In Anticipation

By Kalylia

Anticipation of what you may ask? Well, my fair reader, let me enlighten you.

For those of you that are unaware, Nintendo has remade the second generation Pokémon games. Originally titled Gold/Silver (and rapidly after, Crystal), these two new titles will be called HeartGold and SoulSilver. While I’m not entirely fond of the title choice, I am absolutely stoked for these titles to be released in America.

What day will that be?

MARCH 14th, 2010!

Now, these games have already seen release in Japan. Reception has been initially positive in Japan; the games sold over two million units in their first six weeks of sales. A Japanese gaming magazine known as Famitsu gave the games a combined score of 37/40 based on four individual ten-point reviews (9, 9, 10, and 9). Each reviewer praised the games for retaining the quality that drew them to the original Gold/Silver. This is high praise, considering Gold/Silver were perhaps the most innovative and well-received of the series. We can only hope America feels the same way.

These two games will retell the story of Johto. The player will start in New Bark Town, as he did in the original Gold/Silver games. However, while the story remains very similar, there are a lot of things that will be changing between the games. I have outlined many of those changes below:

First of all, the characters themselves will be changing. While the original “Gold” remains the male playable character, he has received an updated design. The female character will be known as Lyra.

All of the game’s music has been rearranged to better utilize the DS’s more sophisticated sound systems. (After all, the DS is a far cry away from the Game Boy Color we all grew up with and loved very dearly.) There will be a key obtainable item, however, that will allow the player to switch between the new, updated arrangements of the music and the original chiptune soundtrack. Ambient sound effects will also be much more prominent in these remastered games: players will be treated to the sounds of running water and rustling grasses among others. This should add an entirely new layer of texture and realism to the games.

Many of the Johto region Gyms have been redesigned. This provides new puzzles and challenges for those individuals who played the original Gold/Silver games. While the Leaders themselves remain unchanged, their teams have also been updated in some cases as well as their surroundings.

Perhaps the biggest change in gameplay is a new peripheral called the Pokewalker. This external pedometer-styled device comes packaged with every game. The Pokewalker is shaped like a Pokeball and can communicate with the DS game cartridge through infrared signals (the same technology used in some other current DS titles, such as Personal Trainer: Walking). A single Pokémon can be carried in the Pokewalker at a time. Walking with the Pokewalker will not only increase the Pokémon’s experience and improve its overall attitude toward its trainer, but also provides the player with Watts, a currency for the Pokewalker that can be used to purchase items and catch wild Pokémon.

Similar to what Pikachu did in Pokémon Yellow, all 493 Pokémon have the ability to walk behind the character sprite in-game. While size isn’t necessarily accurate in comparison with the player’s sprite, the player does have the ability to interact with the Pokémon following them by pressing A. When entering battle, the Pokémon following the player will appear from the side of the screen as opposed to from a Pokeball. (Which makes sense, as the Pokémon was obviously not in a Pokeball prior to the start of battle.) Choosing what Pokémon a player wants to follow them is as easy as putting said Pokemon in the lead party slot.

A new sidequest called the Pokethlon makes its appearance in these games. It appears to be HeartGold/SoulSilver’s equivalent of the Contest system in previous games. The Pokethlon pits Pokémon in 10 minigame styled competitions against each other.

Swarm Pokémon are also making a reappearance. Like in the original Gold/Silver games, you can listen to Professor Oak’s radio station daily and he will you when there is a swarm of Pokémon at a particular location. These Pokémon will appear in vast quantities in a particular location for a very short time after Professor Oak’s announcement.

Due to the absence of a VS Seeker, the Pokegear has updated its former “Cell Phone” feature. The new Cell Phone has a limitless call list. Going back to rebattle trainers now depends on the day and time, though. Thus should cause players to plan wisely as well as letting the player interact with these NPCs as though they were more like real individuals by “scheduling” times to battle.

Many Pokémon have received updated, improved, and more well-rounded movesets through breeding. Togepi, for instance, now has the ability to learn Extrasensory through breeding. Breeding has also taken a step up in that specific Individual Values (which is basically a measure of how Pokémon grow in their stats as they evolve) can be passed down through Breeding with the use of certain items.

Commemorative photos can be taken at certain points in the game and viewed later from the Pokegear. While these photos have no real effect on the overall game, they do add a sense of immersion. They’re also sort of a kitschy addition that, while not necessary, I’m still sort of excited for.

Like in Pokémon Platinum, HeartGold/SoulSilver will allow players to rebattle Gym Leaders. The Gym Leaders will have widely superior teams than in their first battles. The Gym Leaders will be found in the Fighting Dojo in Saffron City after you have scheduled a rematch with them. (Thankfully, they stay there until you’ve beaten them so you don’t have to reschedule if you lose the first rematch.)

I hope this has given you a good sense of what the new Pokémon HeartGold/SoulSilver will have to offer in the upcoming month. This is not all the information currently available on these spine-tingling new games, but what I’ve covered here I feel to be the most exciting and vital. Now please, try not to drool over the empty “preview boxes” at your local Gamestop.