Pokémon Silver

The New Region of Johto

These games were the first to introduce a separate region from the one in the original Pokémon titles (Kanto). This new region, named Johto, offers a hundred new pokémon for players to capture and discover with a new version of the Pokédex; plus, there's also the addition of the Pokégear, Berries, special pokéballs, and breeding Pokémon to produce Pokémon Eggs from which baby Pokémon hatch.

The rival is much different from the original one presented in Red and Blue. This rival steals a Pokémon from Professor Elm (the person who gives players their starter Pokémon) and becomes the player's rival throughout the course of the game. His rough personality and lack of love for his Pokémon shows players what their attitude should not be like.

Team Rocket has reformed and again harasses the player throughout the game.

Additions

More specialized Pokeballs were introduced in this game. A Lure Ball is more effecitve if used against a Pokemon caught with a fishing rod, for instance. Friend Balls will make a Pokemon more comfortable and friendly to their trainer much quicker.

The game introduces "shiny" Pokémon, i.e. Pokémon with a different coloring than normal, and also very rare to appear (it has been estimated to be a 1/8192 chance). They do not have better stats than regular non-Shiny Pokemon; the only reason to catch one is for bragging rights.

The Pokérus (Pokémon virus) was introduced. The virus is rarer to get than a shiny" pokemon, and raises the amount of stats that the player's Pokémon gain each time the infected Pokémon levels up.

There are also three Pokemon, dubbed Legendary Dogs, that wander around Johto after the game has been beaten. They change routes every time the player goes in and out of a building or cave. If encountered, they instantly attempt to run away.

Changes

Two new types were introduced, Steel and Dark. These two types serve to balance the Psychic type, which was broken in the first-generation of Pokemon.

Pokémon can now hold items; this new addition raises the bar for strategy, because players can use hold items to outspeed their rivals (Quick Claw), heal ailments or restore HP in battle (apicorns), and increase happiness (Soothe Bell)

Another major change from the original series was the splitting of the Special stat. Instead of one Special stat, they were split into Special Attack and Special Defense. Again, this increased the strategy, for Pokemon were now more specialized; some were good special attackers, while others were better physical attackers. Players had to remember and keep in mind what Pokemon were better for a certain task (such as a strong physical attacker against a weak physical Pokemon).

Breeding

With the breeding feature, now Pokémon not only belong to one or two elemental types (fire, water, etc.), but also belong to one or two breeding group from this list. It is important to note that Legendaries cannot be bred; they are genderless, and will not work, even with a Ditto.

A baby Pokémon will be born when day-caring a male Pokémon along with a female Pokémon that share at least one breeding group. In the case of Pokémon with only one gender (Miltank, Nidoking, Chansey), or Gender Unknown group Pokémon (Magnemite, Voltorb), the only way to produce a baby from these species is by day-caring a parent with a Ditto.

A baby Pokémon will inherit the species of its mother (or the non-Ditto parent in the case of a Ditto breeding) and inheritable moves from its father (when it's not a Ditto). Fathers always pass down TMs, which are valuable (since some are only obtainable one time). If both parents are the same species and know the same move, the baby that comes out will know that move as well.

A different Kanto

After beating the Elite Four at the Pokémon League, players can travel through Kanto, the region from the previous games, and see how things have changed over the past three years:

1. The player can meet and battle many of the characters from the previous games, including the rival of the original games, Blue (Green in the Japanese versions). After completing the quests in Kanto, the player can access a new area in Johto and battle Red, the protagonist of the original games. Another quite notable difference is that Koga, gym leader of Fuschia City (now Elite Four member), has been replaced by his daughter, Janine.
2. Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres are no longer here, apparently due to being replaced by Raikou, Entei, and Suicune. The Unknown Dungeon and Mewtwo are also gone.
3. Pokémon Tower in Lavender Town is replaced by a Radio Tower, similar to the one in Goldenrod City.
4. The Power Plant has also been altered, and it is now in use (Which could be why Zapdos left). This is due to the Magnet Train in Saffron City where the Copycat used to live. She has moved to another home in the same city.
5. The Safari Zone no longer exists. Some have speculated that the Safari Zone was not included in the Gold and Silver games because of the presence of the Glitch City trick, and once it was removed, it had to be put somewhere else, so it was moved to what is now the Johto bug-catching contest.
6. A volcano destroyed everything but the Pokémon Center on Cinnabar Island. Blaine has moved his Gym to the Seafoam Islands (Which could be why Articuno left)

See also

• Pokémon (video games)
• Pokémon Crystal
• Johto
• List of Johto Gym Leaders

Referenced By