- Pokémon Gold Version and Silver Version (ポケットモンスター 金・銀, Poketto Monsutā Kin Gin?, "Pocket Monsters: Gold & Silver") are the second installments of the Pokémon series of role-playing video games developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo for the Game Boy Color. The games have dual-mode capabilities allowing them to also be played on earlier Game Boy models. Crystal did not have this dual-mode feature. They were first released in Japan in 1999 and to Australia and North America in 2000 and Europe in 2001. Pokémon Crystal, a special edition version, was released for the same console roughly a year later in each region. In 2009, Nintendo remade Gold and Silver for the Nintendo DS as Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver.
- The games introduce 100 new species of Pokémon, and follow the progress of the central character, whose name the player may choose, in his quest to master Pokémon battling. Both games are independent of each other but feature largely the same plot and, while both can be played separately, it is necessary to trade between them and their backward compatible predecessors in order to fully complete the games' Pokédexes. The Johto Saga of the Pokémon anime is based on the new region introduced in the games.
- Pokémon Gold and Silver continued the enormous success of its predecessors as Pokémon began to form into a multi-billion dollar franchise. The games almost matched the sales Pokémon Red and Blue and went on to jointly sell millions of copies worldwide.
Plot and setting
- Similar to Pokémon Gold and Silver, HeartGold and SoulSilver take place in the Johto region of the franchise's fictional universe. The universe centers on the existence of creatures, called Pokémon, with special abilities. The silent protagonist is a young Pokémon trainer who lives in New Bark Town. At the beginning of the games, the player chooses either a Chikorita, Cyndaquil, or Totodile as their starter Pokémon from Professor Elm. After performing a delivery for the professor, he decides to let the player keep the Pokémon and start them on a journey.
- The goal of the game is to become the best trainer in Johto and Kanto, which is done by raising Pokémon, completing a catalog of Pokémon called a Pokédex, defeating the eight Gym Leaders in Johto for Gym Badges, challenging the best trainers in the region known as the Elite Four and the Champion, and then defeating the eight Gym Leaders in the Kanto region. Finally, the player may face off against Red atop Mt. Silver, who serves as the game's final boss.
- Throughout the game, the player will battle against members of Team Rocket, a criminal organization originally from Kanto. They were originally defeated by the protagonist of FireRed, and LeafGreen, and have attempted to come back as an organization, while awaiting the return of their leader, Giovanni. To attempt to contact him, they take over the radio tower and broadcast a message calling out to him.
- During certain points in the game, the player's rival will battle the protagonist in a test of skills. Throughout the game, the player encounters Kimono Girls. After battling all of them in a row, they allow the player to encounter a legendary bird specific to each game (Ho-Oh in HeartGold, and Lugia in SoulSilver).
Pokemon SoulSilver Rom Trailer
