VG Confab

Know what’s great about Pokemon? The basic formula has never changed and the games remain as addicting as ever. For the last two weeks I’ve been playing through Pokemon Red again on my Game Boy Color (how that thing still works after the amount of abuse I’ve put it through is beyond me) and even with the two-tone graphics and beep-boop music I still can’t pull myself away. Taking down Team Rocket by infiltrating the Silph Company building is just as fun as it ever was, and finding the fastest route through the Safari Zone to get to HM03 is still a pain in the ass.

So it should come as no surprise that I still follow the series, which continues with Black 2 and White 2. The first numbered sequels in the main Pokemon series don’t disappoint – though they’re basically what you would expect. Instead of the anticipated “Pokemon Grey” as the improved version of Black and White, we got B&W2. The new-and-improved versions of these games feature a continuation of the storyline, new towns, and added Pokemon on every route. You have a few changes in Gym Leadership – your old rival Cheren is now the first Gym Leader faced, replacing Lenora as the Normal-type Leader, and the corresponding affirmative-action move is with Marlon and the new Humilau City Gym. We’ve also got a new Poison-type Leader with Roxie, who is pretty cool because she plays bass (like yours truly, because bass is the best instrument), and is also the first Poison-type Leader since Generation 2! It’s the little things that excite me these days.

Graphically the game isn’t a huge improvement over the first Black and White, but they packed about as much as they can into that tiny DS cartridge. I think it’s safe to say that this is the swan song of the DS – one last hurrah before the world (and developers) move on permanently to the 3DS. Little things have been updated – user interface, for one, plus every single trainer you run into has an animation now, instead of just the rivals and N in the previous games. Again, it’s the little things.

Story-wise, it’s basically what you would expect. You start off in your hometown – which is a city this time, with a gym and a Pokemon Center, instead of some podunk little town with a laboratory – choose your starter Pokemon (no change from B&W as far as that’s concerned), fight your rival for the first time and head out into the wilderness by yourself in the most negligent parenting move ever. I assume the Pokemon World doesn’t have social services. Regardless, you almost immediately run into the remnants of Team Plasma, who we all assumed were eliminated in the events of the first game. Much like how Team Rocket was still dicking around in Gold and Silver, Team Plasma still manages to worm its way into almost everything in Black and White 2. At least their uniforms look a lot cooler now.

And to be perfectly fair, Team Plasma still has one of the best battle themes in the entire series.

Speaking of music, much of what you’ll hear is remixed music from B&W. Not that that’s a bad thing, since most of the Generation 5 music was pretty good to begin with. The only theme that’s really disappointing is your Rival’s music, but the rivals in general have been awful since Generation 3. Hugh is tolerable but he’s not a jerk like I want him to be. The best rivals were Blue and Silver, because they were assholes, and that’s the point of a rival. He’s supposed to come in when you least expect it and ruin your entire day. Whatever happened to that, Game Freak?

By far the coolest addition to the game is the Pokemon World Tournament. You get to face every single Gym Leader and Champion the games have ever featured in region-based tournaments. It presents a great challenge to even the most seasoned Pokemon veterans. Only downside in my eyes is that the Elite Four doesn’t get any love – just Leaders and Champions. Kind of a blower. But you still get to face off against the original Pokemon Master, Red himself. He will still rape face with his Pikachu and don’t you forget it.

I guess it comes down to this – if you don’t already play Pokemon, you’re not going to get this anyway… so why are you reading this? If you’re already a fan of the series or even if you’ve missed a couple of generations, Pokemon Black 2 and White 2 are worth a play. Does it follow the exact same goddamn formula the previous games have? You bet your ass it does. But that’s why we keep coming back, right? To beat the snot out of the Champion and catch ‘em all, right? So go get your Pokeballs and set out again in Pokemon Black 2 and White 2.

VG Confab says: BUY IT!