Pokémon White Version

aka: Pocket Monsters: White, Pokémon: Edición Blanca, Pokémon: Version Blanche, Pokémon: Versione Bianca, Pokémon: Weisse Edition
Moby ID: 50753
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Description official descriptions

Pokémon White Version along with Pokémon Black Version mark the 5th generation of the main series. This version exclusively features the legendary Pokémon Zekrom. The player's objective, once again, is to collect all of the monsters and become the best trainer in the world. The player and two of his or her best friends get three Pokémon as presents from Professor Juniper, and each has to choose one. These are: fire-type Tepig, grass-type Snivy, and water-type Oshawott. Now a whole new world awaits the player to explore and all-new Pokémon to catch.

This generation marks a few significant changes to the tried formula. For the first time the Pokémon are fully animated during battles, along with new attack and status-change animations. The graphics have been polished and revamped, experimenting with a whole new 3D perspectives in certain areas. There are also two new types of battles: rotation battle in which you can swap between three Pokémon at any given time allowing for more strategy, and 3vs3 battles where three monsters fight alongside and help each other. Implemented are also changing seasons - certain seasons allow for different Pokémon to encounter and make some areas accessible only at a given time.

Aside from the legendary Pokémon to catch, choosing the version of the game gives you the opportunity to visit an exclusive area. The White Version features the green area of White Forest.

Spellings

  • ポケットモンスター ホワイト - Japanese spelling
  • 포켓몬스터 화이트 - Korean spelling

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Credits (Nintendo DS version)

184 People (140 developers, 44 thanks) · View all

Director
2-D Art Director
3-D Art Director
Program Director
Planning Director
Scenario
Online, Wireless and IR Programming
Battle Programming
Field Programming
User Interface Programming
Battle System Programming
Gym--Main Programming
Rail System Programming
[ full credits ]

Reviews

Critics

Average score: 87% (based on 31 ratings)

Players

Average score: 4.1 out of 5 (based on 26 ratings with 1 reviews)

Despite the familiarity, it still might be the best Pokémon game ever

The Good
Everything good said about the Pokémon series still applies to White - more than ever, actually. The overworld is nice and colorful and the sprites are more detailed than ever. The game mechanics still work perfectly. Exploring the Unova region feels more like a true adventure than in any other Pokémon game: there always seems to be a surprise around the corner. There are countless NPC's to talk to, and the game constantly introduces new content and variety. Even after beating the Pokémon League, there's loads of stuff to do besides just catching more Pokémon.

There are some improvements, too. There are a lot of battles, yes, sometimes a bit too much, but their pace is much faster and enjoyable than in the previous generation, where the battles seemed sluggish and sometimes even boring. The fact that we get to reuse TM's is a lifesaver, and it's also nice to see that using pointless HM's like Defog or Rock Smash is no longer a requirement to advance in the game.

I first disliked the fact that there are initially no "classic" Pokémon in the game, but I got over the silly fanboy rage and found out that 150 new Pokémon is a good thing. Even if I still have trouble remembering their names, it's fun to be surprised and try to guess what type your opponent is. The triple battles were initially a letdown, but once you get the hang of it, you will appreciate the tactical elements they bring.

The changes to the Pokémon formula are incredibly minor, but at least they're good changes.

The Bad
All in all, the game is still a bit too familiar. Anyone who says that the game has "reinvented" or "revolutionized" Pokémon is likely to be exaggerating. It's still the same game, with the level grinding and all. The most annoying thing is that Game Freak still insists that we start the game with the same grass-, fire- and water-types and that we initially face only weak, incredibly common Pokémon. That said, one should remember that no Pokémon is entirely useless.

Black and White also add something of a "plot" to the game. The earlier games did just fine without it, but I had nothing against it. The villains seemed intriguing, but in the long run, the plot does more harm than good. You have to browse through endless text as you listen to the characters spouting long, sometimes pretentious monologues. The "friends" from your character's hometown are probably the most annoying characters ever, what with them constantly harassing you with their navel-gazing and existential angst. Sometimes it hardly felt like you were playing Pokémon at all.

The battles could also use a use a major change in the future. Even if it has come a long way from the original Red and Blue, I still can't shake the feeling that I've gone through the same thing for twelve years now.

The Bottom Line
A thoroughly entertaining RPG with lots and lots of fun stuff to do. The meat and the potatoes of the game, the exploring and battling, work as well as ever, and the improvements these new versions have to offer make it feel fresh. Still, if you think Pokémon overstayed its welcome the last time you played it, you probably won't get much out of Black and White.

Nintendo DS · by Zokolov (49) · 2012

Trivia

Sales

According to publisher Nintendo, Pokémon White Version together with Black Version sold 15.60 million copies worldwide (as of September 30, 2015).

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Related Games

Pokémon White Version 2
Released 2012 on Nintendo DS
Pokémon Black Version
Released 2010 on Nintendo DS
Pokémon Emerald Version
Released 2004 on Game Boy Advance
Pokémon Ruby Version
Released 2002 on Game Boy Advance
Pokémon Pearl Version
Released 2006 on Nintendo DS
Pokémon Diamond Version
Released 2006 on Nintendo DS
Pokémon Platinum Version
Released 2008 on Nintendo DS
Pokémon Silver Version
Released 1999 on Game Boy Color, 2017 on Nintendo 3DS
Pokémon Sapphire Version
Released 2002 on Game Boy Advance

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  • MobyGames ID: 50753
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Contributors to this Entry

Game added by Spawara.

Additional contributors: jaXen, CalaisianMindthief, Éiregamer94, Michael Cassidy, Rik Hideto, Harmony♡.

Game added March 6, 2011. Last modified March 24, 2024.