Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver: Take Me Back to Johto
I’m not yet sure how I feel about the re-release of Pokemon Silver and Gold for the DS. I mean, I’ll be totally honest with you, here—I want a Lugia. And I don’t think I’ll have any moral objections about kneecapping kids to be first in line.
At first, I was kind of grossed out that Nintendo would be re-releasing the games “so soon,” even though both are getting significant revamps. Then I read that “HeartGold” and “SoulSilver” will also serve as tributes to the ten-year-old games. My God. My God. Just how old am I?
In my heart(Gold), I know all my angst and denial is moot. Pokemon Gold and Silver are two games that are more than worthy of modern updates. Their depth is astounding, for Game Boy games. I remember being blown away by the very concept of time-based gameplay, which let you search for and capture nocturnal Pokemon.
I also have to admit that no franchise tickles my sense of adventure more than Pokemon. Think about all the RPG heroes over the years who have invited you to slay dragons, demons, or some moron who thought he was God. How often did you feel like you were actually part of the adventure, and not just a sack of meat whose only function was to hit “A”? Pokemon presents a game world I would actually love to live in, if it existed: no school, no job, no parents. Just you, the open road, and your Pokemon on a pleasantly rambling quest to become a man/woman. No bullies, no pressing eyes, no criticism about your spotty face and dog-eared Playboy stash.
What kid wouldn’t want an adventure to help slide him or her past those awkward teenage years?
Related Links:
Respect the Pokeymans
To Be a Pokemon Master
Summom Baphomet With Pokemon
Tags: nadia oxford, nintendo, pokemon, pokemon gold, pokemon heartgold, pokemon silver, pokemon soulsilver, re-release, retro
John Constantine, our superhero, was raised by birds and then attended Penn State University. He is currently working on a novel about a fictional city that exists only in his mind. John has an astonishingly extensive knowledge of Scientology. Ultimately he would like to learn how to effectively use his brain. He continues to keep Wu-Tang's secret to himself. 
Derrick Sanskrit is a self-professed geek in a variety of fields including typography, graphic design, comic books, music and cartoons. As a professional hipster graphic designer, his recent clients have included Nerve, Pitchfork and MoCCA, among others.
Amber Ahlborn - artist, writer, gamer and DigiPen survivor, she maintains a day job as a graphic artist. By night Amber moonlights as a professional Metroid Fanatic and keeps a metal suit in the closet just in case. Has lived in the state of Washington and insists that it really doesn't rain as much as everyone says it does.
Nadia Oxford is a housekeeping robot who was refurbished into a warrior when the world's need for justice was great. Now that the galaxy is at peace (give or take a conflict here or there), she works as a freelance writer for various sites and magazines.
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I dunno. I don’t remember seeing a single bathroom in Pokeland.
Plenty of tall grass, though.
And have a bidoof bite off my junk? No f-ing way.
Wow. Gotta love the comments.
Johto is nice to watch, I know them all