So … you have to stop it again. Riveting.īut don’t worry! You’ll get swept up in the emotional journey of your rival who searches for his sister’s kidnapped kitty Pokémon and … yeah, whatever. Basically, Team Plasma, the evil group you defeated last time, is back! And it’s going to try to take over the world … basically the same way it tried to last time. Black and White 2 try to pick up that story two years later, but it feels forced. While few commend these games for their stories, Black and White’s plots were more memorable than most, largely for exploring the ethics of capturing and battling (or enslaving, as some in that game argued) Pokémon. I mean, compared to the leap the franchise made from Diamond/Pearl to the original Black/White, which added about 150 new Pokémon, seasonal changes, new battle mechanics, and more, these new titles feel like a pretty incremental upgrade. That’s why I feel a little hesitant to call these real sequels. Sure, you’ll see new “forms” of old monsters (basically cosmetic changes), and the two years that separate these games from its predecessors do bring some changes to the familiar Unova region, but you’ll ultimately find little here that’s new. Black and White 2 don’t have either of these. I expect two things from a Pokémon sequel. This feels like a sort of “Pokémon All-Stars,” and while you could cynically call it fan service, it is fun to battle against old favorites. While you sadly won’t gain any experience for these battles, the game rewards your victories with points that you can exchange for rare items and moves. You’ll also find some new activities in the Unova region (the continent the original Black and White and these sequels take place in), the most substantial being the Pokémon World Tournament, which lets you fight against characters from the franchise’s past like original gym leaders Brock and Misty. Now, you’ll find past favorites from the beginning, so it’s possible to have a party made up of monsters from across the series’ history. In the originals, only the then new 150 or so Pokémon would show up in the world’s tall grasses and caves. For instance, the Joint Avenue (pictured above), which lies between two old cities, lets you recruit shop owners in your own little mall.Īnd while Black and White 2 doesn’t feature any new Pokémon, it’s nice to see a greater mix of catch-able pocket monsters from the start. Even when you start coming across old territories, Game Freak did a good job sprinkling about new landmarks and features, so you won’t get bored rediscovering them. The first three towns you encounter were inaccessible in the originals. Not that everything in Black and White 2 feels old and familiar. I still get that rush every time one of my Pokémon evolves into a stronger form, and I still feel a great sense of accomplishment when I win an especially challenging battle.
![pokemon black and white 2 review pokemon black and white 2 review](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/emIr7fkCgJw/maxresdefault.jpg)
Capturing and raising your own roster of adorable fighters is as rewarding as it was in 1998. But, frankly, it’s stuck with this rigid structure for five generations of games because it works. You then set off on an adventure across multiple towns, defeating eight gym leaders before you reach the end of your journey and battle the Elite Four, a group of the toughest trainers in the region who you have to beat, along with the current champion, before you can claim that title for yourself.ĭo I wish developer Game Freak would take a few more risks? Yes. You start out in a small town before having to choose among three starting Pokémon (the same trio from the original Black and White).
![pokemon black and white 2 review pokemon black and white 2 review](https://i2.wp.com/www.vooks.net/img/2012/10/pokemonblack2big.jpg)
![pokemon black and white 2 review pokemon black and white 2 review](https://oyster.ignimgs.com/wordpress/stg.ign.com/2012/10/black-and-white-2.jpg)
You should know by now if the hunt for tiny, battling monsters thrills you.
#Pokemon black and white 2 review series#
OK, that might sound obvious, but, look, do you like Pokémon? I’m sure you have an opinion of the series at this point.