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HeartGold and SoulSilver info
Topic Started: Sep 20 2009, 06:37 AM (604 Views)
Clumsy Robot
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Since this board isn't so active anyway and I'm awaiting the release of this, might as well dump the info on it.

Aesthetic changes

* Gold receives a redesign while a new player character replaces Kris.
* All the game's music is rearranged to better utilize the DS's sound capabilities. A key item allows the player to switch back and forth freely between the arranged soundtrack and original chiptune soundtrack.
* The PokéGear has been redesigned. There are a range of skins that can be used and changed at the player's will.
* Much like Kanto's was for its remakes, Johto's Pokédex has been redesigned. Unlike Kanto's remakes, which contained the same regional Pokédex as the originals, the original regional Pokédex for Johto has been slightly altered, including several Generation IV evolutions for Pokémon found in Johto.
* An image of certain locations, similar to that of FireRed and LeafGreen, appears when entering the location. Some of these images change depending on the time of day.
* Team Rocket Grunts are designed like they were in FireRed and LeafGreen.
* Rocket Executives are also redesigned from Generation II, with four separate ones appearing: Athena, Apollo, Lambda and Lance.
* Ho-Oh and Lugia have their own battle music (they used the standard wild battle music in all Generation II games), while the legendary beasts each use a remixed version of their battle theme from Pokémon Crystal.
* Kurt and Apricorns make a return to the series along with their respective Poké Balls. Apricorns can now be carried by the player in their own bag with a new item, the Apricorn Case.
* All former Berry trees have become Apricorn trees.
* Gym Leaders and Elite Four members have animated battle sprites, as in Platinum. Many Gyms have been redesigned as well, some with new puzzles.
* Rock Smash, previously a TM usable on the field in the originals, is now a full-fledged HM as it has been since Generation III. Defog loses its HM status to the returning Whirlpool.
* Ambient sound effects
are used with greater frequency than in previous games; for example, running water and the player walking through grass will produce audible noises.
* The Magnet Train's tracks can be seen overground in locations such as Route 32.
* Pal Park is located where the closed Kanto Safari Zone once stood.

Location changes

* Elm's Lab has an upstairs level.
* Maps have been remade to match the design style used in Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum.
* The Battle Tower west of Olivine City, introduced in Pokémon Crystal, returns, bringing with it an entire new Battle Frontier.
* Two new routes, Route 47 and Route 48, are introduced near Cianwood City. They lead to a new Safari Zone.
* Mt. Silver is much bigger and Viridian Forest is not cut down.
* Cerulean Cave and the Seafoam Islands remain as they were in Generation III (though Blaine still takes part of the Seafoam Islands), allowing the legendary Pokémon that live inside them to be battled. Moltres, formerly found in Victory Road and Mt. Ember, can be found in Mt. Silver.
* The Fighting Dojo in Saffron City takes a role similar to the Battleground.

Gameplay changes

* All 493 Pokémon are capable of following the player similar to Pikachu in Yellow. CoroCoro showed examples of several examples including Steelix and Wobbuffet. Shininess is apparently retained. In battle, like Yellow's Pikachu, they are sent out from the side of the screen, rather than from a Poké Ball.
* Similarly to the event Shaymin and Regigigas's effect on Platinum, the Pikachu-colored Pichu to be given to those who have pre-ordered tickets to the twelfth movie will unlock an event near the Ilex Forest Shrine featuring the Notched-ear Pichu.
* The Pokémon storage system, bag, party interface and the screen that pops up when pressing the Start or X buttons in the previous games all use the Nintendo DS's touch screen.
* Legendary Pokémon from other regions can be caught in the games. Groudon and Kyogre will appear in SoulSilver and HeartGold, respectively, after the Elite Four, and Rayquaza can be caught in both games once the other members of its trio are brought into the game. Latias and Latios will roam in Kanto.
* Cynthia and Arceus are shown together in a new section of the Ruins of Alph named the Shinto Ruins. This event will allow players to obtain either Dialga, Palkia, or Giratina at level 1.
* Eusine, a major character from Pokémon Crystal who was not in the original Gold and Silver, appears, as do other aspects originally featured in Crystal.
* A new sidequest, the Pokéthlon, will feature ten mini-games that pit Pokémon in athletic competitions. Its system appears to be analogous to that of Contests from previous games.
* Using the Apricorn Shaker, Apricorns can now also be mixed into drinks that increase Pokémon's Pokéthlon stats.
* Berries can be grown portably using the Berry Planter, where the Squirtbottle is controlled via the touch screen to water four Berries at a time. It is currently unknown where Berries can be obtained in the first place, but it appears that they do not grow on the trees where their Generation II counterparts were found, as those are used for growing Apricorns.
* Many of the Gyms have new puzzles.
* The Running Shoes are obtained in Cherrygrove City and can be permanently selected using the touchscreen menu. The selected item (from pressing Y or SELECT in previous games) is also on the touchscreen. Two items can be selected as opposed to just one.
* The Radio Card for the Poké Gear is compulsory to continue in the game.
* Starter Pokémon from Kanto and Hoenn can be collected from Professor Oak and Steven Stone once certain conditions are met.

Like the GBA Wireless Adapter that came with FireRed and LeafGreen, HeartGold and SoulSilver will be packaged with a bonus: a Poké Ball-shaped pedometer called the PokéWalker that will link to the games and hold a Pokémon, increasing its experience and happiness as the wearer walks.

If a walking Pokémon knows a move that can be used on the field, such as Cut and Headbutt and the correct badge has been earned, it will automatically use the move when the player comes upon its respective obstacle. When sent into battle, like Yellow's Pikachu, it will appear from the side rather than from a Poké Ball. Also, when the walking Pokémon faints, the next Pokémon in the party takes its place as the walking Pokémon.

There are few instances wherein the first Pokémon in the party will not follow players. For example, riding a bicycle will send the Pokémon back to its Poké Ball. This is also cause it to be sent out from its Poké Ball when a battle begins, instead of just appearing from the side. Certain locations, such as the Global Terminal, also prohibit the walking Pokémon from following players. Large Pokémon, such as Giratina, will be sent back to its Poké Ball as well when entering certain buildings like the Pokémon Center, due to obvious reasons. It is currently unknown what height range causes this to happen.

Much like in other games, it is possible to interact with the Pokémon. Checking the Pokémon will cause a small image of its current mood to pop up, as in Yellow. Although unlike that game, a more detailed close-up is not available. The walking Pokémon will also sometimes interact with the overworld, such as an event Pichu becoming interested in a wild Pichu in Ilex Forest, or an event Arceus allowing players to obtain a member of the dragon trio at level 1. Pokémon will additionally do as they did in Amity Square and occasionally pick up items and accessories, though it is unknown what items can be found this way or if these items vary by species.

* These games will mark the tenth anniversary since the release of the original Gold and Silver Versions for Game Boy Color.
* As remakes, these games have been speculated since the release of Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen.
* The games' engine seems to be based on that of Pokémon Platinum. The reverse happened in Generation III, where Pokémon Emerald was based on FireRed and LeafGreen's engine.
* As Gold and Silver were considered sequels to Red and Green, HeartGold and SoulSilver are thus sequels to FireRed and LeafGreen.
o Like FireRed and LeafGreen, as well, HeartGold and SoulSilver implement features introduced in their namesakes' third version (though the only major change from Red and Green to Blue was the alteration of the catch rates of several Pokémon, itself retained since Blue, whereas Pokémon Crystal featured several notable differences).
* These games were released in Japan almost exactly one year after the Japanese release of Pokémon Platinum, being released the day before the anniversary.
* The font used for the English titles of these games are different than the font that has been used since Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, while the Japanese logos are still in the same style used since those games. FireRed and LeafGreen also used a different font than the Hoenn games, however, it was still the same color.
o Additionally, the Ho-Oh crest shaped like a heart and Lugia soul are used in the English logos, while the fire and leaf that appear on FireRed and LeafGreen's Japanese logos were not used in the English release.
* These games mark the first time that the English versions are announced before the games themselves come out in Japan.
* Because of HM05's conversion from Defog to Whirlpool, these games are the only games in which all available HMs teach damaging moves.
* Unlike Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, most Trainer classes keep their DPPt sprites in battle.
* These are the first games in which major characters offer their Pokémon for a trade with the player, with Gym Leaders Brock, Lt. Surge, and Jasmine and Hoenn's former champion Steven Stone offering Pokémon of their specialty type in exchange for another.
Edited by Clumsy Robot, Sep 20 2009, 06:40 AM.
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Ratsel Feinschmecker
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Holy Crap this is supreme awesome!!!
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