If you're a Pokémon fan you're probably already anticipating the UK release of Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver on 26 March, but you may not know the English-language version of the game also has a brand new mini-game not featured in the Japanese version. What's more, it's excellent.
In the Japanese version, when you get to Goldenrod City there's a small Game Corner. In there you can play a slot machine to earn coins, which can then be spent on various Pokémon, items and TMs on sale there. Since teaching children about gambling is frowned upon in the western world, this slot machine is no longer there (a similar slot machine was removed from the UK version of Pokémon Platinum). With no slot machine then, how can you earn coins in the Game Corner? Simple. Voltorb Flip.
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Having played the great little mini-game for our exclusive review, we'd describe it as a cross between Picross and Minesweeper. You're presented with a 5x5 grid consisting of 25 squares. Behind each square is either a number or a Voltorb. If you reveal a number that multiplies the number of coins you've earned in that round. So if you get a '1' your coin count stays the same, get a '2' and it doubles, get a '3' and it triples. If you uncover a Voltorb though, you lose all your coins for that round.
You can tell which squares have coins and which have Voltorbs by using the numerical clues at the end of each row and column. Each clue tells you how many Voltorbs are in that row or column, as well as the total number when you add up all the numbers in that row or column. Using a process of elimination, you can figure out which squares have Voltorbs and which have numbers.
Once you've uncovered all the '2' and '3' multipliers you win the round and move up a level, where things get trickier but you can earn more coins. If you reveal a Voltorb though, and keep doing so in subsequent games, you'll drop down levels and end up having to play for the small bucks again.
What's the reward for getting these coins? Well, you can either buy a variety of TMs or items, or you can buy one of three Pokémon: an Abra (200 coins), an Ekans/Sandshrew, depending on whether you're playing HeartGold or SoulSilver (700 coins) and - most interestingly - a Dratini for 2100 coins, which of course will eventually evolve into the awesome Dragonite. It'll take you around three hours to earn enough coins for all three (including the time you take to get used to how it plays), and that's just for the Pokémon. Getting all the other TMs and items will take a lot longer.
Thankfully, this doesn't matter, because we're happy to report that Voltorb Flip is awesome, and while playing the UK version of the game for our exclusive review in the next issue of the magazine we spent around four or five hours playing Voltorb Flip alone! After all, it's Minesweeper meets Picross: how can that not be addictive?
The full exclusive review of the English-language version of Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, including more details on the Voltorb Flip, will be in issue 53 of Official Nintendo Magazine, on sale 12 February.
