Pokemon Black & White

Undetailed Pokemon

Here are some of the newest pokemon revealed, though they have very few details as yet. Click the thumbnails to see a larger image and any known details.

New features

Nintendo has promised that the new Pokemon games will include innovative new features and will reinvent the Pokemon series. As with all generations, there will be many new pokemon — it's rumoured to be as many as 157, taking the total number to 650!!

Your mentor, who gives you your first pokemon and helps you along your way, is a woman this time. Her name is Professor Araragi. The three starters follow the tried-and-tested pattern of Grass, Fire, Water types. They are Tsutaja, Pokabu and Mijumaru as shown to the left.

As usual the graphics get an update, especially the 3D aspect. The images/video released so far show a full 3D engine at work as the backgrounds move, although the characters and pokemon still appear to be 2D sprites.

The battle scenes include some interesting changes — the pokemon continually move during battle, instead of saying static. The camera will also move and zoom in/out during attacks. The background of the battle screen is differs depending on whether you are in fields, the city, etc.

The Pokemon Black & Pokemon White box art

The Isshu region

The game takes place in a new region called Isshu, which appears to be quite industrious and includes several large towns with skyscrapers. There are also two regions that are exclusive to each game: Black City and White Forest, in the version of the same name. There will be 8 gym leaders/badges just like previous games.

Triple Battles

Pokemon Black & White will allow pokemon battles with 3 pokemon on one team. Some new rules & tactics come into play - each of the three pokemon target different pokemon: The middle one can target all pokemon, but the one on each side can only target the pokemon opposite and middle. It is also possible to rotate your team to switch which pokemon are where.

Miracle Shooter

The Miracle Shooter is a new option that will allow you to use items in multiplayer battles. However, you won't be able to use any item you own; instead you earn items as the battle progresses via a points system.

Seasons

Pokemon Black & White will introduce a concept of seasonal cycles, in addition to the day/night feature of previous games. However, each season in the games will only last one month instead of the usual three in the real world.

Each season will affect the look of the game slightly. Different pokemon will be more or less common in different seasons, and some pokemon will have a different look througout the year like Shikijika:

Shikijika in Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter

More features...

TMs will not disappear after one use, they can be used again like HMs.

The games will have a new version of contests, called Pokemon Musical, in which you dress up pokemon and play music.

A new version of the Battle Tower appears, called Battle Subway.

There is an item similar to the Poketech from Diamond/Pearl/Platinum, called the C Gear. It can be set up to be on constant lookout for nearby players over infrared or Wi-Fi.

The PokeShifter is Black & White's equivalent of the Pal Park, which allows you to migrate pokemon from Diamond/Pearl/Platinum or HeartGold/SoulSilver. Instead of simply running around to find your pokemon, in the PokeShifter there is a mini-game where you fire PokeBalls at your pokemon with a bow & arrow.

Screenshots

Here are some of the in-game screenshots released so far. They show various locations, battle scenes and the improved graphics.