Soldier Makes Time for Pokémon Go While Battling ISIS in Iraq

This soldier made time for some Pokémon Go action while battling ISIS in Iraq.

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Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

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To truly become a master of our planet's current obsession, Pokémon Go, one must often make the ultimate sacrifice by becoming an accomplished multitasker. Stuck at church with a boring AF preacher? Just keep pretending that you're listening while covertly hunting down some Pokémon. In the middle of an armed robbery? There's still time for Pokémon. But what about former Marines currently in Northern Iraq doing militia work against ISIS? Apparently, Business Insiderreports, there's still time for Pokémon Go.

"Just caught my first pokemon on the Mosul front line by Teleskuf," Park wrote on Facebook Friday. "Daesh, come challenge me to a pokemon battle. Mortars are for pussies." Unfortunate pairing of Pokémon and profanity aside, Park's post is the latest in a long line of examples of just how massive (and kinda surreal?) this whole Pokémon comeback really is.

One thing I've seen in many pieces on this game is how it forces people to get out of the house; it's true, Pokémon Go will have you roaming across the land, seeing which characters pop up. It's also dope that a number of these Pokéstops (where you can get more Pokéballs and other items) are at specific locations in your area; you need Pokéballs to catch Pokémon, so at some point you HAVE to get there, right?

The fresh augmented reality game has taken generations young and old by storm, allowing players the unique chance of becoming a storied Pokémon trainer in perhaps the most difficult of environments: real life. Our own khal gave the hunt a very professional try over the weekend, finding that the magic is all in the journey, man:

A wildly popular (albeit undeniably nostalgia-fueled) augmented reality game that gets you and all your peeps interested in the outside world again? Sounds like Nintendo finally bagged another major win. 

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