Post by: NWR_Neal on March 01, 2011, 08:20:26 PM
Neal chooses Oshawott and bravely travels through a new world of Pokémon.
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/feature/25535
Pokémon Black and White are coming out March 6, and we received our copy today. Since it's a mammoth game, our full review will be coming sometime after launch. To whet your Pokéwhistle until then, I'll be writing about my early experiences with the game.
First off, the game wastes no time. I think this is the quickest I've gone from opening to first Pokémon, as it literally happens right after the credits roll. You can decry the series for being stagnant, but at least it moves briskly this time around.
The three starters (from left to right: Snivy, Tepig, Oshawott)I picked Oshawott, the Water starter, chiefly because he's funny looking. It was a toss-up between him and the Fire starter, Tepig, but the deciding factor for me was the fact that I started with Chimchar in Diamond/Pearl.
Unlike past games, your rival doesn't show up and take the starter Pokémon strong against yours. Instead, you set out with two of your friends (who get the other two starters) and playfully compete with each other to become the best Pokémon trainer in the land. Naturally, the resident Pokémon Professor tasks you with filling up the region's Pokédex as well.
The first route is short, and contains a dog-like Normal-type critter named Lillipup and a Bidoof-esque Normal-type named Patrat. It does reinforce the concept of brevity in this game, as you move extremely quickly through the short route. Also, I'm not 100 percent sure of this, but it feels like Pokémon level up a lot faster in this game, which is wonderful because it makes grinding less of a chore.
I soon entered the big city, and experienced the first "Americanized" aspect of the this New York-inspired region: the Pokémon Center is basically a Wal-Mart Super Center, combining a hospital, food store, and more, all in one.
After living the American dream in the Pokéquivalent to Wal-Mart, I was introduced to the villainous group of Black/White, the Pokémon liberators of Team Plasma. They're rallying in the city, telling the people that Pokémon should be treated as equals, not subordinates.
Are you blasting off again? No? Then no one is talking about you.After that, I built up my team more, adding a Purrloin, a Dark-type cat who seems uninteresting and boring, and Pansear, a fire monkey. Pansear's inclusion seemed weird to me. If you've been following the game, you'd likely know that the first gym trainer is different, as there are three of them, one for each of the starter's types. You go up against the one that is strong against your starter (in my case, I went against Cilan, who has Grass-type Pokémon). However, the game hands you a Pokémon that is strong against that type. You literally go to a side route and talk to a character who asks you if you want a Pansear.
Tomorrow, I'll tell you all about my experience with the first gym and more. Until then, here's what my team is as of now:
- Clown the Oshawott (Water-type)
- Loco the Lillipup (Normal-type)
- Catrap the Patrat (Normal-type)
- AiAi the Pansear (Fire-type)
- Meowth the Purrloin (Dark-type)
Post by: TurdFurgy on March 01, 2011, 08:27:51 PM
Post by: TheBlackCat on March 01, 2011, 08:31:03 PM
Post by: TJ Spyke on March 01, 2011, 08:33:04 PM
Clown the Oshawott? I haven't followed Pokemon sense Yellow but it seems they're running out of ideas for names, ha ha.
Seel. I think that says enough.
TheBlackCat, think of PETA. I don't consider them good guys.
Edit: I apologize if I offended anyone with the PETA remark. I am all for protecting animals and that is why I support causes like the ASPCA. PETA is too extreme and take things way too far.
Post by: NWR_insanolord on March 01, 2011, 10:42:50 PM
Post by: NWR_pap64 on March 01, 2011, 11:18:04 PM
Clown the Oshawott? I haven't followed Pokemon sense Yellow but it seems they're running out of ideas for names, ha ha.
Seel. I think that says enough.
TheBlackCat, think of PETA. I don't consider them good guys.
Edit: I apologize if I offended anyone with the PETA remark. I am all for protecting animals and that is why I support causes like the ASPCA. PETA is too extreme and take things way too far.
Funny enough, I got the same idea when reading about this new team.
It's rather interesting too as they have yet to explore the idea of Pokemon abuse and exploitation. It's always about catching them all, making them stronger and using their powers for their own selfish gains. There has yet to a storyline in the Pokemon universe about protecting the species as a whole (unless I am mistaken of course).
And don't worry about offending PETA. Usually I am one that respects people and organizations, but PETA will NEVER gain my respect. They are very villainous, selfish, self-righteous and manipulative a**holes. I stopped taking Tommy Tallarico seriously after he claimed that PETA was all about "kindness".
But now I am going way off topic, my apologies.
Post by: Halbred on March 01, 2011, 11:28:22 PM
Post by: BeautifulShy on March 01, 2011, 11:51:28 PM
Post by: TJ Spyke on March 01, 2011, 11:53:41 PM
It's a seashell. It can take it off and basically use it like a boomerang (it used this in the first episode of the new Pokemon season when it rescues Pikachu from Team Rocket's balloon).
Edit: Maxi beat me to it while I was typing.
Post by: TJ Spyke on March 02, 2011, 11:28:13 PM
Post by: Caliban on March 04, 2011, 11:17:02 AM
Post by: Shaymin on March 04, 2011, 05:52:44 PM
Also Neal, Sawk is amazing. Hang onto it.
