After 20 years of heart-pounding excitement, the Pokémon series is finally ready to come to a close. In a year where the developers of the original games, GAME FREAK, are celebrating their 25th anniversary, the time has finally come to wrap up this epic journey.
I’ve spent a lot of time playing both games and I’m going to tell you which one is better. So far, I’ve beaten the Elite Four (and the Champion) in each version, and I’m taking on the Pokemon League in each version.
The Pokémon series has long been a fan favorite, and has even been considered as a contender for Nintendo’s “Best Selling Game” of the video game industry.
The sensation of grabbing your GameBoy or other Nintendo portable gaming system and hearing the recognizable sound of a Pokémon game starting is one that only a genuine fan will understand, but one that no one else will be able to describe. It’s a distinct and nostalgic sensation that most Pokémon fans are familiar with, and it’s that emotion that prompted us to write today’s post comparing two Pokémon games: HeartGold and SoulSilver.
SoulSilver is a more difficult game, therefore it’s best for those who like a good challenge. HeartGold, on the other hand, is a simpler game that is ideal for beginners. The plots of Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver are almost identical, although certain Pokemon, such as Ho-Oh, vary.
Pokémon, short for Pocket Monsters, is a 1995 Japanese video game series developed by Satoshi Tajiri and Ken Sugimori. It’s a fantasy series set in a world where people coexist with animals known as Pokémon, who come in a variety of forms and sizes. It began as a series of video games for the Game Boy system, but it quickly grew to include various forms of media. The most prominent brands nowadays are video games and anime (including related films), but the franchise has grown to include live-action films such as Pokémon Detective Pikachu. Let’s look at our list now that we’ve given you a little introduction.
An overview of Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver
Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver are Nintendo DS remakes of the Game Boy Color titles Pokémon Gold and Silver, which were released in 1999. They were announced by Nintendo on May 8, 2009, and debuted in Japan on September 12, 2009, nearly ten years after their predecessors.
The release dates for Korea, America, Australia, and Europe were very close: both games were published on February 4th in Korea, March 14th in America, March 25th in Australia, and March 26th in Europe. As a result, they were the first games in the main series to be revealed and published in South Korea before they were announced and released in Europe and America. Furthermore, these are the first and so far only versions to have a playable extra gadget, the Pokéwalker.
The games’ plots are nearly entirely based on the Gold and Silver versions, with some aspects from the Crystal edition and entirely new material. The player starts in the tiny town of New Bark Town, where he meets his first Pokémon and begins his journey.
He or she may select from the starting Pokémon Chicorita, Cyndaquil, or Totorile in the Johto region, one of which can be acquired from Professor Elm. He assigns the protagonist to perform an errand for the professor and sends him to Mr. Pokémon. Professor Oak greets you there and hands you a Pokédex.
You may exchange Pokémon with all other games from all four generations after you’ve got it. You come into battle with a strange individual on your way back to New Bark Town, who turns out to be Silver, the protagonist’s adversary. Back in the lab, you learn that he is accused of stealing a Pokémon.
The player’s adventure across the area will now begin. A quest that will take him throughout the nation as he solves riddles, fights battles, explores ruins, and earns medals in order to become a Pokémon master by winning the Pokémon League. The protagonist encounters the ambitious mystic Eusine and the criminal team Rocket, who are attempting to reclaim control of the Pokémon world by tracking down their former boss, Giovanni.
Within the Kanto area, the player has the chance to earn even more medals and explore even more of the Pokémon world.
What distinctions exist between HeartGold and SoulSilver?
There are changes between HeartGold and SoulSilver, as there are between each version of the game pairs, but they aren’t significant. If you’d rather see it, here’s a video that explains the differences between the two games:
Of course, this will not prevent us from describing the differences in textual form. The major difference between these two games is the Pokémon you’ll meet, since each include a number of version-exclusive Pokémon. They are as follows:
- Vulpix, Ninetales, Meowth, Persian, Ledyba, Ledian, Teddiurs, Ursaring, Delibird, Skarmory, Mawile, Gulpin, Swalot, Groudon, Latios, and Lugia are SoulSilver-exclusive Pokémon.
- Mankey, Primeape, Growlithe, Arcanine, Spinarak, Aridos, Gligar, Mantine, Phanphy, Donphna, Sableye, Claydol, Kyogre, Mantyke, Gliscor, Latias, and Ho-oh are unique to HeartGold.
In HeartGold, you first see the Bell Tower, whereas in SoulSilver, you first visit the Whirl Islands. In addition, you face Ho-Oh at level 40 and Lugia at level 70 in HeartGold, and you confront Ho-Oh at level 70 and Lugia at level 40 in SoulSilver.
However, in order to show you how much of an upgrade these games were when they first came out, we’ll highlight the major changes between the two remakes and the original Generation II titles. This is not a comprehensive list; instead, it will highlight the most significant enhancements:
- Like Pikachu in Yellow, all 493 Pokémon are capable of following players. When a Pokémon follows the player, its luster and shape distinctions are preserved. The user may interact with their Pokémon by pressing ‘A’ while facing it, allowing them to see how it is now feeling. They are sent out from the side of the screen, rather than from a Poké Ball, in combat, like Yellow’s Pikachu. Except under specific circumstances, like as while riding a bicycle, surfing, or going inside with a big Pokémon, the player’s lead Pokémon will always follow them.
- In both versions, a new set of events occurs before the player encounters the game mascots, making it necessary for the player to battle the game mascot in order to continue with the game and progress to the Pokémon League, similar to the plots of Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum. Meeting Ho-Oh and Lugia was entirely optional in the original series.
- In contrast to Generation II, additional tasks are added to accomplish that are now needed to advance the narrative. For example, to confront Whitney, you’ll need the Pokégear Radio Card, and to face the Elite Four, you’ll need to finish the Kimono Girls and game mascot event. Blue is currently the sole exception to the rule that the Kanto Gym Leaders may be challenged in any order. He will only depart Cinnabar Island to return to his Gym after confirming that the player has the remaining seven Kanto Gym Badges.
- The five Kimono Girls from Ecruteak City’s Dance Theater now play an important part in the game. Throughout the game, the player will encounter each Kimono Girl at various moments and will be asked to do a little favor for them. Each Kimono Girl puts the player to the test with a fight after obtaining the Master Ball from Professor Elm and before meeting the game mascot. Once they’ve beaten all five, they’ll go to the Bell TowerHG/Whirl IslandsSS and perform a dance to call Ho-OhHG/LugiaSS.
- In the games, you may catch legendary Pokémon from different areas. After Red is vanquished in HeartGold and SoulSilver, Hoenn’s legendaries, Kyogre and Groudon, return, and Rayquaza may be captured in both games if a Groudon from SoulSilver and a Kyogre from HeartGold are presented to Professor Oak. After conversing with Steven Stone, Latias (in HeartGold) or Latios (in SoulSilver) may be discovered wandering Kanto later in the game. Mewtwo may be discovered in Cerulean Cave, whereas the legendary birds can be found in various places around Kanto.
- Eusine, a key character from Pokémon Crystal who did not appear in the original Gold and Silver, as well as other elements from Crystal, make appearances.
- The Pokéathlon is a new sidequest that includes 10 mini-games that pit Pokémon against one other in athletic contests. Its methodology seems to be similar to those of previous games’ Pokémon Contests and Super Contests.
- Running Shoes may be found in Cherrygrove City and can be chosen permanently from the touchscreen menu. The touchscreen also shows the chosen item. Two things may be chosen rather than simply one.
- Because the Vs. Seeker is no longer available, the Pokégear reintroduces an enhanced mobile phone function with an infinite call list. Re-battling Trainers, on the other hand, is now dependant on the day and hour.
- By strengthening the team of Trainers that may be re-battled, passing specific sections of the game can also influence rematches. As long as each rematch phase has been fought at least once, the Pokémon team of that Trainer is battled at higher levels after joining the Hall of Fame and earning the 16 Badges.
- Professor Oak and Steven Stone, respectively, will give you Kanto and Hoenn starter Pokémon as a thank you for beating Red.
- The map on the Pokégear serves the same purpose as the Pokétch’s Marking Map in Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum in terms of tracking wandering Pokémon. In addition, in order to follow Raikou or Entei (as well as Latios and Latias), the player does not need to fight them first.
- Flying to the Pokémon League Reception Gate is now feasible. Flying between the Indigo Plateau or the Reception Gate and any place in Kanto or Johto is now feasible. However, Flying to the Pokémon Centers is not feasible on Routes 4 and 10, while it was in FireRed and LeafGreen but not in the original Gold and Silver.
- If a special Pokémon, such as Sudowoodo, is defeated instead of captured the first time, it will revive in its original place once the player joins the Hall of Fame.
- The nature of physical and special moves is no longer defined by the motion itself.
- Several Gym puzzles have been changed or introduced in gyms where they were not present in Generation II. One example is the Vermilion Gym puzzle from Generations I and III, which was previously unavailable in Generation II.
- The Battle Tower, which first appeared west of Olivine City in Pokémon Crystal, reappears, bringing with it the same Battle Frontier as in Platinum.
- Near Cianwood City, two new roads, Route 47 and Route 48, are established. They lead to the Embedded Tower and the Cliff Cave, as well as a new Safari Zone.
- Ethan, the male player character, has been redesigned, while Kris has been replaced with Lyra, a new female player character.
- The number of Kanto Badges held by the player may now be shown. The player could only see how many Johto Badges they had in the original games.
- The music in the game has been modified to make greater use of the DS’s audio capabilities.
- One of the stat names will be extremely light blue while examining a Pokémon’s stats outside of combat, indicating which stat is reduced by the Pokémon’s Nature, and one will be very light red, showing which stat is raised. None of the metrics will be colored if the Pokémon has a neutral Nature.
- When entering specific places, such as FireRed and LeafGreen, a picture of the area displays. Some of these pictures vary according to the time of day, while others randomly alter the image of the Pokémon that may be found at the place on the image.
Which is more difficult, HeartGold or SoulSilver?
Despite the fact that both games are essentially the same, many believe that SoulSilver is somewhat more difficult than HeartGold. Although certain Pokémon are more difficult to capture, some fights are more challenging, and it is more difficult to reach Lugia than Ho-Oh, there isn’t much of a difference between the two games on a general basis.
If you want more of a struggle, SoulSilver is the game for you. However, since the changes aren’t that significant, don’t anticipate too much of a difference and simply go with your instinct when it comes to the game you want to play.
What’s the difference between HeartGold and SoulSilver in terms of price?
HeartGold and SoulSilver are notable for being among the franchise’s most costly titles. Specifically, both of these games were very successful and are often regarded as among the greatest in the series by fans. Sure, they’re remakes, but the Generation II games, particularly Crystal, have gotten a lot of acclaim, which explains why these two remakes, which keep Crystal’s vast universe while also adding some story aspects, are so popular.
They’re also Nintendo DS games, which means they’re of higher overall quality than the preceding games. They’re also in great demand among gamers, which explains why these two games are so expensive.
HeartGold is more costly than SoulSilver due to more demand — HeartGold is more difficult to get, which is likely why merchants have raised the price of the game.
Which game is superior, Pokémon HeartGold or Pokémon SoulSilver?
It’s tough to say which of these two games is superior in the end. Why? For the simple reason that these two games are so similar. While there are minor gameplay changes, the basic story and structure of the games are similar. We previously said that gamers seeking a greater challenge should choose SoulSilver, but the changes in difficulty aren’t significant enough for us to claim that SoulSilver is the superior game.
It all boils down to your own tastes, in our view. You understand the distinctions between the games, the many Pokémon that may be obtained, and the two mascots. Choosing between these two games, in our view, boils down to whether you like Lugia or Ho-Oh. If you want Lugia, you should choose SoulSilver, whereas if you want Ho-Oh, you should choose HeartGold. And, to be honest, it is the greatest advise we can offer you!
That concludes today’s discussion. You’ve seen the five greatest and most significant Pokémon video games in the franchise’s history, and now you can use that knowledge to argue with your friends; we hope we’ve been of assistance. See you next time, and don’t forget to subscribe to our feed!
Nintendo recently released both a DS and a 3DS version of the Pokémon series’ latest installment, Pokémon SoulSilver and Pokémon HeartGold. The games are remarkably similar. Both feature similar look and feel, and all the Pokémon, PokéMarts, and Gyms are rather the same. There are some minor changes in enemies and PokéMarts, but nothing major. However, there is one major change in the games: the story.. Read more about pokemon heart gold and let us know what you think.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Pokemon Silver or SoulSilver better?
SoulSilver is a better game overall, but it has some flaws that make it less enjoyable. Pokemon Silver, however, is a more polished and complete experience.
Whats the difference between Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver?
The difference between the two games is that HeartGold and SoulSilver are remakes of Pokemon Gold and Silver, whereas Black 2 and White 2 are sequels to those games.
What Pokemon can you get in SoulSilver but not HeartGold?
A few Pokemon can only be obtained in SoulSilver, but not HeartGold. These include the starters, Treecko, Torchic, and Mudkip.
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