Pokemon Gold Version (Nintendo Game Boy Color, 2000)

For one i have always loved the first two generations of the Pokemon games. I have recently started the third to catch up on things. But as far as game ratings go Pokemon as a RPG is amazing. your not limited to certain things when it comes to the type of trainer you want to be. The story line is limited but also pretty good when you realize what kinda audience its aimed at. But all the elements involved make it that much better. Example is i could be a all fire pokemon trainer or bring everything i can to a battle.(ex: fire, water, electric, normal, dragon). My own experience is that i always have a new favorite. The first time you play you love the starter. Next time you love a Pokemon that everyone hates. Then after that you have a Pokemon that will always win a battle for you. It truly puts you in the characters place at times. Ive caught myself yelling at a Pokemon in the middle of a battle. lol. its sad but true. If you haven't played Pokemon yet PLEASE start with the first and work your way up and you will truly love what the game has to offer. Three thumbs up. Three you ask? i borrowed a thumb from a friend. lol

Featuring a new adventure that's filled with numerous enhancements and innovations, this long-awaited sequel to Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow greatly improves upon the series' winning formula, and makes for an even more insanely addictive and wholly absorbing gaming experience.
Like Pokémon Silver--which essentially is the same story, with minor gameplay variations--Pokémon Gold casts players in the familiar role of a young Pokémon Trainer who's out to collect as many different kinds of Pokémon as possible. As in previous games, gameplay consists mostly of exploration (completing various quests in the process) and Pokémon battles, which employ a unique battle system that's like a complex twist on rock-paper-scissors.

But, despite the similarities, it's quite apparent that Pokémon Gold is a whole new ball game from the start. The game is played out in real time, with the current time and day of the week (recorded by an internal clock) having a direct impact on gameplay elements, such as what Pokémon you'll find in the wild, and when certain events occur and characters appear.

While there are too many new and improved features in Pokémon Gold to list here, among the highlights are 100 new Pokémon (including two new types), new evolution processes (including breeding), and a more streamlined game interface that has better-organized menus and button shortcuts.

Although it's easier to progress in Pokémon Gold than in the previous games, the sheer amount of fun and game time that's involved is daunting. You'd be hard-pressed to find a better value than this one.

The problem with writing a review for this game is for me to express- what's making me give this such a darn high score. If someone explained the game's premise, you probably wouldn't know what the big fuss is about. But I'm here to tell you, in plain and simple words, that- the reason the game is so good is because: it is just FUN.

But what's fun about it? Is it the walking in tall grass just to make pokemon jump out at you? No way! Is it battling pokemon with the turn-based battle system? Nope! Is it throwing the poke-balls at these now weakened pokemon? Come on, you've got to be kidding! No, the fun part is- Walking in the tall grass to make pokemon jump at you so you can fight with the turn based battle system to weaken them and then catch them with a poke-ball!

Alone, each main element of the game (and believe me, there are a whole LOT more than I said) isn't all that fun, but, when they all come together, not only do they combine to become incredibly fun, but each separate element exponentially increases its fun-level just by being intertwined with the other elements. And the end result- one of the best games, ever.

You probably know all about Pokemon by now, they're cute little monsters that range from birds to sea demons, and their one purpose is to fight and fight until someone faints. They inhabit the entire world, and there are between 200-350 types of them- or more!

There are also little devices called "poke balls" which you throw at wild pokemon to catch them. Once caught, pokemon are bound to you for life! Cool, huh!?

Well, in this game, you are some kid who was given a pokemon (chosen by you!) by a pokemon professor, Elm. After he recognizes your "skill" as a trainer, he lets you keep it. Good for you! You then go on an adventure where, at its barest state, is to collect all 8 gym badges and beat the pokemon CHAMPION, therefore becoming a Pokemon master!

But that's not all, oh, no. There's much, MUCH more, including the ability to visit the Pokemon Red/Blue areas(!) So read on and find out!

Graphics: 8/10

This is, of course, a Game Boy Color, so the graphics aren't that advanced. But it's in color, and what color it is! Even with the GBC's sort of limited color selection, you never feel as if you're playing some kind of game whose colors somehow, inexplicably, faded away. Key people are very recognizable, but for regular people, they repeat the same 15 characters 2,500 times. The pokemon, however... that's some great artwork. And the introduction to the game is ALMOST (almost) semi-GBA-quality! How great is that!?

Sound: 10/10

This amazed me. How could the sound be SO GOOD on such a small system? Yet you can actually distinguish between instruments (or whatever they use to make music for GBC). And each pokemon has its own distinctive cry which can actually be used to identify them! How cool is that!?

The music, while already outdated, is still classic. If only the footsteps weren't so darn LOUD... oh well.

Story: 10/10

This is a very well-written story, I must say. Even though there are three points where you can deem the game "finished," it seems as if it'll never end, which actually adds to the whole feeling. And this is the best part- there are SO MANY SIDE-QUESTS. It would literally take me about a month of nonstop playing just to FIND them all, doing them is another story. And in the main plotline itself- so many twists and turns, yet the story never gets too confusing, it never

What they did in this game was incredible. They added a few more Pokemon to make it fresh, they actually made it so your rival wasn't just some annoying dude, and, to top it all off you could return to Kanto! This game was also very ahead of it's time with the clock, a feature that wouldn't be used again until Diamond and Pearl. I have waited and waited for a new Pokemon game to come and thrill me but Ruby is the only one that came close and only becasue of the good graphics. I recomend it 100%. Oh, but you can't play it on a DS unfortuantly.

The Gold and Silver (GS) version Pokemon video games are the greatest accomplishment in Pokemon video game history. Out of all the other versions these are the best because they were the first to include not only color but detailed animated graphics for each Pokemon sprite, an extended interactive world (Johto and Kanto) as well as the many variations of gear and items such as the Pokegear which included a cellphone, radio, and map, and the dozens of pokeball types obtainable/creatable. These games were also first to adapt the more complex mechanics of each digital Pokemon. Pokemon GS versions were a outstanding evolution in Pokemon games back in the 90's. These games exhumed every potential of the GameBoy Color by utilizing: the Infrared Sensor for multiplayer connectivity, the GameBoy Printer accessory, and the transfer of gifts through the Pokemon Pikachu 2 mini-game pedometer accessory. This game was so great that a remake has already been released in Japan and set for release in other countries. The remake has been adapted to modern technology with everything from the original and tons of additional content made possible by modern technology.