Pokémon Black and White Versions

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Pokémon Black and White
[[File:File:Pokemon Black Boxart JP.pngFile:Pokemon White Boxart JP.png|250px]]
Pokémon Black and White Versions' JP boxart, featuring Reshiram and Zekrom.
Basic info
Platform: Nintendo DS
Category: RPG
Players: 1-4 players simultaneous
Connectivity: None
Developer: Game Freak
Publisher: Nintendo/The Pokémon Company
Part of: {{{gen_series}}}
Ratings
CERO: N/A
ESRB: N/A
ACB: N/A
OFLC: N/A
PEGI: N/A
GRAC: N/A
GSRR: N/A
Release dates
Japan: September 18, 2010
North America: Spring 2011
Australia: N/A
Europe: Spring 2011
South Korea: Spring 2011
Hong Kong: N/A
Taiwan: N/A
Websites
Japanese: ポケットモンスター ブラック・ホワイト
ポケットモンスター ダイヤモンド・パール (@Nintendo)
English: Pokémon Black and White minisite
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Pokémon Black Version (Japanese: ポケットモンスター ブラック Pocket Monsters Black) and Pokémon White Version (Japanese: ポケットモンスター ホワイト Pocket Monsters White) are the primary paired versions of Generation V. They are, like Generation IV's games, on the Nintendo DS.

Black and White follow the trends set up by previous games in the series. Two player characters (one male and one female) travel a new region, Isshu, on their Pokémon journeys. This region is inhabited by various Pokémon, almost all of which have not appeared prior to Black and White. The first of the new Pokémon to feature in these games, Zorua and Zoroark, were revealed on February 10, 2010 in CoroCoro magazine, and the starter Pokémon were revealed in May.

The games' names were revealed on the official Japanese Pokémon website on April 9, and scans from the subsequent issue of the magazine were leaked on April 10. These scans revealed some of the graphical enhancements that will be featured in these games. There is a higher level of 3D graphics than in previous games, as shown in some shots of the overworld. Initial sprites can be seen for Zorua, Zoroark, and the player characters.

In addition to the improved graphics, a number of aesthetic changes have been made from previous generations, including an altered battle scene containing fully animated Pokémon battle sprites as well as a dynamic camera that changes focus to highlight specific parts of the battle. Also, when talking to people, speech balloons for dialog will appear over people's heads, rather than as simply a dialog box.

Black and White are compatible with all five Generation IV games through use of the PokéShifter - unlike Pal Park, however, items cannot be held by Pokémon being sent over. Pokémon can be sent from Generation III games, as well, by transfer through Generation IV. The games also have the capacity to connect to the Internet; players can upload their save file and play online.

Plot

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Spoiler warning: this article may contain major plot or ending details.
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The game starts in Kanoko Town in the player's room with Cheren, a childhood friend. Professor Araragi has left a gift box for the two and Bel, another one of the player's friends, who arrives a little later. The box contains three Pokémon that the player can choose from. After the selection, Bel will request a battle. When the battle is over, the room becomes cluttered due to the battle. Cheren heals both the player's and Bel's Pokémon, and begins a battle with the player as well. If the player loses to Cheren, he will gloat about his victory. The three then go downstairs, and Cheren and Bel will leave the house while the player's mother will the Pokémon.

The player visits Bel's house, where she and her father are having an argument about her going on a Pokémon journey. Bel storms out of the house, and the player follows her to Professor Araragi's lab, where Cheren has been waiting. In the lab, Professor Araragi will give the player a chance to nickname the selected starter Pokémon, and give each of the three a Pokédex. Upon leaving the lab, they will be greeted by the player's mother, who will hand everyone a Town Map.

From then on, the player will set off on adventures through the Isshu region. Along the way, the player will battle eight Gym Leaders, while trying to complete the Pokédex. After managing to obtain all eight badges, the player will head to the Pokémon League to battle the Elite Four and the Champion.

However, the adventure did not go as expected as the evil Team Plasma will be encountered along the way to the Pokémon League. The player will encounter N, the leader of the evil organization. One of the Seven Sages, Geechisu, have a different goal than their leader. The player must thwart the plans of those two and save the Isshu region from being destroyed.

However, unlike previous games, the player will not be battling the Champion of the Isshu region when he first defeated the Elite Four; instead, N is battled. After defeating him, he promises not to separate the world into becoming black and white.

After the battle against N, however, the game is not over, as there are further activities to be done.


Connectivity

Much like its predecessors, Black and White allows players to connect to the previous generation of main series games. The PokéShifter feature, which is unlocked after defeating the Elite Four and Team Plasma, allows players to send over their Pokémon through DS Download Play. Transferred Pokémon are captured through a mini-game different from the one present in Generation IV's Pal Park.

Features

Black and White returns features present in previous generations, such as day, time, abilities and the split between Physical and Special moves. Certain ones, however, such as Pokémon following their Trainers, have been left out.

C-Gear

Main article: C-Gear

The C-Gear is the Pokétch of these games, with the only exception being it doesn't use applications. The C-Gear allows players to use certain multiplayer functions while anywhere in the game world.

Pokémon Global Link

Main article: Pokémon Global Link

Pokémon Dream World

Main article: Pokémon Dream World

The Pokémon Dream World is a special feature of Black and White which is operated via an Internet website, Pokémon-GL.com. The Dream World allows players to send a Pokémon to the Internet to obtain items and meet other Pokémon, making the website in a way such that it is a Generation V analog to the Pokéwalker.

Many Pokémon that are found here are not found in the Isshu region, and would otherwise have to be migrated from a Generation IV game to be used. All of the Pokémon available here are given Dream World-exclusive abilities that their species cannot have by normal means.

High Link

Main article: High Link
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Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it.

Pokémon Musical

Main article: Pokémon Musical

Pokémon Contests, which have been present since Generation III, are replaced by Pokémon Musicals. Similar to Contests, however, players may dress up their Pokémon when participating.

Seasons

Much like Generation II introduced as system of time, Generation V features changes in seasons. Seasons change every month. With it comes aesthetic changes in the region, as well as some changes with the Pokémon found in the wild. Additionally, Shikijika and its evolution Mebukijika change forms every season.

Sprite animations

While already featured in previous games, Pokémon sprites in Black and White remain animated throughout the battle. Additionally, full back sprites are now present in the games. Some, but not all, Pokémon use animated versions of their Generation IV sprites. All Trainers, on the other hand, with the exception of Bel, Cheren and N, return to sprites with no animations.

Triple Battles

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Rotation Battles

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New Gyms

Pokémon Black and White brings back the traditional eight Gyms, but with it a total of eleven Gym Leaders. They are Dent, Pod and Corn (Grass, Fire and Water, respectively), Aloe (Normal), Arti (Bug), Kamitsure (Electric), Yacon (Ground), Fuuro (Flying), Hachiku (Ice), Shaga and Iris (Dragon). Dent, Pod or Corn are battled if the player has chosen the Water-type, Grass-type or Fire-type starter Pokémon, respectively. Shaga is battled in Pokémon Black while Iris is battled in Pokémon White.

Elite Four

Unlike previous games, the Elite Four can be battled in any order. After battling all four, a path to the Champion is unlocked. The Elite Four members are Shikimi (Ghost), Giima (Dark), Caitlin (Psychic) and Renbu (Fighting). However, the player is not able to defeat the Champion before defeating Team Plasma. Later, after defeating them in a rematch, the player will face Champion Adeku, who uses a variety of types. It should be noted that Caitlin is the same person present in the Battle Castle who was alongside her butler Darach in Generation IV.

New Pokémon

See List of Pokémon by Isshu Pokédex number and List of Pokémon by National Pokédex number

Black and White bring a total of 156 new Pokémon, bringing the overall total to 649 from the 493 present in Generation IV. While some new Pokémon may have similarities to previously introduced Pokémon, none of the new Pokémon are related to any of the 493.

The first Pokémon to be revealed are Zorua and Zoroark, who were both featured in the thirteenth Pokémon movie. Unlike previous generations, no other new Pokémon were featured in the anime.

Version-exclusive Pokémon

In addition to the list below, a large number of Pokémon can be caught in the White-exclusive White Forest.

Black
0013 Weedle Weedle
Bug Poison
0014 Kakuna Kakuna
Bug Poison
0015 Beedrill Beedrill
Bug Poison
0046 Paras Paras
Bug Grass
0047 Parasect Parasect
Bug Grass
0198 Murkrow Murkrow
Dark Flying
0228 Houndour Houndour
Dark Fire
0229 Houndoom Houndoom
Dark Fire
0311 Plusle Plusle
Electric
0313 Volbeat Volbeat
Bug
0430 Honchkrow Honchkrow
Dark Flying
0546 Monmen Monmen
Grass
0547 Erufuun Erufuun
Grass
0574 Gothimu Gothimu
Psychic
0575 Gochimiru Gochimiru
Psychic
0576 Gochiruzeru Gochiruzeru
Psychic
0629 Baruchai Baruchai
Dark Flying
0630 Barujiina Barujiina
Dark Flying
0641 Tornelos Tornelos
Flying
0643 Reshiram Reshiram
Dragon Fire
White
0010 Caterpie Caterpie
Bug
0011 Metapod Metapod
Bug
0012 Butterfree Butterfree
Bug Flying
0200 Misdreavus Misdreavus
Ghost
0261 Poochyena Poochyena
Dark
0262 Mightyena Mightyena
Dark
0285 Shroomish Shroomish
Grass
0286 Breloom Breloom
Grass Fighting
0312 Minun Minun
Electric
0314 Illumise Illumise
Bug
0429 Mismagius Mismagius
Ghost
0548 Churine Churine
Grass
0549 Doredia Doredia
Grass
0577 Yuniran Yuniran
Psychic
0578 Daburan Daburan
Psychic
0579 Rankurusu Rankurusu
Psychic
0627 Washibon Washibon
Normal Flying
0628 Wargle Wargle
Normal Flying
0642 Voltolos Voltolos
Electric Flying
0644 Zekrom Zekrom
Dragon Electric

Compatibility

Black and White are able to connect with all fourth generation main series games. Pokémon from Diamond, Pearl, Platinum, HeartGold, and SoulSilver are able to be traded forward to these games; like the transfer available in Pal Park, Pokémon sent to Black and White cannot be returned to their original games. Some event Pokémon released in Generation IV have the ability to unlock more events in Generation V: specific Raikou, Entei, Suicune and Celebi unlock Zorua and Zoroark. Likewise, the Lock Capsule transferred from Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver yields TM95 (Bark Out), but this event has yet to take place.

Black and White also have the ability to connect to the Internet, accessing the Pokémon Dream World; Pokémon acquired in this manner are obtained in the High Link forest. Moreover, the C-Gear allows for a certain form of wireless, Wi-Fi and infrared play regardless of the player's location in the games.

Although the game cartridges contain infrared technology similar to that used in HeartGold and SoulSilver, Black and White are unable to connect with the Pokéwalker.

Reception

Black and White's perfect score

Gaming magazine Famitsu has given Pokémon Black and White Versions perfect scores. The reviewers were highly impressed with the fresh approach that the game has taken, from the graphics to the new features to the diversity of the Pokémon. The reviewers were also impressed by the Wi-Fi and PC features.

Only 14 other games have received a perfect score of 40/40, the first of which was The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, and the most recent being Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker.

Trivia

  • On the C-Gear, as well as in battle, the current time is displayed in 12-hour format, however, at the hours of 12:00 AM and PM, the hour displays as 0, rather than 12, as a 24-hour clock, such as that on the DS and in the Generation IV games, would display midnight.
  • Pokémon Black and White each have a mascot of the color of their counterpart version.
  • Game Freak spent about one and a half years developing the story and characters.[1]
  • Two figures were given away with pre-orders in Japan. People could receive a Reshiram sound drop by pre-ordering Pokémon Black and a Zekrom sound drop by pre-ordering Pokémon White.
  • Pokémon Black and White are the first Pokémon games to have different exterior designs for every gym.
    • They are also the first games where the Gyms have logos.
  • Black and White do not have some aspects that were considered conventional in the past generations, some of which include:
    • Three fishing rods (Old, Good and Super), now reduced to just the Super Rod.
    • The presence of a Department Store on a route rather than in a city.
    • The lack of a Game Corner and Coin Case, presumed to have stemmed from the dispute of gambling within the games.

In other languages

Language Title
Japan Flag.png Japanese ポケットモンスター ブラック・ホワイト
France Flag.png French Pokémon Version Noire et Version Blanche
Germany Flag.png German Pokémon Schwarz Edition und Weiß Edition
Italy Flag.png Italian Pokémon Versione Nera e Versione Bianca
Spain Flag.png Spanish Pokémon Edición Negra y Edición Blanca


References

Template:Main series

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