Pokemon Black 2 and White 2
Pokemon Black 2 and White 2. Yup, I had my doubts. After so many Pokemon games, I really started to feel like most were simple copy and paste games with a few added tweaks here and there to make it seem like a stand alone game. And while not every Pokemon game was like this, I still felt that far too many were. When I first read about Pokemon Black 2 and White 2 I thought, "So, yet another Pokemon game that's more or less the same thing. Figures." But my curiosity peaked when I heard from fellow gamers that they were surprised with what the games have to offer and the sheer amount of new content. For those who know you would like the game already, here are some links to Amazon and Grainger Games. In this review, I'll cover a few reasons why even a worn out Pokemon fan like me has reason to see the franchise in a different way; rejuvenated, if you will. And there's almost nothing better than welcoming back a dear friend you've known almost your whole life. In this case, perhaps we needed the time apart, because the changes are, for the most part, a much needed, refreshing experience.
Pokemon Black 2 White 2 Trailer Youtube vid by AttemptedHeadshotDS
Pokemon World Tournament
The Pokemon World Tournament allows you to pit your monsters on steroids against some of your favorite Gym Leaders and Champions from previous games. The Tournament is ongoing which means you can cycle through, test out your little hell raisers and perfect your strategies. Heck, maybe you're just looking to beat on some imaginary monsters. You're sick.
PokeStar Studios Presents: Your Own Movies
PokeStar Studios lets you make your own mini movies with your Pokemon while at the same time testing your knowledge of type advantages and disadvantages. It's kinda like Pokemon Musicals (Which makes a return in Black and White 2). I wasn't all that into PokeStar Studios, but I know there are plenty of you who would eat this kinda of thing up.
Join Avenue
Join Avenue is a pretty cool feature of Pokemon Black and White 2. Yeah, you can kick it with your friends avatars and blah blah, it's amusing for about a minute or so. But what you'll really be after is the special shops available. So hone those begging, I mean, business skills of yours, get your pal to set up, and enjoy the unique items and goods for purchase.
Pokemon Fun Fest Missions
Fun Fest Missions are my preferred way of playing with my friends in Black and White 2. Up to 100 players can connect locally and run around the Unova region together, taking on missions that range from that somewhat boring, ok, it is boring, missions of collecting berries, to the much more thrilling capture quests. Etransceiver,(another addition returning from Black and White versions) allows you to video chat. What does this mean? You can easily get in touch with, connect with, and interact with your pals. You can set up matches ( My personal Favorite thing about it) and trade. Heck, I know a guy who even made a few bucks capturing Pokemon that are a bit on the rare or just difficult to capture category, train them up a bit, and trade em for real money. Cha Ching. And no, it wasn't me, but I wish I thought of that.
Black 2 White 2 Japanese Trailer Youtube vid by giancarloparimango11
Pokedex Habitat List
A new feature to the Pokedex, called the Habitat List is a welcome new addition. The Habitat List give you a clear indication of which Pokemon you have found in a region, which you have captured, and which you still need to get your greedy mits on. And because Black and White 2 has perhaps the largest variety of Pokemon spanning the, what is it now? Five generations? This little tool will come in handy, trust me. Especially if you're the kind who likes to catch every little critter. What most of you will like about it the most is that Black 2 and White 2 have so many of the old guys we know and love. Perhaps I don't like change, but to this day I still prefer the first two generations. Bear in mind that back in my dad all Pokemon were highly pixelated and everything was monochromatic. Kids these days with their 3d effects and real animations and flashy visuals...
Pokemon Medals
For those looking for even more to do other than capture 234,327,543,857 Pokemon, (That number might be a bit of an exaggerations. BUT ONLY A LITTLE! that's the amazing thing...), there are Medals to collect. Medals in Pokemon Black 2 and White 2 are essentially your game trophies and achievements. And there are 200 Medals to earn by performing various task ranging from the creepy guy who checks out everyone's garbage; yeah, way to invade on everyone's privacy, to finding hidden items, to battling and defeating all kinds of opponents on something like the Battle Subway for example (Another cool place to test your mantle in addition to the Pokemon World Tournament). For all your explorers out there, your efforts will be rewarded. Throughout Unova, there are Pokemon Grottoes with all kinds of cool loot and prizes just begging to be seized by any slaver, I mean, trainer, lucky enough to stumble upon them.
Black 2 and White 2 Keys
In Pokemon Black 2 and White 2, you can earn a few Keys by fulfilling certain conditions and performing certain tasks. One of my personal favorites allows you to change the difficulty of the game. WHA? Yeah, I know. In a Pokemon game. If you've always been kinda bad at this game, go ahead and switch it to easy. For the rest of you, and be honest, many of you have been playing since you were a little kid; playing way past your bed time under the sheets with a flashlight, quickly turning it off and pretending you're asleep when mom walks in to see if you're really sleeping, you're a pro by now. Kick it up to hard mode. The game is way more fun that way.
Story of Black 2 and White 2
In terms of story, even as a kid I was never into the Pokemon stories all that much. Black 2 and White 2, while having a comparatively more involved story than in previous installment, still feel a bit hollow for me. But hey, it's a Pokemon game. It's one of those rare adventure games out there that really isn't about the story. At least when compared to most adventure games. Team Plasma is at it again. Business as usual, you know the drill, get your little monsters to do the dirty work for you and mess em up.
Just Copy and Paste? Nope.
As Pokemon Black and White 2 are sequels, there was the fear in the community that they would be the type of "sequels' that Yellow, Crystal, and so on were, merely the same game with just a few tweaks here and there, but charging full price. And don't pretend you didn't buy it anyway. Liars. Well, Pokemon Black 2 and White 2 really does stand as a sequel in my opinion. There are new characters, you aren't the Hero who saved Unova two years ago, the story arch itself continues on after the events of then first Pokemon Black and White, and even the regions, trails, and cities and towns you visit have seen some major changes. Also, some familiar faces return and each have changed in the two years since the previous game, most for the better albeit in a somewhat predictable way. But I won't spoil it for you.
Pokemon Black 2 and White 2 Final Verdict
Pokemon Black 2 and White 2 are by no means a simple copy and paste of their predecessors, which is saying A LOT for a Pokemon game. And frankly, though it took a LONG time for this, I sincerely hope this continues into all games to come for the Pokemon series. If you're a fan of the series, heck Even if you haven't been keeping up with all the newest Pokemon games, you'll want to give Black 2 and White 2 a shot. And for those who enjoyed the original Black and White, trying the sequels is a bit of a no brainer. You can bet Black 2 and White 2 will be, if they aren't already, the Flagships of the 3DS. For all its new features, most of which add all kinds of diversity, innovation, and above all, fun to the package, Pokemon Black 2 and White 2 earn an 8 out of 10. For more information on Pokemon Black 2 and White 2, you can head over to Grainger Games