POKEMON GOLD PROGRESS, DAY 3
My "obstacle" was easily overcome, and today was a HUGE day- many events, and more new Pokemon.
Today I received the egg back from Dr. Utsugi, whose aide sent it to me in order to take care of it and see what happens. (Note- you MUST make room in your Pokemon inventory for the egg- so you can only have 5 Pokemon in your lineup with one slot for the egg).
Needless to say, later in the day the egg hatched while I was carrying it around, and out popped- you guessed it, Togepi!
When Togepi hatches, he's level 5, is officially Pokemon #175, 1.5 kg in weight, .3 m tall, and has two attacks... "Cry" (which he- and Togepi IS a he- is good at, and reduces defense)- and "Act like a baby" ("Amaeru")- which reduces the enemy's attack strength (and the enemy shudders with the overload of cuteness). A Level or two later, he gets the attack "Yubi wo Fue" (which in the US is called "Metronome").
Today my Chicolita (#152) evolved, and became a "Bayleaf" (#153). Bigger and more powerful, and leaning a little further away from "cute". Other Pokemon captured today included a "Mereep" (#179), a sheep Pokemon, and a "Hanekko" (#187), a red Pokemon which looks like a Pippi/Radish cross (these two are "daytime Pokemon") and an "Upar" (#194), a funny-looking blue water Pokemon (a "nighttime Pokemon"). Also seen in Trainers' hands (but not caught) were the Ladyba (#165) and the second evolution stage of the Hinoarashi, the Magmarashi (#156).
As a side note, the Hanekko is somewhat "lame" initially, as it splashes like a Koiking/Magikarp, does "tail wag", and a partial "recover"- and that's it. It eventually gets "tackle" and "poison powder" as it develops, and is a pretty tough Pokemon.
I've spent most of the day on Route 32 and Route 33, then made it to Hiwada Town, a place that reveres Yadons (Slowpokes). When I arrived, it was occupied by the Rocket-dan (who'd captured all the Yadon in town), and my character ultimately defeats the Rocket Gang and runs them off (including, by the way, Musashi [aka Jessie], who appears here with an Arbo!) It seems that the Rocket Gang essentially owned this town for 3 years! Great joy is restored to the town as Yadon are now everywhere. I also found the way to get the "Cut" HM, so now I can go even farther.
While in Hiwada Town, I visited the Gym (after the Rocket Gang guard left town) and defeated the Gym Leader, Tsumoshi (and two cute twins, Rumi and Kumi), to win the Insect Badge. There was also, of course, one more battle with the Rival.
I acquired a cheapo fishing rod today- one that catches nothing but Koikings (Magikarp). There's a LOT of water in the game world, so I can't wait to get a better fishing rod!
Other features noted today...
Instead of "Girl Scouts" and "Boy Scouts" (called "Jr. Trainers" in the US game), I ran into "Camp Boys" and "Picnic Girls"- and now, once you've beaten certain trainers, they'll become your friends and periodically call you on your Pokegear phone! You can call them, too. My "phone index" has listings for not only "Mom", but "Professor Utsugi", the Picnic Girl "Kaori", and the Mountain Man "Tsutomu". The conversations are fun and sometimes informative.
Most homes you visit also have a radio- if you tune in and listen, you can 'hear" different shows, including the "Lucky Number" show- a trainer ID is listed, and if you visit the radio station and you have the trainer ID mentioned, you win stuff. I'm on my way there.
Of course, as I've played, I've found pathways that will open up when "cut" is used, or "strength" is used... so I'm making notes of those areas for later reference.
Other observations, now that Sarah is playing Silver...
While all the artwork and animation is superb in both games (full color, and you have to see it to believe it), there is one HUGE difference between Gold and Silver- "old" Pokemon (those from the original 151) have completely different renderings in each game! Art is much more precise and detailed in both cases, but the poses are different for each version... for example, the Poppo is just standing in Silver, and flying in Gold. A cool extra benefit!
More tomorrow...
--Richard