Zero Punctuation: Pokemon White

[Brad Shepard]

wish we could have heard about how he felt about the plot, but ah well, shit happens.

Nintendo game...Plot??? Since when?

either A, you dident play the game, or B, you rushed though it without reading dialog. The game has a preety good story if your willing to forgive its faults.

 

[Flare Phoenix]

Was kinda waiting for him to address the "why don't the bad guys just use 40 pokemon each" thing since they're breaking the law everywhere else, but good overall. It really hasn't changed, though thanks for the heads up on the electric gym.

The bigger question is why they use Pokemon at all when bullets would seem far easier and less hassle.

The fan base has a theory on that. Guns don?t exist, think about it, once people figured out how to tame creatures that could cause earthquakes or shoot lighting why would anyone need guns?

It's been shown consistantly throughout the anime guns do infact exist. In the episode "The Legend of Dratini" the Safari Zone warden points a gun at Ash's head. In the episode "Here Comes the Squirtle Squad" the shop owners point their guns at Ash after just getting robbed by Team Rocket (who themselves used a bazooka not too long before that).

Besides, in the Pokemon world getting electricuted is more of a minor annoyance than any life-threatening occurance.

The thing I never got in Pokemon is why causing a Pokemon to faint makes it impossible to catch (or why failing to catch a Pokemon renders the Pokeball used useless).

 

[Crazie_Guy]

I think anyone could have predicted the gist of this review. A 5th generation game in the one series most prominently in violation of Yahtzee's long standing hate of innovationless sequels? Not a chance. What I'm much more interested in now, is what he thought of Pokemon Yellow when he first played it, when Pokemon was new and not yet bogged down with years of samey additions.

 

[TimeLord]

....infinite item bag after R/B/Y's STUPID limit...

Oh god, I hated that! I was go glad when I'd found out they removed it when I bought Soul Silver!

 

[profpeanut]

I'm not sure how this will work, but I think it's cool enough to try. I'm gonna use Alakazam first

Gengar fires off a Shadow Ball. There's only two ways Alakazam can win here (since you didn't give me any stats or items to work with):
1. Alakazam poured all his EV stats into HP and Special Defense, surviving the hit and OHKO-ing with Psychic. Since Alakazam is the poster boy for "glass cannon", that's unlikely.
2. Alakazam also has a Choice Scarf. Normally, he outspeeds Gengar and can hit first, but Gengar is Scarfed.

Most other scenarios, Gengar OHKOs. But it all depends on what the other player put on the Alakazam, yes? You'd think all Alakazams would be Scarfed then, but being locked down into using only one attacking move is just Sucker Punch (read: a powerful Dark-type move that always hits first, but only works if the foe attacks as well) bait. And you won't know if your opponent even carries the move or went with Crunch instead.

Here's another team, and another Gengar. Try beat this one.

 

[InnerRebellion]

I must be batshit insane, because I thought Black was a really good game.

 

[Danpascooch]

You got your game strategy thrown off by EMOLGA enough to complain about it? Pokemon wasn't EASY enough for you that a Gym Leader you COULDN'T sweep with one move is a negative point against it?

The bane of Yahtzee's existence.​

Besides, "catching them all" is no longer viable...or even the point, really. It's all about competitive play, with the advent of wi-fi in D/P/P.

And the game has changed a lot. The basic 8 gyms, 4 moves per pokemon, Rock/Paper/Scissors combat system hasn't. But the other mechanics have.

From the infinite TM use of B/W, to the infinite item bag after R/B/Y's STUPID limit, to the addition of Abilites in Gen 3, The Special split in Gen 2, the Special/Physical MOVE split in Gen 4, and even the removal/addition of new HMs for world exploration, to the key item mapping for easy Bike use.

He made some good points, but did anyone notice he complained about how his elementally diverse team made the game too easy, and then proceeded to complain about the gym being too hard?

So the game is simultaneously stupidly easy, and frustratingly hard? Come on Yahtzee.

 

[goldeneye101]

I usually don't post on Escapist, I'm usually on /v/, /vp/, and /sp/ and heard about this:

Actually, I thought the review is funny, especially the "version doesn't matter" joke. But note to those that hate it just because you sound funny: You aren't acting any tougher.

Also, the stuff he mentioned are the stuff that made Pokemon iconic in the first place. Of course, also note that Yahtzee only played RBG Generation.

On that note, I'd love to see him VS Whitney in the original Gold/Silver. The difficulty was EASIER in this game than ever before, and if he got troubled by an Emolga I feel sorry for him.

Moreover, about the "Pokemon fans are crazy" comment, isn't that the same with most fanbases?

Other than that, another great review/criticism, Yahtzee.

 

[Danpascooch]

I'm not sure how this will work, but I think it's cool enough to try. I'm gonna use Alakazam first

Gengar fires off a Shadow Ball. There's only two ways Alakazam can win here (since you didn't give me any stats or items to work with):
1. Alakazam poured all his EV stats into HP and Special Defense, surviving the hit and OHKO-ing with Psychic. Since Alakazam is the poster boy for "glass cannon", that's unlikely.
2. Alakazam also has a Choice Scarf. Normally, he outspeeds Gengar and can hit first, but Gengar is Scarfed.

Most other scenarios, Gengar OHKOs. But it all depends on what the other player put on the Alakazam, yes? You'd think all Alakazams would be Scarfed then, but being locked down into using only one attacking move is just Sucker Punch (read: a powerful Dark-type move that always hits first, but only works if the foe attacks as well) bait. And you won't know if your opponent even carries the move or went with Crunch instead.

Here's another team, and another Gengar. Try beat this one.

Lol, you certainly know your shit, or are at least well versed it teh googlez

My team has been "under construction" for well over a year now, basically once I got three of them set I stopped caring since that's all I needed for the battle frontier.

Right now I have:

Scizor (I fucking love this thing):
X-Scizzor
Iron Head
Swords Dance
U-Turn

Item: uh......I forgot

IVs: Through the fucking roof, like all around, it's like I won the lottery with this one
EVs: Max speed Max attack

Ampharos:
Light Screen
Reflect
Thunderbolt? (Can't remember, it's going to be volt switch for sure when I move him to white)
Can't remember (I really just screen support and then move him out anyway)

Item: Light CLay

IVs: Very good, nowhere near Scizor, but respectably good (took dozens of breeds)
EVs: Split between health and both forms of defense, with a little speed thrown in there

Dragonite:
Outrage
Brick Break
Fly
Dragon Dance

Item: Choice Band (Yep, I'm one of those guys

IVs: Very good
EVs: Split between attack and speed


I think the three other slots are going to be Walrein, Hippodon, and Blaziken. I already have them to level 100, but I haven't optimized their IV's, EV's (well, a couple of them have optimized EV's) or movesets yet, so I don't really count them as part of my team.



Although it's not for battling, I am super proud of my Smeagle, it is the ULTIMATE catcher.

Moves:
Spore (because it has ONE HUNDRED accuracy unlike hypnosis)
False Swipe (base attack: 40 -> Stab Bonus: 60 -> Technician Ability: 90 -> White Scarf: 100)
Foresight (so that 100 power false swipe can hit ANYTHING)
Spider Web (for those pesky wandering pokemon)

It's at level 100, and it can catch ANYTHING

 

[KalosCast]

He made some good points, but did anyone notice he complained about how his elementally diverse team made the game too easy, and then proceeded to complain about the gym being too hard?

So the game is simultaneously stupidly easy, and frustratingly hard? Come on Yahtzee.

Nobody likes a fanboy.

He complained that the game as a whole was too easy because of his diverse elemental team.

He then complained that the rock paper scissors style combo the game told him to pursue was not actually the one he was supposed to pursue in the case of one particular pokemon in one particular gym.

These are not mutually exclusive.

 

[MrThisguy978]

i guess for me its more like reliving my first game ever as a child oh so many times over again

though black/white had the most plot of any pokemon game ever so far

still bought it and lost 65 hours of my life i wont be getting back

 

[mexicola]

I'm a little disappointed there is only one crazy pokemon person defending the game on the first page (and I couldn't be arsed to read the remaining 10). But nice one Yahtzee - I would have been concerned if you said you liked the game. I can sleep easy now.

 

[SD-Fiend]

Totally saw this coming with the unoriginal list of pokemon

I have to agree with this. There's 3 new pokemon based on ice creams... all have the word vanilla in their name... have some damn creativity people!

He should've done what I always do: Focus on strengthening my starter Pokemon. :3

My starter was tepig. it sucks now that its in the last evolution even though it was a higher level then most things. i used victini more then it anyway.

their all evolutions of the same pokemon what else would would you call a vanilla ice cream line? they have tons of creativity

 

[Danpascooch]

He made some good points, but did anyone notice he complained about how his elementally diverse team made the game too easy, and then proceeded to complain about the gym being too hard?

So the game is simultaneously stupidly easy, and frustratingly hard? Come on Yahtzee.

Nobody likes a fanboy.

He complained that the game as a whole was too easy because of his diverse elemental team.

He then complained that the rock paper scissors style combo the game told him to pursue was not actually the one he was supposed to pursue in the case of one particular pokemon in one particular gym.

These are not mutually exclusive.

If I find an inconsistency I must be a fanboy with no basis for my opinion?

He complains about the game being too rock-paper-scizzors, but then when it doesn't follow it for that gym he complains that it WASN'T rock-paper-scizzors, that's a contradiction.

The only basis you have for calling me a "fanboy" is that I disagreed with something Yahtzee said, meaning you just essentially said "Nobody likes a person who disagrees with something Yahtzee says" you do realize how fucking absurd that is right?

It's double ass backwards absurd because I even stated that he made some good points, you mean I have to agree absolutely unwaveringly 100% with everything he said to not have arbitrary demeaning labels thrust upon me!?

Name calling is a habit you should have shed in grade school, grow up.

 

[Nostalgia]

Except in Pokemon's case, its true for the most part!

Seriously... I quit playing after they released gold and silver...

...
I don't even know anymore.

No one is arguing that the formula is different, but if you're arguing that the game hasn't had noticeable changes, then don't spout crap that you yourself know nothing about.
Barring legendaries, it's easy to obtain previous Pokemon, especially with the introduction of Wifi. (even if the GTS is terrible)
Have a few friends, at least one of them with a different version, or join a community forum and you'll have no trouble. Collecting all of them isn't suppose to be easy. It's called an investment. And even if you don't want to catch them all, you can simply just catch everything in the regional Pokedex (akin to the first generation for those that can't put two and two together), and be done there.

Sorry to break it to you, but "Gotta catch 'em all!" was an English slogan used as a marketing tool. It was simply "Get Pokemon!" in the Japanese version. You get a certificate for completing your Pokedex, but collecting is a side-quest.

 

[The Bandit]

You dont even need to catch them all anymore, you only need to encounter them to get an entry in the Pokedex >_>

WHAT! Jesus Christ. I knew Pokemon had gone down hill since they started adding a bazillion more, but that's just criminal.

 

[The Bandit]

Was kinda waiting for him to address the "why don't the bad guys just use 40 pokemon each" thing since they're breaking the law everywhere else, but good overall. It really hasn't changed, though thanks for the heads up on the electric gym.

The bigger question is why they use Pokemon at all when bullets would seem far easier and less hassle.

The fan base has a theory on that. Guns don?t exist, think about it, once people figured out how to tame creatures that could cause earthquakes or shoot lighting why would anyone need guns?

Be... Because it would be far easier and less of a hassle. Seriously? He... Well... I mean, he just said that dude. : /

 

[BreakdownBoy]

I can't believe someone is still trying to make money from Pokemon outside Japan. And WTF is with Yahtzee reviewing games that most likely only sell a couple of hundred copies outside Japan?

 

[Nostalgia]

He made some good points, but did anyone notice he complained about how his elementally diverse team made the game too easy, and then proceeded to complain about the gym being too hard?

So the game is simultaneously stupidly easy, and frustratingly hard? Come on Yahtzee.

Nobody likes a fanboy.

He complained that the game as a whole was too easy because of his diverse elemental team.

He then complained that the rock paper scissors style combo the game told him to pursue was not actually the one he was supposed to pursue in the case of one particular pokemon in one particular gym.

These are not mutually exclusive.

Oh shit! There isn't a clear cut strategy like simply just having one type to counter the other type? He made a contradiction regardless. It takes more than simply just rock, paper, scissors when there are much other factors to consider. If his team was so balanced, he could have handled it effectively by using them all or giving his Pokemon diverse movepool to handle their own counter should the need arise.

I've gone to Nimbasa and all the people talk about are the attractions in the city. There are people in houses that talk about random things, but none talk about the gym leader. The only people that really do are inside the gym and have the same flying squirrel that the leader has, or the leader herself when she isn't gloating about her model status after Bianca has her little dramatization.

Ground still completes negates electrical moves so you have the upper hand regardless.

I can't believe someone is still trying to make money from Pokemon outside Japan. And WTF is with Yahtzee reviewing games that most likely only sell a couple of hundred copies outside Japan?

Trololololo..

 

[Danpascooch]

He made some good points, but did anyone notice he complained about how his elementally diverse team made the game too easy, and then proceeded to complain about the gym being too hard?

So the game is simultaneously stupidly easy, and frustratingly hard? Come on Yahtzee.

Nobody likes a fanboy.

He complained that the game as a whole was too easy because of his diverse elemental team.

He then complained that the rock paper scissors style combo the game told him to pursue was not actually the one he was supposed to pursue in the case of one particular pokemon in one particular gym.

These are not mutually exclusive.

If I find an inconsistency I must be a fanboy with no basis for my opinion?

He complains about the game being too rock-paper-scizzors, but then when it doesn't follow it for that gym he complains that it WASN'T rock-paper-scizzors, that's a contradiction.

The only basis you have for calling me a "fanboy" is that I disagreed with something Yahtzee said, meaning you just essentially said "Nobody likes a person who disagrees with something Yahtzee says" you do realize how fucking absurd that is right?

It's double ass backwards absurd because I even stated that he made some good points, you mean I have to agree absolutely unwaveringly 100% with everything he said to not have arbitrary demeaning labels thrust upon me!?

Name calling is a habit you should have shed in grade school, grow up.

Your fanboy rage is not doing a very good job of convincing me you're not a fanboy.

And a flying/electric type doesn't "break" the rock/paper/scissors thing, it's just not what he should have gone for despite the game explicitly telling him otherwise.

He specifically said there was very little that could touch him, and then complained about how N kept beating him (remember the part where it said "third try")?

Fanboy cuts both ways, and your groundless namecalling and inability to accept any sort of disagreement with Yahtzee without labeling people makes you a "fanboy" of Yahtzee

That word needs to die, it's like people aren't allowed to like something without having their opinion thrown out arbitrarily, I'm not enraged at Yahtzee, I'm enraged at your blatant stereotyping and incessant need for an "all or nothing" agreement with the entire video.

I've been watching Yahtzee long before you even registered your account, I'm a big fan, and I'm allowed to disagree with a SINGLE FUCKING PART of one of his videos now and then, Jesus Christ!