It Don’t Matter If You’re Black or White | Joann Kelliher

But it does matter if it’s any good and Joann Kelliher is the judge.

     A new adventure? Many would disagree. Like the previous instalments in the series, Pokémon Black/White 2 is still set in the Unova region. Unlike them, however (and indeed, unlike any other Pokémon RPG in this series), Pokémon Black / White 2 are direct sequels to the previous instalments, set two years after the events of  the original Black/White.

     Differences, such as the appearance of Pokémon from previous generations, along with new towns and cities, are quite obvious but the main game does not alter the dogma of Pokémon - one catches Pokémon and battles through the region, eventually becoming the champion of the region. For those who have played Black/White, a few familiar faces will appear (Cheren, Bianca, etc.) Your main rival is different from the rest in that they actually have funny dialogue. Previous ideas, such as teaming up with NPCs to fight double battles are frequent and implemented well.

     One of the most major updates is Dream Radar, a companion 3DS application that allows the capture of otherwise unobtainable Pokémon such as Therian Forme Tornadus. At three euro, it seems like an effort by Nintendo to encourage adoption of the 3DS. The application itself works in the manner of Face Raiders (i.e. inserting AR elements into a real-time view through the camera) and is quite pleasant and easy to use. The aiming was a little difficult at times and this writer crashed more than once into nearby items! (Admittedly, Nintendo does give a warning to leave plenty of space around you). It does seem a little odd that Nintendo made this exclusive to DSi / 3DS owners, given that the games have been released for the original DS.

     The game is not without its downsides, however: more than a few people will call it unoriginal, more still will call it too easy. One slight issue I experienced was getting a little lost (admittedly a new experience in a Pokémon game). Despite being set in the same region as the last instalment, exploring the altered areas actually feels full of the same discovery of a new generation. New areas, such as Castelia Sewers, have a somewhat disturbing and almost frightening atmosphere.

     That the game manages to convey this via a (3)DS screen is interesting.  One slight disappointment was seeing the further disuse of the VS Seeker - an item used in previous generation to battle trainers more than once. Given that the levels of the Pokémon have been raised in each area, it's quite a surprise.

     The main storyline will last a seasoned Pokémon Trainer about 10-15 hours, a new player 20. The usual aspects of any RPG will crawl in: grinding; exploration and customisation. But is Black/White 2 worth getting? For new players, yes. It's a nice RPG that will show you just how the series has gained such a following over the past 17 (I feel old ) years. For those who have experienced Black/White already, the answer is still yes. The cameos of various characters will bring a smile to their faces and make them a little puzzled (was it ever explained why Bianca and Cheren don't use their previous Pokémon)? The Dream Radar is a good addition as well, showing that the 3DS can do more than the DS. Overall, Pokémon     Black/White 2 seems like a satisfying update. While people won't applaud its originality, they will still smile happily when they finally figure out how to evolve Riolu. 8.5/10.