The announcement of Pokemon “Heart Gold and Soul Silver” meant that people could finally play the old Pokemon games on the Nintendo DS, or so they said. Nintendo advertised this as being a re-release, with improved graphics and updated gameplay. What it ended up being was a way for them to reuse an old storyline, without changing the core elements of the newer games, which is almost the exact same as the original one from “Gold” and “Silver.”
The opening screen for the game shows either a Lugia or Ho-Oh flying through its native element. The graphics for this animation are comparable to that of the Gamecube, making it above any other Pokemon game to date. The in-game graphics look about the same as the other current generation Pokemon games (“Platinum,” “Diamond” and “Pearl”). Being able to see the Pokemon move a little each time it comes out into battle is a nice change from the original.
There are advantages and disadvantages to these changes. The new multiplayer modes are nice for those who don’t have friends who buy games at the same time. It allows you to do other things with your friends other than battle and trade. There are new ways to trade including an egg roulette mode, where up to five friends can randomly trade their Pokemon eggs with their friends. Another brand new mode is the multiplayer mini-games that resemble those found in Mario Party.
As fun as it is to replay the old storyline, some of the changes make the game feel distant from its origins. One of the major problems is that many of the Pokemon, even those introduced in “Gold” and “Silver,” cannot be caught in either game. According to the official strategy guide, these Pokemon must be “transferred from Pokemon Diamond, Pearl or Platinum.” It might not matter if some minor Pokemon from Red or Blue could not be transferred. But among the missing Pokemon are Suicune (the water-type dog) and Pikachu. That’s right, you can’t even catch Pikachu in this game. The absence of this iconic Pokemon made me feel as if I were playing a cheap knock-off.
If anyone remembers the old “Pokemon Pikachu 2” pedometer, it’s back. The new version, called the Pokewalker, comes bundled with the game and allows you to transfer any Pokemon from your team onto the device. The Pokewalker lets you find items, catch Pokemon, and even level up the one you have on the device. In all, the game is enjoyable for those who want to relive their Pokemon glory days. The style makes it easy to pick up and play for a few minutes or a few hours. With the addition of the Pokewalker, it feels like even the busiest person can find time to play. College students with one of the DS systems should consider getting this game just to pass the time. Just be sure to take any changes with a grain of salt.