Rank: Penguin Editor in Chief
Groups: Newsie, {pDs} Member
Joined: 6/15/2006
Posts: 594
Points: 486
Location: Scotland, Geographical Penguin Shit
|
 (Ho-Oh is also listed in IMDB as having a small role in the Aladdin series)
 (Lugia is a rockstopping DJ down at the local cave clubs)
[i]MODERN GAMING[/i]
Pokémon HeartGold/SoulSilver
Developer - Game Freak
Publisher - Nintendo
Genre - RPG
Year - 2010
System - Nintendo DS
Ahhh 2000. Back in the day when we had some of the most awesome games, near the end of the N64´s life, the PS2 was coming up on the horizon, the Gameboy was still strong with one of the greatest sequels ever made in videogames. Pokémon Gold/Silver.
Now after a while of remakes and additional games, people still do not tire of the lil buggers, so imagine the sheer overwhelming orgasmic glee of socially awkward and unlikeably social Pokéfans when they hear there´s a remake of Gold/Silver. But did they do it justice? Well you better fucking hope so or else!
Story - The story is the same as before, hell we heard this story all the goddamn time. You´re a kid, you live in a town with your mom, you go finding Pokémon because some eccentric professor thinks a 10-year old who´s barely started on Pokémon training is the best candidate.
Then some douchebag with Ayn Rand principles comes along stealing one of the Pokémon, challenges you, pisses off, and you pretty much encounter him as well as dealing with all the gym leaders and Team Rocket on your path to become THE Pokémon Champion. But not just in Johto.
 (Thankfully they stopped saying "we hope to see you again" after a lot of misinterpreted offence)
After that, there´s the entire island of Kanto from the first game to explore, perhaps the first (maybe only) Pokémon mainstream game to have an actual relevance to story on the events of Red/Blue.
Gary is now a Gym Leader, Giovanni has disappeared, the Elite Four is now different, and Cinnabar Island relocated to the Seafoam Caves after a volcanic eruption.
There are a few new detailed twists they added, particularly concerning the identity of your main rival. But that you will have to find out yourself. Also, this game includes everything from Pokémon Crystal as well.
Yes. You know what I mean.
Graphics - Everything you remember from Gold/Silver including Kanto is now in glorious Diamond/Pearl graphics. Magnificently repainted towns and cities all with 3D structures and smooth scaling graphics.
It could not be any more perfect literally, unless of course Nintendo wanted to remake these again in the future where you have actual first person perspective.
Frankly I would not put it past them, but anyways, the graphics are the latest generation, and they look fucking gorgeous, seriously, if you played the original, you will recognise everything but still be intrigued by the new look.
The Pokémon of course all look-okay if I made a review of Diamond/Pearl, I could have just copy-pasted the graphics part of it to this, because it really is graphics-wise, exactly like Diamond/Pearl.
This is not a bad thing though, it just means everything looks up-to-date. Pokémon and "boss" trainers move in battle, the landscape is in 3D with the added nostalgic precision of everything being where it was.
 ("There´s sand in my EYE!" "And my beak in your BALLS!")
Gameplay - Now we get to the main meat of this review. I´m sure everyone knows how this goes down by now so lemme just skim it over for those who have no idea how it works.
You have a Pokémon, it attacks other Pokémon, you capture wild Pokémon to add to your party or collect them or defeat it for experience points. You fight other Pokémon trainers to gain more experience to level up your Pokémon, all the way up to the elite trainers to become the champion.
Simple right? We´ve all been there, that´s no problem at all! Nothing´s really changed right? Well other than being capable of having ALL 493 Pokémon into this game via transfers from Diamond/Pearl and so forth, that´s not particularly new right?
And the whole wi-fi feature where you can battle against other trainers, we expected that too, of course, you need that nowadays. So.....yeah, I think there´s nothing else to mention.
Except for the Pokéathlon and the Pokéwalker. Firstly, the Pokéathlon is a set of minigames where your Pokémon can compete in courses that test their power, speed, skill, stamina and jumping prowess. The minigames range from hurdles to relay runs to capturing pennant flags, all of which are controlled by using your stylus to move your Pokémon.
 (Complete with Pokémossad security who know how to kill you with JUST a pokéball)
It´s quite frankly a fantastically addictive sidequest of which you can obtain medals for your Pokémon and become really competitive with, moreso when you can actually connect against others using wi-fi and challenge against other people´s Pokémon in this decathlon of beasts.
And you get rewards too in the form of Athletic Points which you can buy special items with, one of which is the Rare Candy for 2000 points. Hell of a moneysaver.
Finally, we have the gadget of the game. The Pokéwalker. It´s a simple pedometer where you can transfer a Pokémon from one of the PC Boxes in the game and take with you out on a stroll.
The more you walk, the better your chances of it going up a level. But it doesn´t stop there either. You can also even catch Pokémon and obtain items from it in two small minigames called Poké Radar and Dowsing.
Dowsing is basically a guessing game, nothing too special. Poké Radar is finding a Pokémon in the bushes and then fighting it in a very very simplified battle of only three commands. Attack, Evade and Catch.
Any Pokémon you capture as well as items will come back with your Pokémon when you take your Pokéwalker back to your DS.
 (If they made Chariots of Fire with Pokémon, it would be the best film ever)
The game never demands you to use it, and there is absolutely no need for it, but it is a wonderful little item, and hell anything that´ll get those lazy fucking kids to get off their asses and walk around.
Regardless, it is an excellent tool and I do recommend using it at least once to try it out.
Music/Sound - Ahhh, my favourite part of the game. The music. Gold/Silver has perhaps the best soundtrack of the series for the fact there´s TWICE as much of it, and some of the most awesome themes. As a game music fan, I am in love with the redone soundtrack. Most of the towns and routes have wonderfully fitting themes from the soothing night-time feel of Route 31 to the whimsical Goldenrod City, to even new themes such as for Ecruteak City now having a more Oriental feel.
 (Is a man not entitled to the sweat on his Pokémon´s brow?)
Speaking of new themes, aside from the battle themes being given some awesome facelifts, there are even some surprises in store audially when facing certain Pokémon. Lugia and Ho-Oh, the iconic creatures of this game, now have their OWN themes.
And holy shit I just creamed myself hearing Ho-Oh´s theme, it is tremendously epic.
A few of the themes I am slightly unsure about like New Bark Town´s or so but in the face of everything else it is no matter, because if you do not like the new music....well, there´s a special surprise for you when you obtain all 16 badges and go to Celadon Mansion. That will make up for it.
So....what can I say? Pokémon HeartGold/SoulSilver is every bit as awesome as the original with a dabbing of a little more awesomeness even from the tiniest little touches in music and graphics and adding stuff from Pokémon Crystal.
You didn´t even need me to tell you about this game, because if you´re a Pokémon trainer....you already knew how good this would be.
Fun and Innovation - 5
Replayability - 5
Gameplay - 5
Presentation - 5"Videogames are bad for you? That's what they said about rock 'n' roll." - Shigeru Miyamoto  Hail Slither, The Eternal Champion!
|
Rank: The Number 12 Personified
Groups: {pDs} Member, Administration
Joined: 2/5/2009
Posts: 448
Points: 9,366
Location: next to 11 and 13
|
Pokemon Silver is still, considerably, my favorite game of all time. You have 2 frickin' leagues in this game! 2! Do you know how great that was a decade ago (and still is)?! That was like Nintendo saying "Oh, you thought you were done? If you didn't know, there's this completely new CONTINENT you can now play through, bitch!" I'll consider the purchase, but only for the nostalgia since I have a rather large disconnect to Pokemon these days (yet I have all of the games in my house including the new crap). =P DredNaught wrote:In regard to the ladies... or lack thereof: Just remember that it's about quality, not quantity. And when you do meet a lucky lady, don't be a fool, wrap your tool!
|
Rank: Administration
Groups: {pDs} Member, Server Admin, Administration
Joined: 6/18/2009
Posts: 1,400
Points: -25,550
Location: USA, Indiana
|
12 I completely agree. I was so disappointed after gold/silver to find out that the next game only had ONE LEAGUE!!! They really need to make a comprehensive pokemon game. Pokemon is still my favorite game in the "huge time sink casual game" genre. Its so great for long trips. If you wish to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first invent the universe. - Carl Sagan My Backpack
|
Rank: Penguin Editor in Chief
Groups: Newsie, {pDs} Member
Joined: 6/15/2006
Posts: 594
Points: 486
Location: Scotland, Geographical Penguin Shit
|
Yeah I never understood why Nintendo went back to just the same old 8 gyms after Gold/Silver, it was a tough act to follow. But hellz yeah. "Videogames are bad for you? That's what they said about rock 'n' roll." - Shigeru Miyamoto Hail Slither, The Eternal Champion!
|
Rank: Fuckstick
Groups: {pDs} Member, Registered User
Joined: 12/14/2007
Posts: 1,110
Points: 2,520
Location: Near Seattle
|
Yeah, my pokemon Gold version was always my favorite Gameboy Color game. I've always gotten one of the games from each of the generations. Red, Gold, Sapphire, Pearl, oh, except for firered/leafgreen. I'm just wondering if they're gonna pull their sneaky, yet now predictable move of throwing in the 3rd version for the generation. ConsciousCrystal anybody? I vote that when they remake ruby/sapphire, they should put the first 3 regions in it, that would be nice. I never even beat Pearl though, which is why I'm holding off on buying this one. Even though I'd probably appreciate the nostalgia.  Quote:Razor: As hard as one might try no one will ever be able to pull one over on Super Penguin. Backpack of Win
|
| Users browsing this topic |