Operation Backlog Completion 2026

Pokémon Black and White: Story-Driven Pokémon

 Reviews, Video games  309 Responses »  Tagged with: ,
Aug 142015
 

Despite what I said in my post about Black Holmes, we aren’t discussing Resident Evil 2 today, either. Instead, let’s talk about Pokémon Black and White.

Pokemon-Black-and-White

I love these games. Their direct sequels received honorable mentions in my list of the top games I played in 2013, but they don’t hold a candle to the originals.

Pokémon Black and White came out shortly after I got back into the series after a long hiatus. While their decision to include only new Pokémon until the post-game caused some controversy, I liked it. It made me feel like I was starting the series for the first time again. I liked the decision to have older protagonists, and I liked the Unova region… but what really surprised and delighted me was the stronger emphasis on story.

My honest reaction when I turned on Pokémon White for the first time and the intro started was to check the box to make sure I actually put in the right game and not some other JRPG.

Unlike most games in the series, Black and White had a plot and characters compelling enough to make me want to know what would happen. They’re the only Pokémon games where I can seriously say I loved the plot twists.

And while there’s something to be said for good old Team Rocket, Black and White’s Team Plasma is probably my favorite Pokémon villain team. It has depths and shades of gray beyond any of the others, as well as some of the best characters.

The core series gameplay is perfectly intact, so if you’re a Pokémon fan who skipped this particular generation, I only have one question for you. Do you like story-driven games? If you said, “Yes,” what are you waiting for? Go buy either Pokémon Black or Pokémon White. Not only do they show a level of storytelling unprecedented in the main series, but they’re among my favorite Pokémon games of all.

They’re certainly leagues above X and Y.

Nendoroid-Pokemon-N-figureSo, what prompted this sudden discussion of Pokémon Black and White years after I played them? I wish I could say “Pokémon Black and White 3” because that would be awesome and would have been on my list of E3 pipe dreams if I’d thought of it in time.

Actually, it’s because Play-Asia sent me an email this morning about a new Nendoroid figurine of my favorite Pokémon Black and White characters, N.

Not only is N my favorite character, but that figurine is adorable! In addition to N (with two different facial expressions), it comes with a Pokéball accessory and the legendary Pokémon Reshiram.

I’m not much of a figurine collector… but N just might find himself on my bookshelf alongside Milla Maxwell and Noble Team.

Nendoroid-Pokemon-N-figure-with-Reshiram

Share your thoughts on Pokémon storytelling, Black and White, and N in the comments below.

Buy Pokémon Black from Amazon
Buy Pokémon White from Amazon
Buy Pokémon Black from Play-Asia
Buy Pokémon White from Play-Asia

Celebrating All Things Spooky: Pokemon (and OR/AS demo code giveaway)

 Celebrating All Things Spooky, Video games  5 Responses »  Tagged with: , ,
Oct 292014
 
Cover art for Pokemon Omega Ruby and Pokemon Alpha Sapphire

Pokemon is an incredibly popular series. My personal favorites are SoulSilver, which got me back into the series after my long hiatus, and White, which I consider to have the best Pokemon story. I’m uncertain about Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, as they’re remakes of the generation that stands out in my memory as my least favorite. However, it was during the Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald generation that I became convinced I was too old for Pokemon, so maybe it’s just that.

Last week, I received a code for the Pokemon Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire demo. I downloaded it and played it. As a Pokemon demo, I didn’t like it a lot. It’s split up into tiny missions that give you rewards to transfer to your main game. It wasn’t the cohesive experience I expect from Pokemon. On the other hand, it has solid Pokemon gameplay mechanics and some great new features.

Today, I received another OR/AS demo code. I don’t need two, so I’m offering it to you, as Pokemon joins our celebration of Halloween and all things spooky.

Creepy Ghost Pokemon Yamask

Sure, Pokemon is cute and child friendly, but that doesn’t exclude it from spookiness. Ghosts, haunted houses, and some downright terrifying Pokedex entries add darkness to this otherwise lighthearted series. One of my favorites is Yamask, a Ghost-Type Pokemon with this cheerful Pokedex entry:

Each of them carries a mask that used to be its face when it was human. Sometimes they look at it and cry.

What?? That mask is holding is a human face? Yamask used to be human? This dead-human-turned-Pokemon cries over the face it’s carrying around? We’re approaching Lisa Trevor levels of creepy here…

And the games themselves sometimes get a little darker than expected, like a notable moment in Pokemon Platinum that actually made me jump.

Now it’s your turn. Leave a comment telling me your most memorable scary/disturbing moment from a Pokemon game, and you’ll be entered to win this Pokemon Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire demo code! (Note, the codes are region-locked, so only enter if you’ll be able to use a US demo code.)

If you just want to comment without entering the giveaway, say so when you post.

Tweet a link to this article using the hashtag #AllThingsSpooky for additional entries.

A winner will be randomly chosen from all entries on Halloween! See you then!

Happy Halloween–a winner has been selected and the contest is over!

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