E3: Pokémon Gold/Silver impressions

[05.13.00] » It's only just begun.

   What could possibly be intriguing about yet another Pokémon game? It's already known that new favorites Togepi and Marill are now playable, as well as the fact that Charmander, Squirtle and Bulbasaur are replaced by Cyndaquil, Totodile and Chikorita, respectively.

   The real difference is an added layer of depth in the game found by breeding your Pokémon, which now have gender, and by hunting at different times of the day and night. Other new names include Snubbull, Sentret and Donphan, and Gold/Silver also features eight new badges and two new types - steel and dark.

   Capitalizing further on the Pikachu obsession, a mini virtual pet called Pokémon pals will also be released on October 16. According to Nintendo Reps, the pet doesn't die like other virtual pets, and the power created by raising it successfully can be transferred to the Silver/Gold cartridge by an infra-red sensor between the two, releasing hidden surprises.

   Inside the game are more new features -- in addition to the regular Pokédex, trainers now carry Pokégear, a gift from your mother who just had it repaired for you. The Pokégear allows the trainer access to telephone the friends he makes throughout the game, and can gain more features through finding secret cards that act as add-ons, ie, the Map card. New Pokéballs and items appear as well, include the auto-hp recovery Berry. Although the game is intended for the Color gameboy, it will actually still be playable on the original black/white gameboys.

   When Silver/Gold have taken everything that made the first Pokémon games so obsessive and added yet more twists, it's becoming more and more impossible to escape the clutches of the craze.