Pokémon 5 (InstanceTopic, 17)
From Compile Worlds
Pokémon 5 is the latest generation of Pokémon games, and is known as Black and White. Despite being released for the DS, they kick the previous generation in the gut as far as both quality and quantity are concerned. If you care, they are also the first Pokémon games to receive a perfect score from a certain prestigious Japanese panel of judges. It brings about a variety of new innovations, and is set to reestablish the series and franchise after it's minor setbacks in it's previous generations.
New Pokémon
As with previous Generations, a ridiculous number of new Pokémon were added, bringing the total up to 653. However, none of these new Pokémon are evolutions, egg Pokémon, or new formes of existing Pokémon, including no-Eeveelutions; they all all original; and a vast majority of them are Dark, Psychic, Fighting or Ghost type. The variety ranges from the cute sea otter Mijumaru, to the fearsome Reshiram. Like Pokémon 4 though, the quality of these designs is mixed and open to debate, depending on one's vision.
New Material
Black and White feature the most innovations in the games to date; namely the inclusion of several new styles of battle the poor critters. Double Wild Pokémon, Rotation, and Triple battles were all included, and the kind of battles you encounter actual vary between versions. The battles themselves have also been redone, with gorgeous animated sprite and a dynamic battle camera which ruins the viewing pleasure of said sprites, and a pointless little clock. Other visual changes include actual dialogue balloons in conversations, and full 3D and 2D anime cutscenes at various points of importance. Black and White also advance the real time aspect of the game further by including seasons, which alter wild Pokémon catch rates in certain areas even further. Replacing the contests are Pokémon Musicals, which are still similar in function, and are another cute way to flash the beautiful animation and awkward 3D scenery.
Characters and Plot
Main article: N
OMG THERE ARE SPOILERS IN THIS SECTION! Read with caution!
The character design for the game, like the rest of the game itself, pays much homage to it's predecessors. Black and White, the protagonist(s), are reminiscent of Red and Leaf thanks to their spikey hair and baseball caps. The mysterious N, a central plot character, is also reminiscent of the baseball-capped protagonists, but is infact, an attractive antagonist. Geechisu, a sage in the insane Team Plasma, is one of the most out-landish and down right diabolical characters in the series by far, surpassing even the leader of his own team. Professor Araragi breaks yet another mold by being the first female professor, and being the first to be actively involved in your quest.
The games plot, for once, actually consists of something other than becoming the champion while fighting an evil team on the side; instead rather, the focus eventually becomes stopping the insane Team Plasma, with the help of the Gym Leaders, your Rivals, and that idiot champion Adeku. While it starts innocently enough with a battle with your rivals and your first new Pokémon, the first town throws you right into the thick of it when you stumble upon Team Plasma's attempts to pep rally the town into releasing their Pokémon, and the mysterious N, whom, despite his naive beliefs that Pokémon aren't tools of war, battles you anyway. Eventually, as you collect Gym badges, the Gym Leaders reveal to you legends of Yin and Yang Pokémon, and eventually N actually seizes control of one of them. Later on, rather than battling the Champion, the ending boils down to a climactic battle against Team Plasma in N's very own castle!
Musical Genius
Go Ichinose returns; and he's better than ever! While some of the battle themes are a hit and miss affair, everything else is spot on, from the bagpipes in White Forest, to the eerie choir of Geechisu's battle theme, and the emotional prologue music. The OST is probably capable of even blowing Pokémon 2 and it's remakes out of the water with some of the more outstanding pieces, not to mention the inclusion of real event music, and a tucked away little remix of Blue (trainer)Blue/Green's theme.
