This article was initially published in August 2012 on my short-lived gaming website, Insert Quarter Gaming. I didn’t do many previews for games but decided to do one for the upcoming Pokemon sequels. Below is the article in its original form, minus some editorial corrections.
What more can you add to a Pokemon game to make it any different? Sure, you can add new monsters, a new region, or new characters, but if it’s not a new generation, can Pokemon make a sequel game that holds true to the mantle set by the previous generations and games? That is something we take a look at in our First Look of Pokemon Black and White 2.
Pokemon Black and White 2 takes place 2 years after the previous installment and in new locations on the western side of the Unova region. The new game features new additions to the Pokemon universe such as the PokeStar Studios where players can participate in filming movies and two 3DS add-ons, Pokemon Dream Radar and the Pokedex 3D Pro. While using the Pokemon Dream Radar, players will be introduced to Professor Barnett and alternate forms of Tornadus, Thundurus, and Landorus to capture and transfer to the full version of the games. The Pokedex 3D Pro is also a more updated version of the Pokedex. This game also includes a function that hasn’t been utilized in recent additions, the Pokemon World Tournament where players can battle previous gym leaders from the games leading up to this most current installment.
Many new features have been constructed to provide this game with originality as well as allowing it to mesh with and settle in the Pokemon Black and White generation with ease. One new feature is Habitat mode accessed via your Pokedex, players can see where each Pokemon are located and what regions you can find the Pokemon. Along with this, all the Pokemon will be revealed in allocated regions, so you can go back and catch the Pokemon you might have missed without referencing the internet to figure out where a Pokemon could be caught and in which region certain Pokemon live. Pokemon Black and White 2 will also coincide with features via Memory Link; any progress you made in previous iterations of the Pokemon Black and White predecessor will be referenced to and accessed via this feature.
This game introduces many new features not seen in other previous Pokemon installments such as improved CG cinematics and storyline changes. Some of these changes in animation include a smoother, more polished CG cut scene showing Bianca giving you your first pokemon or a boat ride to a new location, sporting graphics that weren’t since the end days of the 64 which are unheard of graphics for a 3D handheld system! Some storyline changes in this game include a new region, new pokemon you can catch, a new first gym leader, and much more, loads of new content has been shelled out and molded for this Pokemon sequel!
The improvements on the graphics, new storyline, characters, and new add-ons working with the game to allow players to nab all 649 Pokemon, there sure is a lot in store! Witnessing the new content conjured up for the Poke sequel, we have a lot to look forward to when this game releases and is definitely a game to get your hands on!