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: