Black/White

Pokemon Black

Pokemon White

Features

Black and White returns features present in previous generations, such as day, time, Abilities and the split between Physical and Special moves. Certain ones, however, such as Pokémon following their Trainers and the Battle Frontier, have been left out. Black and White also features a great deal of general graphical enhancements over previous generations, such as a higher level of 3D graphics and creative camera angles.

In addition to the improved graphics, a number of aesthetic changes have been made from previous generations, including an altered battle scene containing fully animated Pokémon battle sprites as well as a dynamic camera that changes focus to highlight specific parts of the battle. Also, when talking to people, speech balloons for dialog will appear over people's heads, rather than a simple dialog box.

C-Gear

Main article: C-Gear

The C-Gear allows players to use certain multiplayer functions while anywhere in the game world. These functions vary with the type of communication used: wireless, Wi-Fi and infrared. The C-Gear is similar to the Pokétch in that it fills the bottom screen, but its applications are much different.

On the C-Gear, as well as in battle, the current time is displayed in 12-hour format, however, at the hours of 12:00 AM and PM, the hour displays as 0, rather than 12, as a 24-hour clock, such as that on the DS and in the Generation IV games, would display midnight.

Pokémon Global Link

Main article: Pokémon Global Link

The Pokémon Global Link is a multiplayer feature that makes use of the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection and is the equivalent of the fourth generationGTS. In addition to providing the features of the GTS, it allows players to upload their save files to the Pokémon Global Link website to access thePokémon Dream World. Players can also go to the Pokémon Center to enter Random Matchup where they can battle a random person also connected to Random Matchup. The Global Link is also the place where players can download exclusive content including C-Gear and Pokédex skins and additional Pokémon Musical songs.

Pokémon Dream World

Main article: Pokémon Dream World

The Pokémon Dream World is a special feature of the Generation V games which is operated via the website Pokémon-GL.com. The Dream World allows players to send a Pokémon to the Internet to obtain items and meet other Pokémon, making the website in a way such that it is aGeneration V analog to the Pokéwalker.

Many Pokémon that are found here are not found in the Unova region, and would otherwise have to be migrated from a Generation IV game to be used. All of the Pokémon available here have their Hidden Abilities, which can only be obtained via special means.

Entralink

Main article: Entralink

The Entralink is a new feature in Pokémon Black and White which allows contact with other players over local wireless. It is a multiplayer area in central Unova; Pokémon obtained in the Pokémon Dream World can be caught here. In combination with the C-Gear, it is possible to travel through Unova with other players and battle, trade and perform various multiplayer sidequests.

Pokémon Musical

Main article: Pokémon Musical

Pokémon Contests, which have been present since Generation III, are replaced by the Pokémon Musicals. Similar to the Super Contests inDiamond, Pearl, and Platinum, Trainers have to dress up their Pokémon with different accessories. The Pokémon will then compete by dancing on the theater stage with the other entrants. They are held in Nimbasa City.

Seasons

Main article: Seasons

Much like Generation II introduced a system of time, Generation V features a system of seasons. Seasons change every month, thus completing three cycles per year. With it comes aesthetic changes in the region, as well as some changes with the Pokémon found in the wild. It also reflects real life in affecting the time each part of the day is; for example, in winter, night from is 19:00 to 6:59, but in summer it is from 21:00 to 3:59. Additionally, Deerling and its evolution Sawsbuck change forms every season. Some areas can only be accessed in certain seasons.

Sprite animations

While already featured in previous games, Pokémon sprites in Black and White remain animated throughout the battle. Additionally, full back sprites are now present in the games. Some, but not all, Pokémon use animated versions of their Generation IV sprites, occasionally with minor modifications to the original Generation IV sprites. All Trainers, on the other hand, with the exception of Bianca, Cheren and N, return to sprites with no animations.

Changing music

Whereas in previous games, the music was the same during entire battles (other than when the player's Pokémon has less than ¼ health remaining), in Generation V, things such as battle music may change with the situation. For example, when battling a Gym Leader's last Pokémon, the music changes to a remix of the main theme. The warning sound heard when a Pokémon has less than ¼ of its maximum HPremaining has also been remixed into its own music. "Rare" Pokémon also get their own theme. Although this isn't technically new, the seasons change the music in certain places as well, though these changes are mostly the instruments heard. This is similar to the day/night cycle in Generation IV.

Weather conditions

Unlike previous generations, the weather is shown only once, during the first turn. Instead of showing it again every turn until the condition ends, there will be an icon on the touch screen showing current weather (or no icon if there's no weather currently). However, unused text exists in the game for hail and sandstorm.

Triple Battles

Main article: Triple Battle

In a Triple Battle, three Pokémon on each side are sent out at once. There are restrictions as to which Pokémon can attack which opponent. The Pokémon in the middle can attack all three on the other side, but the ones on either side cannot attack the Pokémon on the far side of the opposite end. However, there are some exceptions to this rule, through the use of moves such as Pluck or Aura Sphere. The Pokémon Pansage,Pansear, and Panpour were introduced to showcase this new feature. The position of each Pokémon can be changed during the battle; however, a turn will be used up.

Rotation Battles

Main article: Rotation Battle

Rotation Battles are similar to Triple Battles in that three Pokémon in each team are sent onto each side; however, they are sent out onto a circular platform. The platform can be rotated a third of the way around without wasting a turn. The Pokémon which is in the third of the circle facing the opponent is the one currently active. Strategy revolves around predicting which Pokémon the opponent will switch to and switching to the appropriate Pokémon on the player's side.

Gyms

Pokémon Black and White brings back the traditional eight Gyms, but with it a total of eleven Gym Leaders. They are Cilan, Chili, and Cress(Grass, Fire, and Water, respectively), Lenora (Normal), Burgh (Bug), Elesa (Electric), Clay (Ground), Skyla (Flying), Brycen (Ice), and Draydenand Iris (Dragon). Cilan, Chili, or Cress are battled if the player has chosen the Water-type, Grass-type, or Fire-type starter Pokémon, respectively. Drayden is battled in Pokémon Black while Iris is battled in Pokémon White.

Elite Four and Champion

Unlike previous games, the Elite Four can be battled in any order. After battling all four, a path to the Champion is unlocked. The Elite Four members are Shauntal (Ghost), Grimsley (Dark), Caitlin (Psychic), and Marshal (Fighting). However, the player is not able to battle the Champion before defeating Team Plasma. Later, after defeating the Elite Four in a rematch, the player will face Champion Alder, who uses a variety of types. Caitlin is the same person present in the Battle Castle who was alongside her butler Darach in Generation IV.

Technical Machines

There are now 95 Technical Machines, and, unlike in previous generations, they now have infinite uses, much like Hidden Machines. Due to this major change, only a few TMs can be bought, and now the current PP of the replaced move remains when a new move is taught.

New Pokémon

See Category:Generation V Pokémon

Black and White bring a total of 156 new Pokémon, higher than any other generation, bringing the overall total to 649 from the 493 present in Generation IV. While some new Pokémon may have similarities to previously introduced Pokémon, none of the new Pokémon are related by evolution to any of the 493 introduced previously.

The first Pokémon to be revealed were Zoroark and Zorua on February 10, 2010, who were both featured in Zoroark: Master of Illusions. Following that, the starter Pokémon Snivy, Oshawott, and Tepig were revealed in the May 2010 issue of CoroCoro. Unlike previous generations, no other new Pokémon were featured in the main anime prior to the games' Japanese release.

Version-exclusive Pokémon

Black 013 Weedle Bug Poison 014 Kakuna Bug Poison 015 Beedrill Bug Poison 198 Murkrow Dark Flying 228 Houndour Dark Fire 229 Houndoom Dark Fire 285 Shroomish Grass 286 Breloom Grass Fighting 311 Plusle Electric 430 Honchkrow Dark Flying 574 Gothita Psychic 575 Gothorita Psychic 576 Gothitelle Psychic 629 Vullaby Dark Flying 630 Mandibuzz Dark Flying 641 Tornadus Incarnate Forme Flying 643 Reshiram Dragon Fire

White 010 Caterpie Bug 011 Metapod Bug 012 Butterfree Bug Flying 046 Paras Bug Grass 047 Parasect Bug Grass 200 Misdreavus Ghost 261 Poochyena Dark 262 Mightyena Dark 312 Minun Electric 429 Mismagius Ghost 577 Solosis Psychic 578 Duosion Psychic 579 Reuniclus Psychic 627 Rufflet Normal Flying 628 Braviary Normal Flying 642 Thundurus Incarnate Forme Electric Flying 644 Zekrom Dragon Electric

The following Pokémon can only be found in White Forest, which is exclusive to Pokémon White. All of these Pokémon are found at level 5 and cannot be avoided through the use of Repel or similar means:

White Forest only

016 Pidgey Normal Flying 029 Nidoran♀ Poison 032 Nidoran♂ Poison 043 Oddish Grass Poison 063 Abra Psychic 066 Machop Fighting 069 Bellsprout Grass Poison 081 Magnemite Electric Steel 092 Gastly Ghost Poison 111 Rhyhorn Ground Rock 137 Porygon Normal 175 Togepi Normal 179 Mareep Electric 187 Hoppip Grass Flying 194 Wooper Water Ground 239 Elekid Electric 240 Magby Fire 265 Wurmple Bug 270 Lotad Water Grass 273 Seedot Grass 280 Ralts Psychic 283 Surskit Bug Water 287 Slakoth Normal 293 Whismur Normal 298 Azurill Normal 304 Aron Steel Rock 328 Trapinch Ground 341 Corphish Water 371 Bagon Dragon 396 Starly Normal Flying 403 Shinx Electric 406 Budew Grass Poison 440 Happiny Normal

• When Genesect is holding a Drive, the light on its back changes color. The Burn and Shock Drives are exclusive to Black, while the Douse and Chill Drives are exclusive to White.
• While Cottonee and Petilil are only available in the wild in Black and White respectively, there is an in-game trade in Nacrene City for the Pokémon which is exclusive to the other game. By extension, this also allows Whimsicott and Lilligant to be obtained in the versions they are otherwise unobtainable in.
• While Volbeat and Illumise are only available in the wild in Black and White respectively, Illumise can breed with any male Pokémon in theBug Egg Group, Human-Like Egg Group or Ditto to produce Eggs that have an 50% chance of hatching into Volbeat. Likewise, breeding Volbeat with Ditto may produce Illumise Eggs.
• Wild Huntail are exclusive to Black, while wild Gorebyss are exclusive to White, but Clamperl can be found and evolved in both games.
• Several version-exclusive Pokémon can also be obtained via the Pokémon Dream World.

Compatibility

Black and White are able to connect with all fourth generation main series games, as well as their sequels Black 2 and White 2. Pokémon from Diamond, Pearl, Platinum, HeartGold, and SoulSilver are able to be sent to these games using the Poké Transfer. Like the transfer available in Pal Park, Pokémon sent to Black and White from Generation IV games cannot be returned to their original games. Some event Pokémon released in Generation IV have the ability to unlock more events in Generation V: Raikou, Entei, Suicune and Celebi, transferable via an exclusive method called the Relocator, unlock Zorua and Zoroark. Likewise, the Lock Capsule transferred from Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver yields TM95(Snarl), but this event has yet to take place and can only be obtained through use of cheating devices.

Black and White also have the ability to connect to the Internet, accessing the Pokémon Dream World; Pokémon acquired in this manner are obtained in the Entree Forest. Although the game cartridges contain infrared technology similar to that used in HeartGold and SoulSilver, Black and White are unable to connect with the Pokéwalker.

These games are the first to take advantage of the Nintendo DSi's capability to recognize and connect to routers with WPA connections. However, if the cartridge is used in an original Nintendo DS or a Nintendo DS Lite, this functionality is disabled.