Pokemon HeartGold Version

Pokémon - HeartGold Version is the alternate to the SoulSilver Version and both were released on the Nintendo DS all the way back in 1999. These games were released 10 years after the original versions on the Game Boy Color so think of them as an enhanced remake rather than a brand-new game.

Welcome To Kanto!

The game is set in the Kanto region and this is one of my favorite regions of any Pokémon game. The story is exactly what you would expect. You start off as a rookie Pokémon Trainer, you pick your Pokémon (anyone other than Totodile is a wrong choice by the way) and then you start your journey to become the best Pokémon trainer the world has ever seen.

The story is what you would expect from a Pokémon game and as a fan of the series I do not mean that as a huge negative. The game does add in elements from Pokémon Crystal so the story is a little different from what it was like on the Game Boy Color. I like the way Team Rocket is handled in this game, with them looking to make a comeback and also the focus on a different Legendary Pokémon is kind of cool as well.

Pokémon Are Pretty

As Pokémon - HeartGold Version was released 10 years after the original and on hardware that was much more advanced. As you would expect this game offers quite the visual upgrade. It has that same Nintendo DS look that all the Pokémon games on that console have, but that is not a bad thing. If you played the original, you will get a real kick out of how recognizable the areas are as well as the Pokémon of course. However, the level of detail here is a million times better and you will really like that.

Anything New?

As this is a remake Game Freak has added a few new things that are cool. In all honesty, what I like the most is the way that the main Pokémon you have selected will follow you around the map. Now, this was not the first game to do this, but I think it looks way better here than it did in Pokémon Yellow.

A new mini-game is added called the Pokéathlon which is kind of like the Pokémon Olympics. Here you can take part in various events such as Hurdle Dash, Ring Drop and Snow Throw. These are kind of fun and along with the Voltorb Flip mini-game, you have some great side content here that is way more fun than you would think.

Pros:

• I love the visual upgrade they have given the game
• Having a Pokémon follow you around is adorable
• The extra content they have added is great
• The campaign is interesting and will take you a while to get through
• Team Rocket is back and bad!

Cons:

• Nothing to win over non-Pokémon fans
• The Japanese version has a cool slot machine game that is cut out here

I was a bit of a late adopter to this franchise, but it was Pokemon HeartGold Version, which was the very first game in the series I bought on day one. Mainly because I had a son who loved the Pokémon TV show, and he wanted a game based on it, but this was way too hard for him to play, so I would play it, and he would sit watching and tell me what to do. As a result of this, this is a game that has a very special place in my heart, and even today, this is one of my very favorite games that this franchise has to offer.

Becoming The Very Best

As far as the story goes, Pokemon HeartGold Version is very much your standard Pokémon kind of story. We play as a young person from New Bark Town, and thanks to Professor Elm, we get our starter Pokémon. This game gives you the choice of Totodile, Chikorita, and Cyndaquil. For me, it had to be Totodile. I like his design best, but truth be told, my son told me that we were picking Totodile and that it was not up for discussion. Professor Elm then gives us a Poke Dex, and we start out on our quest to become a Pokémon Trainer and champion.

Familiar, But Charming

Even though this was the first Pokémon game that I properly played, I have played most of the mainline entries over the years now, and I think that Pokemon HeartGold Version is a very charming kind of Pokémon story. It has many of the elements you would expect: the Elite Four, epic gym leaders, legendary Pokémon, and even Team Rocket getting up to no good. It does follow the tropes that you would expect in a Pokémon game, and if I am being brutally honest, the stories in most of these Pokémon games are very similar. However, even with that being said, there is a real charm about this game, and it always makes me smile. To be honest, a huge part of that is because my son insisted I read every single word of the dialogue to him, so I feel like I know this story inside and out.

Some Neat New Features

On the surface, Pokemon HeartGold Version is very much your typical Pokémon game. You walk around the map, talk to characters, get into battles, catch new Pokémon, and level up the ones you have. It has a real charm to it, and if you like this series, this game has all the things that you will like. However, it has a few really neat features that make sure it keeps the spirit of the original Pokémon Gold game, but it also gives it a bit more spice. There are a couple of mini-games that make great use of the Nintendo DS touch screen, there is a new map feature that lets you organize things that can make it easier to capture wild Pokémon, granted, the work you have to do to get this is hard, but it is worth it and it is very helpful for filling out the Poke Dex. This is also the game that gave us that weird Pokewalker accessory that helped you get fit as well as get better stuff in your game.

Look At Them Walk!

While Pokemon HeartGold Version and its partner, Soul Silver, were not the first Pokémon games on the Nintendo DS, these are just such nice looking games that just have a ton of charm. This has a very similar look to Pokemon Diamond and Pearl, and I am more than ok with that. the main thing that I love about the presentation of this game is that your Pokémon that you have in your first slot will jog along beside you! Not only is this freaking adorable, you can also interact with them as well. To my knowledge, the last proper game to let you do this for most of the game was Pokémon Yellow all the way back on the original Game Boy!

Pros:

• I have a really strong personal attachment to this game
• It tells a familiar but charming Pokémon story
• I love the way your Pokémon follows you around
• This is a pretty challenging RPG in its own right, but it is still tons of fun

Cons:

• I do think that the later DS Pokémon games are better
• While I like story, this is a very typical Pokémon game