I still remember that day, when my six-year-old self unwrapped a square-shaped box from the Christmas tree to discover my first ever Pokemon game - Pokemon Gold. This would be the start of my life as a complete Pokemon fanatic!
In 2010, nearly a decade on, I fell in love with the upgraded versions - Pokemon Heartgold and Soulsilver. I had loved every single Pokemon game up until then, but it is these games that really hold special memories and remind me of my first ever Pokemon game.
There are many extra features in these games that I have well and truly missed now that I am fully engrossed in Pokemon Black, for example the Bug-Catching contest. And let's not forget the unbelievably-fun Pokeathlon - I have pured many hours into this as I frantically make my Pokemon jump over hurdles, hurl snowballs and even play football - whilst receiving strange looks as I scream "YES" when my Granbull (which looks really cute as a mini-sprite) finishes first place.
But what would a review of Pokemon Heartgold and Soulsilver be without mentioning the genius that is...the Pokewalker! I loved sending my Pokemon into the little Pokeball-shaped pedometer and it is greatly missed. The Pokemon Dream World may be an updated version of the Pokewalker, but nothing can surpass the feeling of putting that little Pokewalker on my trousers as I head out, not knowing what treasures I might find.
Pokemon Gold will always have a special place in my heart, and due to this, the games Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver remain my favourite games, as they provide me with nostalgia and memories, along with updated graphics and other new features. My parents probably (no, definitely) think I'm a bit "on the sad side" for still being obsessed with Pokemon ten years on from when I got my first ever Pokemon game, but who cares?
Thanks to Rachel Terzian for her review. If you would like to get a review published on ONM, just submit a review of your favourite Nintendo game on the Reviews and Buyer's Guide forum or email your entry to Thomas East East
i think all pokemon fan parents think we're weird.....
I have the same nostalgia feeling with Pokemon Blue. I got extremely hooked on it as a kid, and I bullied my parents into getting me the red version, and importing the yellow version from America for me, so that I could finish the pokedex by myself. My parents thought my obsession was weird, and they didn't actually let me have Gold or Silver. I bought myself a copy of silver a few years ago, and I wish I had played it as a kid. Heartgold/SoulSilver are still fantastic games even without playing the originals as a kid, but I don't quite feel the same nostalgic feel that I have with FireRed/LeafGreen.
My first Pokémon game was Yellow, but when I got Soulsilver in 2010, I also rediscovered my love for these games!
I remember the day that HeartGold and SoulSilver was announced. I leapt into the air and literally shouted "YAY!" and was in a good mood for the whole day.
I also remember the day I got SS, I was so excited. I think the PokeWalker was a great addition.
Pokemon HG/SS really strike the balance between the feeling of nostalgia whilst also adding new features. I want a Ruby/Sapphire remake now.
for me, this is better than black in every single way percievable. someone agrees with me! or whatever. but this was just about perfect. good article, and after reading the swansong to final fantasy 4 ds in the new mag, i wonder if people are now tapping into my mind... my 2 favourite ds games covered in about 1 day. so i'm happy.
Personally, I'd disagree. While HG/SS were remakes of what was the best Pokemon games, I believe that Black/White are the best. They had everything I could want in a Pokemon storyline: memorable characters, thought-provoking morals (the whole ideals VS truths thing is epic) and moments that made me feel like I was important to the story, rather than some random passer-by.
Battles flow really well too, and the overall mechanics show how 16 years of making few changes means Game Freak can refine such a basic formula to perfection.
And, be honest, the music rocks too.
The only Pokemon games that I have genuinely enjoyed were Blue, Leaf Grean, Yellow, Gold, and Soul Silver. All of which are Gen 1 and Gen 2. As good as the other new Pokemon games are, I can't enjoy them as much as the first 2 generations. In all seriousness though, the first 2 generations of Pokemon, were the best, in my opinion.
I find that Black/White really miss character, Diamond was my first Pokémon game, and I loved it, along with Platinum and HeartGold. Black is great and all, but it's missing character, it feels like you're walking through a world full of strangers, Sinnoh and Johto's Safari Zone, Bug Catching Contest and all the extras made it special. + The graphics were cuter, but you could disagree. Not to say I don't like Pokémon Black, it's still a great game.
well i've owned 6 pokemon games: Emerald, Ruby, Leaf Green, Diamond, Soul Silver, and White and i wouldn't go as far to say SS is the best but it is a very good game. I dont think pokefans' parents will ever understand, you should have seen the look i got from my mum when i told her i was buying a pokemon game...
My fave to. I remeber unwrapping my Pikachu GBC and Silver on Christmas day...
Can anyone trade me a chikorita on this for one of the other starters. (totadile or cyndaquil) I went back and started playing it again.
my first pokemon game was pokemon diamond and i still remeber getting it and also i still get pokemon games!!!
Cant agree more with Rachel. By far the best Pokémon games.
I prefer Black/White because of the difficulty, but these two had a lot of fan service and were really worth playing.
I LOVE pokemon HG and SS because of the Poke'walker but if they made a new pokemon game with the poke'walker with better condition would be GREAT!
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Pokemon Gold was my first game too and I dont think I would be such a big Nintendo fan now if my parents hadn't have got me it.
Pokemon Heartgold is my favourite Pokemon game,mainly because your Pokemon can walk with you.
I think I prefer HG/SS to B/W because of the bigger, less linear world and the fact that there's much more to do.
I love all pokemon games
I hope there one for 3DS.