Unova: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 04:06, 23 November 2010

Unova	イッシュ地方
	Isshu region

File:Isshu.jpg

Artwork of the Unova region

Introduction	Pokémon Black and White
Professor	Professor Araragi
First partner Pokémon	Snivy, Tepig, Oshawott
Regional Villains	Team Plasma

		Pokédex
Pokédex List			Unova Pokédex

	Anime
Series		Best Wishes
Season(s)		14

	Games
Generation		V
Games		Black and White

The Unova region (Japanese: イッシュ地方 Isshu-chihō) is a large area of the Pokémon world and the setting of the fifth generation Pokémon games Pokémon Black and White. It is far away from the four other large regions, and the Pokémon which inhabit Unova are diverse and different from those of Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, and Sinnoh. In his director's column, Junichi Masuda suggested that the geographical and social background for Unova draws inspiration from the New York City metropolitan area^[1], although the region features rural locations as well as industrial.

Unova features fifteen settlements which reflect the diversity of the region. Hiun City, a sprawling metropolis, is the largest city in any known Pokémon region. Kanoko Town, which is inhabited by the Pokémon expert Professor Araragi, is smaller and quieter. Black City is a version-exclusive city found only in Pokémon Black. Unova's landscape also features several forests (one of which, White Forest, is also version-exclusive), a desert, a magnetic cave and areas where the move Dive can be used outside of battle. Although Unova appears in some ways more technologically advanced than the previous regions, this development is not spread across the whole of the region.

These towns and cities are connected by a network of routes. These are numbered from 1 to 18, mimicking the naming scheme used in Kanto and emphasizing Unova's isolation. Unova has the least numbered routes of any region, but also has named routes stretching between settlements. These include five bridges and a subway network.

Unlike previous regions, where climatic change was experienced locally (that is to say, some routes would always feature snow, and some routes would always feature rain), Unova is susceptible to national seasonal change. Spring, summer, autumn and winter each last approximately thirty days, and recur three times each within a year. Each season brings with it different weather patterns, unlocks different events, and presents altered Pokémon availabilities.

Etymology and design concept

Unova's Japanese name is derived from 一種類 isshurui, meaning "one variety". As explained by game director Masuda, this is to express that even though the region has great diversity in species and race, when seen from a distance they are all the same as living creatures.^[2] It may also be influenced by the motto of the United States, e pluribus unum, Latin for "from many, one". While it is unconfirmed, the name Unova likely originates from a combination of either unity or unum, and the Latin word "Nova" meaning new, possibly as reference to its basis, New York City.

Although some of Unova is geographically based on New York, the creators of the region took some liberties in regards to the surrounding areas. Clearly, the largest city in Unova, Hiun City, is based on Lower Manhattan, but to the immediate north of Hiun is (as opposed to a continuing metropolis as in real life) a vast desert. To the east and west of the region are large mountains. Unova also contains many rural settlements.

History

This section is incomplete.
Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it.

Cities, routes, and other locations

Routes

Unlike previous regions, Unova's routes do not follow the same numbering system, with a jump to 301, but are numbered 1-18, paralleling the Kanto region's numbering system.

Geography

Unova is a mixture of urban and rural land. Many cities have buildings that resemble real-world buildings, such as Sanyou City and Hiun City. However, some cities remain the way buildings in the past do. There are several forests, caves, and mountains throughout Unova, though most of these are minor dungeons that take merely minutes to fully traverse.

Climate

Main article: Seasons

The climate of Unova, unlike other regions, solely depends on the time of the year.

League

Main article: Unova League

The Unova League is the regional Pokémon League of the Unova region. After obtaining the eight badges of the region a trainer may battle the Elite Four at the Pokémon League building.

Gym Leaders

Unova League
Generation V				Region: Unova
Gym Leader Japanese				Location Japanese	Type	Badge
File:VSDent.png Dent デント Dent	File:VSPod.png Pod ポッド Pod		File:VSCorn.png Corn コーン Corn	Sanyou City サンヨウシティ Sanyou City	Grass, Fire and Water	File:Tri Badge.png Tri Badge
{{{size}}} Aloe アロエ Aloe				Shippou City シッポウシティ Shippou City	Normal	Basic Badge
{{{size}}} Arti アーティ Arti				Hiun City ヒウンシティ Hiun City	Bug	File:Beetle Badge.png Beetle Badge
{{{size}}} Kamitsure カミツレ Kamitsure				Raimon City ライモンシティ Raimon City	Electric	Bolt Badge
{{{size}}} Yacon ヤーコン Yacon				Hodomoe City ホドモエシティ Hodomoe City	Ground	Quake Badge
{{{size}}} Fuuro フウロ Fuuro				Fukiyose City フキヨセシティ Fukiyose City	Flying	Jet Badge
{{{size}}} Hachiku ハチク Hachiku				Sekka City セッカシティ Sekka City	Ice	Icicle Badge
File:VSShaga.png Shaga シャガ Shaga^{Wrong template. See Template:Sup/doc.}		Iris アイリス Iris^{Wrong template. See Template:Sup/doc.}		Souryuu City ソウリュウシティ Souryuu City	Dragon	Legend Badge

Elite Four

Unova League
Generation V
Member Japanese	Type
{{{size}}} Shikimi シキミ Shikimi	Ghost
{{{size}}} Giima ギーマ Giima	Dark
Caitlin カトレア Cattleya	Psychic
{{{size}}} Renbu レンブ Renbu	Fighting
{{{size}}} Champion Adeku アデク Adeku	Various

Trivia

Unova is the first main series region not to be based on a real-world Japanese region.
Unova has the fewest routes of any region with 18.
Unova is the only region not to have any important locations located on major islands during normal gameplay before the Elite Four.
This is the only main series game region not to have the Bug Catcher, Beauty, Bird Keeper, or Sailor Trainer classes in it.
Unova is currently the only main series region to have more than two Gym Leaders in one gym at the same time.
- Granted, it is not necessary to fight all three of the Sanyou City Gym Leaders.
It is currently the only main series game region not to have a Game Corner, probably due to what happened with slot machines in the European version of Platinum Version and the subsequent removal of it in HeartGold and SoulSilver.
It is the second main series game region, after Johto in Generation II, not to have a Safari Zone.
It is the first main series region which does not use a romanization of the Japanese name as its English name, and the first region whose name is different among all languages.

In other languages

French: Unys
German: Einall
Italian: Unima
Spanish: Teselia

References

Regions in the Pokémon world

Core series	Kanto (Sevii Islands) • Johto • Hoenn Sinnoh (Hisui • Battle Zone) • Unova Kalos • Alola • Galar (Isle of Armor • Crown Tundra) Paldea • Kitakami
Side series	White City • Orre
Anime	Orange Archipelago • Decolore Islands
Spin-off games	Fiore • Almia • Oblivia • Pokémon Island • Mintale Town Ryme City • Pasio • Ransei • Ferrum • Lental Mystery Dungeon world • PokéPark • TCG Islands Carmonte Island • Tumblecube Island • Aeos Island
TCG	Southern Islands • Puzzle Continent • Holon • Parallel Worlds
Sovereign states in the Pokémon world	Ranger Union • Guyana Lucario Kingdom • Mirage Kingdom • Rota