Game Review - Nintendo DS / Pokémon Black & White

Black & White - The Reboot the Pika-Series Needed


1996. That was the date the very first Pokémon games were launched in Japan. That was a day that changed the videogaming world's history. From that moment on, the series have gotten slight improvements, while keeping the original formula the same.

Now, Gamefreak launch this game as a Reboot to the series, but, has the evolving critter's sage evolved as much as their creations? Or has it literally lost its final colors?

STORY - 8.6 (Fantastic)

I will not judge the story of this game based on if there is, or isn't innovation. That is, in my honest opinion, wrong, and belongs in its own category.

The game introduces you in a teaching fashion to the world of Pokémon. Immediately, you are introduced to your first creature, and must complete the Pokédex, a task assigned by Profesor Juniper (Araragi in Japanese), and which you can only finish when you see and capture all 156 Pokémon in the Unova Region.

4th Gym Leader, Elesa

In this region, completely away from the other games, and supposedly based on Ney York, you will have to fight your two childhood friends, both, like you, wanting to become Pokémon Champions (Well, Cheren more than Bianca); you will have to go through various challenges, including dismanteling an Evil Organization, called Team Plasma, whose aim is supposedly to release all the Pokémon in the world...

Even though the basic objective of it all is just to get the 8 Gym Badges in possession of the eight Unova Gym Leaders, and then kick the Champion's ass, there are lots of twists and turns, and various little details which make the plot feels complete, and ultimately rewarding.

GAMEPLAY - 9.7 (Near-Perfection)

The gameplay in this game is incredibly addictive, fun, and, all in all, fantastically thought out. Seemingly simple on the outside, casual gamer. Infuriatingly fun on the inside, for the hardcore trainer.

Every single Pokémon has got six different stats: HP, Attack, Defense, Special Attack, Special Defense, and Speed.

Thinking this is all that's taken into account when battling? Hell no!

There are 17 Pokémon types, and each little (or not so little) creature can have up to two type affinities. From the fragile-looking Ice-types, to the Brutal, can-hit-through-almost-all, Dragon-types.

Screenshot of a Triple Battle

But wait, there's more, each Pokémon's attack has a type as well, having from the Electric-type Thunderbolt, to the Rock-type Stone Edge. For each move, you also have three different categories: Physical, Special, and Status, each taking into account the different stats for your Pokémon.

Technical and Hidden machines to teach our Pokémon moves have also recieved upgrades in this game, with you being able to infinitel reuse the TMs as much as you want, and there being only 5 HMs.

VS Zoroark

EVs, IVs, Egg Group Breeding, Trading, Wi-fi Battling, and Wi-fi Minigames, Different Rule Sets, Double Battles, the New Triple Battles, and lots, lots more mechanics are taken into account in this seemingly simple Turn-Based RPG.

Is Pokémon Simple? Yes, It is simply fun. Though some features are still lacking, and the CPU's AI, and Item System should be improved, the Gameplay is Almost Perfect.

MUSIC & SOUND - 9 (Spectacular)


Every single musical detail in this game is perfection for the system. Why doesn't it score the highest then? Well, the reason is there are some flaws with the sound, and there are themes, that, although being beautifully written, don't quite fit with the themed character.


All battle music is perfect, from the wild happy-go-lucky battle theme, to the Final Boss of Team Plasma's dramatic theme. Town music is catchy and fitting, and you'll never get bored of hearing the different tunes. 
In my opinion the best battle music in this game is the Elite Four's, but that's just my opinion.

Elite 4 Unova Battle Theme

But the thing is, after going through all the post-game routes, and getting ready to fight the real champion of Unova, all you get is a sub-par Champion theme, which does not reflect the epicness of the battle... 


But now to the only real issue. While it is true that 649 Pokémon in all is a lot pof different sounds to make, Gamefreak could at least have remade the older Pokémon cries.
Some of them, especially the older ones, are really low quality, some repeat themselves, and others are just 8-bit annoying sounds.


But that's all the flaws I could find in the sound and music of this game. All in all, the themes are very nicely composed, and fit really well. They sound well, and they are enjoyable, some even epic.




GRAPHICS - 8.3 (Amazing)

This game's graphics actually impressed me a lot when I played it. I didn't think the game would be this beautiful. Seriously.

The graphics engine in this game is impressive. Every single detail in this game is fresh and new. The houses look like houses, and the sprites are more detailed than ever. The season system variates the trees, and all road and route graphics, and the game shows off spectacularily at the Skyarrow Bridge, where it goes off the different camera angles.

The Battle Subway looks very good, and for a game that doesn't include diagonal movement, the circular maps are very well designed.

Impressive Graphics at Skyarrow Bridge

The graphical prowess is there, but it seems they didn't take everything they could out of it.

First of all, there is only a small number of cinemated cutscenes. The final Zekrom and Reshiram one, and maybe you can count the intro scene, but even that's not animated.

The Pokémon sprites, even though given movement via a few more sprites for each pokémon and animating it, are very pixelated, and while I understand it's 649 Pokémon, which means a massive number of sprites, they could have done a bit more.

Surf, An epic Animation which could look better if the Enemy appeared to be hit...

Can you tell me who is Attacking and who's not?

And finally, it is time for Pokémon to change the way the attacking animations work. Here it shall finish. I am tired of seeing how the enemy throws a flamethrower at me out from their armpits (see magmortar), or how me streching a little bit is supposed to be a Body Bind attack...

Seriously. But otherwise, the game's overworld graphics, trainer sprites, camera angles, and maps, look incredible. A pity I can't say the same about the Pokémon Sprites and attack animations.

INNOVATION - 6.5 (Good)

This is the place where this game seriously lacks. Pokémon Black and White pretend to be a reboot to the series, and, while I'm not saying they should have changed core elements (The RPG Turn Based, 6 Pokémon...), they could have done so much more with this installment to the series.

But let's start on what they did add.

First of all, Triple and Rotation Battles, are a really nice add-on to the series, and they are actually enjoyable to play. The new gameplay rules in these battles are extraordinarily hard to master, and they are really, in short, fun.

The problem is they have little to no support throughout the game. There are only a few trainers in each version which play these kind of battles, I could count them with a hand, and, after you've beaten the game, in the Battle Subway (The Battle Tower of this generation), there is NO SUPPORT for Triple or Rotation Battles.

The Battle Subway in Pokémon

GTS has been definitely improved, and all wireless connectivity methods have also been given a slight boost. The problem is that it's slight. The Dream World alone, with it's time limit, doesn't provide much of an experience (Or at least, to me), and while it's nice to have the Random Battle with no Friend Codes, it is a real shame the rules to pick are so inflexible.

A thing I think should get some mention is the new Experience Point system, by which you now obtain experience based on how the foe's level compares to yours.

Now for the real part where this game lacks, and why it should not be taken as a reboot. Imagination. While beautiful, the maps are repetitive. While fun, the story is a copy from all the past Pokémon games, with some new twists, but esencially the same. And while new, and in quantity (G.1, 150 // G.2, 101 // G.3, 135 // G.4, 107 // G.5, 156) the quality of the new Pokémon designs is almost laughable.

A garbage can, an ice cream scoop, a Pokéball shaped mushroom, monkeys, monkeys, and more monkeys...

Tamagetake & Garbodor

I am not saying they are horrible, but it is a pity, because they could have done so much more with this game.
They could have been more original in the starter typings, making you feel fresher, and it is time to stop the Dragon Legendary Madness that has taken the series ever since Rayquaza appeared.

Gym Challenges, Items, HMs, the removal of Pokémon Contests for the (in my opinion) useless Pokémon Musicals. All of these things could have been improved much more, in order to have made a much fresher experience.

All in all, the game can't be considered fresh and a reboot of the series. There are many chains tying Pokémon down.

DIFFICULTY - 8.2 (Amazing)

The game starts off pretty hard, as you arrive on the First Gym Challenge with almost no pokémon, and the one elemental pokémon you have is always weak to that of the First Gym Leader's. 

Then, at the second Gym, you have to face off against a beastly pokémon, and unless you have been grinding, you're probably going to be underlevelled.

But besides those first two real challenges, the game is quite easy. Keep in mind that by Difficulty in this category, I don't give a higher score to a harder game. This category searches for the balance.

The Elite Four

And balance this game has, there is almost no grinding, but it isn't a walk-in-the-park either. If you want to take on the Elite Four in this game, you've got to be very well-prepared, especially for the final plot-twist.

There are some challenges more challenging than others, but in the end, this game proves to be quite balanced. Of course, there are some moments where the game is really too easy (3rd Gym), or where it's just downright hard (1st Gym, unless you grind a lot), but nothing too dramatic.

In short, this game won't make you grind like crazy, but it won't be that easy either. It also leaves a lot in the hands of the player, depending on the growth and capture strategy the gamer takes, which is also positive.

REPLAY VALUE - 10 (Perfect)

Just one word. Perfect. Seriously. We're talking about Pokémon, the Masterpiece of Replaying.


After you beat the game, first of all, you unlock the other third of the Unova Map, which you can now take to train your Pokémon's level even higher, explore some ancient ruins, beat the Champion of the Sinnoh Region, Cynthia, and go to the exclusive communication-based city of each version in the game.


And while they (Black City, and White Forest) don't add really too much to the gameplay, they are a very good addition, which'll definitely take some time out of you.

Black City & White Forest

The Dream World, even though not really as useful as initially thought, mainly due to the time limit on the website, helps you get random Wi-Fi battles.
Pokémon Musicals are there for the cute-part-collecting person who wants to get every single one of them, and they are also time-consuming, and for some people, fun.

Reshiram (Left) & Zekrom (Right)

But of course, the main goal of each and every Pokémon game is not to beat a buffed-up Elite 4, nor to ride the Golden Unova post-game.
It has more to do with exploration, with the capture of every legendary (The Legendary Battles in this game are astounding), and ultimately, with the capture of every single Pokémon Creature.


You can start using that GTS, because cathing them all hasn't been as much time-consuming and fun, as it is now.


There are 649 Pokémon in all.


Gotta catch 'em all!

AVERAGE SCORE - 8.6 (Fantastic)


OVERALL SCORE - 9.7 (Near-Perfection)


While lacking in the Innovation area, this game is a very well thought out addition to the great creature-raising Pokémon series.
Though more could have been added, and the game is not an exact reboot of the series, it stays true to the games and the gamers, providing a very memorable and enjoyable experience, on a great core gameplay basis, with great music and graphics.


The overall score takes into account the whole game in itself, not judging the various points separately. I deem it important, because it is at least half, of what really counts, the full experience in itself.


FINAL SCORE - 9.15 (Spectacular)


-------
Mister Gaga