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Nine years after the release of Crystal, HeartGold and SoulSilver once again offer the oppurtunity to explore the Johto region. This time around, however, Johto is more stunning than ever as these games have some of the best graphics of any Pokémon main series game to date, and include plenty of new stuff too, making them all around a great game.

Everything Old...

HeartGold and SoulSilver faithfully recreate the original classics in nearly every way, and if you played the originals it'll all come back to you as you play these games. The music consists of some great remixes of the classic tunes, and if that's not enough for you, you can even hear the old-school sounds of the original Gameboy games with a new key item. The games also go to great lengths to bring back classic features, even allowing you to get the original specialty balls from Kurt instead of having him simply make you the newer specialty pokéballs that have replaced them in generations 3 and 4. In addition to that, Red Gyrados, Team Rocket's epic evil scheme to... call their boss, the ability to go to Kanto, everything that anyone has ever speculated could be changing is still in there. At the same time, several new additions really add to the games. The Kimono girls, once minor NPCs that only served to give you Surf, now have a more important role in the story, which adds more actual plot to the legendary Pokémon featured on the games' boxes. Also, just about every feature introduced in Crystal is represented in these games. Buena's Password, Eusine, Extreme Speed Dratini, you name it, it's probably there. The only thing that seems to be missing is the free egg given to you by the Day-Care couple. Also, while Crystal added the ability to play as either a male or a female trainer, HeartGold and SoulSilver take this to the next level by having the character you don't select appear as an NPC who helps you out. They also include things that were added after the second generation, such as the running shoes, the ability to grow berries, animated trainer sprites, weather, the Battle Frontier, Pal Park, the list goes on. With a mix of old and new, these games certainly feel new again.

What's New?

HeartGold and SoulSilver are more than just remakes, they add plenty of new features to the classic games as well. One of the most widely shown features in the runup to these games is the ability to have your Pokémon follow you as with Yellow's Pikachu, and DPP's Amity Park. In these games, this isn't restricted to a specific area, nor is it restricted by species; any of the 493 Pokémon can follow you. The Pokémon may even find items, but don't get too exited. This isn't like having a team full of pickup helpers since all they ever find is fashion accessories.

The games also add a side game called the Pokéathlon. The Pokéathlon is basically a set of minigames that you enter your Pokémon in like Pikachu's Beach in Yellow, and the minigames in FireRed and LeafGreen. This time around though you don't need to have a particular species of Pokémon, any Pokémon can enter. The Pokéathlon also includes a contest stat-like system in the form of performance stats. Each species of Pokémon has different performance stats such as speed and jumping ability, and they can be increased using ApriJuice, which is made from apricorns. The process of making ApriJuice is much easier than that of making Pokéblocks and Poffins, you don't even need to worry about getting someone else to help you make that perfect glass of juice. Just throw some apricorns in the ApriBlender and walk.

Being active seems to be a theme in these games, both in the game and out of it. All copies of HeartGold and SoulSilver come bundled with a pedometer called the Pokéwalker. The Pokéwalker can be thought of as a spiritual successor to the Pokémon Pikachu virtual pets. Like the Pokémon Pikachus, it allows you to interact with a Pokémon, but, in what would seem to be another theme of HeartGold and SoulSilver, it's not just Pikachu that's featured on the device. You guessed it, all 493 Pokémon are avaliable, but there's a twist, they come from your HG/SS game. Transferring is accomplished through infrared communications, which is prone to interference, so it's not the seamless wireless communication we've all become accustomed to, so you may run into problems getting the Pokéwalker to communicate with the game at times. When you do manage to get them connected, you can transfer any Pokémon from your game to the Pokéwalker and go on a walk with it. As you walk, the Pokémon gains happiness and experience. You can also use it to find items and even Pokémon, and transfer them back to your game. Some of the Pokémon avaliable through the Pokéwalker cannot be obtained in HeartGold or SoulSilver making it an important tool for the trainer looking to catch 'em all.

Touchscreen controls, while present in Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum, feel like a completely new feature in HG/SS given the fact that they've been completely revamped. They are now more intuitive and no longer feel gimmicky. The spinning pokéball that you previously had to flick with the stylus to scroll thorugh lists has been replaced with more traditional buttons and scrollbars. The Pokédex has been completely redesigned, sporting a new grid layout that makes it much easier to navigate. Also, every time you're presented with a list of options in the game, those options are shown on the touch screen. Of course, perhaps the one thing DPP did do right with the touch screen was the battle controls, which return exactly as they were in those games, only sporting HG/SS's new snazzy-looking glossy style.

Shortcomings

HeartGold and SoulSilver contain a number of retcons and other questionable changes. While some of these retcons are necessary, for example, Bill telling you that Eevee evolves into one of seven forms, rather than five, others aren't, for example, Tin Tower being inexplicably renamed Bell Tower. Another well-known change is the removal of the slots, once a staple of Pokémon games. Their replacement, Voltorb Flip, is actually a pretty fun and addicting game, but the Game Corner itself seems empty. What was once a building full of NPCs playing the slots has been reduced to a small room with a single table where you play the game. It looks sloppy and rushed, but the really bad part is that you can't buy coins so there's no way to avoid playing the game to get the TM you want. Another change is the fact that, while your mom still buys you items with the money you let her store for you, you now have to pick them up at a Pokémart since PC item storage has been removed in the 4th Generation. This can be somewhat tedious, but you can always wait until it's convenient for you, but if there are five items waiting for you to pick them up, your mom stops buying items for you until you get them. Another PC-related issue is the box system used for storing your excess Pokémon. HeartGold and SoulSilver have revamped the box system to make more use of the touchscreen, but the button controls from Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum can't be used anymore. This actually makes it harder to organize Pokémon across boxes than in DPP. With toucscreen controls adding so much to the game in other areas, it's a shame that in this case they were actually a step backwards.

There is also some missed potential. Even after fan complaints, some of the problems in FireRed and LeafGreen repeat themselves in HeartGold and SoulSilver. Like FG/LG, these games do not have contests. While the Pokéathlon is a sutible replacement, there will be some fans who miss the old contests. Fortunately, the biggest problem that arises from removing contests has been resolved. Getting a massage for one of your Pokémon will increase its beauty contest stat. While this stat is invisible in HG/SS, it still affects Feebas's evolution meaning it's actully easier than ever to get a Milotic. Despite this careful thought, there are still some evolved forms that cannot be obtained in these games, those being Leafeon, Glaceon, Probopass, and Magnezone. Another missing feature is the ability to decorate your room, an especially questionable omission given the inclusion of secret bases in recent Pokémon games. Also, as has been mentioned, the free egg from the Day Care Couple that had a 50/50 chance of hatching into a shiny Pokémon is not avaliable in these games. With so many other Crystal features included, it's surprising that this was left out. That said, with all the things these games could have gotten right, there are plenty that they did do right.

The best Pokémon games just got better

Gold and Silver have been considered the best Pokémon games of all time, but despite that they did have their share of shortcomings, and while Crystal was an improvement, HeartGold and SoulSilver go even further. In Gold and Silver, Kurt was able to make one Pokéball a day, making it hard to get those balls that you can only get from him. Crystal alleviated the situation by allowing you to get Kurt to make you as many of a particular ball as you had apricorns for making it, but you could still only find one of each apricorn each day. HeartGold and SoulSilver have gone even further to fix the problem. While it's still not possible to stop by your local Pokémart to buy the Level Ball, Heavy Ball, etc., you can find apricorns all over now, even in Kanto. Even the rarest apricorns can be found in 3 locations each day. Of course the abundance of apricorns also helps with the Pokéathlon.

The Pokégear makes a reappearance, as does the phone, only this time your phone number list is unlimited. The downside is that phone numbers can't be deleted, so once you register Youngster Joey, you won't hear him shut up about his stupid Rattata. Oh wait, that's right, you don't have to, since you're now able to ignore calls. You still automatically pick up the important ones, but you can always let all the others ring through. Another improvement to the Pokégear is that you can now use the touchscreen to move the map around, allowing you to view both Johto and Kanto regardless of where you are. And speaking of Kanto...

Perhaps one of the most memorable features of the original Gold and Silver was the ability to hop on the S.S. Aqua after defeating the Elite Four and going to Kanto for a new adventure, with 8 more badges to collect and the ultimate in-game challenge, facing Red in the depths of Mt. Silver. Well, it's all back, but this time it's better. Gold and Silver's Kanto isn't exactly remembered fondly by fans, often being ridiculed as "Mini Kanto" due to being scalled down compared to Red and Blue's Kanto. All the canon changes, such as Cinnabar being destoryed, remain, but things that were gone without explanation are back. In Gold and Silver for example, Viridian Forest was reduced to a maze through Route 2's trees, but in HG/SS, it once again exists as its own area. Other areas that return are the Seafoam Island Cave, and Cerulean Cave, with the latter being explained as having been rebuilt after having collapsed.

If battling the titans of the Pokémon world to try and stuff them into a tiny ball is your thing, you're going to love this. With these returning areas, comes another surpise, and that's the ability to catch the legendary birds and Mewtwo. The legendary fest doesn't stop there, as you'll also be able to catch Kyogre or Groudon, Latios or Latias, and even Rayquaza. You also chase and catch Suicune the same way you did in Crystal, but instead of the chase culminating at Tin err... Bell Tower, you get to continue following Suicune in Kanto. Another missing feature from the original Gold and Silver was the Safari Zone. Many a player of the originals got to Fuschia City only to discover the Safari Zone was closed. In HG/SS, While Fuschia's Safari Zone is still gone (well, actually, this time it's been converted to a Pal Park), the warden has opened a new one outside of Cianwood City. This time around however, our gold-toothed friend has added a twist to the Safari Zone. There are 12 different areas, each with their own Pokémon, but the Safari Zone only holds 6 of these areas at a time, meaning you need to swap them out to catch all the Pokémon the Safari Zone has to offer. It gets even deeper than that, with the addition of special items that can be placed in the Safari Zone to make an even wider variety of Pokémon to appear. Even better, if your friend has managed to get just the right configuration to get a Pokémon that you've been looking for, you can have them send you their Safari Zone for you to go hunting in.

All in all, these games are great. With all the new stuff packed into them, they're worth getting even if you already have a working copy of one of the original classics. If you're looking to relive your Johto adventure, or if you're experiencing Johto, or even Pokémon, for the first time, these are the games to get. At least until Black and White come out...

The Good

• Everything that was great about GSC is back.
• No more mini Kanto
• They finally got the touchscreen right.
• Voltorb Flip!

The Bad

• Can't obtain some evolved forms without the help of DPP.
• The box system isn't as good as it was in DPP.
• Can't buy coins.
• "Bell Tower"... Seriously?

The Final Word

A nearly perfect recreation of a pair of great Pokémon games with plenty of additions and improvements. HeartGold and SoulSivler are the best Pokémon games yet!