イッシュ地方、新しい冒険へ by 蒼井
Pokemon Black and White mark the beginning of the 5th generation of the Pokemon franchise, introducing a new region and 156 new pokemon. They’re also the first games that are on the same console as the previous generation, the Nintendo DS, though they contain many advanced features that previous games do not have. Already B&W are top sellers, selling a record 2.6 million copies in just two days and having over a million preorders. The games have now sold 3,761,217 copies in sixteen days, ranking them the highest among Japanese game sales in the past two weeks.
I’ve finally played through enough of my copy of Pokemon Black to write a proper review of it…
One of the first things that fans noticed upon the release of the games is that they’re a lot more story-centered than previous ones. All the Pokemon games have featured a rival for the player and an evil organization that the player must defeat. These characters will usually appear just a few times throughout the game, while the main plot remains for the player to collect all the gym badges and compete in the Pokemon League. Black and White however, feature two rivals/childhood friends, Cheren and Belle, who play relatively significant roles in the story and reoccur to battle the player many more times than previous characters.
❤❤❤ by 白井 風都＠ついった
In addition, B&W’s signature evil organization, Team Plasma, are also more complex, featuring a better variety of characters, from their preachy leader Geechisu and enigmatic “king” N, to the mysterious six sages and N’s bodyguards, Dark Trinity. Like Team Galactic from the 4th generation, Team Plasma is portrayed as having somewhat righteous ideals but twisted ways of acting on them. Team Plasma believes that pokemon suffer under human control and must be free, while the rest of the characters try to convince them that pokemon and humans form lasting bonds that help each other grow stronger together. Team Plasma wants to separate pokemon and humans and create a “black and white” world. I thought Cyrus’ conflict in Platinum was pretty deep for a Pokemon game, but the conflict involving Team Plasma is just as interesting.
Team Plasma grunts
Taking the story-oriented feel of the games even further, instead of the games’ main story ending with the player defeating the Pokemon League Champion, as it has for all the previous games, in B&W the player must have a final confrontation with N and Geechisu instead. Only after defeating them in one of the most difficult series of battles (having to capture your version’s respective Dragon-type legendary, defeat N, and then defeat Geechisu all without saving your game in between) will you be able to take on the real Champion. In addition to Cheren, Belle, and Team Plasma, the eleven new gym leaders of Isshu also have at least a small role in the games’ story outside their gym, which again adds to the games’ heavy focus on story and characters.
Despite all the focus on story, B&W are definitely not lacking when it comes to the typical gameplay we expect of Pokemon games – catching, training, and battling pokemon while traveling to different cities and taking on each gym leader. The first thing to note is that there’s a whopping 156 new pokemon in B&W, more than even the very first games introduced, bringing the total number up to 649. As with all generations, there are always fan complaints about the designs of the new pokemon. I personally am not fussy when it comes to pokemon and think the 5th generation as whole has some of the better designs.
*Image credited to Veekun. Click the image for a larger version*
Another difference is that only new pokemon are available in the game until after you complete the main story. After that, many new areas will open up and give you access to pokemon from previous games, as well as areas exclusive to each version (Black City in Black and White Forest in White). Of course, along with new pokemon there are also new attacks, abilities, and items, but thankfully not an overwhelming amount. Also, Pokemon Musicals replace Pokemon Contests, though I don’t have much interest in either. Another plus is that it’s a lot easier to raise up your pokemon in B&W, especially in the later stages of the games. There are a lot more areas with more trainers to battle, you can battle a number of trainers more than once, and you even receive the Lucky Egg early in the game. After you complete the main story, the eastern part of Isshu that opens up contains a ton of trainers and pokemon at much higher levels (LV60s), so that too is great experience.
The very first improvement in B&W that fans will notice is the fantastic graphics. The DS’s 3D engine is used to its fullest in these games. A number of areas such as the skyscrapers and alleyways in Hiun City and the Sky Arrow Bridge that overlooks the ocean, are all rendered in an amazing 3D that I don’t think has ever been seen in a DS game. There are more 3D rendered cut scenes in B&W as well. Just about all of the gyms also make use of the 3D engine and feature fun puzzles, such as being shot out of cannons, riding on roller coasters, and searching for specific books in a library.
The player in Hiun City and Sky Arrow Bridge
The graphics for the pokemon battles have greatly improved. The pokemon sprites are now constantly moving throughout the battle and the camera zooms in and out accordingly during attacks. The battle music is more dynamic as well, changing to a dramatic tone when your pokemon is low on HP or your opponent sends out their final pokemon. In addition to the familiar single and double battles, the 5th generation introduces triple and rotation battles. I haven’t gotten into these very much yet as you’ll only encounter a few in the main story.
A triple battle
With my high intermediate/low advanced Japanese skills, I was able to play through the game while absorbing a good amount of the story and without getting stuck anywhere. These are also the first Pokemon games where you’re given the option to have the text in kanji instead of kana, though I opted to stick with kana XD Since the games haven’t been released outside of Japan yet, it’s hard to comment on their connectivity to foreign versions, but one would assume it’ll be the same as the 4th generation. Also like the 4th generation, you’re able to permanently transfer your pokemon from the previous generation into B&W using the Pokeshifter that becomes available after the main story. Unfortunately unlike previous games, they won’t be able to hold any items or have certain HM moves (it sucks, but it’s probably due to the fact that TMs and HMs have been changed in B&W).
There are many more new features to explore in these games, such as the Dream World, Battle Subway, C-gear, High Link, and uploading your game online. I haven’t gotten around to using these features yet, so I’ll most likely touch on them when I review the US release of the game in spring of next year.
伝説の一戦 by イーブイ松本
In conclusion, Black and White have the potential to be the best Pokemon games in the franchise thus far – not only do they have the usual aspects of the games that we know and love, but the addition of a focused story, developed characters, and amazing graphics make them worth the hype. Looking forward to reliving the excitement of these games again with the US release! =D
When I read the description of Team Plasma, it vastly resembles PeTA or the Animal Liberation Front. Scary huh?
Anyway, I think Pokemon Black/White is going to be a fun game once it comes out in America… I probably get distracted from blogging when the game comes out next year, but it will be good fun.
Yeah, this is the first time where the morality of pokemon battling/capturing/training is questioned within the games. From what I can understand while playing, it doesn’t go into hardcore moral philosophy or horrific details or anything, but it does help support the idea that the 5th generation games are trying to be more “mature” than past ones (in addition to the protagonists being older). But as far as relating the morality of the Pokemon world to real world animal issues, that’s an extensive topic for another day XD It’s something I’ve always wanted to write about actually, just never got around to it.
I wish they focused more on plot/characters in the earlier games.
“having to capture your version’s respective Dragon-type legendary, defeat N, and then defeat Geechisu all without saving your game in between”
oh snap. really? x_x
idk why, but Team Plasma’s uniforms crack me up, as well as Geechisu’s. I was kind of disappointed that the team leader wasn’t female.
The only thing that will prevent me from falling head-over-heels in this game are some of the gym leaders and 94% of the Pokemon. (I’m sorry Iris, Shaga and blue haired waiter, you look kind of ridiculous.)
Oh god I need to stop being so judgmental when it comes to aesthetic value
Yes, it was quite difficult completing those three battles in a row without screwing up. On the plus side, your pokemon are fully healed before you battle N and then again before you battle Geechisu. Also, after you capture either Reshiram or Zekrom, you’re given the option to switch out one of your pokemon with them since N will be using one of them too. Just make sure you bring a ton of healing items to use during the battles. I actually managed to catch Reshiram on my first Ultra Ball, which was incredibly shocking 0_o Despite the fact that I chose not to replace one of my pokemon with my newly captured Reshiram, I didn’t have too much trouble with N. The main problem for me was a few of Geechisu’s pokemon.
Heh, Team Plasma may not have a female team leader, but at least we have our first female professor in B&W =)
I’m one of those fans who accepts the designs of all the pokemon even if I don’t think they’re particularly cute/cool. For each generation, there will always be many that I love and most I’m at least neutral to. But I agree that Shaga’s beard is just bizarre. It really does look like a Hollow mask that an Arrancar from Bleach would have. I wonder how he’ll look in the anime.
That’s amazing though! It’s like how I caught Giratina with my first ULtra Ball in Diamond o-o
(Also N is my favorite BW character. N/White ftw. Also N/Misty because I can. orz)
That’s true, even if ARaragi’s hair kind of reminds me of a soft serve ice cream cone o_o
I hope BW doesn’t drag out as long as DP did orz
Oh wow. I love story-centered plots and I’m happy that Pokemon Black and White finally got the idea to do that. I didn’t even finish HeartGold because I felt like I wasn’t doing anything too meaningful(I had made it to Kanto and had gotten one badge).
This review actually made me pretty excited to get this game. The release date is so far away…(*wishes she knew better japanese*)
Besides Black and White, Platinum and Emerald were probably the most story-centered of all the Pokemon games (as well as the two Game Cube games if you’ve ever played those). But none of the games have had the amount of cut scenes and NPC interactions that B&W have. When I play RPG/adventure games, I love to read all the dialogue so I can get the most enjoyment out of playing the game as well as following the storyline.
Glad I got you excited. Let me know what you think when the US version comes out =) Should be in March or April.
I will! XD
And the eleven gym leaders, are they all in a row? Like you need to battle all to get to th elite four? My sister actually made me think of this when she pointed it out.
It’s the same as all the gyms in past Pokemon games; you battle one at each city and you have to get all their badges before you can take on the Elite Four. But although there are eleven total in B&W, you only battle eight per game just like past games. The first three are all in one gym but you’ll only battle one depending on your starter. And Shaga and Iris are in the final gym but you’ll only battle one depending on your version.
Why are all the Team Plasma grunts wearing what looks like dresses? It’s like the antagonists’ fashion senses worsens every sequel.
They remind me more of Japanified medieval crusader outfits, personally.
I agree with this statement.
sounds like fun…
I remembered playing the pokemon emerald where I can’t beat the twins in the gym… I find it really frustrating even after my sister beat them in single battle.[I was using blaziken while she was using the final evolution of marshtomp], and now the triple battle… sounds to be killing me softly… Oh well, sounds to me like the shades of the world.
At least, I’m not bugging into pokemon lately[due to squid girl’s apperance and Twinkle star sprites I played with my sister], but I’ll look at this one for checking.
Team Plasma sorta sounds like the elite four in, in the yellow story of the pokemon manga. Otherwise I’m pleased to find out that we will be able to catch all of the pokemon and not be restricted to just the new ones, although i accidently read a few things that id didn’t want to spoil myself with T.T
Grrrrrr. Cant wait for the US release… =)
yay!!! i cant wait for the US release! :)
this game looks sweet. :) I just reserved my copy of white at gamestop yesterday
i’ve never played pokemon on the ds though…is it different from gba ver? (yeah, I’m new to the ds xD) cant wait for march 6th!
Awesome review and makes me ever more excited for these games. Glad to see a more story driven plot!
Ah, I’m really looking forward to getting White now. I do hope that Canada has the same release date (March 6th) as the USA…
I hope I catch more pokemon from black and white version.