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Overview

Pokemon Gold and Silver were released on October 14, 2000 in North America (November 21, 1999 in Japan and April 6, 2001 in Europe) for the Game Boy (although it also supported the Super Game Boy and Game Boy Color). Development was done by Game Freak, publishing by Nintendo, and marketing and licensing from The Pokemon Company.

Taking place in the Johto region, the second generation of Pokemon introduced 100 new Pokemon. Besides unique Pokemon and other minor details, Gold and Silver are identical to each other. However, to collect every single one of the Pokemon, players must trade between not only Gold and Silver, but also the first two games, Pokemon Red and Blue.

Well-received by critics with an 89% average rating according to Game Rankings, Pokemon Gold and Silver was a critical success. Gold and Silver are regarded as some of the best iterations in the Pokemon franchise, getting a ten out of ten from IGN, and high scores from many other publications. Together, Gold and Silver sold 6.5 million in Japan alone, while sales in North America beat previous sales records, selling 1.4 million copies in the first week of sales.

Pokemon Crystal was later released as an updated version of Gold and Silver. It came out on July 29, 2001 in North America, and was the only Pokemon game to be released only on the Game Boy Color. Despite being largely similar to Gold and Silver, Crystal added many new features, including new series' staples such as the ability to choose the player's gender.

A remake of Gold and Silver is in development for the Nintendo DS. Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver are set to be released during spring of 2010 in North America, and on September 12, 2009 in Japan. It is a mostly graphical remake of the game, but it also brings most of Johto's Pokemon into the latest generation of Pokemon (despite all of them being available across many of the later games released).

Gameplay

Set in the Johto Region, Gold/Silver is a traditional role-playing game with gameplay essentially the same as Pokemon Red/Blue and Yellow. There are two different "types" of gameplay. In battles, players have several options. The Pokemon that is in battle can attack the rival Pokemon (be it a wild Pokemon or a trainer Pokemon) with a variety of attacks. The player can also use many items, including healing items, battle items, or Poké Balls (used to catch wild Pokemon, who upon being caught can be used in battle). Players can switch out Pokemon and run away as well.

The main goal of these battles is to get the rival Pokemon to "faint." When all of an opponent's Pokemon have fainted, the battle is won. However, when fighting a wild Pokemon, players can attempt to catch it for further use. Other trainers' Pokemon cannot be caught. After winning a battle, the Pokemon gain experience, and eventually level up. For many Pokemon, when they reach a certain level they evolve into another form of the Pokemon (e.g. Pikachu evolves into Raichu, Totodile evolves into Croconaw). Some Pokemon have other requirements to evolve, such as items equipped.

Each Pokemon has a type, mostly based on nature (e.g. water, grass, fire, earth). Each type has a (or some) strength(s) and weakness(es). These types also affect the Pokemon's statistics, such as, defense, attack power, and speed. Some types are completely immune to another type's attacks. In addition to stat bonuses and immunity, many Pokemon have unique attacks available relating to their type.  

Overworldgameplay follows Gold, the protagonist of Gold/Silver. He can travel to the various towns of Johto region, along with many other locations. Players can interact with objects and non-playable characters, sometimes relating to the plot. In towns, players have a variety of options, including purchasing items, healing all of the Pokemon in the party (as well as switching out Pokemon), and challenging that city's gym leader. There are many other areas to visit, including caves, forests, and even the ocean. While in the overworld, it is also possible to trigger a random battle with a wild Pokemon.

New features of Gold and Silver are numerous. It implements a day and night system that is based on a real-time internal clock. Influenced by this clock are many things, including specific events and what Pokemon appear. With the ability for Pokemon to hold items introduced, many items were created to take advantage of this mechanic, including berries (which can do many things, including boosts to power, healing status effects, and restoring health). Pokégear, a new key item introduced featured a map, watch, radio, and phone, allowing the player to call non-playable characters (and to be called by non-playable characters) and listen to the radio at certain times (according to the real-time clock).

Gold and Silver's legendary Pokemon include Raikou, Entei, and Suicune, who are a completely new type of legendary Pokemon. Instead of encountering them at a specific location, they appear randomly around Johto, and will run away occasionally. However, they retain any status effects or damage upon running away.

Unique "shiny" Pokemon were added, which were a different color than the regular version of the Pokemon, and extremely rare. The Pokemon types Steel and Dark were added in Gold and Silver. Steel type are strong and have a high defense, while Dark type are powerful against Psychic Pokemon (they are even immune to any Psychic attacks).

Breeding was a feature that has stayed since Gold and Silver, allowing players to leave two Pokemon in the day care center for a chance for them to breed. Many species of Pokemon cannot breed, however. The child of the Pokemon will gain whatever moves its father has, while it gets the species of its mother.

Plot

Taking place in the Johto Region, Gold and Silver follows Gold, a young boy for New Bark Town. In the beginning of the game, he moves to New Bark Town and meets Professor Elm, who gives him the choice of one of three Pokemon: Cyndaquil, Totodile, or Chikorita. Professor Elm also gives a Pokemon to Gold's rival, who meets up with Gold later in the game to battle him. Elm gives both of them a Pokédex, and sends them into the world to try and become the best trainers in all of Johto and Kanto.

To do so, Gold must battle the eight gym leaders of Johto, each specializing in a particular type of Pokemon. After defeating each of the gym leaders and collecting their badges, Gold must fight the Elite Four and the Champion, and then eventually the eight gym leaders of Kanto. In the very end, Gold fights the protagonist of Red and Blue, Red, in the final battle. Along this path, Gold must also battle the organization known as Team Rocket, whose intents include abusive experimentation on Pokemon. 

Pokédex

The Pokemon Gold/Silver Pokédex starts out as if it were separate from that of Pokemon Red/Blue, however after defeating the elite four, the player gains access to a national Pokédex that allows them to see all of the 'old' Pokemon from the original game. The first 151 Pokemon are as per the Pokemon Red/Blue Pokédex. The remaining Pokemon, those that are new to this game, are listed below.

152   Chikorita  
153   Bayleef
154   Meganium
155   Cyndaquil
156   Quilava
157   Typhlosion
158   Totodile
159   Croconaw
160   Feraligatr
161   Sentret
162   Furret
163   Hoothoot
164   Noctowl
165   Ledyba
166   Ledian
167   Spinarak
168   Ariados
169   Crobat
170   Chinchou
171   Lanturn
172   Pichu
173   Cleffa
174   Igglybuff
175   Togepi
176   Togetic
177   Natu
178   Xatu
179   Mareep
180   Flaaffy
181   Ampharos
182   Bellossom
183   Marill
184   Azumarill
185   Sudowoodo
186   Politoed
187   Hoppip
188   Skiploom
189   Jumpluff
190   Aipom
191   Sunkern
192   Sunflora
193   Yanma
194   Wooper
195   Quagsire
196   Espeon
197   Umbreon
198   Murkrow
199   Slowking
200   Misdreavus
201   Unown
202   Wobbuffet
203   Girafarig
204   Pineco
205   Forretress
206   Dunsparce
207   Gligar
208   Steelix
209   Snubbull
210   Granbull
211   Qwilfish
212   Scizor
213   Shuckle
214   Heracross
215   Sneasel
216   Teddiursa
217   Ursaring
218   Slugma
219   Magcargo
220   Swinub
221   Piloswine
222   Corsola
223   Remoraid
224   Octillery
225   Delibird
226   Mantine
227   Skarmory
228   Houndour
229   Houndoom
230   Kingdra
231   Phanpy
232   Donphan
233   Porygon2
234   Stantler
235   Smeargle
236   Tyrogue
237   Hitmontop
238   Smoochum
239   Elekid
240   Magby
241   Miltank
242   Blissey
243   Raikou
244   Entei
245   Suicune
246   Larvitar
247   Pupitar
248   Tyranitar
249   Lugia
250   Ho-oh
251   Celebi 

Pokemon Gyms

The system where you have to get badges throughout the world to be allowed to enter the Elite Four and try to become the greatest Pokemon Trainer around came back in the sequel to Red/Blue/Green/Yellow. This time the region where the game primarily takes places is called Johto and the gym leaders are all different than its prequel. Eventually, when all 8 gym leader are defeated in the Johto region and the Elite Four is also defeated, you'll have the opportunity to go back to Kanto (the region of the Red/Blue/Green/Yellow generation) to a replay on all past Gym leaders, assuring you a total of 16 Gym Leaders and 16 possible badges, even though the adventure is nowhere near in length than it was back then, but for a few more hours of added gameplay it's more than enough.
 

Violet City Gym

Leader - Falkner  
Badge - Zephyr Badge
Pokemon Type - Flying
Pokemon Used - Pidgey, Pidgeotto
  

Azalea City Gym

Leader - Bugsy
Badge - Hive Badge
Pokemon Type - Bug
Pokemon Used -  Metapod, Kakuna, Scyter
 

Goldenrod City Gym

Leader -  Whitney
Badge - Plain Badge
Pokemon Type -  Normal
Pokemon Used -  Clefairy, Miltank
 

Ecruteak City Gym

Leader - Morty
Badge - Fog Badge
Pokemon Type - Ghost
Pokemon Used -   Gastly, Hunter, Hunter, Gengar
 

Cianwood City Gym

Leader - Chuck
Badge - Storm Badge
Pokemon Type - Fighting
Pokemon Used - Primeape, Poliwrath
 

Olivine City Gym

Leader - Jasmine
Badge - Mineral Badge
Pokemon Type - Steel
Pokemon Used - Magnemite, Magnemite, Steelix
 

Magohany City Gym

Leader - Pryce
Badge - Glacier Badge
Pokemon Type -  Ice
Pokemon Used - Seel, Dewgong, Piloswine
 

Blackthorn City Gym

Leader - Clair
Badge - Rising Badge
Pokemon Type - Dragon
Pokemon Used - Dragonair, Dragonair, Dragonair, Kingdra
 
When the Elite Four is beat you'll have the opportunity to go back to Kanto and re-battle the upgraded eight gym leaders from the previous game. Professor Elm will give you a ticket to S.S. Aqua docked in Olivine, if you decide to board you'll end up in Vermilion where S.S. Anne was docked back in Red/Blue/Green/Yellow. Now you can explore Kanto's Gyms, in a new order.  The only difference, except for the order, is that Koga is not longer a Gym Leader, since he's now on the Elite Four we can only assume he got promoted, and leaved his gym spot for his daughter, Janine.
 

Vermilion City Gym

Leader - Lt. Surge 
Badge - Thunderbadge
Pokemon Type - Electric
Pokemon Used - Raichu, Electrode, Electrode , Magneton, Electabuzz
  

Saffron City Gym

Leader - Sabrina
Badge - Marshbadge
Pokemon Type - Psychic
Pokemon Used -  Espeon, Mr. Mime, Alakazan
 

Cerulean City Gym

Leader -  Misty
Badge - Cascade Badge
Pokemon Type -  Water
Pokemon Used -  Golduck, Quagsire, Lapras, Starmie
 

Celadon City Gym

Leader - Erika 
Badge - Rainbow Badge
Pokemon Type - Grass
Pokemon Used - Tangela, Victreebel, Jumpluff, Bellossom
 

Fuschia City Gym

Leader - Janine
Badge - Sould Badge
Pokemon Type - Bug/Poison
Pokemon Used - Crobat, Ariados, Weezing, Weezing, Venomoth
 

Pewter City Gym

Leader -  Brock
Badge - Boulder Badge
Pokemon Type - Rock/Ground
Pokemon Used - Graveler, Rhyhorn, Omastar, Kabutops, Onyx
 

Seafoam Islands City Gym

Leader - Blaine
Badge - Volcano Badge
Pokemon Type - Fire
Pokemon Used - Magcargo, Magmar, Rapidash
 

Viridian City Gym

Leader - Gary
Badge - Earth Badge
Pokemon Type - Gary has a very varied team
Pokemon Used - Pidgeot, Alakazan, Rhydon, Exeggutor, Gyarados, Arcanine
 

The Elite Four

The Elite Four works pretty much like in the previous, you first face the four members of the elite to then battle against the Elite Champion for the title of greatest of all. Brruno from the previous Elite mark a come back, while the previously gym leader Koga appears as one of the four.
 

Elite Four Will

Pokemon Type - Psychic
Pokemon Used - Xatu, Exeggutor, Slowbro, Jynx, Xatu
 

Elite Four Koga

Pokemon Type - Bug/Poison
Pokemon Used - Ariados, Forretress, Muk, Venomoth, Crobat,
 

Elite Four Bruno

Pokemon Type - Fighting
Pokemon Used - Hitmontop, Hitmonchan, Hitmonlee, Onyx, Machamp
 

Elite Four Karen

Pokemon Type - Dark
Pokemon Used - Umbreon, Vileplume, Gengar, Murkrow, Houndoom
 

Elite Four Champion Lance

Pokemon Type - Dragon
Pokemon Used - Gyarados, Charizard, Aerodactyl, Dragonite, Dragonite, Dragonite
 

Legendary Pokemon

Legendary Pokemon are Pokemon generally found in a very limited amount in the world of Pokemon, so unique there is only one of each of them. These Pokemon have more experience than the rest, and can be found in already high levels ranging from 30 to 70. Like Moltres, Articuno and Zapdos were the legendary birds of the previous games, this time there are Legendary Dogs, called Entei, Suicune and Entei. There's also two new birds, Lugia and Ho-oh; although when you buy one or the other version of the game one of these two Pokemon come printed on the cover, you can capture both in any of the distinct versions. There's also a time-traveler Pokemon called Celebi that wasn't included in this version, and got removed from American and European cartridges of Crystal, was only obtainable through Nintendo Events.    
 

Entei

Type - Fire
Level - 40
Location - Awaken Entei in one of Ecruteak's buildings and then chase him down across Johto.
 

Suicune

Type - Water
Level - 40
Location - Awaken Suicune in one of Ecruteak's buildings and then chase him down across Johto.
 

Raikou

Type - Electric
Level - 40
Location - Awaken Raikou in one of Ecruteak's buildings and then chase him down across Johto.
 

Lugia

Type - Flying / Psychic
Level - Gold 70 / Silver 40
Location - Lugia is found in the caverns south of Olivine. In the Gold version you have to get the Silver Wing in Pewter. In the Silver version just surf there and explore the dungeon until you find him.
 

Ho-oh

Type - Flying / Fire
Level - Gold 40 / Silver 70
Location - On the top of the Tin Tower after receiving the Rainbow Wing. In the Gold version the item is in the Radio Tower in Goldenrod. In the Silver version is it found in Pewter.
 

Celebi

Type - Grass / Psychic
Level - 30
Location - Illex Forest, only obtainable in the Japanese version of Pokemon Crystal, Nintendo Events or GameShark.