Pokémon Silver Version (Game Boy Color) Review

The games are not exactly the same as before, actually. One rather essential modification is the ability to trade and battle Pokémon via local wireless, which ensures that a complete Pokedex can be achieved through the same means as originally (albeit without a link-cable!) - by trading back with the eShop versions of Pokémon Red and Blue. It's nice that the core functionality is all here, in uncompromised form. That said, though, going above and beyond, by adding online support for these features could have provided an even greater incentive to revisit Johto. While there are plenty of worthwhile modern entries worth gathering your friends online for, like Pokémon X and Y, and Sun and Moon - battling and trading with the first and second-generation titles has its own nostalgia-based appeal, so it seems like a missed opportunity not to have online support. At least trading and battling between these first and second-generation re-releases is possible, and they are even compatible with Pokémon Bank.

All the mainline Pokémon iterations, from the Game Boy to 3DS, have expanded in one way or another, but they still retain the core framework set out by the original adventures, Red and Blue, which is a testament to the strength of that original formula. However, for many life-long fans, it was the second-generation titles, Pokémon Gold and Silver, that struck the absolute perfect balance. One hundred Pokémon were added, bringing the total number up to a healthy (but not ridiculous) 251, whilst also introducing two new types in Steel and Dark. Actually, though, a surprising number of new concepts were implemented in these follow-up adventures, as well.

Perhaps the most useful one was the ability of Pokémon to hold items, which enabled a variety of perks, such as stat enhancements and automatic healing, to occur in battle. This added an extra layer of tactics, allowing for more personalised approaches to each encounter. Another significant addition was the breeding and egg system, which was an entirely new way to collect Pokémon. In some cases, it was the only way to acquire them, and these Pokémon could also inherit certain moves, including TMs and HMs, adding further depth, whilst also encouraging a lot of experimentation.

Elsewhere, there was also a new calendar and clock system, which kept tabs on the time, implementing day and night phases in the world, whilst also tracking the days of the week. This meant that there were events that only occurred on a specific day, as well as creatures that could only be discovered at certain points in time. While, quite wisely, these elements weren't over-used, and in fact the whole game could be completed without encountering them, the presence of these time-sensitive events certainly helped the world to feel much more alive and dynamic. It was an exciting inclusion, particularly for a handheld experience of that era. Another very welcome addition was the mobile phone system, which could be used to contact previously defeated foes for a rematch - a very handy feature for upping the XP.

However, beyond this array of new features, much of the fans' fondness for Pokémon Gold and Silver could also be credited to the Johto region itself, where the majority of the game takes place. It remains one of the most distinct and memorable regions from any Pokémon iteration, which is saying something, considering the limited graphical ability of the Game Boy Colour. The developer based the setting of Johto on the Kansai and Tōkai regions of Japan and, as such, it features a very interesting, traditional, and well-accentuated Japanese aesthetic. It's especially successful when compared to the Kanto region (the setting for Red and Blue), which players gain access to again after completing the main quest. By comparison, that region is nowhere near as pronounced and lacks the same sense of character. However, it's nonetheless a fantastic extension to Gold and Silver to be able to return to the original stomping ground.