Whew. I just finished the main story of Pokemon White Version. First impression? This game is f*cking great. I highly enjoyed the plot, the new Pokemon, everything. Albeit it is a little difficult translating the text due to my neglecting to finish learning the Japanese alphabet. Regardless, the gameplay is excellent. I plan on getting the North American version of White when it is released Spring 2011.
New Pokemon, let's see. About 156 of them, new typings, new concepts, all bringing new life into the series. The starters, Tsujata, Mijumaru, and Pokabu are apparently based off of styles of art. Mijumaru is based on Western styles of art, Tsujata European, and Pokabu Eastern. Truly a nice concept for them. Although there was one thing about the starters that ruffled my feathers. Pokabu's first and final evolutions are of the Fire/Fighting type, the typing of the fire starter since Generation III. Rather than recycle the same thing over and over again, perhaps a different secondary typing could have been used.
The final evolutions of the starters were enjoyable. Jaroda, the final form of Tsujata, is a large cobra like creature with a leaf cuff around its neck, and an angry look upon its face. Daikenki is based off a sea lion, with shells covering various parts of its body. A large spiked sea shell rests upon its neck and head, and can even wield it as a sword-like weapon. Enbuoo, however, is my least favorite of the three. The design is overly reminiscent to two fourth generation Pokemon, Magmortar and Rhyperior. That and I never cared for Pokabu's base design. /end Enbuoo rant
Aside from the starters, a great batch of Pokemon came to be, and this time around more inanimate objects were the base of the designs. For example, there is an ice-cream line, a garbage bag line, and a large, intimidating snowflake. I found the Ice-Cream Pokemon to be very humorous, starting as an ice cream ball, then an ice cream cone, then a deluxe ice-cream cone.
The version mascots, Reshiram and Zekrom, are based upon the concept of yin and yang. Reshiram is the White Yang Pokemon, whilst Zekrom is the Black Yin Pokemon. Reshiram is a Fire/Dragon type, and is the mascot of Pokemon Black while Zekrom is an Electric/Dragon type and is the mascot of Pokemon White. Both get the exclusive moves Cross-Thunder (Zekrom) and Cross-Fire(Reshiram) along with two other moves, Lightning Strike (Zekrom) and Blue Fire (Reshiram)
There are also three Pokemon based on the Raijin trio, Torunerosu, Borutorosu, and Randorosu.
But there is more to Pokemon than just the Pokemon themselves. There is the plot.
You start off at your home in Kanoko Town, along with your friend Cheren. It is your birthday presumably, as noted by the large gift on your table. Your other friend Belle comes up the stairs into the room, and dialogue is exchanged. You then walk up to the gift and unwrap it. Inside are three Pokeballs, and a letter from the local Pokemon Professor Araragi. Inside are the Grass Snake Tsujata, the Sea Otter Mijumaru, and the Fire Pig Pokabu. Once you've chosen your starter (for those that are interested I picked Mijumaru), Cheren will pick the starter with the type advantage, and Belle will get the remaining Pokemon with the type disadvantage to yours. Cheren then stands aside, acting as a referree for your battle with Belle.
After your victory (or loss, I won this battle), Cheren will heal both of your Pokemon, and then will proceed to battle you. Again, after you either won or lost (I won.) you will then head on out. Upon attempting to leave, your mother gifts you with the equivalent to the Pokegear in HeartGold/SoulSilver (I was unsure what it was, to be honest) and you then leave your home. Cheren goes off to Professor Araragi's lab, and will remain outside until you retrieve Belle from her home. Once inside, her father will yell at her, as he is against her going off on a Pokemon journey. After all is said and done, you and Belle will meet up with Cheren, and all three will head inside. After some dialogue, all three of you will get your Pokedexes, and you all head off for Route 1. Cherry blossom petals will be falling, and after some dialogue, you head onward.
Shortly afterwards, after being tutorialed on how to use a Pokemon Center/PC by Professor Araragi, you meet the evil Team Plasma, as Geechisu, one of the highest ranking officials of the group, is proclaiming how Team Plasma is going to free the Pokemon of trainers across the world, or something to that effect. People are confused, and after Plasma leaves, the people all scurry off. You then meet N, a mysterious man with green hair, and you battle him. After winning, dialogue will be spoken, and he heads off.
After that, you head on off on your grand adventure, capturing Pokemon, training them, and collecting badges all throughout Isshu. You also encounter Team Plasma and N throughout your adventure, and eventually you discover that N is actually a part of Plasma, giving orders to Geechisu to free your Pokemon. Eventually, you face the eighth gym leader. They tell you of the legend of Reshiram and Zekrom, and two brothers. The two brothers founded Isshu. They began to argue about which direction they wanted to go in. Reshiram and Zekrom came forth and began battling. They would continue their battle until Isshu was destroyed. To prevent that, they were put to rest, never to be awakened again. Team Plasma (mainly N/Geechisu) vie to reawaken Reshiram and Zekrom. After hearing of all this, you head off for the Pokemon League.
After defeating the Elite Four, you head into the Champion's room to discover the champion Adeku and....N? N and Adeku converse, and then from the ground comes an ancient castle which attaches itself to the League. N then flees into it, and Cheren comes in. Dialogue ensues, and you head into the castle. The six sages of Team Plasma, all met at previous areas, are all there ready to attack, when Yakon (the 5th Gym Leader) comes in. Dialogue is exchanged, and 7 more of the 11 leaders (2 other Gym Leaders head the first, and the eighth Gym has two Gym Leaders, one per version) They each distract the sages while you go to find N. He stands in a room, where dialogue is exchanged between you and him.
(If you are playing White Version...)
N will awaken Reshiram, who appears from the skies, unleashing a wave of flames. It stands by his side, then moving behind him. From the Dark Stone, Zekrom comes forth, unleashing electrical bursts. It then goes and faces you, and you have the opportunity to catch Zekrom at Lv.50
(If you are playing Black...)
Pretty much the same only N awakens Zekrom and Reshiram comes forth from the Light Stone to fight you.
After capturing your version mascot (which the developers ensured would happen), you face off against N one last time. After your victory, he seems to be very complacent, accepting his loss. However, Geechisu is not. He reams N for losing to just a simple trainer, after he awakened the dragon for N. Geechisu was the true villain all along, using N as a puppet. You then face off against Geechisu.
After your victory, Adeku comes and asks N if he believes Pokemon should still be separated from humans. Geechisu spites N, calling him a monster incapable of being able to relate to normal humans. Adeku ignores Geechisu, forgiving N and wonders if N is sick of being controlled. Cheren and Adeku lead Geechisu out afterwards. N is downcast and says he isn't fit to call himself a hero. He then admits that when he first met you, your Pokemon told him how much they loved being with you, and he hasn't been able to reconcile that with his own beliefs that Pokemon should be separated from humans. He decides to continue his journey around Isshu, searching for answers, and leaves the castle with Reshiram/Zekrom.
End main-story.
Final thoughts:
Pokemon Black/White are excellent games, with a wonderful storyline coupled with great new Pokemon. Be sure to pick it up when it comes out in America in Spring (or if you are impatient, just import the games from Japan)
I give Pokemon Black/White 5 Team Plasma insignias out of 5.
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