As susspected, today the official European site for Pokémon Platinum toady revealed that the Oak’s letter is available to download from today. We’ve also had information that its also avaialble in Austraila/New Zeland region as well. Between today (28th September) and 8th November, anybody with a version of Pokémon Platinum can use the Wi-Fi option to download the Oak’s letter, thus allowing you to catch a Shyamin. For more details, see the previous post.
We’ll bring you more when we learn it.
Ok, so last month, Platinum players were able to use the Wi-Fi download to get the Members Card key item, allowing them to do a subquest allowing them to catch a Darkrai. Well now the next downloadable key item, Oak’s Letter, is being made for download over the Wi-Fi between September 28th to November 8th. At the moment, this date only applies to people with the US version of the game, however since the Member’s Card could be downloaded during the same time frame in both US and Europe, its quite possible that it will be available in Europe as well… we’ll bring you an update when we know for sure.
The Oak’s Letter will change the top end of route 224, the route found via the side cave near the end of victory road. Instead of a large rock, the area turns into a large amout of flowers. Its here that you’ll encounter a Shaymin, you’ll be able to battle/catch it as well. Once caught, you can take it to Floroma Town to get the Gardicia flower (if you haven’t traded a Shaymin and got the item already). The Gardicia will change Shaymin into its Sky Forme during the day (4am-8pm), it will revert back to land forme during the night, if you box it, or if you use it over Wi-Fi battles.
We’ll keep an eye out for a Euro date for this event, so expect an update about that in a couple of days – otherwise, more news when we know it.
It’s been a week since Heart Gold and Soul Silver were released in Japan and we’ve managed to clear up some things about what’s new to the game. A lot of this information is just specifics as to stuff mentioned in the last news post. If you’re interested in any of it, head on over to the Heart Gold Soul Silver section of our forums and ask for explanations in anything you’re interested in.
In other news, the 12th movie has been given an English title. Arceus and the Jewel of Life is the third and final in the Diamond and Pearl movies, following on from The Rise of Darkrai and Giratina and the Sky Warrior. This movie will see Ash and friends in Michina Town which has a long history with the legendary Pokémon. According to legend, after the creation Pokémon gave the townspeople some of its power (the Jewel of Life mentioned in the title), the people then betrayed Arceus. As you can imagine, Arceus isn’t best pleased over this, and its rage sets to destroy the world. With the help of Dialga, Ash and co head back in time to try and undo all mistakes made.
There’s no release date yet on the 12th movie, but like the Arceus reveal itself, this reveal is a few months earlier than it has traditionally been in previous years, leading me to believe that it could be released earlier than the Easter/early spring release the movies usually get.
Speaking of Arceus, the creation Pokémon is the subject of the next TCG set due for release on November 4th. Platinum – Arceus will have over 100 cards, including multiple energy types of the main Pokémon itself.
Back to Heart Gold and Soul Silver, a couple of the things we’ve learned is that a lot of Sinnoh and Hoenn Pokémon show up in the wild. During the bug contest in the National Park, if you try it on a Thursday or a Saturday after you get the national dex, Hoenn and Sinnoh bug types will show up, including Wurmple and Kricketot. Also after getting the national dex, the music channel will play either the Hoenn sound on Wednesday or the Sinnoh sound on Thursday. Played in various areas across Johto and Kanto, these two sounds can make either Hoenn or Sinnoh Pokémon show up in the wild.
Also, if you’ve got a copy of HG or SS, don’t forget to download the special Yellow Forest Pokéwalker course. This course features a lot of Pikachu, some of which may know surf and fly… otherwise impossible moves for a Pikachu to know.
That’s all for the moment, we might update with some more HG/SS news/features/explanations soon. Otherwise, more news when we learn it.
Ok, so today sees the release of Pokémon Heart Gold and Soul Silver in Japan (US and Europe have to wait till spring next year). A lot has changed in Johto since the old Gameboy Colour games, and we’re here to bring you a brief run down of everything known so far.
Gyms and Gym Leaders: Almost all Gym’s on both sides of Mt. Silver have had a redesign, and a lot of the Gym leaders have had their levels tweaked. Most of them have gone up (the Kanto lot especially), but a couple (including Whitney) have gone down in level. All the Kanto Gym Leaders now hand out TMs when beat
Red has been training up in mount silver since we last saw him, and he’s gotten impressive as well. His Pikachu is up to level 88 now while his Venusaur, Blastoise and Charizard are now at 84 and his Snorlax is now at level 82 (all up 7 levels). He’s also switched out his lowest level 73 Espeon for a level 80 Lapras. And you thought he was tough before.
For those of you hoping that the Leaf Green/Fire Red version of Kanto, prepare to be disappointed. It’s mostly the Gold/Silver/Crystal version. Cinnabar Island volcano still blew (so that’s gone), Mt. Moon is still small and there’s no Safari Zone in Fuchsia. However, Viridian Forest (which was removed in G/S/C) still exists in the game, and in the old Safari Zone’s place is HG/SS version of the Pal Park, so if you still have some Pokémon on GBA games, here’s where you can get them picked up.
Speaking of Safari Zone, it was said that it was moved, we now know where. Remember that strange new area west of Cianwood? Well that’s where the new Safari Zone is located. It mostly works like the other Safari Zones, there are 6 areas and each one has a specific list of Pokémon contained within. The new twist, however, is that you can rearrange the areas in any way you like using a computer in the entrance. This means that if you want to search a certain area for a certain Pokémon, you can shift it to be the entrance area and not waste too many precious steps to get there.
Bizarrely, Johto Pokédex has increased from 251 to 256. The extra 5 Pokémon are Yanmega, Likiliky, Mamoswine, Ambipom and Tangrowth. All these Pokémon evolve from standard Johto Pokédex Pokémon via the learning of moves, which may explain why they were added.
Team Rocket has had a bit of change in leadership. Several admins (all named after real life rockets) have been introduced. Lambda, Athena and Apollo will crop up at various points in the game to fight for Team Rocket’s honour (and to try and take over the world, of course). During the battle of the Goldenrod Radio Tower, you will actually disguise yourself as a member of Team Rocket to sneak in.
Speaking of Bosses of Team Rocket, Giovanni is back in this game. He’ll appear during a special event to do with Celebi, and you’ll get to battle him as well. No idea’s how to activate this event… probably by using a download item like Darkrai and Shaymin in Platinum
Remember those Kimono Girls who all have Eeveelution Pokémon? Remember they’d have an important part in the story? Well one of the things they’ll do is let you be able to find both Ho-Oh and Lugia… which you can’t do until you battle and beat them all. Depending on which version you get, depends on the level of those Pokémon. On Heart Gold, Ho-oh will be level 45, same level as Lugia on Soul Silver. The other legendary will be level 70
Speaking of legendaries, here’s a quick rundown of all the ones in the game: Entei and Raikou roam around the world, while you have to follow Suicune to several places in both Johto and Kanto before being able to fight and catch it on route 25. All dogs are at level 40. Articuno is in the seafoam caves, Zapdos is outside the power plant and Moltres is in Silver Cave. All 3 birds are at level 50. Mewtwo is at level 70 hiding in Cerulean Cave. As described in the previous post, Heart Gold will allow you to get Kyogre while Soul Silver will let you get a Groudon in route 47 after getting the National Pokédex, getting a Kanto starter and picking up a coloured orb. Once you’ve caught one of them, trade to get the other one (must be from a HG/SS game) and show them to Oak, he’ll give you another orb that will let you catch Rayquaza from the same place. Latias and Latios both roam the lands at level 35 each.
After you beat your rival several times across both Johto and Kanto, he’ll end up training around the Dragon’s Den. Head up there and you could end up in a double battle with him against both Clair and Lance.
Any Pokémon you have will follow you. They use the one at the start of your party. If it’s a very large one and you enter a small area, it will re-enter its ball. Also if the Pokémon is shiny, it will be shiny in its over world sprite. While walking around, it does have a chance of picking up items like berries and accessories, like they did in Amity Square
After you’ve beaten Red, all of the gym leaders leave their gyms at certain times/days. If you go meet up with them, they’ll get added to your contact list and they’ll then call you for rematches.
And that’s it for the moment… and while that’s a lot of info and this post is MASSIVE already, here’s a side note. Remember Melee! Pokémon Scramble? Well it’s heading over to the US under the new name of Pokémon Rumble. No release date yet, but it shouldn’t be within the next month or two. Hopefully it will also be released in Europe before the end of the year
And that really is it… for now anyway. More when we have it.
Hey there, Ryan659 here…Just filling in for WhoKnows_WhoCares for this post.
There’s been a whole mound of information been released recently on Heart Gold and Soul Silver, due to the upcoming release of the game. These are listed below.
First off, Suicune, one of the trio of legendary dogs of the region, is caught a little differently to the others. Where the other two are found by regularly checking the map to see where they are, Suicune will stay in a region until you meet it, then flee to another region. After a few regions it then stays in one region, without fleeing at all, giving you a proper chance for a battle. Second, Groudon and Kyogre (depending on version) can be found by being given a Red/Blue Orb (depending on version) by a man on Route 27 after obtaining the National Dex, then seen in a cave west of Cianwood City, with Rayquaza needing both Groudon and Kyogre as already revealed, along with a Green Orb from the same man and being found in the same cave.
Also, there is a large amount of starter Pokémon being given in this game. To start with, you get the original Johto selection, however after collecting all 16 badges and talking to Oak, he will give you the choice of choosing from the Kanto starters. Then, after Red is defeated in Silver Cave (who now has a slightly different team to the original games), a man in Silph Co. in Saffron City will offer you the choice from any of the Hoenn starters.
Along with this, Pal Park is in this game, also. The original site for the Safari Zone in Fuchsia City that was, in the original games, closed, is now the new Pal Park. No other information has been revealed about this area as of yet. Also, trading with Diamond, Pearl and Platinum versions is available from this game from the very start, as soon as trading is possible.
More news comes as it is made.