#POKEMON BLACK AND WHITE 2 RATING PORTABLE#
The series continues to advance portable multiplayer in other ways as well, with additions like the revamped Entralink’s new Fun Fest Missions. While it’s fun hanging out with your friends’ avatars, the main draw here is the variety of specialty shops you can encourage them to set up, each offering a range of unique goods or services for your shopping pleasure. There’s also Join Avenue, an area populated by trainers you’ve connected with via the game’s seamless IR, wireless and online communications. It’s in the same vein as the Pokémon Musicals, which are returning from Black and White - both are a tad frivolous compared to the rest of the game, but as an optional diversion they’re quite amusing if you’re in the right mood. PokéStar Studios, for instance, lets you make miniature movies with your favorite monsters while testing your knowledge of type advantages. While battling is still the game’s main draw, a multitude of other activities round out the finely balanced experience. The inclusion of a constantly running tourney is a brilliant addition, as it provides an exciting venue for honing your battle skills, and it’s a pleasure re-challenging some of the most iconic characters from the franchise’s rich history. You’ll find Elesa’s roller coasters supplemented by a booming catwalk, Burgh’s gym covered in silk cocoons – and, while I won’t spoil it for you, suffice to say that Drayden’s domain presents an epic homage to the dragon-tamer’s type of choice.Īdditional opportunities to test your team and flex your skills include the Pokémon World Tournament, a new in-game event where you can face off against gym leaders and champions from past titles. The gyms themselves are far grander than in previous games. Gyms have always played an important role in the Pokémon experience, and they’re at their best in White 2. In addition to new main characters, new areas and a new storyline, the revamped Unova region supplies copious amounts of entertainment for your journey to Victory Road. Pokémon White 2 also offers an overwhelming amount of new content. You can expect to employ the same expertly crafted, turn-based mechanics as ever, catch a variety of fantastical creatures and acquire eight gym badges - but don’t let the similarities fool you. To start, it’s important to understand that Pokémon White 2 doesn’t seek to upend the basic Pokémon formula, simply to refine and expand it. The final result is a game that features some of the most cinematic moments the franchise has ever seen, and the most fully realized Pokémon game to ever make use of the DS hardware.
Considering the caliber of what came before, this certainly isn’t a bad thing - but White 2 manages to complement this “same” with some truly apt refinements and a stunning amount of fresh content. What you might expect is more of the same - and for the most part, that’s what you get. Rather than just a slightly expanded repackaging of the latest generation’s core titles (a la Pokémon Yellow, Crystal, Emerald or Platinum), this direct sequel breaks the Pokémon mid-generation mold by offering a brand new adventure in the Unova region.
Don’t underestimate Poké mon White Version 2.