Generation II

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Revision as of 03:12, 2 September 2009 by Kyunji (talk | contribs) (→‎Gym Leaders: Rephrased slightly)
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File:Goldtitle.png
The title screen for Pokémon Gold.

The second generation of Pokémon games, sometimes known as the metal generation, is the second set of Pokémon games to be released, best described as a sequel to Generation I. Among older fans of the games, it is the most acclaimed of the generations, likely owing to this fact. It is much like Generation I before it, beginning in 1999 with the Japanese paired versions release of Pokémon Gold and Silver (which were later remade in the form of Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver) and ending in 2001 with the North American release of Pokémon Crystal. This generation also saw the release of Pokémon Stadium 2.

Details in Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, and the release of Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, reveal that the events of Generation II are contemporaneous with the events of Generation IV.

Advances in gameplay

In addition to retaining the system from Generation I in almost every aspect, several key innovations were made to the series, most of which have been retained in every generation since.

Major additions include:

Major alterations from Generation I include:

  • A change of the types of four moves (Gust, Sand-Attack, Karate Chop, and Bite), all formerly Template:Type2, are now Flying, Ground, Fighting, and Dark, respectively.
  • The addition of Steel as a secondary type for Magnemite and Magneton.
  • An improved stat system, with the former Special stat being split into Special Attack and Special Defense.
  • The bag is no longer one 20-item container, but has four separate sections for different items: Normal items, Poké Balls, TMs and HMs, and key items.
  • A key item can be set to and then subsequently accessed with the select button, for convenience on the field.
  • Opponent Pokémon Trainers are given individual names.
  • Exp. All is changed into the Exp. Share, a held item (the items' names are the same in Japanese).
  • Town Map is replaced with an electronic device, the PokéGear, which also has cellphone and radio capabilities, alongside map functions.
  • The type chart has changed somewhat from Generation I:
Attacking type Defending type Old effectiveness New effectiveness
 Bug   Poison  Super effective Not very effective
 Bug   Ghost  Normal effectiveness Not very effective
 Poison   Bug  Super effective Normal effectiveness
 Ghost   Psychic  Not effective Super effective
 Ice   Fire  Normal effectiveness Not very effective


Further additions in Pokémon Crystal include:

  • A female choice for the player, Kris.
  • Animations for all Pokémon when encountered or when sent from their Poké Balls.

Regions

Johto

Johto
Main article: Johto

Generation II introduced a new region to the Pokémon universe, Johto, located directly west of the Kanto region featured in Generation I. Johto's culture is notably more old-fashioned than Kanto's, especially in the more rural areas, which are more plentiful than in Kanto. Like Kanto, it has a sea to the south and mountains to the north.

Starter Pokémon

The starter Pokémon introduced in Generation II follow the same Grass-Fire-Water alignment as those of Kanto. Despite this, they are not the same trio as in Generation I. Instead, Professor Elm offers Chikorita, Cyndaquil, or Totodile to the player as protection on an errand to Mr. Pokémon's house on Route 30.

Unlike other generations, where the first Gym is strong against the Fire-type and weak to Grass and Water, in this generation, the first Gym is strong against Grass, while Fire and Water both have an opening. Also, Pokémon available can cover for the weaknesses of the starter types very early on in the game, unlike in Generation I.

Gym Leaders

Johto's Gym Leaders specialize in types different from Kanto's Gym Leaders, with eight of the nine types not covered by Kanto being the specialty types of these Gyms. Like Kanto, these Gym Leaders will give out badges and TMs on their defeat.

Johto League
Gym Leader
Japanese
Location
Japanese
Type Badge
{{{size}}}
Falkner
ハヤト Hayato
Violet City
キキョウシティ
Kikyō City
Flying Zephyr Badge.png
Zephyr Badge
{{{size}}}
Bugsy
ツクシ Tsukushi
Azalea Town
ヒワダタウン
Hiwada Town
Bug Hive Badge.png
Hive Badge
{{{size}}}
Whitney
アカネ Akane
Goldenrod City
コガネシティ
Kogane City
Normal Plain Badge.png
Plain Badge
{{{size}}}
Morty
マツバ Matsuba
Ecruteak City
エンジュシティ
Enju City
Ghost Fog Badge.png
Fog Badge
{{{size}}}
Chuck
シジマ Shijima
Cianwood City
タンバシティ
Tanba City
Fighting Storm Badge.png
Storm Badge
{{{size}}}
Jasmine
ミカン Mikan
Olivine City
アサギシティ
Asagi City
Steel Mineral Badge.png
Mineral Badge
{{{size}}}
Pryce
ヤナギ Yanagi
Mahogany Town
チョウジタウン
Chōji Town
Ice Glacier Badge.png
Glacier Badge
{{{size}}}
Clair
イブキ Ibuki
Blackthorn City
フスベシティ
Fusube City
Dragon Rising Badge.png
Rising Badge


Kanto

Kanto
Main article: Kanto

Unlike later games in the series, the Generation II games offer the player the chance, once Johto's Gyms are conquered and the Elite Four is defeated, to return to the Kanto region where the Generation I games are set. Here, players will find that many things have changed over the past three years.

Gym Leaders

Unlike in Generation I, the Gym Leaders of Generation II Kanto will for the most part not give away TMs; only Janine and Erika do this.

Indigo League
Gym Leader
Japanese
Location
Japanese
Type Badge
{{{size}}}
Brock
タケシ Takeshi
Pewter City
ニビシティ
Nibi City
Rock Boulder Badge.png
Boulder Badge
{{{size}}}
Misty
カスミ Kasumi
Cerulean City
ハナダシティ
Hanada City
Water Cascade Badge.png
Cascade Badge
{{{size}}}
Lt. Surge
マチス Matis
Vermilion City
クチバシティ
Kuchiba City
Electric Thunder Badge.png
Thunder Badge
{{{size}}}
Erika
エリカ Erika
Celadon City
タマムシシティ
Tamamushi City
Grass Rainbow Badge.png
Rainbow Badge
{{{size}}}
Janine
アンズ Anzu
Fuchsia City
セキチクシティ
Sekichiku City
Poison Soul Badge.png
Soul Badge
{{{size}}}
Sabrina
ナツメ Natsume
Saffron City
ヤマブキシティ
Yamabuki City
Psychic Marsh Badge.png
Marsh Badge
{{{size}}}
Blaine
カツラ Katsura
Cinnabar Island
グレンじま
Guren Island
Fire Volcano Badge.png
Volcano Badge
{{{size}}}
Blue
グリーン Green
Viridian City
トキワシティ
Tokiwa City
Various Earth Badge.png
Earth Badge


Discussion of Generation II

Pokémon Gold and Silver were among the most-hyped games in the Pokémon franchise, with the innovations introduced in them becoming staples of the series. The later-released Pokémon Crystal began the series' focus on legendary Pokémon of the regions in which the games take place, first bringing them into the plot of the game. Unlike future games, Generation II stood as an extension and a sequel of Generation I, and has been criticized by some for this.

Like Generation I's games, the popularity of the Generation II games proved great enough that remakes were made during Generation IV as sequels to Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen.

Trivia

  • Despite the accepted "standard formula" for a generation to be two paired versions and later on a third version, Generation II is the only completed generation that has only this, as Generation I has four games in Japan, while Generation III and Generation IV have five games worldwide.
    • Including console connectivity games, this makes Generation II is the smallest generation so far.
  • Generation II is the only generation whose starters remain purely single-type Pokémon throughout all evolutionary levels.
  • Generation II is so far the only generation where the total number of moves is equal to the total number of Pokémon in the National Pokédex at the time.
  • Generation II is the only generation where each game has a unique sprite for each Pokémon.
  • Generation II is the only generation with no fossil Pokémon introduced or even available without trading.
  • Generation II introduced the least amount of Pokémon so far, with only 100.
  • As far as release dates go, Generation II is the shortest generation in Japan, with exactly three years between the release of Gold and Silver and Ruby and Sapphire. All other generations, aside from Generation IV (which passes this mark in September of 2009) have had closer to four years between the release of their primary version pair and the primary pair of the next generation.
  • Generation II leaves the least extra space for Pokémon in the storage system if one of every species is caught. Only 280 Pokémon may be obtained at once; there are 251 different Pokémon available in this generation.

Template:Main series

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