that confidence is often seen as a threat, yet it’s precisely that confidence that draws attention. She celebrated the resilience and strength of women, calling their ability to persevere a superpower, and thanked all the women present for inspiring, leading, and protecting others. Her message was clear: women shouldn’t be made to feel they are ‘too much’ – they are exactly as powerful and deserving as they believe themselves to be.
Last week, Vampire Crawlers: The Turbo Wildcard from Vampire Survivors was the third best-selling game on Steam. This fast-paced, card-based roguelite is a spin-off of the popular 2022 indie game, Vampire Survivors, created by the same developers. While it doesn’t seem to be reaching the same level of popularity as the original, Vampire Crawlers is already a hit with players, many of whom describe it as incredibly addictive.
A major leak, first spotted by @multiversusie, suggests seven new fighters are planned for Invincible VS. The information came from unused voice lines discovered within the game’s data. Along with popular characters like Angstrom Levy and Oliver Grayson, the leak revealed some lesser-known faces from the Invincible universe will also be joining the fight.
There’s another free item to be aware of: the Razor Crest Mini-Build poly bag (30728). You’ll get it free with any Star Wars purchase of $40 or more. However, this offer doesn’t apply to sets designed for adults. For example, if you spend $850 on the Millennium Falcon (75192), you’ll receive the Darksaber, but not the poly bag. This is a bit of a strange rule with this year’s promotion, so it’s good to know before you complete your purchase.
The recent run of Star Trek shows has come to an abrupt end with the cancellation of Starfleet Academy. Just a few years ago, Lower Decks, Prodigy, Discovery, Picard, and Strange New Worlds were all airing new episodes within the same year, but now there are no new Star Trek series being made or planned. The lukewarm response to Star Trek: Starfleet Academy demonstrates that its attempt to appeal to younger audiences didn’t succeed.