Generation IV

From Bulbapedia, the community-driven Pokémon encyclopedia.

(Redirected from Gen IV)

The fourth generation of Pokémon games, sometimes called the 3D generation by fans due to the fact that it contains the first main series (i.e. non-spinoff) games to use 3D graphics, is the fourth set of Pokémon games released.

Like Generation II followed from Generation I, Generation IV follows from Generation III, although it is unlike Generation II in that it is not a direct sequel (Hoenn is inaccessible in all Generation IV games). Like previous generations, Generation IV focuses on one main region across three games, the Sinnoh region featured in Pokémon Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum on the Nintendo DS, released in 2006 and 2008 (and 2007 and 2009 outside Japan). Also like Generation II, the Generation IV games retain much compatibility with their Generation III counterparts, though in a different manner, and introduce many new Pokémon which are related to those of the previous three generations.

Much like Generation III remade the Generation I games, the Generation II games also receive much anticipated remakes in the form of HeartGold and SoulSilver, and through details revealed in the five main games, Generation IV is thus known to be contemporaneous with Generation II, occurring three years after Generation I and Generation III. Like all generations, the handheld games are joined by several games on Nintendo's latest console, the Wii, specifically, Pokémon Battle Revolution and My Pokémon Ranch.

Advances in gameplay

Much like how Generation II enhanced Generation I mostly by building on its features, Generation IV builds on the features introduced in Generation III. The advancements introduced in Generation IV include:

The addition of 107 new Pokémon, bringing the total to 493. New evolutions and pre-evolutions abound in this generation, including ones for long-time favorites such as Electabuzz and Eevee.
The addition of 113 new moves, bringing the total to 467.
The addition of 47 new abilities (and removal of Cacophony), bringing the total to 123. Many older Pokémon can now have one of two abilities, rather than the single ability they could have in Generation III.
Four more boxes in the Pokémon storage system, bringing the total to 18, for a total of 540 Pokémon.
Another new region to explore, Sinnoh, yet again with its own Gym Leaders and Elite Four. Player characters are again changed.
Four new variants of Poké Ball, retaining the seven introduced in Generation III.
A new villainous team, Team Galactic, whose intent is to capture Dialga and Palkia, said to be the creators of the Pokémon universe, and remake it in the image of their leader, Cyrus.
The return of the time system from Generation II, with enhanced transitions between the time periods of the day.
A three-dimensional rendering of the overworld, rather than just sprites, with the same style seen in previous games.
Moves are now designated physical or special based on the move itself, rather than its type.
Pokémon are now able to be traded and battled over the internet through the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection.

Alterations from Generation III include:

New and enhanced versions of Pokémon Contests, featuring more rounds and a different appeals process. Poffin are now used to enhance contest stats, rather than Pokéblocks.
Secret bases have been moved underground, where players can interact over local wireless connections.
Some Pokémon now display differences in appearance based on their gender.

Further additions in Platinum include:

Another new Battle Frontier, with several different facilities than the one in Hoenn.
Ability to record and share battles with other players and in the Battle Frontier over the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection.

Further additions in HeartGold and SoulSilver include:

The re-introduction of the seven Poké Balls made from Apricorns, unavailable since Generation II.
The first Pokémon in the party can now follow the player outside of battle anywhere in the overworld.

Regions

Sinnoh

Main article: Sinnoh

Like Generation III, Generation IV introduces a new region disconnected from all previous ones, the Sinnoh region, found far north of Kanto. Being that it is so far north, snow can be found on its northern tip, as well as in the mountainous center of the region. Much of the western half of the region is rural, while its east is comparatively urban, in a similarity to the continental area shared by Johto and Kanto, respectively.

Starter Pokémon

Though it was initially rumored that the Grass/Fire/Water setup that had been the norm for the past three generations would be replaced with a Dark/Psychic/Fighting trio, these rumors were later proven false. At the beginning of the journey, players must choose from the Grass-type Turtwig, the Fire-type Chimchar, and the Water-type Piplup to defend themselves from a wild Starly in Diamond and Pearl, or be given one of the three by Professor Rowan directly in Platinum.

Gym Leaders

Like the other three regions, Sinnoh has its own set of eight Gym Leaders. This set specializes in the same types as Gym Leaders from other regions, though not in the same order. Like always, badges and TMs are given away by defeated Gym Leaders.

Sinnoh League
Gym Leader Japanese	Location Japanese	Type	Badge
Roark ヒョウタ Hyouta	Oreburgh City クロガネシティ Kurogane City	Rock	Coal Badge
Gardenia ナタネ Natane	Eterna City ハクタイシティ Hakutai City	Grass	Forest Badge
Maylene スモモ Sumomo	Veilstone City トバリシティ Tobari City	Fighting	Cobble Badge
Crasher Wake マキシマム仮面 Maximum Mask	Pastoria City ノモセシティ Nomose City	Water	Fen Badge
Fantina メリッサ Melissa	Hearthome City ヨスガシティ Yosuga City	Ghost	Relic Badge
Byron トウガン Tougan	Canalave City ミオシティ Mio City	Steel	Mine Badge
Candice スズナ Suzuna	Snowpoint City キッサキシティ Kissaki City	Ice	Icicle Badge
Volkner デンジ Denzi	Sunyshore City ナギサシティ Nagisa City	Electric	Beacon Badge

Johto

Main article: Johto

Much like Kanto was featured a second time in Generation III, Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver cause Johto to be featured a second time in Generation IV.

Starter Pokémon

Much as Kanto's Generation III starters were the same as in Generation I, Johto's starters have not changed. Professor Elm offers Chikorita, Cyndaquil, or Totodile to the player as protection on an errand to Mr. Pokémon's house on Route 30.

Gym Leaders

As would be expected, Johto's Gym Leaders are the same as before, but many give out different TMs than they gave out in Generation II.

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

Kanto

Kanto as seen in FireRed and LeafGreen

Main article: Kanto

In its fourth appearance, Kanto returns in HeartGold and SoulSilver much in the same way as it did in Generation II (as a post-League area).

Gym Leaders

Kanto's Gym Leaders are the same as in the original Gold and Silver, changing slightly from the group who were there in Generation I and Generation III. All Kanto Gym Leaders give TMs, unlike in Generation II.

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

Other Generation IV games

Pokémon Battle Revolution features a Pokémon Stadium-like arena for battle, allowing Diamond, Pearl, Platinum, HeartGold, and SoulSilver to link to it through wireless communications between the Nintendo DS and Wii, much like previous generations' games would link to Colosseum, XD, Stadium, and Stadium 2. Battle Revolution also features online battles with players around the world via the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection.

My Pokémon Ranch lets players of Pokémon Diamond and Pearl deposit their Pokémon, via wireless communication, to a ranch owned by Hayley, who will also bring Pokémon to the ranch. Players can interact with up to 1,000 of their deposited Pokémon. An update for this game enables support for Platinum, as well as allowing storage for 500 more Pokémon, however, it has not yet been released to players outside Japan. It is unknown if another update will be released for HeartGold and SoulSilver.

Trivia

Every player character in all Generation IV games has a Wii in his/her room, referencing its status as the current Nintendo console during the generation. This is in contrast with Generation III, in which only player characters in Hoenn had a Nintendo GameCube, while player characters in Kanto had an NES as was the case during the Generation I games.
Generation IV's framerate is downgraded from Generation III: whereas Generation III games ran at 60 frames per second, Generation IV games run at only 30, like Generation I and II do. This is likely to prevent slowdown due to the 3D graphics.
Due to the Generation II remakes, and the inclusion of Kanto in them, Generation IV has the largest number of accessible regions (in the handheld games) of all; Generation I had only one (Kanto), Generation II had two (Kanto and Johto), Generation III had two (Kanto and Hoenn), whereas Generation IV has three (Kanto, Johto, and Sinnoh).
- Because Hoenn was not included in Generation IV, its Gym Leaders, Elite Four, and Frontier Brains lack the now standard animated battle sprites and close-up headshots. Lorelei and Agatha, the only important Trainers from another region who are not in Generation IV, also miss out.