Who doesn't love the Pokemon games? Their addictive combination of cute creature collecting, adventure and simple yet addictive turn-based battles must mean something when, some sixteen years after the initial GameBoy game, the series seems every bit as popular as it's ever been. And it's showing no signs of slowing down, with recent releases Pokemon Black and White selling some twelve million copies combined, becoming the second fastest selling DS games ever, and third biggest launch for a Nintendo game overall (sitting behind Wii mega unit shifters Wii Fit and Mario Kart Wii). With such a massive reception, it's no wonder Nintendo have decided to make a sequel in the form of Pokemon Black and White Version 2 - and now we know when it'll be touching down.
Over the few years that have passed since the first game, the Unova region has changed a bit, with new areas opening up to explore. One such place is Virbank City, home of the Pokestar Studios - where one of Black/White Version 2's new features comes into play, letting you make your own Pokemon films. Using your favourite Pokemon, you put together a set of script choices and battle moves to create a short film from a wide variety of genres like romantic comedy or horror, or even a sequel to an existing film. Your finished films then will be premiered in front of an audience and rated, meaning you can end up with a bona fide blockbuster, or a pokeflop.
Random clown, oblivious to the super hero disagreement taking place...
You'll also be able to catch up with your companions from the first game, several years on - where clumsy, forgetful Bianca has become Professor Juniper's assistant, and studious Cheren has gone on to become a gym leader and teacher in Aspertia City. And unlike the original Black and White games, which only let you find and catch the new 'mon to begin with, you'll be able to build a team of old favourites like Eevee, Riolu, Tyranitar, Arcanine and Mareep from the outset - thank god. We can't be the only ones that aren't that enthused with some of the newer designs...
Also launching on the same day is the companion application for the Nintendo 3DS, Pokemon Dream Radar. From what we've seen so far, it looks kind of like the built in Augmented Reality Face Raiders application, but with more 'mons involved. Making use of the console's built in cameras and gyro sensors, Dream Radar will make it seem as though Pokemon floating round your living room - and all you need to do is point the 3DS at them and shoot at them in order to capture them. The captured Pokemon can then be transferred over to your copy of Pokemon Black or White Version 2 - in fact, for many of the rarer, harder to find Pokemon, the Dream Radar application makes it a bit easier, even featuring the new Therian Formes of the legendary trio Tornadus, Thundurus and Landorus.
Yay! Hopefully this means I can replace the ugly Oshawott evolutions with something cuter!
Pokemon Black and White Version 2, as well as the Pokemon Dream Radar application all hits stores on the 12th October, although there's no word on the price for the latter. The other 3DS downloadable application, Pokedex 3D Pro, has no concrete release date as of yet, except a vague 'autumn', although we'd still expect it somewhere around the launch of the others. But make sure you keep checking back, as we're likely to be getting loads more information on Pokemon-related games over the coming weeks.
