Pokéwalker: Difference between revisions

The PokéWalker

The PokéWalker (Japanese: ポケウォーカー PokéWalker) is a pedometer, separate from the Nintendo DS systems, that allows player to connect with a compatible Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver cartidge to transfer and exchange Pokémon from their DS card to this hardware device. The PokéWalker is just like a real pedometer, that counts each step a person takes by detecting the motion of their hips, while recording each step and adding it to the experience of a deposited Pokémon. It will be bundled with Japanese version with Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver when they are purchased, however it is unknown whether it will be bundled with English version of the game.

The PokéWalker has both the shape and colors of a regular Poké Ball. It is about 4.8 centimeters in diameter, 13.9 millimeters thick, and will weigh about 21 gram. It has three buttons and a black and white, monochrome interface. It will allow players of HeartGold and SoulSilver to connect wirelessly with a Nintendo DS system, and deposit one Pokémon there. The deposited Pokémon will then be able to gain experience and happiness as players walk around.

This pedometer is the remake of Pokémon Pikachu 2, which is a toy that can be used to obtain Mystery Gifts in Gold, Silver, and Crystal. Similar to that toy, the PokéWalker will use the currency Watt (W); Watts will be obtained at random as steps are taken. By using Watts, PokéWalker players can use the Poké Radar and Itemfinder devices to catch wild Pokémon and find special items, respectively. These can be sent to HeartGold and SoulSilver.

Gameplay

There are several functions available in-game. As the player play on the PokéWalker, they will occasionally come across mini-games, that have an effect on the player's Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver games, however it is unknown whether or not these will be mandatory to play.

Pedometer

The PokéWalker's main function is the pedometer attached to it, which allows the deposited Pokémon to gain experience out of the Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver game cart. It will act like a real pedometer, counting each step a person takes, and recording each step and adding it to the experience of a deposited Pokémon. Each step the PokéWalker detects, the deposited Pokémon will then gain experience points as players walks around. The deposited Pokémon will also gain happiness as it goes along.

Areas of PokéWalker

When the player sends over their Pokémon to PokéWalker, they will have to select a certain area that their Pokémon shall walk through. There are a variety of areas to walk through. There are three areas able to be explored to start off with, while more areas can be unlocked further on in the game. When you build up more Watts, you can access more areas. There are 27 areas available:

• Refreshing Field - Unlocked at the start
• Noisy Forest - Unlocked at the start
• Rugged Path - Unlocked at the start
• Pretty Seaside - Unlocked by earning 50 watts
• Residential Area - Unlocked by earning 500 watts
• Dark Cave - Unlocked by earning 1,000 watts
• Blue Lake - Unlocked by earning 2,000 watts
• Town Edge - Unlocked by earning 3,000 watts
• Hoenn Field - Unlocked by earning 5,000 watts
• Warm Beach - Unlocked by earning 7,500 watts
• Volcano Route - Unlocked by earning 10,000 watts
• Tree House - Unlocked by earning 15,000 watts
• Scary Cave - Unlocked by earning 20,000 watts
• Sinnoh Field - Unlocked by earning 30,000 watts
• Cold Moutainpath - Unlocked by earning 40,000 watts
• Big Forest - Unlocked by earning 40,000 watts
• White Lake - Unlocked by earning 50,000 watts
• Rough Sea - Unlocked by earning 65,000 watts
• Resort Area - Unlocked by earning 80,000 watts
• Quiet Cave - Unlocked by earning 100,000 watts
• Beyond the Sea - Unlocked by participating in a trade with a trainer in a foreign country via the GTS
• Edge of the Night Sky - Unlocked by transferring Jirachi to Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver
• Yellow Forest - Unlocked by downloading an event via Wi-Fi to Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver
• Event - Unlocked through a currently unknown method
• Purchase - Unlocked through a currently unknown method
• Champ Path - Unlocked through a currently unknown method
• Amity Field - Unlocked through a currently unknown method

Battling

This can be selected from the PokéWalker's menu, and allows the deposited Pokémon to battle with a wild Pokémon on the PokéWalker. To battle Pokémon on PokéWalker, the player will need to use the PokéRadar item that costs 10 watts to use. Four pieces of tall grass will be displayed on the screen and the player will have to select one of them, and a Pokémon may appear. Once a Pokémon appears, the battle will start. This battle system is not as advanced as the battle system in the main series games. There are just two options to choose from: Attack or Dodge. This allows the deposited Pokémon to attack the wild Pokémon and protect the deposited Pokémon from being attacked. Both Pichu and Munchlax have been confirmed to be available on the PokéWalker. Like the namesake item in Pokémon Diamond and Pearl Versions and Pokémon Platinum Version it is possible to chain on the Pokéwalker, by waiting a short period after the patch of grass has displayed a '!' , '!!' or '!!!' and once it is clicked another patch will shake, after a while it will make rarer Pokémon appear easier (after 2 '!'s a '!!' will be displayed, and after that a '!!!' for example.)

The player is also allowed to capture the Pokémon and trade them to Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver. This is done the same way as in HeartGold and SoulSilver, by weakening the wild Pokémon and then throwing a Poké Ball. Once the wild Pokémon has been captured and transferred to HeartGold and SoulSilver, the Pokémon will have PokéWalker as their caught location. The player can capture up to three Pokémon in each PokéWalker session.

Itemfinder

Another feature on the PokéWalker is the ability to search for items and transfer them to Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver where they can be used. Also accessible from the menu, the Itemfinder feature costs three Watts to use. Like the battling feature on the PokéWalker, the player will be given six pieces of tall grass to select from. Once the player has selected a piece of grass, they may find an item. There are some rare items to be found in each area. The player can store up to three items on PokéWalker at any one time.

Friend Communication

A special feature included with the PokéWalker is the ability to exchange and meet friend's Pokémon over a Infrared communication port on the unit. If a the player leaves his/her Nintendo DS system and comes within contact with another person's PokéWalker, his/her Pokémon data may be sent to the player's PokéWalker and vice versa. If the player does this, he/she will be able to give the other player one of the items he/she has obtained and he/she will be able to do the same. These gifts will help unlock PokéWalker areas which haven't been unlocked yet.

Interaction with Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver

The PokéWalker is only compatible with Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver using a Nintendo DS, Nintendo DS Lite, or a Nintendo DSi system. The PokéWalker connect to the DS using a wireless connection. To send Pokémon over to the PokéWalker, the player must open a specific menu in HeartGold and SoulSilver. The location of this menu is the third option of the Start-up Menu. In this menu, the player can select Pokémon from boxes and send them over to PokéWalker. It appears that there are three slots for the Pokémon in PokéWalker.

In communication with the PokéWalker, the player is able to keep track of certain information and events from it such as how many steps they have taken and how many watts they have built up. When the Pokémon is returned to Pokémon HeartGold or SoulSilver, the goings on of the player's Pokémon will be added to the PokéWalker Diary in HeartGold or SoulSilver. This will tell the player if they have captured any Pokémon while they were in the PokéWalker, communicate with other people, or find items within the PokéWalker.

See also

Bulbanews has an article related to this subject:

Articles relating to Pokéwalker

• On the official Japanese site

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