Virtual to Reality--Pokemon X and Y and Its Brand New Style

Even though I've already established that I am not a fan of the Pokemon video game series, I have to admit that I've been swept up into the X and Y fever. From the (long overdue) avatar customization options to the addition of Mega Evolutions (Mega Charizard FOR THE WIN), I felt like I was being pulled further and further into the Poke-frenzy with each new announcement.

It was like middle school all over again, only this time, there was no teacher was around to tell me that I couldn't play with my Pokemon cards in school...

I don't have my hands on a copy just yet (X is calling my name), but why not appreciate this generation's fashion sense during the wait? The newest lead "Serena" is the most stylish young trainer hands down and I think this more fashion forward proves that the standard Pokemon formula can evolve to keep up with the times.

Pun completely and totally intended. Sorry. (Not sorry.)

What do you think about Pokemon X and Y? Are you into the hype or do you think that the long-running series is past its prime?

Virtual to Reality--Pauline, Plumbers Prefer Blondes

Let's go old school today and talk about Nintendo's original "damsel-in-distress", the curvy Pauline.

Before Mario (aka Jumpman) started traveling through pipes to to save defenseless royals like Princess Peach, he climbed up rafters to rescue his girlfriend, the Lady, from the wild Donkey Kong. Of course, this mystery woman couldn't go unnamed for long and she eventually became known as Pauline.

In her original appearance, Mario's first girlfriend was a stereotypical blond in a pink dress, who only existed to give the hero a reason to challenge a giant gorilla. But once Peach was introduced as the new damsel and Mario's attention was turned toward a giant turtle, Pauline was redesigned into the voluptuous brunette in red that she is today.

Pauline's skin tight red dress bares absolutely no resemblance to the puffy dresses of her princess counterparts. This character is sassy and stylish. It's a shame she doesn't have a larger part of the series.

Do you think Mario's ex Pauline should be featured in more games?

Virtual to Reality--Nina Williams: Shirts Are Overrated But Red Leopard Print is Fine

Nina Williams is one of the most popular characters in the Tekken series, appearing in every single game as the powerful "silent assassin". Her following is so strong that she has even been featured in her own spin-off title...but we do not speak of the disappointing mess that is Death by Degrees. Please, forget I even mentioned that disaster.

Though Nina has been featured in many different outfits, the main theme seems to be anything that's skin-tight and deep purple. But her standard outfit in Tekken 3 took a slight detour from that pattern and everyone's favorite assassin ended up in red leopard print and leather--and no shirt, because you don't really need one of those silly things, right? When you're hired killer (especially one in a video game), small details like covering up your chest don't matter.

Side note: I must admit that the process of settling on a Nina outfit for this post took much longer than the creation of the outfit. Learning that red leopard print vests pretty much don't exist in real life made it all worth it though. Thank goodness for that.

Anyway...Do you play Tekken? Who's your favorite character?

Virtual to Reality--Samus Aran (and her issues)

Metroid: Other M. A blemish in a otherwise amazing series? Maybe.

Yes, the silent protagonist was transformed into more of a repetitive, emotional yes-woman. And her monologues can have a bit of a "Captain Obvious" feel to them, but the missteps aren't as bad as some people like to believe.

Though they are pretty devastating to say the least.

If you can look past Samus's need for therapy, you might be able to appreciate the fact that Metroid: Other M is also radical in the way it shows Samus in regular clothing.

Not a revealing two piece. Not a skin-tight catsuit. Clothes. A shirt and pants.

Samus's old uniform doesn't reveal too much about what the heroine does in her down time, but it finally shows her as a normal woman. She still kills aliens and destroys planets for a living, but at least you know her wardrobe is not limited to just spandex and metal.

Any thoughts on the changes made to Samus in the Metroid series's last installment?

Virtual to Reality -- Princess Rosalina

Though Princess Rosalina's appearances in the Super Mario series have been limited, they've been notable. Nintendo's newest princess is not just a simple pallet swap, but a fully developed character with a detailed backstory (whether that story was actually interesting is up to you).

Rosalina's image is still a variation of the standard design set by Peach, but the final result is not as faithful to the original model as the concept art created during her development. Perhaps someone on the team realized that they didn't want to create another Daisy (or really, another Peach). Either way, Rosalina lost the puffy frills and bright color scheme and her dress started to reflect her more mysterious personality. It's also worth noting that her nails are tinted purple; a pretty insignificant detail that sets her further apart from the other princesses in the series.

But which one is better: Peach or Rosalina?

Virtual to Reality -- Princess Zelda

Updated July 23, 2012
When it comes to character development, Princess Zelda is very different from Nintendo's other star princess, Peach, for one basic reason: she means business. Yes, she still needs a hero to save her, but Zelda can definitely take care of herself better than Mario's number one girl.

However, when it comes to clothes, Zelda's various designs prove that she's not so different from the ruler of the Mushroom Kingdom. In her early appearances, Zelda's artwork showed her in formal pink gowns, similar to Princess Peach's signature look.

Over time, her dresses became more detailed, reflecting the more serious tone of the series. Zelda's clothes also started to display her position of power by including the crest of her royal family in some way (usually on a front sash). Though different shades of pink make up the majority of the princess's color schemes, she has also appeared in blue, white and red.

Many of Zelda's designs seem to be a variation of the same structure that was established in the artwork of A Link to the Past. But the most recognizable look for the princess seems come from her appearance in Twilight Princess. The theme was later reused in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, making it the one image comes to mind when most players think of the wise ruler.

Virtual to Reality -- Princess Peach

Updated: July 23, 2012
It's kind of interesting to think about how a fictional character's wardrobe could translate into real life situations (at least to me it is). Just like a superhero's tights wouldn't really help to strike fear into the hearts of evildoers in the real world, an actual princess probably wouldn't walk around in Princess Peach's puffy attire.
Over the years, the princess's standard clothing has been pretty constant in related artwork. The biggest changes made seem to be the size of the dark pink trim along the bottom hem of her skirt and the addition of two big paniers at her waist.

However, the damsel's early in-game appearances were quite different. In the original Super Mario Bros. game, Peach's dress was not pink but white with red/orange accents (not to mention the fact that she was a redhead and noticeably shorter than her hero). She picked up her current color scheme in Super Mario Bros. 2 but the princess's in-game model didn't truly match up with the artwork until Super Mario 64.

Recently, Princess Peach's character has become more of a clothes horse, changing outfits for sports related titles and Super Smash Bros. But her iconic pink dress remains a staple of the Super Mario series.