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This article is about the Generation V games. For other uses, see Black and White.

Pokémon Black Version (Japanese: ポケットモンスター ブラック Pocket Monsters Black) and Pokémon White Version (Japanese: ポケットモンスター ホワイト Pocket Monsters White) are Nintendo DS games that are the first core series Pokémon games of Generation V. The games were released in Japan on September 18, 2010, in Europe on March 4, 2011, in North America on March 6, 2011, and in Australia on March 10, 2011. They take place in the Unova region. These games are enhanced on the Nintendo DSi and Nintendo 3DS families.

Pokémon Black and White follow the trends set by previous games in the series. Unlike previous games, Pokémon introduced prior to Generation V cannot be obtained before completing the main story by defeating Team Plasma.

The games' names were revealed on the official Japanese Pokémon website on April 9, 2010, and scans from the subsequent issue of the magazine leaked the following day, April 10.

Pokémon Black and White were followed in 2012 by two sequels, Pokémon Black 2 and White 2, which are set two years after the events of Black and White. Pokémon Black 2 and White 2 are the second and final paired versions of Generation V.

Plot

Spoiler warning: this article may contain major plot or ending details.

The game starts in Nuvema Town in the player's room with Cheren, a childhood friend. Professor Juniper has left a gift box for the two and Bianca, another one of the player's friends, who arrives a little later. The box contains three Pokémon that the player can choose from. After the selection, Bianca will request a battle. When the battle is over, the room becomes cluttered due to the battle. Cheren heals both the player's and Bianca's Pokémon, and begins a battle with the player as well. If the player loses to Cheren, he will gloat about his victory. The three then go downstairs, and Cheren and Bianca will leave the house while the player's Mom will heal the Pokémon.

The player visits Bianca's house, where she and her father are having an argument about her going on a Pokémon journey. Bianca storms out of the house, and the player follows her to Professor Juniper's lab, where Cheren has been waiting. In the lab, Professor Juniper will give the player a chance to nickname the selected starter Pokémon, and give each of the three a Pokédex. Upon leaving the lab, they will be greeted by the player's mother, who will hand everyone a Town Map.

From then on, the player will set off on adventures through the Unova region. Along the way, the player, Cheren, and Bianca will battle eight Gym Leaders, while trying to complete the Pokédex. After managing to obtain all eight Badges, the player will head to the Pokémon League to battle the Elite Four and the Champion. Cheren decides to pursue strength and Bianca realizes that she cannot match the skills of the player or Cheren.

However, the adventure does not go as smoothly as expected, as the evil Team Plasma will be encountered along the way to the Pokémon League. Team Plasma's goal is to separate Pokémon from people; claiming that humans are only hindrances to the lives and interests of Pokémon. The player will occasionally encounter N, the mysterious leader of the organization. Ghetsis, a co-founding member of the Seven Sages, has a secret, different goal from N's. The player must learn of and thwart their plans in order to save the relationship between Pokémon and their Trainers.

Once the player enters the Champion's room, N is shown to have defeated Alder, and proceeds to summon his castle to ambush and attach to the Pokémon League. The player traverses through the castle to find N and his legendary dragon, who claims to be the hero. However, the Light StoneB/Dark StoneW in the player's Bag is released and summons the second dragon hero, ReshiramB/ZekromW, which the player catches and uses to battle and defeat N.

Once defeated, Ghetsis angrily intervenes, revealing his intentions of creating Team Plasma for his own interests of power, and how N and the idea of Pokémon liberation were merely his tools. In a rage, he battles the player in an attempt to eliminate any witnesses of the truth. His actions are futile, however, and N reconsiders his actions and ideas.

After defeating N and Ghetsis, the player will return to their house and see their mother next to Looker, who will be disguised as the player's mother temporarily. He explains that he needs help rounding up the Seven Sages of Team Plasma that are hidden across Unova. Also, Route 11 and Marvelous Bridge open up, allowing access to Black City or White Forest, Undella Town, and Lacunosa Town. The player may also access Giant Chasm, within which Kyurem may be battled and captured. The routes surrounding these areas contain many Pokémon native to the other four regions. Alder himself may also be battled in proper Champion fashion.

Pokémon outbreaks will now occur across Unova's routes as well. Additionally, a series of strong windstormsB/thunderstormsW will occur across routes, indicating the presence of a roaming TornadusB/ThundurusW, which can be battled and caught. In Caitlin's villa in Undella Town, the player will encounter Cynthia, the Champion of the Sinnoh region. She will battle the player, remarking about the striking similarities the player shares with another young Trainer from Sinnoh.

Spoilers end here.

Blurb

A new world filled with never-before-seen Pokémon!

What are the true motives of Team Plasma and the mysterious N? What is the secret of the Legendary Pokémon? Adventure across the Unova region and discover all-new Pokémon!

Features

Black and White returns features present in previous generations, such as day, time, Abilities and the split between Physical and Special moves. Certain ones, however, such as Pokémon following their Trainers and the Battle Frontier, have been left out. Black and White also features a great deal of general graphical enhancements over previous generations, such as a higher level of 3D graphics and creative camera angles.

In addition to the improved graphics, a number of aesthetic changes have been made from previous generations, including an altered battle scene containing fully animated Pokémon battle sprites as well as a dynamic camera that changes focus to highlight specific parts of the battle. Also, when talking to people, speech balloons for dialog will appear over people's heads, rather than a simple dialog box.

In the international versions, Pokémon names are no longer displayed in all capital letters, following the trend set in Generation IV of no longer displaying the names of characters, items and locations in all capital letters. Pokémon transferred from Generation IV will keep an all-caps species name unless they are evolved in Generation V, provided that they can evolve.

C-Gear

The C-Gear allows players to use certain multiplayer functions while anywhere in the game world. These functions vary with the type of communication used: wireless, Wi-Fi and infrared. The C-Gear is similar to the Pokétch in that it fills the bottom screen, but its applications are much different.

On the C-Gear, as well as in battle, the current time is displayed in 12-hour format, however, at the hours of 12:00 AM and PM, the hour displays as 0, rather than 12, as a 24-hour clock, such as that on the DS and in the Generation IV games, would display midnight.

Players can use the Xtransceiver to talk to other players; this utilizes the camera when played on systems that have one.

Pokémon Global Link

Main article: Pokémon Global Link

The Pokémon Global Link is a multiplayer feature that makes use of the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection and is the equivalent of the fourth generation Global Terminal. In addition to providing the features of the Global Terminal, it allows players to upload their save files to the Pokémon Global Link website to access the Pokémon Dream World. Players can also go to the Pokémon Center to enter Random Matchup where they can battle a random person also connected to Random Matchup. The Global Link is also the place where players can download exclusive content including C-Gear and Pokédex skins and additional Pokémon Musical songs.

Pokémon Dream World

Main article: Pokémon Dream World

The Pokémon Dream World is a special feature of the Generation V games which is operated via the website Pokémon-GL.com. The Dream World allows players to send a Pokémon to the Internet to obtain items and meet other Pokémon, making the website in a way such that it is a Generation V analog to the Pokéwalker.

Many Pokémon that are found here are not found in the Unova region, and would otherwise have to be migrated from a Generation IV game to be used. All of the Pokémon available here have their Hidden Abilities, which can only be obtained via special means.

As of January 14, 2014, the Dream World has been closed and is no longer available.

Entralink

Main article: Entralink

The Entralink is a new feature in Pokémon Black and White which allows contact with other players over local wireless. It is a multiplayer area in central Unova; Pokémon obtained in the Pokémon Dream World can be caught here. In combination with the C-Gear, it is possible to travel through Unova with other players and battle, trade and perform various multiplayer sidequests.

Pokémon Musical

Main article: Pokémon Musical

Pokémon Contests, which have been present since Generation III, are replaced by the Pokémon Musicals. Similar to the Super Contests in Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum, Trainers have to dress up their Pokémon with different accessories. The Pokémon will then compete by dancing on the theater stage with the other entrants. They are held in Nimbasa City.

Seasons

Much like Generation II introduced a system of time, Generation V features a system of seasons. Seasons change every month, thus completing three cycles per year. With it comes aesthetic changes in the region, as well as some changes with the Pokémon found in the wild. It also reflects real life in affecting the time each part of the day is; for example, in winter, night is from 19:00 to 6:59, but in summer it is from 21:00 to 3:59. Additionally, Deerling and its evolution Sawsbuck change forms every season. Some areas can only be accessed in certain seasons.

Sprite animations

While already featured in previous games, Pokémon sprites in Black and White remain animated throughout the battle. Additionally, full back sprites are now present in the games. Some, but not all, Pokémon use animated versions of their Generation IV sprites, occasionally with minor modifications to the original Generation IV sprites. All Trainers, on the other hand, with the exception of Bianca, Cheren and N, return to sprites with no animations.

Changing music

In previous games, the main music track always remained the same throughout battles, in Generation V, the battle music may change with the situation. For example, when battling a Gym Leader's last Pokémon, the music changes to a remix of the main theme. The warning sound heard when a Pokémon has at most 20 percent of its maximum HP remaining has been remixed into its own music. Some "rare" wild Pokémon also get their own theme, along with wild double battle themes changing too. While not technically new, the seasons also change the music in certain places, though these changes are mostly changes to instrumentation, similar to how the day/night cycle could affect the music in Generation IV.

Weather

Unlike previous generations, the weather is shown only once, during the first turn. Instead of showing it again every turn until the condition ends, there will be an icon on the touch screen showing current weather (or no icon if there's no weather currently). However, unused text exists in the game for hail, sandstorm, and even fog.

Triple Battles

Main article: Triple Battle

In a Triple Battle, three Pokémon on each side are sent out at once. However, unlike in a Double Battle, there are restrictions as to which Pokémon can attack which opponent. The Pokémon in the middle can attack (and be attacked by) all three on the other side, but the ones on the side cannot attack the Pokémon on the far side of the opposite end. However, some moves can break this rule, including most Flying-type moves such as Pluck and 'pulse' related moves such as Aura Sphere. The Pokémon Pansage, Pansear, and Panpour were introduced to showcase this new feature. The position of each Pokémon can be shifted during battle; like switching, this uses a turn.

Rotation Battles

Main article: Rotation Battle

Rotation Battles are similar to Triple Battles in that three Pokémon in each team are sent onto each side; however, they are sent out onto a circular platform. The platform can be rotated a third of the way around in either direction without wasting a turn. The Pokémon which is in the third of the circle facing the opponent is the one currently active. Strategy revolves around predicting which Pokémon the opponent will switch to and switching to the appropriate Pokémon on the player's side.

Word filter

Pokémon Black and White implemented a blacklist on name inputs. They are the first core series games with this feature.

Gyms

Pokémon Black and White brings back the traditional eight Gyms, but with it a total of eleven Gym Leaders. They are Cilan, Chili, and Cress (Grass, Fire, and Water, respectively), Lenora (Normal), Burgh (Bug), Elesa (Electric), Clay (Ground), Skyla (Flying), Brycen (Ice), and Drayden and Iris (Dragon). Cilan, Chili, or Cress are battled if the player has chosen the Water-type, Grass-type, or Fire-type starter Pokémon, respectively. Drayden is battled in Pokémon Black while Iris is battled in Pokémon White.

Elite Four and Champion

Unlike previous games, the Elite Four can be battled in any order. After battling all four, a path to the Champion is unlocked. The Elite Four members are Shauntal (Ghost), Grimsley (Dark), Caitlin (Psychic), and Marshal (Fighting). However, the player is not able to battle the Champion before defeating Team Plasma. Later, after defeating the Elite Four in a rematch, the player will face Champion Alder, who uses a variety of types. Caitlin is the same person present in the Battle Castle who was alongside her butler Darach in Generation IV.

Technical Machines

There are now 95 Technical Machines, and, unlike in previous generations, they now have infinite uses, much like Hidden Machines. Due to this major change, only a few TMs can be bought, and now the current PP of the replaced move remains when a new move is taught.

New Pokémon

Black and White bring a total of 156 new Pokémon, higher than any other generation, bringing the overall total to 649 from the 493 present in Generation IV. While some new Pokémon may have similarities to previously introduced Pokémon, none of the new Pokémon are related by evolution to any of the 493 introduced previously.

The first Pokémon to be revealed were Zoroark and Zorua on February 10, 2010, who were both featured in Zoroark: Master of Illusions. Following that, the starter Pokémon Snivy, Oshawott, and Tepig were revealed in the May 2010 issue of CoroCoro. Unlike previous generations, no other new Pokémon were featured in the main anime prior to the games' Japanese release.



The following Pokémon can only be found in White Forest, which is exclusive to Pokémon White. All of these Pokémon are found at level 5 and cannot be avoided through the use of Repel or similar means:

White Forest only 016 Pidgey Normal Flying 029 Nidoran♀ Poison 032 Nidoran♂ Poison 043 Oddish Grass Poison 063 Abra Psychic 066 Machop Fighting 069 Bellsprout Grass Poison 081 Magnemite Electric Steel 092 Gastly Ghost Poison 111 Rhyhorn Ground Rock 137 Porygon Normal 175 Togepi Normal 179 Mareep Electric 187 Hoppip Grass Flying 194 Wooper Water Ground 239 Elekid Electric 240 Magby Fire 265 Wurmple Bug 270 Lotad Water Grass 273 Seedot Grass 280 Ralts Psychic 283 Surskit Bug Water 287 Slakoth Normal 293 Whismur Normal 298 Azurill Normal 304 Aron Steel Rock 328 Trapinch Ground 341 Corphish Water 371 Bagon Dragon 396 Starly Normal Flying 403 Shinx Electric 406 Budew Grass Poison 440 Happiny Normal

Compatibility

Black and White are able to connect with all fourth generation core series games, as well as their sequels Black 2 and White 2. Pokémon from Diamond, Pearl, Platinum, HeartGold, and SoulSilver are able to be sent to these games using the Poké Transfer. Like the transfer available in Pal Park, Pokémon sent to Black and White from Generation IV games cannot be returned to their original games. Some event Pokémon released in Generation IV have the ability to unlock more events in Generation V: Raikou, Entei, Suicune and Celebi, transferable via an exclusive method called the Relocator, unlock Zorua and Zoroark. Additionally, the Lock Capsule is a Key Item that is not legitimately available, which could theoretically be transferred from Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver to obtain TM95 (Snarl).

Black and White also have the ability to connect to the Internet, accessing the Pokémon Dream World; Pokémon acquired in this manner are obtained in the Entree Forest. Although the game cartridges contain infrared technology similar to that used in HeartGold and SoulSilver, Black and White are unable to connect with the Pokéwalker.

The Korean versions, unlike the Korean Generation IV games, can communicate with international versions without any issues.

DSi features

Pokémon Black and White Versions are DSi-enhanced games, meaning that they have certain features which are only enabled when played on a system in the Nintendo DSi or Nintendo 3DS family. These features include the following:

These games can recognize and connect to routers with WPA connections.

The user-facing camera can be used during Xtransceiver communications with other players.

The C-Gear shows the system power using three bars in a battery icon, rather than two on older Nintendo DS systems.

The game icon is animated when viewed on the Nintendo DSi or 3DS home screen—the Poké Ball inside the icon wiggles.

Various menus scroll more quickly (such as the Pokédex and Bag), and they take slightly less time to load.

Japanese versions of Pokémon Black and White are region-locked, so can only be played on Japanese-region Nintendo DSi and Nintendo 3DS systems; however, because the Nintendo DS and DS Lite do not support region-locking, they can be played on these systems regardless of region. The Korean and Western language releases are not region-locked, so can be played on any Nintendo DS or 3DS system regardless of region.

Reception

Black and White's perfect score

Gaming magazine Famitsu gave Pokémon Black and White a perfect score.[7] The reviewers were highly impressed with the fresh approach that the game has taken, from the graphics to the new features to the diversity of the Pokémon. The reviewers were also impressed by the Wi-Fi and PC features. Very few games have received a perfect score of 40/40, the first of which was The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

Game Informer gave the games 8.75 out of 10.[8] VideoGamer.com gave the games a 9 out of 10.[9] Nintendo Power gave the games a 9.0 out of 10. Edge gave the games an 8/10. The Official Nintendo Magazine gave the game 95%. IGN gave the games an "Amazing" 9.0 out of 10.[10] Pokémon Black and White hold a rating of 85.88%[11] and 87.24%,[12] respectively, on GameRankings.

Sales

In the fiscal year of their release, they sold 11.51 million units.[13] As of March 31, 2020, Pokémon Black and White have sold 15.64 million copies worldwide, making these games the lowest selling primary core series games.[14]

Japanese sales

Pokémon Black and White sold 2,557,779 units on their first week on the Japanese market,[15] being 1,323,423 from Pokémon Black and 1,234,356 from Pokémon White, with a sell-through of 89.21% and 86.09% respectively. By December 29, 2013, the end of their 172nd week, they had sold 5,516,542 copies, being 2,887,325 from Pokémon Black and 2,629,217 from Pokémon White.

Week Week ending Ranking Units sold Total units sold 1 September 19, 2010 1st 2,557,779 2,557,779 2 September 26, 2010 1st 828,580 3,386,358 3 October 3, 2010 1st 374,859 3,761,217 4 October 10, 2010 1st 231,638 3,992,855 5 October 17, 2010 1st 168,541 4,161,397 6 October 24, 2010 2nd 81,915 4,243,312 7 October 31, 2010 4th 68,686 4,311,998 8 November 7, 2010 3rd 56,719 4,368,717 9 November 14, 2010 4th 42,279 4,410,996 10 November 21, 2010 3rd 39,883 4,450,879 11 November 28, 2010 5th 43,227 4,494,106 12 December 5, 2010 6th 54,848 4,548,954 13 December 12, 2010 4th 79,819 4,628,773 14 December 19, 2010 5th 115,438 4,744,211 15 December 26, 2010 4th 164,950 4,909,161 16 January 2, 2011 6th 57,576 4,966,738 17 January 9, 2011 4th 45,590 5,012,327 18 January 16, 2011 8th 15,542 5,027,870 19 January 23, 2011 8th 12,115 5,039,984 20 January 30, 2011 16th 10,654 5,050,638 68 January 1, 2012 50th - 5,400,613 120 December 30, 2012 - - 5,504,495 172 December 29, 2013 - - 5,516,542

Staff

Main article: Staff of Pokémon Black and White

Music

The soundtrack contains all of the background music from the games, composed by Shota Kageyama, Junichi Masuda, Hitomi Satō, Gō Ichinose, Morikazu Aoki, Minako Adachi, and Satoshi Nohara. The music is arranged by Shota Kageyama, Hitomi Satō, Gō Ichinose, and Minako Adachi.

Beta elements

Main article: Pokémon Black and White beta

Pre-order bonuses

In Japan, people could receive a Reshiram sound drop by pre-ordering Pokémon Black and a Zekrom sound drop by pre-ordering Pokémon White.

In the USA, Toys "R" Us offered Reshiram and Zekrom wall clings to anyone who pre-ordered the game.

In the UK, Gamestation offered three styluses for the DS, each one featuring one of the Unova starter Pokémon to anyone who pre-ordered the game.

In the UK, GAME offered an exclusive poster to anyone who pre-ordered the game.

In Australia, JB Hi-Fi offered a Nintendo DS case featuring Reshiram and Zekrom to anyone who pre-ordered the game.

In Mexico, Gameplanet offered a white T-shirt featuring Zekrom for pre-ordering Pokémon White and a black T-shirt featuring Reshiram for pre-ordering Pokémon Black. Each T-shirt had their corresponding version logos, the Nintendo DS logo and the Gameplanet store logo. The event Celebi for Generation IV games was also promoted as a pre-order exclusive, but in reality it could be obtained by anyone with a Generation IV game in the store.

Gallery

Logos

English Pokémon Black logo

English Pokémon White logo

Japanese Pokémon Black logo

Japanese Pokémon White logo

Korean Pokémon Black logo

Korean Pokémon White logo

Title screens

English Pokémon Black title screen

English Pokémon White title screen

Japanese Pokémon Black title screen

Japanese Pokémon White title screen

Trivia

In other languages

Language Title Japanese ポケットモンスター ブラック・ホワイト Chinese Cantonese 精靈寶可夢 黑／白 Mandarin 精靈寶可夢 黑／白

精灵宝可梦 黑／白 French Canada Pokémon Version Noire et Version Blanche

Pokémon Black Version et White Version * Europe Pokémon Version Noire et Version Blanche German Pokémon Schwarze Edition und Weiße Edition Italian Pokémon Versione Nera e Versione Bianca Korean 포켓몬스터 블랙·화이트 Pocket Monsters Black and White European Spanish Pokémon Edición Negra y Edición Blanca

See also

Official PDF-file manual for Pokémon Black Version (English)

Official PDF-file manual for Pokémon White Version (English)

References







