New thread for new games.
Friend Codes:
American Hero
0216 7231 3227 (Pearl)
RPGD
1205 1708 7955 (Heart Gold)
RUBICN64
2966 1077 1035 (Soul Silver)
Sivart
4125 7238 1097 (Heart Gold)
For anyone still on the fence about GSDS, here's a list of changes and improvements over the older DS games and the original GS so you can decide for yourself whether it's worth the investment:
That's about everything I can remember. Just keep in mind that there's a new generation of Pokemon games set for release in Japan by the end of the year for the DS, which will most likely refine GSDS's improvements even further and feature several new Pokemon, with the English version soon to follow. If you can only take so much Pokemon, you might want to consider giving this one a pass. If you haven't played Diamond, Pearl or Platinum or if you're a big fan of GS, or even if you haven't played the original and want to see what the hubbub is about, this one comes very highly recommended.
Also, for those interested, the Gamestop Jirachi event ends on the 13th, and the Pikachu-colored Pichu can be downloaded from internets now.
Friend Codes:
American Hero
0216 7231 3227 (Pearl)
RPGD
1205 1708 7955 (Heart Gold)
RUBICN64
2966 1077 1035 (Soul Silver)
Sivart
4125 7238 1097 (Heart Gold)
For anyone still on the fence about GSDS, here's a list of changes and improvements over the older DS games and the original GS so you can decide for yourself whether it's worth the investment:
- The world has been expanded considerably, adding some Red and Blue locations that were absent from GS due to space, as well as new locations like the Battle Frontier from Platinum.
- The regional listing consists of 256 Pokemon, five of them Sinnoh evolutions of older Pokemon. When the National Pokedex is obtained after beating the Elite Four (regardless of your seen/captured count), newer Pokemon can be found in the wild.
- The audio is dramatically improved over DP and Platinum, featuring much more complex arrangements and environmental sounds.
- Tracks that were cut from GS, including Cerulean City and Cinnabar Island's original themes, are given new arrangements based on their Red and Blue BGM.
- A key item called the GB Sound changes the music to the original Game Boy BGM, and plays chiptune arrangements of brand new music.
- A brand new, streamlined menu interface is permanently mapped to the touch screen. It's much easier and quicker to do everything now. About the only thing you need the face buttons for is walking.
- Ditto for the storage system UI.
- You can register two key items.
- You can run without holding B when you get the running shoes.
- The item menu is completely redesigned so you no longer have to scroll through a bottomless bag for 3 minutes looking for what you want. It's based on the in-battle item menu from the older DS games.
- The Pokedex now displays Pokemon in a grid with a scroll bar instead of a list. Tapping a Pokemon instantly displays its data on the top screen without any screen transitions or Pokemon cries. Tapping a button on the touch screen will show more detailed information, like the names of the routes where they can be caught and the time of day in which they appear.
- The new PokeGear (the game's Poketch) features a map that can be annotated with customizable notes and reminders, a radio and a phone that allows you to call people for rematches, including Gym Leaders.
- Unlike GS, there's no limit to the contacts you can have and you can blow off calls if you can't be bothered to answer.
- The Pokemon at the head of your party follows you around everywhere, including god-like legendary Pokemon. You can talk to them to see how they're feeling. They occasionally find interesting things for you.
- There are several places where you can take commemorative photos with your Pokemon team, sometimes with important people like Gym Leaders.
- The trees that grew berries every day in GS have been replaced with Apricorn trees, which are used to make special Poke Balls.
- Berries are obtained from people and the Goldenrod Dept. Store lottery, where they can be cultivated in a berry planter you carry around with you instead of patches of soil scattered about the overworld.
- Contests are replaced with a competition called the Pokeathlon, in which players compete alone or with friends in ten different sporting events. You can improve your Pokemon's Pokeathlon stats using juice made from Apricorns.
- The Gym Leaders' Pokemon levels are generally higher than they were in GS. In the latter half of the game, everyone is much, much tougher.
- Pal Park is where the closed Safari Zone was in GS. Now you can transfer Pokemon from GBA games as many times as you like instead of once every 24 hours.
- Several legendary Pokemon from older games can be caught in new and returning locations, including *** SPOILERS ***
Mewtwo, Articuno, Zapdos, Moltres, Groudon Kyogre, Rayquaza, Dialga, Palkia and Giratina (the latter three at Lv. 1).
*** END SPOILERS *** - The new Safari Zone is home to over 130 Pokemon, including several Pokemon from Hoenn and Sinnoh, and can be rearranged and customized to the player's liking with rocks, trees, benches and the like. There's no longer a time limit, so you can catch until your balls run out.
That's about everything I can remember. Just keep in mind that there's a new generation of Pokemon games set for release in Japan by the end of the year for the DS, which will most likely refine GSDS's improvements even further and feature several new Pokemon, with the English version soon to follow. If you can only take so much Pokemon, you might want to consider giving this one a pass. If you haven't played Diamond, Pearl or Platinum or if you're a big fan of GS, or even if you haven't played the original and want to see what the hubbub is about, this one comes very highly recommended.
Also, for those interested, the Gamestop Jirachi event ends on the 13th, and the Pikachu-colored Pichu can be downloaded from internets now.
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