Menu: Difference between revisions

The menu, also known as the start menu, is a sidebar used in all of the hand-held main series Pokémon games. It allows the player to cycle through a list of information and options. The menu's contents have changed from generation to generation, and may also change as a player progresses through the game. From Generation I through Generation III, the menu was accessed via the Start Button. In Generation IV, the default access button is the X button, but this can be changed in the settings.

Menu commands

Pokédex

Main article: Pokédex

The Pokédex command displays the player's Pokédex. Information is recorded here about Pokémon the player has seen and caught. The Pokédex command is usually found at the top of the menu and must be obtained as the player progresses through the game. On the Pokédex interface, a list of Pokémon is displayed in numerical order and can be scrolled through vertically. Pokémon that haven't been seen by the player are marked with question marks or dashes. On the other hand, information for Pokémon that haven't been caught but have been encountered isn't displayed. Images are available in the Pokédex for all Pokémon caught or encountered. Once the player selects a previously caught Pokémon from the list, the Pokémon's information is displayed in sections including a description, the area in which the Pokémon is found, its cry, its size and weight, and its different forms. For Pokémon that have only been encountered and not caught, no height and weight information, species information, or description are available.

Generation I

Professor Oak gives the player a Pokédex after the player returns from Viridian City and delivers a parcel. The Pokémon's cry is played immediately when viewing the summary page in the Pokédex. In Pokémon Yellow, a print option is available for accessing the Game Boy Printer.

Generation II

The Pokédex is obtained when the player first meets Professor Oak, on a mission from Professor Elm to meet with Mr. Pokémon.

An Unown Dex is also an available upgrade. A print option is available for accessing the Game Boy Printer. The footprints of Pokémon are listed in the description page. The cry and nest area of the Pokémon are selectable options at the bottom of the summary page.

Generation III

Professor Birch gives the player a Pokédex after their first battle with their rival. The National Pokédex is introduced in this generation, as well as options for sorting Pokémon by features rather than just names and numbers. Once the National Pokédex is obtained, one can switch between the regional and National listings. Another new option is the search feature, which allows the player to search by color, type and first letter of the Pokémon's name.

Generation IV

Professor Rowan gives the player a Pokédex in Sandgem some time after choosing a starter Pokémon.

In Pokémon Platinum, the regional Pokédex has been changed for the first time to include more native Pokémon.

Pokémon

The Pokémon command displays the player's current party. Once accessed, it will display the six party slots and the Pokémon present in the player's party. The Pokémon order and line-up can be changed by switching their places or by removing Pokémon at the PC. By selecting an individual Pokémon, its summary will appear. The summary information is dependent on what is available in the game's generation. In all generations, it included the status of the Pokémon, its current level, experience points, stats and current moveset.

Generation II

The Pokémon's gender was added.

Generation III

In this generation, due to new features, new information can be accessed from the Pokémon menu. The Pokémon's ability, nature, preference of taste and where the Pokémon was first met were included. With the appearance of Pokémon Contests, a move's information on contests (its appeal, condition, etc.) can now be seen as well.

Generation IV

In Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum, several features formerly found in the PokéNav can now be seen in this menu. This included the Pokémon's condition and the ribbons they have earned. A Pokémon's Pokéthlon stats in Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver are displayed here.

Bag

Main article: Bag

The Bag or Item command displays the player's bag and the items found inside. By opening the bag, the player can change and arrange items in the bag, along with registering and tossing items. Beginning Generation II, registering a key item allows the player to easily activate and use the item using the select button, or Y button in Generation IV.

Generation I

Any item placed in the bag went in a single pocket. Ninety-nine copies of an item count as taking up one slot, and twenty different items are allowed in the bag, in total. When the bag is full, the player's PC can be used for item storage.

Generation II

Items are automatically separated into four different pockets: Healing items (including berries), Poké Balls, TMs and HMs, and Key items.

Generation III

The bag is in either a girl's or boy's design, and it moves whenever something is done. When the limit of ninety-nine items is reached, the player now can carry more of that particular item by using a second slot in the bag. This generation also expanded the Pocket System from Generation II, with five pockets available instead of four:

• Items
• Berries
• Poké Balls
• TMs and HMs
• Key Items

In FireRed and LeafGreen, the bag is only divided into Items, Key Items, and Poké Balls. There are two sub-pockets in the Key Items pocket, TM Case and Berry Pouch, which hold TMs and HMs and berries, respectively. Also, beginning with FireRed and LeafGreen, when an item is viewed, it will have a sprite.

Generation IV

Generation IV changed the Pocket System even more, dividing the bag even further:

• Items
• Medicine
• Poké Balls
• TMs and HMs
• Berries
• Mail
• Battle Items
• Key Items

The player can navigate the bag by either using the face buttons on the DS or using the Touch Screen to scroll through the bag and items.

Unlike previous generations, the bag has an infinite amount of space within it, meaning that the PC Item Storage system is obsolete and therefore not present. It is replaced within the PC menu with an option for decorating Poké Balls with Seals instead.

Pokémon Applications

Generation I

There was no application in Generation I.

Generation II

Main article: PokéGear

In Generation II, the PokéGear command displays the player's PokéGear. It displays the map of the region, names of previously fought trainers, the current time. It also allow players to call registered trainers. The main character of Gold, Silver, and Crystal receives a PokéGear from their mother at the start of their journey. It has several functions, some of which will need to be unlocked during the game by receiving special expansion cards. The functions of the PokéGear include:

• Time - The PokéGear displays the day of the week and the time of day, entered at the beginning of the game.
• Map - The PokéGear displays a map of Johto, and later Kanto.
• Phone - The PokéGear will function like a cellphone, allowing the user to make calls to people that the player has traded phone numbers with.
• Radio - The PokéGear functions as a radio, allowing the player to listen to radio shows and music.

Generation III

Main article: PokéNav

In Generation III, the PokéNav command displays the player's PokéNav. The PokéNav command is only available in Generation III, excluding FireRed and LeafGreen, Pokémon XD, and Pokémon Colosseum. It displays the map of the region, names of previously fought trainers, conditions of Pokémon, and the ribbons on the Pokémon. Mr. Stone gives it to the the player of Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald for recovering the Devon Goods from Team Aqua or Team Magma. It has several new functions. Most of them were already programmed when received:

• Map - The PokéNav displays a map of Hoenn, along with the current location of its owner.
• Condition - The PokéNav checks the conditions of Pokémon in detail. It can be set to search only through party Pokémon, or all Pokémon owned combined.
• Trainer's Eyes - The PokéNav will keep track of trainers and alert the user when they want a rematch. This function appears only in Ruby and Sapphire.
• Match Call - An upgraded version of the Trainer's Eyes only available in Emerald, it allows its user to call anyone who has had their PokéNav registered with theirs, similar to the cell phone feature of the PokéGear.
• Ribbons - The PokéNav will display the Ribbons the Pokémon have acquired, either via Contests or special events. This function can only be activated if a Pokémon receives a ribbon.

Generation IV

Main article: Pokétch

Main article: PokéGear

With the Generation IV games being on the DS, the application feature in Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum, the Pokétch, can be seen on the touch screen, instead of the menu. The PokéGear's features, however, are still utilized on separate screens and must be selected in the menu.

Player's name

Main article: Trainer Card

The Player's name command allows the player to display their Trainer Card. Several things are present on all Trainer Cards, including the trainer's name, the trainer ID number, how much money the player has, how many Pokémon seen (caught in Generations I-III), which badges the player has earned, and the amount of time they have been playing their game. The trainer card also changes colors after meeting certain conditions, such as defeating the Elite Four.

Generation II

The badges in Generation II, so far, are the only to be animated on a Trainer Card.

Generation III

In Generation III, a back side was introduced that displayed such data as how many times a player had played in link battles, won and lost, traded, and even how long they had been playing when they first defeated the Elite Four and Champion to enter the Hall of Fame.

In Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, a trainer's party could be photographed in the Rocket Game Corner in Celadon City and put on the back as well.

Generation IV

The badges can be found on the touch screen. They can also shined in Generation IV using it, and when touched, they will play musical notes depending on their shininess. A signature strip was also added at the back.

Save

Main article: Saving

The Save command saves the player's current progress. The player can save his or her game at any time, when on the field. In Generation IV, the prompt may display "Saving a lot of data..." instead of just "Saving...". This occurs when the player accesses the Pokémon storage system from a PC as well as the first time saving after loading a backup save file that was loaded due to a corrupted file. When the player selects "Continue" on the main menu, the player can continue playing the game from the last place saved.

Options

Main article: Options

The Options command allows the player to change various in-game features. The Options menu can also be accessed on the main menu.

In Generations III and IV, the player can use the options to change:

• Text Speed - changes text speed to slow, medium, or fast.
• Battle Scene - changes battle scene (animations) to on or off.
• Battle Style - changes battle style to shift or set (whether or not the player can switch out after an opponent faints in a Single Battle).
• Sound - changes sound to stereo or mono.
• Button mode - changes button mode to normal, L=A.
• Frame type - change frame type to one of 20 different schemes.

Generation III

Button mode has an LR option in Generation III. In Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, the "Help" option is also available in Button mode. With this, pressing L or R will bring up the Help menu. This can be found on the menu's

Generation IV

In Button mode an option called Start=X was added to allow player to access the menu with the Start button.

A Confirm option was also added. It used to save the Option menu's settings. Pressing B does not save it; in Platinum, however, the player is prompted to confirm any adjustments made to the settings.

Exit

Main article: Exit

The Exit command closes the menu and returns to the game. The player can also press the start button (or the X button in Generation IV) or the B button to close the menu.

Trivia

• In Generation I, the menu screen would be darker than usual if the menu was opened in a cave or other place that was very dark and Flash had not yet been used.
• In the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series, an entirely different menu format was introduced due to the vastly different style of gameplay.
• The first main series games to feature the menu on the touch screen are Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver. The player is able to select different options by using the DS's touch screen capabilities, such as one-touch saving, accessing the Pokédex, and accessing the bag. All of the menu options utilize the touch screen in a total redesign from previous generations. Pressing the X button will change control over this area from the stylus to the D-pad.