ThatObviousUser
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Japan: September 18, 2010 · Europe: March 4, 2011 · North America: March 6, 2011 · Australia: March 10, 2011
Pokémon Black Version and White Version introduce the Unova region to the series, which is far removed from the likes of Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, and Sinnoh. During your main trip through Unova, you will only encounter the 156 new Pokémon that Generation 5 introduces. Yes, 156 -- the most that have debuted in any Pokémon game, which brings the total amount of known Pokémon to 649. Unova is the only region yet to not be based on a section of Japan; instead, Unova is based on North America, and New York City in particular. Unova is a very diverse region unlike any before, with huge modern cities, a vast desert, tall mountains, and many bridges interconnecting various parts.
From left to right: Tepig is the Unova region's fire-type starter Pokémon. Starting out as a cute piglet, it eventually evolves into a strong boar. Its evolutions are both dual fire/fighting types. Snivy, the grass-type, is the definition of cool and the starter Pokémon of choice for trainers who like a challenge. Oshawott is the ugly duckling of the bunch, and is also a water-type. However, despite being derided early on, Oshawott has proved as solid a choice as any for budding new trainers.
The trainers you will be playing as in Black and White have grown by a few years compared to previous games. They also both look really cool!
The rivals (yes, plural) that accompany you on your Unova journey are Cheren (left) and Bianca (right.) Cheren is completely consumed by his quest for strength and becoming the best, while Bianca is a bit of an airhead and isn't exactly sure what she wants to do yet. Throughout your quest, they will be constantly challenging and helping you, each in their own unique ways.
The professor of the Unova region is Professor Juniper, the series' first female Pokémon Prof.! She is the first character you will see when you start the game, and besides asking you the requisite questions about your name and gender, she also gives you your first Pokémon and Pokédex.
The mysterious character N meets up and challenges you at several points through the game's story. Is he going to help save the world, or end it?
The villainous team terrorizing Unova when you step on the scene is none other than the notorious Team Plasma. Sporting arguably worse costumes than even Team Galactic, Team Plasma's goals are the separation of
Triple battles and rotation battles debut in Pokémon Black and White. Triple battles are exactly what they sound like: you and your opponent each send out three Pokémon and then the fight progresses normally; the speed stat of each Pokémon determines how the moves play out. Most moves can only hit the Pokémon directly in front of or adjacent to the Pokémon using it, in this way the center position is the most desirable, as whichever Pokémon occupies it can hit any of the opponent's Pokémon.
Rotation battles are a little more complex. Structurally they are similar to triple battles, with three-on-three, but only one Pokémon may attack per turn. For the rest of the turn, you're free to set up and swap positions of your Pokémon currently on the field.
Expanding on the day/night cycle of Generation 2 and the weekly cycle of Generation 3, Generation 5 introduces seasonal changes to the overworld. Mimicking real life, there are four seasons (spring, summer, autumn, winter), although instead of lasting for about three months each, seasons in Black and White only last one month, with spring kicking off the year in January. Some areas can only be accessed during a particular season, and some Pokémon may change their form depending on the season. Finally, the music changes slightly depending on the season.
Technical Machines (TMs), used to instruct a Pokémon in a specific move, no longer break! This makes them exactly like Hidden Machines (HMs), except you don't have to go to a Move Deleter to make them forget the move that is taught.
For an in-depth and up-to-date overview of all of Black and White's online capabilities, please visit the OT3.
The C-Gear lives on the bottom touch screen and is always present there by default.
Using the cartridge's built-in infrared capabilities, it allows for super-quick drop-in, drop-out battling, trading, and Friend Code exchange with local players. Using Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, you can use the Game Sync option (see below), and by using local wireless, you can use the Entralink (see below) and Xtransceiver (see below) options. By leaving the C-Gear on and closing your DS, you can also passively gain survey responses from players you pass in real life who have done the same.
In order to get your C-Gear, you must obtain the Key Item Dream Mist from Munna for Professor Fennel in the Dream Yard east of Striaton City. She will then reward you with your own C-Gear when you meet back up with her in her lab at Striaton City.
The Global Link feature is a website that you can link your game to, and encompasses trainer rankings for online battles (the Global Battle Union, see below) and an interactive set of mini-games for growing berries and capturing Pokémon with hidden abilities (the Dream World, see below.) The Global Link also allows you to send E-Z Mail to anyone you have exchanged Friend Codes with, although you are limited to the in-game phrases available. Daily stats on Pokémon Black and White players worldwide is also listed on the Global Link website, such as how many Pokémon were caught, how many players rode their bikes, etc. Finally, you can download special C-Gear backgrounds from the Global Link website as well.
The Global Link website can be found here.
The Dream World is an online website and feature of the Global Link that allows trainers to catch Pokémon with unique natures, decorate their own house, play minigames, interact with other trainers you've registered as friends, and grow berries. In order to access the Dream World, you will need to have the C-Gear .
In the Dream World, you can upload a Pokémon you have caught and have it cross a rainbow-colored bridge to the Island of Dreams. Once there, you can encounter Pokémon not from Unova, or with abilities not otherwise possible. You can then play minigames with these Pokémon, and if they like you enough, you can take them back to your game with you by visiting the Tree of Dreams. You can then catch these Pokémon in the Entree Forest using the special Dream Balls when your Pokémon returns to Unova from the Dream World.
The Global Battle Union is an online website and feature of the Global Link that allows you to gain points by battling other trainers using the random online matches feature, and view your standing in comparison to other trainers worldwide. You can also apparently battle other trainers on the Global Battle Union website and participate in official Pokémon Battle Competitions that it hosts.
The Entralink is a feature of the C-Gear that allows players to enter each other's games and complete missions throughout Unova using local wireless. Completing these missions will earn you Pass Powers, which range in features and usefulness. For instance, one Pass Power gives your Pokémon an experience-boost for a limited amount of time! This feature is similar to the Sinnoh Underground of Pokémon Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum and is only playable on local wireless.
The Entralink is based in the Entree Forest at the center of Unova. This is also where you can catch the Pokemon you bring back from the Dream World, using a special Pokéball called the Dream Ball.
The Xtransceiver is a Key Item and feature of the C-Gear that allows you to easily video chat with four people locally using any Nintendo DSi, Nintendo DSi XL, or Nintendo 3DS system.
It is also used in the single-player campaign when you are called by non-player characters such as Professor Juniper, which showcases Sugimoris art for the character and brings Black and White closer to other Japanese RPGs in presentation.
Unlike past Pokémon games, in Black and White you can randomly battle online trainers. This has been a staple of Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection games ever since the service debuted, but all Generation 4 games ignored it for some reason.
In order to play a random match, or access any of the other Global Trade Station (GTS) features, you will need to speak to the right-most lady on the second floor of any Pokémon Center and select the Random Matchup option. Unfortunately until the Global Link website launches, you can only participate in unranked ("free") random matches.
Last but not least, WPA2 security for Wi-Fi is fully supported in Black and White when played on a Nintendo DSi, Nintendo DSi XL, or Nintendo 3DS system. Yay!
The C-Gear lives on the bottom touch screen and is always present there by default.
Using the cartridge's built-in infrared capabilities, it allows for super-quick drop-in, drop-out battling, trading, and Friend Code exchange with local players. Using Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, you can use the Game Sync option (see below), and by using local wireless, you can use the Entralink (see below) and Xtransceiver (see below) options. By leaving the C-Gear on and closing your DS, you can also passively gain survey responses from players you pass in real life who have done the same.
In order to get your C-Gear, you must obtain the Key Item Dream Mist from Munna for Professor Fennel in the Dream Yard east of Striaton City. She will then reward you with your own C-Gear when you meet back up with her in her lab at Striaton City.
The Global Link feature is a website that you can link your game to, and encompasses trainer rankings for online battles (the Global Battle Union, see below) and an interactive set of mini-games for growing berries and capturing Pokémon with hidden abilities (the Dream World, see below.) The Global Link also allows you to send E-Z Mail to anyone you have exchanged Friend Codes with, although you are limited to the in-game phrases available. Daily stats on Pokémon Black and White players worldwide is also listed on the Global Link website, such as how many Pokémon were caught, how many players rode their bikes, etc. Finally, you can download special C-Gear backgrounds from the Global Link website as well.
The Global Link website can be found here.
The Dream World is an online website and feature of the Global Link that allows trainers to catch Pokémon with unique natures, decorate their own house, play minigames, interact with other trainers you've registered as friends, and grow berries. In order to access the Dream World, you will need to have the C-Gear .
In the Dream World, you can upload a Pokémon you have caught and have it cross a rainbow-colored bridge to the Island of Dreams. Once there, you can encounter Pokémon not from Unova, or with abilities not otherwise possible. You can then play minigames with these Pokémon, and if they like you enough, you can take them back to your game with you by visiting the Tree of Dreams. You can then catch these Pokémon in the Entree Forest using the special Dream Balls when your Pokémon returns to Unova from the Dream World.
The Global Battle Union is an online website and feature of the Global Link that allows you to gain points by battling other trainers using the random online matches feature, and view your standing in comparison to other trainers worldwide. You can also apparently battle other trainers on the Global Battle Union website and participate in official Pokémon Battle Competitions that it hosts.
The Entralink is a feature of the C-Gear that allows players to enter each other's games and complete missions throughout Unova using local wireless. Completing these missions will earn you Pass Powers, which range in features and usefulness. For instance, one Pass Power gives your Pokémon an experience-boost for a limited amount of time! This feature is similar to the Sinnoh Underground of Pokémon Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum and is only playable on local wireless.
The Entralink is based in the Entree Forest at the center of Unova. This is also where you can catch the Pokemon you bring back from the Dream World, using a special Pokéball called the Dream Ball.
The Xtransceiver is a Key Item and feature of the C-Gear that allows you to easily video chat with four people locally using any Nintendo DSi, Nintendo DSi XL, or Nintendo 3DS system.
It is also used in the single-player campaign when you are called by non-player characters such as Professor Juniper, which showcases Sugimoris art for the character and brings Black and White closer to other Japanese RPGs in presentation.
Unlike past Pokémon games, in Black and White you can randomly battle online trainers. This has been a staple of Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection games ever since the service debuted, but all Generation 4 games ignored it for some reason.
In order to play a random match, or access any of the other Global Trade Station (GTS) features, you will need to speak to the right-most lady on the second floor of any Pokémon Center and select the Random Matchup option. Unfortunately until the Global Link website launches, you can only participate in unranked ("free") random matches.
Last but not least, WPA2 security for Wi-Fi is fully supported in Black and White when played on a Nintendo DSi, Nintendo DSi XL, or Nintendo 3DS system. Yay!
Screenshots:
Videos:
Nintendo DSi Bundles:
Videos:
Nintendo DSi Bundles:
GameRankings: 88% · Metacritic: 87%
1up: B+ · Cubed3: 9 / 10 · Eurogamer: 9 / 10 · Game Informer: 8.75 / 10 · GameSpot: 7.5 / 10 · IGN: 9.0 / 10
1up: B+ · Cubed3: 9 / 10 · Eurogamer: 9 / 10 · Game Informer: 8.75 / 10 · GameSpot: 7.5 / 10 · IGN: 9.0 / 10
- Pokémon.com
The official site for everything Pokémon, including the games, anime, and trading card game.
- Pokémon Black Version and White Version
The official website for the games this thread is about, and the site which I shamelessly stole the requisite media from to make this thread so good looking.
- Iwata Asks: Pokémon Black and Pokémon White Versions
Nintendo President Satoru Iwata digs in deep with the head honcho trio of the Pokémon franchise -- Junichi Masuda (director), Ken Sugimori (illustrator and character designer), and Tsunekazu Ishihara (president of The Pokémon Company.)
- Bulbapedia
Why buy a guide when you can use this? Infinitely useful, imminently helpful, Bulbapedia has answers to almost everything you can ask about Pokémon, including the anime and trading card game.
- Smogon University
The de-facto competitive Pokémon website, with tips, guides, and an active community all dedicated to being the very best.
- Serebii.net
Despite its early-90's design, Serebii is still a useful resource, if you know where to look.
- Veekun
Considered by some to be the best online Pokédex.
- NeoGAF Pokémon Black & White Tournament
The thread for the upcoming Black and White tournament being held in mid-April, featuring double battles and only the new Pokémon!
- Pokémon Trading Card Game Online |OT| Everything You've Ever Dreamed
The thread for the official multiplayer, online, browser-based version of the Pokémon card game.
- Pokémon Black/White |OT| - There are HOW MANY now?
The original thread for the Japanese release of Pokémon Black Version and Pokémon White Version.
- Pokémon Heart Gold/Superior Silver |OT|
The thread for last year's long-lived nostalgic trip back to Kanto and Johto.
- The All-Encompassing Competitive Pokémon Thread
Natures? EVs? IVs? Hold items? Egg moves? It can feel overwhelming trying to break into the hardcore Pokémon playing arena, but fret not! Resident expert Sixfortyfive has blazed the trail to Mt. Silver and back, and he's brought back some excellent strategies with him!
- Pokemon music appreciation thread R-2
The Pokémon franchise is packed to the brim with excellent music, so it should come as no surprise that there is a thread dedicated to appreciating all of it!
- Pokémon Art thread (Official/Unofficial)
Your one-stop shop for some of the best videogame artwork ever made.
