POKEMON GOLD PROGRESS, DAY 17
A HUGE day of surprises and discoveries. Read on!
TOGEPI EVOLVES!!
Yes, Pokemon 175, everybody's favorite little egg Pokemon, DOES evolve. And my Togepi did today, at level 28.
Togepi (#175) becomes a cute ostrich-like Pokemon with the same face, fairy-like insect wings, and tiny arms, "Togechick" (#176). He hasn't gotten any new attacks yet, but more are certainly likely. Once it evolves, it changes class from Normal, and becomes a Normal/Flying Pokemon.
I should note too that the Togepi in Sarah's Silver game has a "Korogaru" ("roll") attack (which functions like a tackle) instead of the "Amaeru" attack.
NEW POKEMON
Many seen, but only a couple of new ones caught (one an evolution)
Caught:
Yamikaras (#198)
Evolved:
Togepi (#175) to Togechick (#176)
Seen in battles:
Ariados (#168), evolution of Itomaru (#167)
Kurobat (#169)
Foretos (#205), which may be the evolution of Kunugidama (#204)
Himeguma (#216)- a cute teddy bear Pokemon
Delibird (#225), an upright bird Pokemon that looks like Santa Claus (even has a bag)- one of its attacks was "Present", where it tosses you a package, your Pokemon puts up a "?" in a balloon, then the package explodes!
Capwearer (#237)- a comical upside down Ground Pokemon that spins around and favors Dig...
OFF TO SEE WATARU...
Today's the day; I decided to gear up with plenty of Super Potions and Revives (to add to those I'd already found), and I chose my line-up to face the League and get the championship.
My lineup consisted of:
Meganium level 50
Denryuu level 43
Granbull level 42
Mariluri level 40
Donphan level 40
Gengar level 29
First opponent was Itsuki, a goggle-wearing master armed with psychic-type Pokemon. I faced two Neitiohs, a Rougela, a Yadoran, and a Nassy.
Next up was Ryou, with poison-type Pokemon, and the added burden of automatic damage to any Pokemon you swap in. He pits you against a Betbeton (Muk), Ariados (#168), Morphon (Venomoth), Foretos (#205), and Dogas (Koffing).
Shiba is a master of fighting and rock Pokemon, and I encountered an Iwark (Onix), Kairiky (Machamp), Capwearer (#237), Ebiwalar (Hitmonchan), and Sawamular (Hitmonlee).
Last of the four up is the attractive Karin, who tosses a mixed bag at you- Gengar, Blackie (#197), Ruffresia (Vileplume), Helgar (#229), Kurobat (#169), and Yamikaras (#198)
Finally, Wataru's group includes _three_ Kairyuu [Dragonites] with the highest a level 50, a Gyarados, a Ptera (Aerodactyl), and a Lizardon (Charizard)- all have Hyper Beam, too.
The ending is rather amusing! You see, the rival stalked off previously because he couldn't beat the Champions! And Wataru not only congratulates you, but Professor Okido also pops in to praise your accomplishment... and Kurumi, the girl at the Radio Station with the Nyarth comes to get an interview with you. However, Wataru ushers you off to show you the machine in the Hall of Fame where your Pokemon and their stats are enshrined forever as victors, and tells you how much he appreciated having you for a partner in the assault on the Rocket-dan. (Kurumi dithers around yelling "Hey! What about my interview?")
Beautiful music plays while the full-color animated end credits scroll by, and "THE END" shows. Press a button, and the game resets...
Ah, but while you may THINK you've finished the game, you've got another think coming!!!
GAME OVER? NOT YET!!
When you continue your saved game, you're back at Wakaba City. Regarding the other areas yet to be explored now in the half of the map where Champion Road is, I visited Professor Utsugi first thing. Professor Utsugi congratulated me and gave me a Boat Ticket, and I promptly went to the pier at Asagi City (where the ramp had been blocked previously).
Sure enough, you now can pass, there's a boat there, and you climb on board! You have a nice stateroom with a bed (to heal Pokemon) and a PC, and many passengers and sailors you can battle for experience. There are mini-events here, too- the main one involves your helping a frantic man find his little girl, and the second includes your taking care of a bully as a favor to a sailor (so you can move on). Once you find the girl (she's been found and is sitting in the Captain's cabin), you gain an item, and you dock at... KUCHIBA CITY!
Yes, the entire, complete world of the ORIGINAL Pokemon game is the eastern half of the map east of the Hall of Champions!! The entire world we're already familiar with is in this cartridge as well, as are some really funny in-jokes, new Pokemon here as well, and there are significant updates to the map (no Unknown Dungeon where it used to be, for example)! Having docked at Kuchiba City, I now can go find original Pokemon to complete the Zukan, including- probably- Mewtwo and the Legendaries, and also find breeding stock to take back with me to the western half of the map. Amazing!!
I went to the Kuchiba City Gym, cut down a familiar bush and sure enough, Matisse (aka Lt. Surge) was waiting for me. Yep! You're the acknowledged champion, but you now can earn the original 8 badges too, and the status check will reflect additional badges as you earn them.
The Gym Leaders here are the same, and a bit updated (though Kasumi isn't in her Gym yet), and there are a number of brand new and updated characters you meet too. All the Pokemon in the Gyms are of level 30 or higher, and you'll find a mix of different levels in the grassy areas and caves. Today I won the badges from Matisse and Natsume [aka Sabrina], caught some of the original Pokemon I'm lacking, caught a Yamikaras, and will do more exploring as the days progress. The night and day aspects of Pokemon hunting apply here as well, and you can always go back to the western half of the game anytime you'd like.
I think it's a true testament to the brilliance of the game designers that the entire map of the "old games" is included here along with several brand new goals. It seems you can say that even though you've "won the game" and gotten the credits by becoming League Champion, you're only _halfway_ through the game at that point! As you visit the different Pokemon Centers, they're also added as destinations you can fly to. The train station at Kogane also leads to a terminal here in Yamabuki City, but I've not gotten access to the train yet.
How much time has been spent? 62 hours so far, with no immediate end in sight! This must certainly rank as one of the deepest RPGs I've ever seen.
My reports may slow down a bit, but I'll keep everyone informed frequently, as well as post a list of new Pokemon a little later on.
--Richard