Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver

Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver
Developer(s)	Game Freak
Publisher(s)	Nintendo, The Pokémon Company
Series	Pokémon series
Platform(s)	Nintendo DS
Release date(s)	JP September 12, 2009 NA Spring 2010 EU Spring 2010 AUS TBA
Genre(s)	Console role-playing game
Rating(s)	CERO: A

Pokémon HeartGold​ (ポケットモンスター ハートゴールド, Poketto Monsutā Hātogōrudo,^? "Pocket Monsters HeartGold") and Pokémon SoulSilver​ (ポケットモンスター ソウルシルバー, Poketto Monsutā Sōrushirubā,^? "Pocket Monsters SoulSilver") are enhanced remakes of the 1999 video games Pokémon Gold and Silver. The new titles are members of the Pokémon series of role-playing games, and were developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo DS. They were released on September 12, 2009, in Japan, and will be released during Spring 2010 in North America and Europe.

HeartGold and SoulSilver have sold 2 million combined units in Japan within the first six weeks of their release.^[1] Famitsu's reception to the game has been positive.

Gameplay

HeartGold and SoulSilver allows Pokémon the player owns to follow him or her in-game on the overworld. The player may talk to the Pokémon, and occasionally it may pick up certain secret items.^[2]

In Japan, the games are bundled with a peripheral called the Poké Walker, a pedometer that resembles a Poké Ball which can connect to the Nintendo DS game card via infrared signals (in a fashion similar to another Nintendo DS game Personal Trainer: Walking) and can "hold" a Pokémon. Walking with a Poké Walker holding a Pokémon increases both its experience and closeness, as well as the player's "watts", an in-game currency that can be used to catch wild Pokémon and shop for items.^[3][4] Despite the device being included with every game, Nintendo announced that the games would carry standard pricing (around ¥4,800 in Japan).^[5]

Plot and setting

HeartGold and SoulSilver take place in the Johto region as in Pokémon Gold and Silver.^[6] After completing the main storyline, players can also go to the Kanto region, similarly to in the original Gold and Silver.^[7]

Development

An initial rumor started in early May 2009 that Nintendo was planning a remake of Pokémon Gold and Silver after the Japanese television show Pokémon Sunday ended by announcing a "world-exclusive first announcement" that would be made on its next show. Kris Pigna of 1UP.com speculated that this alluded to a possible remake of Gold and Silver for the Nintendo DS, due to gold and silver disco balls hanging in the background. Pigna further reasoned that this would be consistent with the previously released titles Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen which were enhanced remakes of the original Pokémon Red and Blue.^[8] Several days later, Nintendo officially confirmed the fact that Gold and Silver were being remade and released their official logos. The remakes would be titled as HeartGold and SoulSilver and released for the Nintendo DS on 12 September 2009 in Japan. They also announced that the games would contain numerous updates, although declined to reveal any specifics.^[9] An official release date was later set for September 12, 2009 to coincide with the tenth anniversary of the original Gold and Silver release.^[10] Junichi Masuda stated on his blog that "we, Game Freak have spent long and firm time developing above two titles [sic]", and that ""Pokémon Gold & Silver" will be back with far more excitement."^[6]

At the 2009 Pokémon World Championships, Nintendo stated that HeartGold and SoulSilver would be released in North America between the months of January and March, Europe sometime around May and June, and Australia in April. J.C. Smith, a spokesperson for the company, gave the announcement at the start of the event; saying, "Announcing these much-anticipated game launches at The Pokémon World Championships allows us to give the news directly to the legions of fans who represent the true heart and soul of Pokémon."^[11] The official Pokémon website in English was updated with information about the new titles, telling readers that the games would feature revamped audiovisual effects, interaction with the DS touch screen, and more "surprises".^[12]

Reception

In response to the news confirming the development of HeartGold and SoulSilver, fans posted their reactions and commentary on the Internet. In particular, IGN editor Jack DeVries reasoned that the primary reason for the updated games was to be compatible with Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, allowing players to collect old Pokémon species that were previously unobtainable in the new games. He also expressed skepticism that the new titles could match the quality of the originals; stating, "For me, Gold/Silver were amazing because they introduced so many new features that have since become standards for the series. It was the first, and only, time the Pokémon games have made such a significant expansion. These days we're lucky if we get a new feature that invisibly changes the strategic elements of the game." He reminisced over the qualities that made Gold and Silver truly unique, including the full color support, internal clock, Pokémon breeding, and PokéGear.^[13]

In Japan, the games sold a combined total of 1,480,980 units within the first two days of release, topping the Japanese sales chart that week.^[14]

Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu awarded the games an aggregate score of 37 out of 40 based on four individual reviews, of which the ratings were 9, 10, 9, and 9. The reviewers praised the games for retaining much of the quality that drew them to the original Gold and Silver.^[15]

References

External links

• Official Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver website (in Japanese)
• Official Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver website (in English)