Pokemanz!!!

[Tygore]

I agree, some of the new designs are lackluster. Although I really like this guy.

And while I agree, Rhydon and Magneton (and Dusclops) did NOT need to evolve, Pokemon like Lickitung and Aipom needed it very, very badly.

[vegeta1215]

I've been debating whether to pick up a new Pokemon title for a while. The last one I played was Gold, which was, pardon the pun, pure gold. I'm glad to hear that the internal clock has returned, which I regard as one of the standout features of Gold/Silver, but hearing about the limited online trading/battling really disappoints me.

I understand they want to keep it safe for the kids, but the limitations will hold it back I think. Aside from that, the new Pokemon they are creating for these games just look more and more alien to me, whereas the old ones resembled actual animals etc. A small gripe, but it's weird. I don't know how else to describe it.

[AtmaWeapon]

I played Pokemon from the start and loved it so much I took advantage of my two Game Boys to overcome my lack of friends and trade with myself. I had Red, Blue, Yellow, and got up to Gold before I started getting kind of tired of it.

The concept and execution are awesome, I really feel like the game deserves a lot of credit. But I'm the type of guy that, when faced with a game that provides lots of possibilities, likes to do a lot of research and put in the elbow grease required to make the best party, maximize stats, etc.

I'm talking once I found out from the internet that Pokemon who gained levels through Rare Candy had lower stats than ones that gained levels through experience I restarted two full-pokedex games. I then spent the time to get both of them back to full-pokedex and even had my favorite party back to level 99. How hardcore was I willing to grind at gaining levels? Well take this: I was really dumb in Gold and didn't know that when you go through the Pokemon League building or whatever you are crossing to the other continent. I thought I was supposed to take on the fantastic four or whoever, and thought the game was ridiculously more difficult than its predecessors. Finally, after days of leveling my characters, I was able to defeat them and see the ending of the game. Then I noticed the door that led to where I was supposed to have gone.

Of course the rest of the game was super-easy at that point since I'd spent who knows how many hours grinding my levels up.

However, after not having played for years I look at the game and it is just kind of an unassailable thing. I mean, the introduction of items, gender, and breeding made the whole "getting a really strong dude" process much deeper, but if that linked site is an indication there's more than 450 total Pokemon now? How the devil are you supposed to catch them all?

I don't know maybe I'm getting old or something, but the thought of catching/evolving all of those (no doubt there's new crazy ways for different pokemon to evolve), then attempting to determine a few teams that would be acceptable for the 2 or 3 online battles I'd participate in, then attempting to maximize the capabilities of the team is just too much for me.

[Beldaran]

I don't know maybe I'm getting old or something, but the thought of catching/evolving all of those (no doubt there's new crazy ways for different pokemon to evolve), then attempting to determine a few teams that would be acceptable for the 2 or 3 online battles I'd participate in, then attempting to maximize the capabilities of the team is just too much for me.

It's like World of Warcraft... it goes from being a game you play when you want to relax to a full time job that doesn't even seem fun after a while.

[Glenn the Great]

I was really into Pokemon along with most of my friends back in High School in the old Red/Blue days.

I got Pokemon Blue, and eventually completed the Pokedex, and was generally the champ amongst my friends.

We all played legitimately for quite awhile, and then decided we were ready to move past that, and thus we agreed that we could all use a Game Genie to custom engineer our monsters, to create truly epic battles. The game is still fun that way (more fun in ways, I might say), just so long as everyone is allowed to do that.

[Pineconn]

However, after not having played for years I look at the game and it is just kind of an unassailable thing. I mean, the introduction of items, gender, and breeding made the whole "getting a really strong dude" process much deeper, but if that linked site is an indication there's more than 450 total Pokemon now? How the devil are you supposed to catch them all?

493, to be exact. And you have to listen to some of the new attacks' names. Bug Buzz, X-scissor, Punishment (), Me First, U-turn, Brave Bird, Switcheroo, Nasty Plot, Gunk Shot, Roar of Time, Wood Hammer, and Grass Knot are among some of the most ridiculous ones. I mean, what happened to names like Tackle and Slam?

[AlexMax]

Went ahead and traded in Gunpey and a couple of other games for Diamond tonight:

4124-1491-6006

[Kairyu]

We all played legitimately for quite awhile, and then decided we were ready to move past that, and thus we agreed that we could all use a Game Genie to custom engineer our monsters, to create truly epic battles. The game is still fun that way (more fun in ways, I might say), just so long as everyone is allowed to do that.

Ever played NetBattle?

[Glenn the Great]

Nope.

[KJAZZ]

Why the hell would someone need an evolution of Magneton or Rhydon?

And while I agree, Rhydon and Magneton (and Dusclops) did NOT need to evolve, Pokemon like Lickitung and Aipom needed it very, very badly.

Aww, you guys are mean. Rhydon is probably one of my top 3 favorite Pokemon. ;( And it needed to evolve so it would get an ability that would perhaps let it survive a water or grass attack. Maybe.

Anyway, I bought Diamond the other day, I just beat the 7th Gym, so I'm going along at a good pace. I chose Turtwig as my starter, because I always pick the grass starter, and while a penguin is very tempting, turtles are great too. I'm going through the game with just my starter, Staraptor, and Alakazam. I always use Alakazam.