Extra Joy #6 - 2012 Year in Review

At the start of every year, we discuss the year that just passed in a very big podcast. We've done it twice before and now we've done it again. The six of us, and later Phil, sat down for almost three hours and just talked about all the games that came out in 2012 that we played. So sit back, pop a game in, grab some snacks and listen to us ramble about 2012 in gaming.

You can get a MP3 version of this podcast right here.

Review: Pokémon Black 2 and White 2

Like Yellow, Crystal, Emerald, and Platinum versions before it, Game Freak has honored the fifth generation of Pokémon with an updated re-release. Only this time around, they asked themselves, "Why sell one updated re-release when we could sell two?"

Unlike all those just mentioned, however, Black 2 and White 2 feel much more like honest-to-goodness sequels than mere expansions. That much should have been obvious from the titles alone, I suppose, but I certainly can't say I was expecting this much new and exciting content.

VGM of the Week #35

Josh here again with another VGM of the Week. This time, it's a track from the newly released (in Japan) Black 2 and White 2. WARNING: There's a possibility that this might contain a Spoiler, so just in case, I'll throw in a break.

First Pokémon Black/White 2 Details Revealed

We haven't posted much this week so I figure now is as good a time as any as some details about Pokémon Black 2 and White 2 have been released and that's kind of our thing.

Corocoro, the magazine responsible for many Pokémon related leaks of the past, as well as being responsible for hyping fans up just to shoot them down with lame announcements like Poképark 2, has revealed the first details and screenshots of the game. You can check out the first artwork of the two playable characters as well as the rival on the right there and I'll put the rest after the jump. Here's some bullet points on the actual details.

- set in Unova
- set 2 years later than Black/White
- Unova is partially frozen
- has 300 Pokémon within it
- various new areas in Unova
- this includes Hiougi City, where you begin your journey
- another area has a gym leader who focuses upon Poison; Homika and another gym leader is Shizui, the Water-type leader
- new researcher called Akuroma who researches Pokémon Strength
- Hiougi City has a Pokémon Centre and a Trainer School
- it also has areas where you can look upon the other areas
- Black Kyurem will know the move Freeze Shock
- White Kyurem knows the move Ice Burn
- the Unova Pokédex contains a combination of old and new Pokémon
- Psyduck is #026, Riolu is #033 and Metagross is #254
- June 24rd Japanese release date reconfirmed

The original Black and White games decided to try to "start fresh" by not including the ability to catch or battle any of the first four generations of Pokémon until after you finished the game. It's good to see they're going back to the ways of pretty much every Pokémon game since by allowing you to catch a mix of old and new from the get-go. Not to sound old fashion, but I prefer it that way. It's nice to get to know new Pokémon but it's also comforting to know there's old favorites you already know pretty well to fall back on if needed. But the real question is, who will annoy us in all the caves? Woobat or Zubat?

Pokémon Black 2 & White 2 Boxart

Yep. That's it. That's all I got today. I just feel like we haven't posted enough this week and we like Pokémon so hey, here ya go.

Oh, also apparently Kyurem's new forms are called "overdrive" mode or something like that. The details are very sketchy right now so don't quote me on that.

And starting in June in Japan, they're going to be giving out Keldeo through online distribution in honor of Black 2 and White 2, as well as a new movie I believe. I'm sure the states will see this event around the time Black and White 2 come out here.

Keldeo is level 15 and has the moves Aqua Jet, Sacred Sword, Hydro Pump and Close Combat.

Pokémon Black 2 and White 2 Announced.

Well this was unexpected. Instead of the long-rumored third entry in the series, "Pokémon Grey" being announced on Pokémon Smash today in Japan, instead, series producer Junichi Masuda announced direct sequels to both Black and White. So that's right, four entries in the same series rather than the usual three. Little information is known about the games with the exception of the names, the fact that they'll be on the DS, not 3DS and that they come out in June in Japan.

They also revealed that the game will involve two new forms of the third dragon, Kyurem. They looked to be fused versions of Zekrom and Reshiram to me. We'll keep you posted as more information on this (admittedly bizarre) announcement as it comes up.