Review: Pokémon Silver for GBA
Thursday, February 10, 2011 at 10:03AM Who didn’t like Pokémon, growing up in the 90s? Whether it was the television show, the card game, the Japanese comics, the merchandise or the video games, nearly every 90s child was exposed to this phenomenon at some level.
This review is going to cover a specific game: the second generation Pokémon Silver game, for the Game Boy Advance system. It was my first Pokémon game, so you’ll have to forgive me if I’m a touch biased.
So, this was the first game – along with the other “metal generation” game released at the same time, Gold—that introduced two new types of Pokémon to the pool. Dark and Ghost types were added to the other fifteen: Normal, Flying, Fighting, Fire, Water, Grass, Poison, Electric, Ground, Psychic, Rock, Ice, Bug, Dragon and Steel, in case you were wondering. And the entire point of the types is to make Pokémon battles you’ll fight a bit fairer. Each Pokémon has one (or two) of the previously listed types, and depending on the type of the chosen Mon and the opposing, can make the battle either much easier or much, much harder. Sort of like Rock Paper Scissors. Paper beats rock and Water types are weak to Grass and Electric types.
But I have to say that I like both newly introduced types – I liked them when I was a kid and I like them now, re-playing the game – because, one, they look awesome, and two, they’re generally a pretty powerful type, as far as that goes.
And speaking of graphics! I was, and still am, pleased about the quality of the graphics in this game. Granted, they haven’t really aged that well, and the newer games have both better fight scenes and more attention to detail, but for their time, the visuals in Pokémon Silver were very good – cutting edge, even.
As it is, the Metal Generation was the first in the Pokémon series that used colour all the time in-game. I can’t tell you how refreshing it was, having it. Colour breaks up the monotony the game would otherwise have – it grabs the eye. However, it isn’t something you really notice or think about when you aren’t playing, nowadays. You take it for granted as you play – I still don’t know how to feel about that.
Furthermore, if we’re on the topic of things you take for granted what about the music in the Pokémon Silver game? Now, I’ll admit, this is easily the most annoying aspect of the game – any of the games—as there isn’t a whole lot of variation to the background music from game to game. But it does change a good deal within each game. Each town you visit has a different theme, and all the paths have the same jaunty tune – all sort of electric doot-doot-dooting that plays until you run into a battle, at which time, a siren sounds. However, there isn’t an option (in any of the games, as far as I’m aware) to turn off the noise, so if you dislike the soundtrack as much as I do, you have to make due with just turning down the volume on your console.
A side aspect of the sound effects in this game, that I particularly liked, however, was the idea that each Pokémon has a cry to make it distinct. Now, usually this wouldn’t be such a big deal – the only time they’re heard is right after you toss them into a battle—but it’s actually a small step in endearing the Mons to their trainer: you. Other than the shapes the Mon take, the cries and the battle stats are really the only things the player has to help make the characters real to them, and thus, care about them. Yeah, surprisingly enough, Pokémon games don’t have a whole lot in the character development department.
And that brings us to the final aspect I’ll talk about: plot. There is one major failing in the Pokémon series – at least to certain fans -- and that’s there isn’t a whole lot of original plot in any of the games. Now, this can be a good thing, any game can be picked up and played without prior knowledge of the series – each plot is a cookie-cutter of the last—but on the downside, it gets repetitive and dull very quickly. The basic premise of each game is thus: You get your starter Pokémon, and you make it strong along with all the other Pokémon you catch (and you are encouraged to catch all of them. There are 251 in total) and battle the Gym leaders in each town for, well, badges. You travel through the world battling and generally getting stronger, fighting your rival along the way. That’s the extent of the plot, boiled right down to the quick. And that’s a double edged sword, in my opinion: good for new players, bad for the older fans who crave more.
So there you have it: Pokémon Silver for Game Boy Advance. The music is annoying, the graphics are decent, and the plot is cookie-cutter yet soothing in its regularity. Despite all this, it’s definitely worth a look if you haven’t played before. My childhood will thank you.
Reader Comments (4)
man I used to love this game! i can't believe i traded my old game boy away. oh well, at least you can download the emulator off the internet.
Ah, the joys of technology~
Having never played a game of Pokemon, I was enlightened and intrigued by your review. I liked the informal, conversational tone, and the last line is great.
Editing comments: "have to make due" - I'm pretty sure you mean "do"
Just watch for awkward phrasing, and cliches: "in game a bit fairer" - "that's there isn't" had me scratching my head.
Phrases like "there you have it" "as far as that goes" "double-edged sword" aren't the most effective.
Also- avoid bracketed comments that contain two sentences, in the middle of a sentence - very bulky and confusing to read.
whats wrong with those phrases? they sound fine, she uses easy to understand language. I'm not really sure how you would convey the purpose of the sentence in other words.