The newest entries in the Pokemon series, Pokemon: Black Version and Pokemon: White Version, were released earlier this month. Not including spin-offs, Black and White are the 17th and 18th individual games in the main series, and introduce the fifth generation of new Pokemon species.
The series, which exploded to life in one of the largest cultural fads of the late ’90s, has continued to thrive, with successful anime and card game tie-ins that are still around today.
However, the games are still the main focus of the franchise, and the popularity of the RPG series has spread far beyond its initial child market. Fans of the original game have grown up, and 13 years after the Red and Blue Versions arrived, they are showing their love for the series.
Jon Edwards, a sophomore in creative writing, said his interest in the series has always come partially from its cooperative and competitive nature.
“It’s the social aspect of it,” Edwards said. “Everyone else has the game, and it’s cool to try out different team combinations when battling with friends.”
Some critics have bashed the series for the minimal number of advancements from one game in the series to the next, but fans often argue the simplistic gameplay is part of Pokemon’s charm and accessibility.
Edwards said the strength of the Pokemon series is its ability to always move forward, even if it is a slow march.
“The series always takes far more steps forwards than it does backwards,” Edwards said. “It helps that it started with a strong foundation.”
Taylor Bundy, a junior in creative writing, said Black and White managed to perfectly present the best aspects of the series to new fans.
“They’ve done a pretty good job of whipping people into a fervor,” Bundy said. “It’s completely accessible for new fans. The story especially is great for new people, as well as longtime fans.”
Black and White’s narrative has received a great deal of praise from the enthusiast gaming press. Although the main focus of the game is still to train a team of Pokemon, beat eight gym leaders and become the Pokemon Champion, the events that transpire along the way bring a new level of philosophical consideration to the series.
The antagonist in both Black and White is the villainous Team Plasma. However, instead of simply wanting to take over the world, the team’s leader, N, is trying to create a world where Pokemon aren’t forced to fight for the amusement of humans.
Kelsey Northup, a junior in English, said fans will continue to consider the questions Team Plasma’s motives raise after the end of their adventures.
“Team Plasma is not the villainous team we wanted or expected,” Northup said, “but it’s the one we deserve.”
Beyond just the higher quality storytelling, the games have been streamlined, allowing for a much smoother gameplay experience than before.
“I’m glad they fused the PokeMart and the PokeCenter into one building,” Northup said. “It makes finding the place a much easier process when you get to a new city.”
Other examples of the streamlined gameplay include more doctors to heal your party in the wild, as well as the ability to trade Pokemon at any time. Another new feature is the introduction of Triple and Rotation Battles into the game mechanics.
Triple Battles pit Pokemon against each other in three on three matches with positioning of each Pokemon playing a key role. Rotation Battles are also three on three, but only one Pokemon battles at a time and the other two can be rotated in without the cost of a turn.
With the plethora of new and refined features Pokemon Black and Pokemon White have convinced many that the series still has a lot left to offer longtime fans and new players alike.
“It’s the first Pokemon game I’ve played that’s been able to stand alone as its own game, rather than just another entry in the franchise,” Edwards said.
