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    Pokémon Gold/Silver

    Game » consists of 8 releases. Released Nov 21, 1999

    Players explore the regions of Johto and Kanto in their quest to catch all 251 pokemon.

    Short summary describing this game.

    Pokémon Gold/Silver last edited by Mento on 01/07/19 08:41AM View full history

    Overview

    The box art for Silver
    The box art for Silver

    Pokémon Gold and Silver were released on October 14, 2000 in North America (November 21, 1999 in Japan and April 6, 2001 in Europe) for the Game Boy Color (although it also supported the Game Boy Pocket and Game Boy). Development was done by Game Freak, publishing by Nintendo, and marketing and licensing from The Pokémon Company.

    Taking place in the Johto region, the second generation of Pokémon introduced 100 new Pokémon. Besides several unique Pokémon and other minor details, Gold and Silver are identical to each other. However, to collect every single one of the Pokémon, players must trade between not only Gold and Silver, but also the first two games, Pokémon Red and Blue.

    Reception

    Well-received by critics with an 89% average rating according to Game Rankings, Pokémon Gold and Silver was a critical success. Gold and Silver are regarded as some of the best iterations in the Pokémon franchise, getting a ten out of ten from IGN, and high scores from many other publications. Together, Gold and Silver sold 6.5 million in Japan alone, while sales in North America beat previous sales records, selling 1.4 million copies in the first week of sales.

    Pokemon Gold silver return as DS Remakes.
    Pokemon Gold silver return as DS Remakes.

    Pokémon Crystal was later released as an updated version of Gold and Silver. It came out on July 29, 2001 in North America, and was the only Pokémon game to be released exclusively for the Game Boy Color. Despite being largely similar to Gold and Silver, Crystal added many new features, including new series' staples such as the ability to choose the player's gender.

    A remake of Gold and Silver was developed for the Nintendo DS. Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver were released on March 14, 2010 in North America, and on September 12, 2009 in Japan. It is predominately a graphical remake of the game, but it also brings all of Johto's Pokémon into the latest generation of Pokémon (despite all of them being available across many of the later games released). The remakes also have new modern features added from the fourth generation of Pokémon games, new characters, and special functionality with a device called the Pokéwalker.

    Gameplay

    Cyndaquil fights Pidgey; a traditional battle.
    Cyndaquil fights Pidgey; a traditional battle.

    Set in the Johto Region, Gold/Silver is a traditional role-playing game with gameplay essentially the same as Pokémon Red/Blue and Yellow. There are two different "types" of gameplay. In battles, players have several options. The Pokémon that is in battle can attack the rival Pokémon (be it a wild Pokémon or a trainer Pokémon) with a variety of attacks. The player can also use many items, including healing items, battle items, or Poké Balls (used to catch wild Pokémon, who upon being caught can be used in battle). Players can switch out Pokémon and run away as well.

    The main goal of these battles is to get the rival Pokémon to "faint." When all of an opponent's Pokémon have fainted, the battle is won. However, when fighting a wild Pokémon, players can attempt to catch it for further use. Other trainers' Pokémon cannot be caught. After winning a battle, the Pokémon gain experience, and eventually level up. For many Pokémon, when they reach a certain level they evolve into another form of the Pokémon (e.g. Pidgey evolves into Pidgeotto, Totodile evolves into Croconaw). Some Pokémon have special requirements to evolve, such as having specific items equipped, or leveling up during a specific time of day.

    Players can talk with non-playable characters.
    Players can talk with non-playable characters.

    Each Pokémon has a type, mostly based on nature (e.g. water, grass, fire, earth). Each type has a (or some) strength(s) and weakness(es). These types also affect the Pokémon's statistics, such as, defense, attack power, and speed. Some types are completely immune to another type's attacks. In addition to stat bonuses and immunity, many Pokémon have unique attacks available relating to their type. Gold/Silver were also the first games to introduce dark and steel type Pokémon, thus completing the 17 types of Pokémon that remains the standard in all games in the series since.

    Overworld gameplay follows Gold, the protagonist of Gold/Silver. He can travel to the various towns of Johto region, along with many other locations. Players can interact with objects and non-playable characters, sometimes relating to the plot. In towns, players have a variety of options, including purchasing items, healing all of the Pokémon in the party (as well as switching out Pokémon), and challenging that city's gym leader. There are many other areas to visit, including caves, forests, and even the ocean. While in the overworld, it is also possible to trigger a random battle with a wild Pokémon.

    New features of Gold and Silver are numerous. It implements a day and night system that is based on a real-time internal clock. Influenced by this clock are many things, including specific events and what Pokémon appear. With the ability for Pokémon to hold items introduced, many items were created to take advantage of this mechanic, including berries (which can do many things, including boosts to power, healing status effects, and restoring health). Pokégear, a new key item introduced featured a map, watch, radio, and phone, allowing the player to call non-playable characters (and to be called by non-playable characters) and listen to the radio at certain times (according to the real-time clock).

    Gold and Silver's legendary Pokémon include Raikou, Entei, and Suicune, who are a completely new type of legendary Pokémon. Instead of encountering them at a specific location, they appear randomly around Johto, and will run away occasionally. However, they retain any status effects or damage upon running away.

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    Unique "shiny" Pokémon were added, which were a different color than the regular version of the Pokémon, and extremely rare. The Pokémon types Steel and Dark were added in Gold and Silver. Steel type are strong and have a high defense, while Dark type are powerful against Psychic Pokémon (they are even immune to any Psychic attacks).

    Breeding was a feature that has stayed since Gold and Silver, allowing players to leave two Pokémon in the day care center for a chance for them to breed. Many species of Pokémon cannot breed, however. The child of the Pokémon will gain whatever moves its father has, while it gets the species of its mother.

    Plot

    Chikorita, one of the three starter Pokémon.
    Chikorita, one of the three starter Pokémon.

    Taking place in the Johto Region, Gold and Silver follows Gold, a young boy for New Bark Town. In the beginning of the game, he moves to New Bark Town and meets Professor Elm, who gives him the choice of one of three starter Pokémon: Cyndaquil, Totodile, or Chikorita. Later, Gold will run into his rival, Silver, and he will challenge Gold to the first of many Pokémon battles with him. After the battle, he will flee from Gold who will discover that he has just fought against the thief who stole one of Professor Elm's Pokémon. Gold will also meet Professor Oak, who gives him the Pokédex and the important task of catching all of the Pokémon in the Johto Region.

    To do so, Gold must battle the eight gym leaders of Johto, each specializing in a particular type of Pokémon. After defeating each of the gym leaders and collecting their badges, Gold must fight the Elite Four and the Champion, and eventually the eight gym leaders of Kanto. In the very end, Gold fights the protagonist of Red and Blue, Red, in the final battle. Along this path, Gold must also battle the remaining members of the organization known as Team Rocket, as they try to re-unite and contact their old boss, Giovanni, to convince him to lead them again.

    Pokédex

    The Pokémon Gold/Silver Pokédex starts out as if it were separate from that of Pokémon Red/Blue, however after defeating the elite four, the player gains access to a national Pokédex that allows them to see all of the 'old' Pokémon from the original game. The first 151 Pokémon are as per the Pokémon Red/Blue Pokédex. The remaining Pokémon, those that are new to this game, are listed below.

    152 Chikorita

    Chikorita, the new Grass type starter
    Chikorita, the new Grass type starter

    153 Bayleef

    154 Meganium

    155 Cyndaquil

    156 Quilava

    157 Typhlosion

    158 Totodile

    159 Croconaw

    160 Feraligatr

    161 Sentret

    162 Furret

    163 Hoothoot

    164 Noctowl

    165 Ledyba

    166 Ledian

    167 Spinarak

    168 Ariados

    Feraligatr, the final form of the water-type starter, Totodile.
    Feraligatr, the final form of the water-type starter, Totodile.

    169 Crobat

    170 Chinchou

    171 Lanturn

    172 Pichu

    173 Cleffa

    174 Igglybuff

    175 Togepi

    176 Togetic

    177 Natu

    178 Xatu

    179 Mareep

    180 Flaaffy

    181 Ampharos

    182 Bellossom

    Typhlosion, the final evolution of the fire-type starter
    Typhlosion, the final evolution of the fire-type starter

    183 Marill

    184 Azumarill

    185 Sudowoodo

    186 Politoed

    187 Hoppip

    188 Skiploom

    189 Jumpluff

    190 Aipom

    191 Sunkern

    192 Sunflora

    193 Yanma

    194 Wooper

    195 Quagsire

    196 Espeon

    Furret is an average normal-type Pokémon
    Furret is an average normal-type Pokémon

    197 Umbreon

    198 Murkrow

    199 Slowking

    200 Misdreavus

    201 Unown

    202 Wobbuffet

    203 Girafarig

    204 Pineco

    205 Forretress

    206 Dunsparce

    207 Gligar

    208 Steelix

    209 Snubbull

    Azumarill, an evolved water-type Pokémon
    Azumarill, an evolved water-type Pokémon

    210 Granbull

    211 Qwilfish

    212 Scizor

    213 Shuckle

    214 Heracross

    215 Sneasel

    216 Teddiursa

    217 Ursaring

    218 Slugma

    219 Magcargo

    220 Swinub

    221 Piloswine

    222 Corsola

    Bellossom, a new evolution of an old grass-type Pokémon
    Bellossom, a new evolution of an old grass-type Pokémon

    223 Remoraid

    224 Octillery

    225 Delibird

    226 Mantine

    227 Skarmory

    228 Houndour

    229 Houndoom

    230 Kingdra

    231 Phanpy

    232 Donphan

    233 Porygon2

    234 Stantler

    235 Smeargle

    236 Tyrogue

    Ampharos, an electric-type Pokémon
    Ampharos, an electric-type Pokémon

    237 Hitmontop

    238 Smoochum

    239 Elekid

    240 Magby

    241 Miltank

    242 Blissey

    243 Raikou

    244 Entei

    245 Suicune

    246 Larvitar

    247 Pupitar

    248 Tyranitar

    249 Lugia

    250 Ho-oh

    251 Celebi

    Pokémon Gyms

    The system where the player has to get badges throughout the world to be allowed to enter the Elite Four and try to become the greatest Pokémon Trainer ever returns from Red/Blue/Green/ Yellow. This time the region where the game primarily takes places is called Johto and the gym leaders are all different than its prequel. Eventually, when all eight gym leader are defeated in the Johto region and the Elite Four is also defeated, there is an opportunity to go back to Kanto (the region of the first generation) to a replay on all past Gym leaders, assuring a total of 16 Gym Leaders and 16 possible badges.

    Violet City Gym

    Leader - Falkner

    Badge - Zephyr Badge

    Pokémon Type - Flying

    Pokémon Used - Pidgey, Pidgeotto

    Azalea City Gym

    Leader - Bugsy

    Badge - Hive Badge

    Pokémon Type - Bug

    Pokémon Used - Metapod, Kakuna, Scyter

    Goldenrod City Gym

    Leader - Whitney

    Badge - Plain Badge

    Pokémon Type - Normal

    Pokémon Used - Clefairy, Miltank

    Ecruteak City Gym

    Leader - Morty

    Badge - Fog Badge

    Pokémon Type - Ghost

    Pokémon Used - Gastly, Hunter, Hunter, Gengar

    Cianwood City Gym

    Leader - Chuck

    Badge - Storm Badge

    Pokémon Type - Fighting

    Pokémon Used - Primeape, Poliwrath

    Olivine City Gym

    Leader - Jasmine

    Badge - Mineral Badge

    Pokémon Type - Steel

    Pokémon Used - Magnemite, Magnemite, Steelix

    Magohany City Gym

    Leader - Pryce

    Badge - Glacier Badge

    Pokémon Type - Ice

    Pokémon Used - Seel, Dewgong, Piloswine

    Blackthorn City Gym

    Leader - Clair

    Badge - Rising Badge

    Pokémon Type - Dragon

    Pokémon Used - Dragonair, Dragonair, Dragonair, Kingdra

    Vermilion City Gym

    Leader - Lt. Surge

    Badge - Thunderbadge

    Pokémon Type - Electric

    Pokémon Used - Raichu, Electrode, Electrode , Magneton, Electabuzz

    Saffron City Gym

    Leader - Sabrina

    Badge - Marshbadge

    Pokémon Type - Psychic

    Pokémon Used - Espeon, Mr. Mime, Alakazan

    Cerulean City Gym

    Leader - Misty

    Badge - Cascade Badge

    Pokémon Type - Water

    Pokémon Used - Golduck, Quagsire, Lapras, Starmie

    Celadon City Gym

    Leader - Erika

    Badge - Rainbow Badge

    Pokémon Type - Grass

    Pokémon Used - Tangela, Victreebel, Jumpluff, Bellossom

    Fuschia City Gym

    Leader - Janine

    Badge - Sould Badge

    Pokémon Type - Bug/Poison

    Pokémon Used - Crobat, Ariados, Weezing, Weezing, Venomoth

    Pewter City Gym

    Leader - Brock

    Badge - Boulder Badge

    Pokémon Type - Rock/Ground

    Pokémon Used - Graveler, Rhyhorn, Omastar, Kabutops, Onyx

    Seafoam Islands City Gym

    Leader - Blaine

    Badge - Volcano Badge

    Pokémon Type - Fire

    Pokémon Used - Magcargo, Magmar, Rapidash

    Viridian City Gym

    Leader - Gary

    Badge - Earth Badge

    Pokémon Type - Gary has a very varied team

    Pokémon Used - Pidgeot, Alakazan, Rhydon, Exeggutor, Gyarados, Arcanine

    The Elite Four

    The Elite Four works pretty much like in the previous games. The player first faces the four members of the elite four, then battles against the Elite Champion for the title of greatest of all. Bruno from the previous Elite makes a come back, while the previously gym leader Koga appears as one of the four.

    Elite Four Will

    Pokémon Type - Psychic

    Pokémon Used - Xatu, Exeggutor, Slowbro, Jynx, Xatu

    Elite Four Koga

    Pokémon Type - Bug/Poison

    Pokémon Used - Ariados, Forretress, Muk, Venomoth, Crobat,

    Elite Four Bruno

    Pokémon Type - Fighting

    Pokémon Used - Hitmontop, Hitmonchan, Hitmonlee, Onyx, Machamp

    Elite Four Karen

    Pokémon Type - Dark

    Pokémon Used - Umbreon, Vileplume, Gengar, Murkrow, Houndoom

    Elite Four Champion Lance

    Pokémon Type - Dragon

    Pokémon Used - Gyarados, Charizard, Aerodactyl, Dragonite, Dragonite, Dragonite

    Legendary Pokémon

    Legendary Pokémon are Pokémon generally found in a very limited amount in the world of Pokémon, so unique there is only one of each of them. These Pokémon have more experience than the rest, and can be found in already high levels ranging from 30 to 70. Like Moltres, Articuno, and Zapdos were the Legendary Birds of the previous games, this time there are Legendary Dogs, called Entei, Suicune and Raikou. There's also two new birds, Lugia and Ho-oh; although when purchasing one or the other version of the game one of these two Pokémon come printed on the cover, Both can be captured in each of the distinct versions. There's also a time-traveler Pokémon called Celebi that wasn't included in this version, and got removed from American and European cartridges of Crystal, was only obtainable through Nintendo Events.

    Entei

    Type - Fire

    Level - 40

    Location - Awaken Entei in one of Ecruteak's buildings and then chase him down across Johto.

    Suicune

    Type - Water

    Level - 40

    Location - Awaken Suicune in one of Ecruteak's buildings and then chase him down across Johto.

    Raikou

    Type - Electric

    Level - 40

    Location - Awaken Raikou in one of Ecruteak's buildings and then chase him down across Johto.

    Lugia

    Type - Flying / Psychic

    Level - Gold 70 / Silver 40

    Location - Lugia is found in the caverns south of Olivine. In the Gold version, he isan't available until the player has the Silver Wing in Pewter. In the Silver version, the player can just surf there and explore the dungeon until the player finds him.

    Ho-oh

    Type - Flying / Fire

    Level - Gold 40 / Silver 70

    Location - On the top of the Tin Tower after receiving the Rainbow Wing. In the Gold version the item is in the Radio Tower in Goldenrod. In the Silver version is it found in Pewter.

    Celebi

    Type - Grass / Psychic

    Level - 30

    Location - Illex Forest, only obtainable in the Japanese version of Pokémon Crystal, Nintendo Events or GameShark.

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