POKEMON GOLD PROGRESS, DAY 12/13/14
NEW POKEMON
A few new ones both caught and seen. I got a lot of "old" Pokemon, incidentally, but won't mention them here.
Caught:
Denryu (#181)- evolved from my Makoko (#180), which in turn evolves from Mereep (#179). An electric dragon which has thrown off the sheep trappings, and packs one heck of a Lightning Punch.
Donphan (#232)- evolution of the Gomazou (#231), and it's the Pokemon seen at the beginning of the Mewtwo Strikes Back film during the first trainer battle under the credits. This little armored elephant packs a wallop, and I'm glad to have caught one. It falls apart against grass and psychic attacks, however...
Seen in battles:
Delvil (#228), a "Dark Pokemon"- basically a Doberman-like fire Pokemon.
Helgar (#229)- the evolution of Delvil, and a real "hell" of a Pokemon. Its Fire attacks are not fun at all.
Bakufun (#157)- third stage of Hinoarashi (#155) and Magmarashi (#156)- Resembles a fiery otter.
Kingdra (#230), an evolution of the Seadra. Looks like a geriatric Seadra,
almost funny if it didn't pack a wallop.
THE RADIO STATION BATTLE, CONTINUED...
The underground passage leads you into a Rocket-dan storage area, and the Radio Station announcer who runs the Lucky Number contest is hiding out there. After defeating the Rocket-dan members there, and locating the frightened fellow, he gives you the Card Key you need to get to the main broadcast area. You actually exit in the basement of the Department Store (where some free items were) and then you can head back to the Radio Station for the showdown.
The battle here was quite involved, with several average-ability Rocket-Dan trainers (with level 25-35 Pokemon) on the way up to the broadcast booth, as well as noncombatants such as a frightened worker with her Nyarth and the Radio Station manager. Once the soldiers are defeated, you have to go up against the Rocket-dan DJ (one of the Elite Rocket Gang troopers), who throws some quite powerful Pokemon against you (including two new ones), and oust him from the booth and away from the mike. This accomplished, he swears revenge and loyalty to Sakaki [Giovanni] and the Rocket-dan members flee again.
The grateful Radio Station manager gives you a Wazamachine, and other station employees, in their gratitude, also give you items if you talk to them on your way out of the building. The girl with the Nyarth gives you a "Pink Ribbon", which has some special powers....
It's hard to tell if we've seen the last of the Rocket Gang- even though they've fled, one wonders if they'll turn up again later! Anyway the Radio Manager tells you that they had occupied the Suzu Tower in Enjyuu City and now have left. With the Rocket-dan out of the way, the radio station resumes its normal programming, and I can go on.
THE FINAL GYM BATTLE...
I traveled back to Fusube City, and the doorman at the Gym has stepped aside, enabling me to take on Ibuki, the lovely Fusube Gym Leader- who specializes in Dragon-type Pokemon, as do all her trainers.
This gym is again a puzzle as well as a gym battle, since you must figure out how to push and move blocks you find upstairs to create a way to bridge the lava-filled gaps between platforms. Once you do, however, you face the trainers in turn until you get to Ibuki's platform.
Ibuki's Pokemon weren't that hard to defeat, but the game once again throws you a curve. When you win, Ibuki congratulates you, then says "What are you waiting around for? You won." And you don't get a badge OR a Wazamachine...
However, if you surf to the Dragon Cave behind the gym, the old guardian steps aside, and you then must descend into its depths, surf a lake to a platform, then negotiate a whirlpool (using Hidden Machine 6) to pass and gain access to a ledge behind it. But once you do, Ibuki suddenly appears and states that you've proven yourself worthy by accomplishing this feat, and you then get the Rising Badge and a Wazamachine. You're now ready to head for the Pokemon League Championship!
You should return to Wakaba Town and contact Professor U
tsugi, who then will congratulate you and give you a Master Ball. Your
next task is then to surf east of Wakaba Town, enter a cave, and use Hidden
Machine 7 to ascend a waterfall to gain access to another side of the adventure.
CHAMPION ROAD...
The road to the Hall of Champions is not easy, as you will encounter lots of Elite Trainers with level 30+ Pokemon, and some equally elevated Wild Pokemon in the grasses and waters nearby. However, this road leads you directly to the League Center, and once there, you need to negotiate another cave (not hard), fighting or capturing Pokemon as you go.
No sooner do you approach the cave mouth that leads to the League Hall than out comes the Rival, who will face you once again. Despite their experience, I found his assortment of Pokemon very easy to conquer, and the loser finally stalked off in a huff.
I exited the cave and entered the grounds of...
POKEMON LEAGUE HALL
Simple surroundings, with an integral Pokemon Center and Shop bracketing a PC. I loaded up, and decided to give myself a shot at the Championship...
HUMILIATION...
Well, not total, but the developers of Pokemon Gold and Silver have ratcheted things up a notch and the "Elite Four" are a WHOLE lot tougher and trickier than in the previous Red, Green, Blue, or Yellow. As before, once you get started on the final run against the Elites, you can't turn back- so be prepared. The designers are almost cruel, as the trainers will humble even the most cocky of trainers who march in, me included. They also have made the final challenges even more difficult by making it so that you can't have a "perfect team"- the mix of Pokemon is such that it's impossible to get through unscathed no matter what your team's composition. Plus, the trainers happily will toss their Pokemon a "Maximum Potion" just when you're within one hit of defeating them...
The first Elite Leader you battle hits you with 5 Psychic Pokemon right away, and you will be devastated without a good combination against them- because there are strong "mix" Pokemon there as well.
The second focuses on 5 Poison Pokemon, and to make it even crueler (and this Elite Leader, Kyou, laughs at you all the time), every time you switch Pokemon, the replacement will automatically take a big hit of damage just for having swapped in. This demands a LOT of strategy- and a lot of potion.
Licking my wounds and reviving my many Fainted Pokemon, the third Elite Leader, Karin, pummels you with a mix of Normal, Grass, Poison, and Ghost Pokemon... ouch.
Still kicking, I met the fourth Leader, who tosses Fighting, Fire, and Rock Pokemon at you- and though this battle was even tougher than the others... I survived.
All this, and you finally are at the last stage. And guess who's there?
It's Wataru, the super trainer who has helped you at various times throughout the game. He tosses back his cape, congratulates you, and tells you you must defeat him to earn the title... and the battle is on.
I defeated Wataru's Kairyu (Dragonite) after much difficulty, but when he tossed his Ptera (Aerodactyl) at my badly beaten and struggling Pokemon, I never got in lick one. He devastated them all... and I found myself back outside the door of the League Hall.
Fortunately, I'd saved before I went in, and didn't save during the battle, so now I can try again, much wiser than before and with only a loss of gained Levels and pride.
There are some VERY different Pokemon in the Elite Four's hands- many I hadn't seen, and at the moment they didn't log into my Zukan... I'll make notes the next time through and let everyone know which ones they are.
Big warning- none of the Pokemon in the League Battles are less than level 40, and none are over 50- but even my best Pokemon (who were in the high 40's and low 50's) couldn't stand up easily to this challenge! Well, it's back to the fields for a while to battle wild Pokemon and face some Trainer challenges until I'm leveled up sufficiently and have plotted out another strategy <g>.
You see, there is a HUGE map and world left which you can't access until you're League Champion, as well as the inaccessible tower back at Enjyuu. The game has much more in store, but I must get past this obstacle first. I'll keep everyone posted!! I also may go do some breeding in the meantime.
What a great game! I don't see a definite end in sight yet!
--Richard