POKEMON GOLD PROGRESS, DAY 15-16
Okay, here's a somewhat overdue update. I haven't taken on the Elite Trainers again yet in the Hall of Champions, and have used my "leveling-up time" to do some overdue exploration as well.
With the discovery of the use of a couple of Wazamachines and some new features accordingly, I've progressed even further in the game... so here's the report.
NEW TECHNIQUES
Besides the 7 Hidden Machines "Flash", "Iwaigiri", "Sora wo Tobu", "Naminori", "Kairiki", "Uzushio", and "Takinoboru" (Flash, Cut, Fly, Surf, Strength, Whirlpool, and Swim Upstream), to progress you need at least 2 of 3 specific Wazamachines which install specific techniques in accepting Pokemon. While "Ana wo horu" [Dig] is still available, you especially will need two others, "Zutsuki" and "Iwakudaki".
"Zutsuki" will let you shake short trees to flush out any Pokemon hiding in the branches, and "Iwakudaki" will shatter rockpiles that are in your path or which may have Pokemon hiding beneath them. (These are distinct from the stone blocks you move with "Kairiki".)
The latter two techniques have enabled me to unearth a whole batch of new Pokemon who were hiding in plain sight!
NEW POKEMON
A bunch!
Caught:
Eipamu (Ape-am) (#190)- a monkey with a fifth "hand" at the end of its tail.
Kunugidama (#204)- a Pokemon pinecone with eyes.
Tsubotsubo (#213)- a turtle Pokemon.
Helakuros (#214)- a funny-looking kabuto-beetle-like Pokemon.
Seen in battles:
Neitioh (#178)- the evolved form of Neity, looking like a Native American kachina bird costume.
Yanyanma (#193)- a Dragonfly Pokemon which is impervious to electric
attacks.
PROGRESS:
While leveling up and trying out the new Wazamachine techniques I installed, I explored the barren-appearing beach at Tanba City, which is dotted with irregular boulders. The "Iwakudaki" technique enables you to shatter the rocks, and sometimes a Pokemon is beneath them- more to catch. Incidentally, if you clear the beach (and there are fewer than 10 rocks) then go back into a building, when you come out you'll find the rocks will be back, giving you more hunting opportunities.
The other technique, "Zutsuki", was even more fun to use as you can go and not only walk through the grasslands but "beat the bushes" and "shake the trees" as well. It's amazing how many Pokemon hide in the trees, including Tamatama (Exeggcute) and the amusing but dangerous pinecone Pokemon, the Kunugidama (he can self-destruct).
I did some trainer battling, answering phoned-in challenges from trainers I'd "met" previously. Interestingly, they grow as you grow, and their Pokemon not only evolve and level up but they also acquire new Pokemon now and then. This is a nice way to keep the player constantly challenged.
I also spent much of yesterday and today exploring the Uzumaki Islands, which have a network of underground tunnels and waterways which are home to many water Pokemon including the Pauwau (Seel), Tattu (Horsea) and Seadra. These are great places to power up Pokemon as the wild Pokemon levels are in the mid-20s and they come fast and furious. You can't get there unless you have Surf and the Whirlpool techniques installed on Pokemon in your party.
Since I could now break rocks, I went to the Suzu Tower in Enjyuu City, got past the obstacles, and defeated the trainers there. I also found three Burbar (Magmars) which took off in three different directions. I captured one and fainted another, but there's one still loose.
I should point out that you no longer have to guess which HM or TM technique is needed and which Pokemon has it- if you come up against a shoreline, a rock, or a boulder, etc. then press the A button, a dialog will come up asking you if you want to use the required technique to navigate the area (if you have it installed)- if you say "Yes", you'll automatically go into Surf, Strength, etc. as the Pokemon will activate the needed technique. If you don't have a required technique installed, pressing the A button will cause the game to suggest to you that the obstacle can be passed or eliminated, etc. if you have a Pokemon that has "the Right Stuff". A wonderful new feature that lets you learn when you are truly blocked or when there's a way around or through something.
One other important note I forgot to mention- the game world landscape is also dotted with special trees that, when visited, yield fruits which act as free potions or cures depending on what they are. The trees yield fruit only once a day, so you can go back to any tree the next day and collect a new "crop". The fruit may be different each time.
All the prime Pokemon I want to use are sitting between level 40 and 50 now, and I'm determined to stock up on "Revive" and "Super Potion" then take on Itsuki, Kyou, Shiba, Karin, and the League Champion Wataru tomorrow.
Watch this space tomorrow to see if I finally made League Champion... and what new things develop from there! There's more than just an "Unknown Dungeon" awaiting the Champion!
--Richard