Pokemon Gold for Game Boy Color

I purchased a Pokemon Gold game cartridge for my 9 year old daughter, and haven?t seen her since. I now think she and her Game Boy have become fused together. But one night, while she was sleeping I did manage to pry it out of her grasp and try it out myself.


I?m quite familiar with the little Pokemon critters I?ve sat through the show, the movies, the trading cards, the action figures, and even tried my hand at Pokemon yellow for Game Boy. So with a little bit of knowledge I figured I could play this game too.


I was right; it?s very similar to Pokemon yellow?except you don?t have a little Pikachu following you every where. Setting up the game seems to have a few more steps this time you have a clock to set. You enter the current time, but as it states in the instructions the clock may not keep time perfectly. (Oh well guess it?s not a watch) the time is just basically for letting the game acknowledge day from night. (Seems some Pokemon only like to appear at different times during the day or night.) You also set the day of the week, because special events in the game happen on certain days.


After you have set the game up its time to go pick your Pokemon?. This time you receive a Pokemon from professor Elm instead of professor Oak, and you get to choose between a Chikorita, a Cyndaquil or a Totodile. Then you start off on your adventure of training your Pokemon either by battling wild Pokemon or by battling with other trainers. Along the way you capture new Pokemon and add them to your collection. Also in the Gold version you can tell the difference between male and female Pokemon, the little male/female symbols appear on the screen. (Well this eliminates the need of having to pick them up and take a peek) It also seems if the timing is right, and you put a male and female Pokemon together, that you just might get an egg.


Your Pokegear -

You get a cell phone. You can collect other trainers phone numbers, and they collect yours. Then while you?re out on your adventure they like to call and annoy you. Sometimes they just say silly things, other times they invite back for a battle. You can also use your cell phone to call the professor, your mom or other trainers.

In your travels you pick up a Radio card - you can now listen to radio signals that may give you information on Pokemon sightings and events and happenings in the game.

You also get a map that helps you figure out where you are and where you still need to go. (Or in my case it keeps you from wandering around in circles)


So many Pokemon so little time ?

The game is packed with new Pokemon and they love to challenge your abilities and skills as a Pokemon trainer. You?ll also find your old favorites in there too. Traveling around you?ll stumble across new items to find, and new moves to teach your Pokemon. My new favorite move is head-butt?. You go around head-butting trees, making sleeping Pokemon fall out of the trees for battles.


From Town to Town ?

Traveling from town to town you?ll find plenty of new buildings and caves to explore and of course Gyms with some pretty tough Gym leaders that will make you work for your badges. You?ll also find friends along the way and you?ll find some enemies too. The game keeps you hopping and there is always something new to find just around the bend.


Linking up ?

You can link up your game with others (if you have the Game Link cable) You can now battle with your friends who own Pokemon silver. But you can not link up for battle with Pokemon Red, blue, yellow or foreign versions of the game. You may link to the other games for trading Pokemon, but with some restrictions?you can?t trade Pokemon or Pokemon with moves that do not appear in the Red, Blue or Yellow versions. You will need to link up with Pokemon silver and trade Pokemon to complete your collection, because neither game has all the Pokemon in it.


So is the new game worth the price? In my opinion I do believe it is. It?s a fun game; it makes you think, and problem solve. Plus you just have to love those cute Pokemon critters; they and the game are both addictive. Now back to playing?cause?I gotta catch ?em all! Opps? I mean I?m going to help my daughter catch them all.