Generation II

Generation II
Title screen of Pokémon Gold Version
Debut EN October 15, 2000 JA November 21, 1999 Pokémon 251 (100 new) Main games Gold, Silver, and Crystal Region(s) introduced Johto Battle arena games Stadium 2 End EN March 17, 2003 (883 days) JA November 21, 2002 (1096 days)

The second generation of Pokémon games, sometimes called the metal generation by older players due to the names of the paired versions, is a sequel to the Generation I games Pokémon Red, Green, Blue, and Yellow.

Generation II began the Pokémon series's expansion-focused nature, introducing to the world 100 new Pokémon which did not exist and are unable to be obtained in the Generation I games. Many of these Pokémon expand the evolution families of older Pokémon, while a majority of them are brand-new evolutionary families.

The initial hint that Generation II was on its way came in early 1997, with the release of the anime's first episode. A Pokémon appears to Ash Ketchum on the first day of his journey, shortly after he and Pikachu become friends, that cannot be identified by the Pokédex. This magnificent golden bird, later revealed to be the legendary mascot of Gold Version, Ho-Oh, was the first Pokémon from a future generation to debut in the anime. The games, initially named directly as "Pocket Monsters 2", were set for release in late 1997, but were pushed back to 1999 with the intention to redevelop the games to work with the Game Boy Color better.

Details in the games indicate that the Generation II games occur three years after Generation I and Generation III, while the Sinnoh-based Generation IV games indicate that they occur similarly contemporaneously to Generation II as Generation I does to Generation III.

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:

• The introduction of 100 new Pokémon, bringing the total to 251. Several are evolved forms of or pre-evolutions of Generation I Pokémon, while others are their own evolutionary lines.
• The addition of 86 new moves, bringing the total to 251 as well.
• The addition of two new types, the Template:Type2 and Template:Type2, to balance out the over-powerful Template:Type2 and the underused Template:Type2.
• A new region to explore, Johto, in addition to the Generation I region, with the latter accessible after the Elite Four have been defeated. Johto has its own set of eight new Gyms and Gym Leaders to defeat, while the Elite Four has changed in three years.
• Genders for Pokémon, opening up the ability for two Pokémon which are similar enough to breed.
• Two additional boxes in the Pokémon storage system, which now includes the ability to move Pokémon directly between boxes, bringing Pokémon storage to 280.
• A new player character, Ethan.
• Seven new types of Poké Ball, all made from special fruit found in Johto.
• A built-in clock, allowing for in-game events to be affected by the time of day and the days of the week.
• Shiny Pokémon, which sparkle when brought into battle.
• Happiness, introduced in Pokémon Yellow, becomes a stat used by all Pokémon.
• Pokémon can now hold items and use them in battle.
• A special Pokémon virus is introduced that boosts stats.
• Inheritance of a Pokémon's IVs from its parents.

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:

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
{{{size}}} Bugsy ツクシ Tsukushi	Azalea Town ヒワダタウン Hiwada Town	Bug	Hive Badge
{{{size}}} Whitney アカネ Akane	Goldenrod City コガネシティ Kogane City	Normal	Plain Badge
{{{size}}} Morty マツバ Matsuba	Ecruteak City エンジュシティ Enju City	Ghost	Fog Badge
{{{size}}} Chuck シジマ Shijima	Cianwood City タンバシティ Tanba City	Fighting	Storm Badge
{{{size}}} Jasmine ミカン Mikan	Olivine City アサギシティ Asagi City	Steel	Mineral Badge
{{{size}}} Pryce ヤナギ Yanagi	Mahogany Town チョウジタウン Chōji Town	Ice	Glacier Badge
{{{size}}} Clair イブキ Ibuki	Blackthorn City フスベシティ Fusube City	Dragon	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
{{{size}}} Misty カスミ Kasumi	Cerulean City ハナダシティ Hanada City	Water	Cascade Badge
{{{size}}} Lt. Surge マチス Matis	Vermilion City クチバシティ Kuchiba City	Electric	Thunder Badge
{{{size}}} Erika エリカ Erika	Celadon City タマムシシティ Tamamushi City	Grass	Rainbow Badge
{{{size}}} Janine アンズ Anzu	Fuchsia City セキチクシティ Sekichiku City	Poison	Soul Badge
{{{size}}} Sabrina ナツメ Natsume	Saffron City ヤマブキシティ Yamabuki City	Psychic	Marsh Badge
{{{size}}} Blaine カツラ Katsura	Cinnabar Island グレンじま Guren Island	Fire	Volcano Badge
{{{size}}} Blue グリーン Green	Viridian City トキワシティ Tokiwa City	Various	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. Due to these improvements, Generation II is the most acclaimed generation among long-time fans. 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 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 (save for Unown).
• 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.
• In terms of release dates, 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 have had closer to four years between the release of their primary version pair and the primary pair of the next generation.
• Generation II is the only generation in which the starter Pokémon are holding items when they are obtained, with each holding a Berry.
• 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 species available in this generation.
• Generation II is the only generation so far to not introduce a Dragon-type pseudo-legendary.
  • However, it is not the only generation to have introduced a non-Dragon-type pseudo-legendary, as Metagross first appeared in Generation III.
• Generation II is the only generation to have any games without a Safari Zone, as the one in Kanto is closed in all three games.
  • However, a beta of the Safari Zone in Fuchsia City has been found within the game's coding.
• Beginning with Crystal, Generation II started the trend with the title's names being borrowed from English.
• Generation II was said to be the best generation yet because of the new changes, new pokemon, new moves, etc.

Template:Main series

This game-related article is part of Project Games, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on the Pokémon games.