![][//www.heypoorplayer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/rsz%5F75230%5Fblack2%5Flogo%5Fen%5Flarge1.png] Okay. You have your Pokedex. You've been given your first Pokemon. Your rival is already running ahead of you, ready to challenge you over and over along your way. It's time to begin yet another journey through the world of Pokemon. Pokemon Black 2 and White 2 mark an interesting area of new ground for the series, being the first numbered sequels in the long-running franchise. One could argue that Gold and Silver were kind of like sequels to the original Red and Blue, but they took place in their own regions and were less dependent on a pre-established world. So, do Black 2 and White 2 stand on their own, or do they rely too much on what came before? From the get-go, these new entries proves to be very lighthearted. Your starter Pokemon is given to you not by the region's mandatory professor character, but rather by Bianca, her assistant and a familiar face, having been one of your rivals in Black and White. You meet your rival, who seems to think of you as his ally, trusting you to “watch his back” on several occasions. Everything in the presentation has a sense of joy to it that wasn't quite there in Black and White. Or if there was, it wasn't very strong. Here, it's radiant. ![][//www.heypoorplayer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/White%5FTreehollow.jpg] 2 years have passed since the events of Black and White, and some things have changed in Unova. New locations and characters await you, such as the mysterious Cloress and some new gym leaders. No new Pokemon are introduced in these new entries, which was pretty much expected, considering the staggering 150 new monsters added in the series' previous entry. Instead of new Pokemon, we get an addition of 150 Pokemon from other generations to Unova, all of which were unobtainable until after beating the campaign in Black and White. We also get new forms of the Pokemon Kyurem, incorporating the appearances and powers of Reshiram and Zekrom, the featured Pokemon of Black and White. So, now you have an idea of what to expect in the new Unova, but how does it hold up? The answer, unfortunately, requires me to compare it to it's predecessor some more. Don't worry, the score still depends on how the game works on its own, but there's a point to be made here. ![][//www.heypoorplayer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Genesect.jpg] In Black and White, what we got felt a lot like a sort of “guided tour” of Unova. Your characters progression through the region was pulled along by a rope by the plot, which was a step too far in the right direction. You were pulled up a linear, S-shaped path through Unova, and not really encouraged to do any of the exploration and backtracking that is a lot of what defines Pokemon's world. A few areas to explore were there, but they felt more like afterthoughts than hidden treasures along the path, and the post-game areas felt dull and uninspired. In Black 2 and White 2, things are done right. The additions to Unova build a larger world, but that in itself isn't where the improvement lies. The story is still very prevalent in Black/White 2, easily the most so except for Black and White. However, Team Plasma's plans, while still an interesting and compelling part of the story, are far less intrusive this time around. You'll run into grunts doing things here and there along the way, but the evil organization’s master plan doesn't come to fruition until very late in the game. One might think that this lack of involvement early on makes them feel shoehorned in later on, but instead what you get is a plot that slowly emerges throughout the game, culminating in it's final hours. It's the same basic structure as Black and White, but not a constant distraction. You can still enjoy exploring and training in the numerous new areas to explore. Your progression through Unova is no longer linear, taking you to all of its corners in surprising ways by game's end. You'll have a great time getting sidetracked in the caverns and forests of Unova. In addition, the presentation and graphics have never looked better, taking the same style from Black and White and making little tweaks here and there that make much more difference than immediately meets the eye. The soundtrack is one of the best in the series, lending itself perfectly to the environments. So, this is the part where everyone will expect me to make the mandatory “but the gameplay really hasn't changed” comment. Problem is, I'm not convinced it entirely hasn't. After receiving your fourth badge, you are subjected to your first triple battle[or rotation battle, depending on your version]. The same thing occurred in Black and White, and were nearly the only battles of their kind throughout the games. Here, however, you'll progress through areas to find a surprisingly large number of trainers who will challenge you to triple or rotation battles. Both of these types of battle were new to Black and White, but didn't really matter much. Now, I find myself strategizing the placement of the front half of my party more and more, just on the off-chance that I run into a triple battle. More planning and thought is required with the addition of the new battle types. ![][//www.heypoorplayer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Black%5FTower%5FInside.jpg]
In addition to all this, there is the matter of the C-Gear, a device used to connect players with small multiplayer missions. In Black and White, the C-Gear was never something I felt very compelled to use. The missions just weren't that interesting or compelling. This also changed in Black 2 and White 2. The missions provided by the C-gear grant you access to “pass powers”, abilities you can activate at any time which allow increased experience points, increased numbers of certain Pokemon, and numerous other effects for a limited time. What makes this clever is that anyone else using the C-Gear in close proximity to you also has the option to use these effects at the same time as you do. During the train ride to NYCC this past weekend, a friend and I put this to the test. We were both level-grinding in our respective games. We had both accumulated plenty of exp bonuses to use, and so we took turns dishing them out as we ran about the tall grass. The constant EXP bonuses we shared allowed us both to level up far faster than we would normally have been able to. The C-gear now offers a surprisingly legitimate cooperative multiplayer aspect, and I look forward to toying with it more in the future. Pokemon is a strange beast. It changes, and it stays the same. It's had its share of changes over the years, through changes in storytelling and additions of new battle types. But at its heart, it still preserves the gameplay and style that have always made it so much fun. You've still gotta catch 'em all, and you'll still have a great time doing it. Managing to balance the original heart of a series with the new additions it takes on over the years is a daunting task that can easily fail, but Pokemon Black and White 2 succeed in spades. The world is a perfect mix of story and exploration, and the doubling of the number of Pokemon to be found within the region makes completing your pokedex a greater time than ever before. In addition to the vastly improved C-Gear, Black and White 2 also introduce collectible medals, acting as the game's own personal achievement system, and the Pokemon World Tournament, a place where you can spend hours and hours post-game, challenging gym leaders and other characters from previous games. Pokemon Black 2 and White 2 are essential Pokemon games. You don't need to play their predecessors to enjoy these new installments. There is no doubt in my mind that they are some of the best the series, and possibly even the absolute best Pokemon games yet. I'll let you know for sure once I've hit the 100-hour mark. If you like Pokemon, get this game. If you like turn-based strategy, get this game. If you like good JRPGs, get this game. Heck, if you like good DS games, grab this game! I shouldn't have to say any more. Pokemon Black 2 and White 2 get 4.5 master balls out of 5. ![HPPRATE4-5][//www.heypoorplayer.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/HPPRATE4-5.jpg]