Dabookerman
Member
That's right! It's that time again. Arguably the greatest generation of Pokémon has got the long awaited remake. Using the same engine as the rest Diamond, Pearl, Platinum releases, it is set to retain everything that has made all the entire Pokémon series great. This is, and I'm sure many will agree, THE definitive Pokémon title.
Release Dates
Japan - 09/12/09
US - OUT NOW
Europe - Spring 2010
Relevant Links/Websites
Official Japanese Pokémon Site
Official Trailers
Bulbapedia
Serebii.net
NeoGAF Pokémon Platinum Thread
NeoGAF Pokémon Diamon/Pearl Thread
Game Details
In the same vein as the Pikachu in Pokémon Yellow, HeartGold and SoulSilver will allow any Pokémon the player owns to follow him or her in-game on the overworld. The player may talk to the Pokémon, and occasionally it may pick up secret items.
In Japan, the games will be bundled with a peripheral called the Poké Walker, a pedometer that resembles a Poké Ball which can connect to the Nintendo DS game card via infrared signals (in a fashion similar to another Nintendo DS game Personal Trainer: Walking) and can "hold" a Pokémon. Walking with a Poké Walker holding a Pokémon will increase both its experience and closeness, as well as the player's "watts", an in-game currency that can be used to catch wild Pokémon and shop for items. Despite the device being included with every game, Nintendo announced that the games would carry standard pricing (around ¥4,800 in Japan).
BoxArt
Changes from Pokémon Gold and Silver
Aesthetic changes
Location changes* Gold receives a redesign while a new player character apparently replaces Kris.
* The DS's 3D capabilities are utilized in selecting the starter Pokémon.
* The PokéGear has been redesigned. Now, it features two designs, one blue and white for males and another white and pink for females.
* Much like Kanto's was for its remakes, Johto's Pokédex has been redesigned. Unlike Kanto's remakes, which contained the same regional Pokédex as the originals, the original regional Pokédex for Johto has been slightly altered, presumably to exclude Kanto-exclusive Pokémon such as Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle and to include Generation IV evolutions for Johto Pokémon.
* An image of certain locations, similar to that of FireRed and LeafGreen, appears when entering the location.
* Team Rocket Grunts are designed like they were in FireRed and LeafGreen.
* Rocket Executives are also redesigned from Generation II, with four different characters appearing in the games' intro. It is unknown as of yet if they have names.
* Ho-Oh and Lugia have their own battle music (they used the standard wild battle music in all Generation II games), while the legendary beasts use a remixed version of their battle theme from Pokémon Crystal.
* Kurt and Apricorns make a return to the series along with their respective Poké Balls. Apricorns can now be carried by the player in their own bag with a new item, the Apricorn Case.
* Elm's Lab has an upstairs level.
* Maps have been remade to match the design style used in Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum.
* The Battle Tower west of Olivine City, introduced in Pokémon Crystal, returns, bringing with it an entire new Battle Frontier.
* A new area to the west of Cianwood City is a Safari Zone.
Gameplay changes
* All 493 Pokémon are capable of following the player similar to Pikachu in Yellow. CoroCoro showed examples of several examples including Steelix and Wobbuffet. Shininess is apparently retained. In battle, like Yellow's Pikachu, they are sent out from the side of the screen, rather than from a Poké Ball.
* Similarly to the event Shaymin and Regigigas's effect on Platinum, the Pikachu-colored Pichu to be given to those who have pre-ordered tickets to the twelfth movie will unlock an event near the Ilex Forest Shrine featuring the Notched-ear Pichu.
* The Pokémon storage system, bag, party interface and the screen that pops up when pressing the Start or X buttons in the previous games all use the Nintendo DS's touch screen.
* Groudon and Kyogre will appear in SoulSilver and HeartGold, respectively, after the Elite Four, and Rayquaza can be caught in both games once the other members of its trio are brought into the game.
* Cynthia and Arceus are shown together in a new section of the Ruins of Alph named the Shinto Ruins. This event will allow players to obtain either Dialga, Palkia, or Giratina at level 1.
* Eusine, a major character from Pokémon Crystal who was not in the original Gold and Silver, appears, as do other aspects originally featured in Crystal.
* A new sidequest, the Pokéthlon, will feature ten mini-games that pit Pokémon in athletic competitions. Its system appears to be analogous to that of Contests from previous games.
* Using the Apricorn Shaker, Apricorns can now also be mixed into drinks that increase Pokémon's Pokéthlon stats.
* Berries can be grown portably using the Berry Planter, where the Squirtbottle is controlled via the touch screen to water four Berries at a time. It is currently unknown where Berries can be obtained in the first place, but it appears that they do not grow on the trees where their Generation II counterparts were found, as those are used for growing Apricorns.
Starter Pokémon
Chikorita
Johto Map
Starter Trainers
Screenshots
Comparison Pic
New Bark Town:
PokéWalker
Fancy Getting Competitive!?
Well this is the thread to do so. Go in if you dare!