Into the Black

Well, I started playing Pokémon Black last night. I've only made it to the
first town, but I started pretty late and didn't feel like playing too long.
I'm also used to taking my time and stretching out the game as long as
possible. Although, I'm thinking maybe I should hurry through the game and
finish the main story so I can focus on training a competitive team before I
get tired of it. Then again, I can only grind so much before I lose
interest.

Before I even started playing, I read the manual and went on-line to check
out a few things. Mostly I wanted a reminder of how and where I'll get the
ability to transfer Celebii and the Shiny Legends for my Zorua and Zoroark
(there's a secret message you have to give someone in the third gym-town),
but I also took the time to check out the Global Link website
(http://pokemon-gl.com, which won't be fully operational until the end of
the month to avoid the complications the Japanese version had) and register
my Pokémon Fun Club account (which I need to access the Global Link). It
looks like I should have been able to customize a trainer-avatar for my
account, but the Flash program wouldn't load. Anyone else have that
problem? I also went to the Club Nintendo site to register my game.

According to the manual, I didn't even need a save file to get the Liberty
Pass, so I went ahead and did that before I even started playing. The
pre-title opening, showing a coronation, was pretty cool, and I suppose this
is Team Plasma as I start the game as a normal ten-year-old and not a
medieval prince. It would explain why they dress like knights, but doesn't
explain their motives. After that is another trailer that feels kind of
ad-like, and they *are* seperate movies. You can skip both from the Game
Freak logo, but skipping the first mid-way takes you to the second. The
press-start screen views the cover Legend (Reshiram in Black, Zekrom in
White) from multiple angles more or less to the tune of the music. When you
press start, it cuts to their face as it roars.

After exploring some of the options in the "main" menu (nice to know I can
have more than three Wonder Cards now), I downloaded the Liberty Pass and
started a new game. (There's also a Mic Test, which confirmed my microphone
is still broken. No voice chat for me!) I'm still not fond of the playable
trainers in this game. The girl player-character looks like trailer trash
with those pockets hanging out of her shorts and bouffant ponytail sticking
out the back of her hat, and the boy strikes me as bland. He doesn't
exactly make the fashion statements the boys from Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald and
Diamond/Pearl/Plantinum did. At least I can pick how he looks in
multiplayer (didn't like those choices much, either, but I went with PKMN
Breeder when I remembered how to change it later). I was going to name him
"Avernale," which is my Fun Club account name, but it was one letter too
many. I went with "Fugue" instead.

I started off in my room, of course, but this time I've received all three
starters in a gift box to share with my two in-game friends. Its good to
know the third Pokémon doesn't go to waste, although it's never bothered me
much before. Bianca (the girl friend) then challenges me to a fight, and I
bust up laughing when I see the aftermath. My room looks like a tornado hit
it, there are footprints all over, even the walls, and the only thing
undamaged is my Wii. I half-expected the subsequent battle against Cheren
(the boy friend) to tidy it back up again. My game-mom said she'd clean it
up, but despite saying she's just taking a break every time I see her my
room is still a mess. Then again, that was yesterday, but I doubt anything
has changed.

In Unova (apparently inspired by Manhattan, according to a Nintendo Power
interview), due to what I can only imagine is an accelerated orbit or a
*very* wobbly axis, seasons are only a month long. I guess each month has a
set season, as I begin my game in Autumn. Don't get me wrong, it's a very
lovely season and its presented well, but it's not when I would've chosen to
start my Pokémon journey. Spring or Summer, maybe, perhaps late Winter, but
with Winter on the horizon it makes me think I should wait for the thaw
before setting out. Of course, this is mostly cosmetic, so there's really
nothing to worry about.

When we get to the lab, it becomes apparent that Cheren represents the
veteran player demographic as he has little interest in having Professor
Juniper explain what most of us already know. Fortunately, Bianca
represents the Pokémon newbs and she needs things explained to her.
Meanwhile, I don't get any say in the matter and have to go through
Juniper's tutorials regardless. She gives us our Pokédex, takes us out to
Route 1 to teach us how to catch Pokémon, and has us meet her in the
Accumula Town Pokémon Center to explain everything there.

Cheren gets to sit that one out, but I manage to benefit a little as the
Pokémon Centers have changed. The second floor is no longer a separate map,
really more of a loft behind the healing machine, and handles all
communications so there's no need for a basement. Pokémarts have also been
integrated into the Pokémon Centers, which is kind of a head trip for me,
but at least I don't have to run back and forth between the two to pick up
event Pokémon. It reminds me a little more of the truck stop comparison I
made a few years ago. I also got to pick up my Liberty Pass from the
delivery man.

Its also here I first encoutnered Team Plasma. If you don't go the Pokémon
Center first, they simply block the exit so you can't move on. The
encounter proper is there apparent leader preaching to a crowd of
on-lookers. I like how right away the bad guys are questioning the very
concept of the game, and they actually get the crowd to question their
beliefs. You wouldn't have something like that in, say, a football game or
wrestling game or even a horse racing game. I just can't imagine what a
total newbie player would think starting off this game with no preconceived
notions of it, just starting to buy into the idea of catching monsters to
make them fight for you, only to be asked if they think its morally right
before they even get to the first gym. That would just blow my mind, I
think.

After Team Plasma packs up their show and leaves, the mysterious N
approaches me and talks about what my Pokémon are saying. Then he
challenges me to a battle so he can listen to them again. His Purrloin was
no match for my level 5 Patrat, and he seemed shocked at what it told him.
By this time, I had spent about two hours talking to people, examining
shelves and garbage cans, watching TV, and leveling up the Patrat and
Lillipup I had caught, so I saved and called it a day.

When I had caught that Patrat and Lillipup, I was still considering just
sticking with Oshawott until I caught Pokémon I actually *wanted* on my
team, but I just couldn't deny the strategic value of back-up. Not that I
needed it so far. Also, Cheren and Bianca challenged me to catch more
Pokémon than them. Not that beating them got me anything. I could just
replace them once something better comes along, but since it's just my
in-game team its likely at least one is going all the way to the Elite Four.
And am I just going to stick my new friends in the PC after that speech
Plasma made? Well, it won't stop me from sticking the other 600+ in there.

I still haven't warmed up to Oshawott yet. Hated the thing the moment I set
eyes on it. Cute li'l Tepig would've been my first choice, but Samurott is
just the cooler final evolution to me. And there's something about it using
scallop shells as weapons. I hadn't thought up a particular name or naming
scheme yet (in fact, I think I had intended to leave most of them unnamed),
but I named my Oshawott Nereid, Lillipup LaForge, and Patrat Sauron. All of
them are male, as I forgot to reset for a female starter before I saved and
decided not to be picky about genders until I could buy more Pokéballs. I'm
still trying to decide which gender of Pidove to catch once I get to them,
as their final evolution Unfeazant (I *love* that name!) has a rather
notable sexual dimorphosis. Probably the male, as its wearing a
mardi-gras-like mask, but then again, the female *isn't*, so...


-- Chet Weaver, now with Black Version data! (May have to remove Diamond
data to make room)

"What's the fun of being cool if you can't wear a sombrero?"
- Hobbes, Calvin & Hobbes

Black Trainer Name: Fugue
Friend Code: Undetermined (Connectivity features are "Still being set-up.")
Progress: Just introduced to Team Plasma in the first town
Location: Accumula Town
Time: 2:11 since March 6, 2011
Pokédex Completion: 3/6
Current Goal: Get to Castelia to transfer Celebi and Shiny Legends
Event Pokémon: None. Liberty Pass obtained.

Diamond Trainer Name: Minnie
Friend Code: 0988 8637 4610
Progress: Sinnoh League Champion (Feb. 15, 2009, 302:7 Hours)
Location: Sandgem Town
Time: 353 Hours since April 22, 2007
PokéDex Completion: 195/267
Score: 23567
Current Goal: Complete National PokéDex, transfer collection to Black
Event Pokémon Collected: "Lucario" Mew, "Rise of" Darkrai, Gamestp Deoxyx,
TRU Dragonite, "Sky Warrior" Shaymin, TRU Arceus, Pikachu-Colored Pichu
(WFC), Jirachi (SMR2010), Gamestp Shiny Raikou, Gamestp Shiny Entei, Gamestp
Shiny Suicune, Ash's Pikachu, "Zorua" Celebi
Hold Alt and press 130 to get an "é".

I have known for quite some time that I was going to be buying the
game, but I had put off pre-ordering because I wanted to find a good
pre-release give away. Alas, I didn't find one at all- if there were
give aways around, they were pretty quiet (other than the Amazon
credit which I learned about after I'd already ordered at Game Stop).
When I placed my pre-release order, the staff member mentioned that
the store was going to quietly open an hour early so that pre-orders
could be picked up before the mass rush started. They also mentioned a
deal where 10% would be taken off the price of a strategy guide if one
was purchased on that day.

I took the money for the guide with me and went over to the store a
bit early (about 30 minutes) in hopes of being first in line. When I
arrived, there were several vehicles, only one of which with people
staying warm (temperatures were below freezing). I took my DS and
walked over to the door - no one else was in sight. Then, over the
next 30 minutes mom's with little ones began showing up. I chatted
with the kids and moms a bit (I was at least 30 yrs older than anyone
else in line I suspect). Finally, 5-10 minutes before opening, the
high school/college age young men began showing up. As the door
opened, I headed straight for the counter, while the little ones were
looking at the 3DS, various posters, the game shelves, etc.

There were two strategy guides - a hardback and a paper back one. I
didn't know there would be two and only brought the price of the paper
back one, so I bought it along with picking up my Pokemon White game.

I headed out and had to go to pick up my family to take to church.
While waiting for them to get in the car, I started the game, choosing
the boy, and giving him the name Aslan.

I've put in about 4-5 hrs of game time so far. I have finished the
first gym, gotten to the city with the second gym, and fought the
first couple preamble games. However, the trainers there had level 20
pokemon and mine are all at 14 or 15, so I am now wandering the woods
and country side training up the team. I have 6 pokemon and I'm trying
to keep them all leveling up together. I need to replace at least one
of mine (that dark type cat - it is pretty weak). I think if I can
find a grass type pokemon that I'll probably use that in place. I have
the first of the HM's.

I was surprised to see that the TMs are also multi-use now; that was a
nice turn of events.

To me, the pokemon seem a bit weak. Sure, they are all pretty low
level right now, but in past games they seemed to do more damage
against other pokemon of the same level.

Also, I really need to figure out what other pokemon are available to
me in the areas I'm wandering.

I need to take the hour to run to the one wifi spot I've found that
works with my DS to pick up the liberty pass. I wish the WFC was used
more frequently for give aways!

Anyways, I am hoping to find time in the evenings to play some more.
I also need to do some reading of the included booklet, the strategy
guide, and the official web site to see what things I need to know.