Generation II
Generation II, also known as the metal generation, is the second set of Pokémon games to be released, and is best described as a sequel to Generation I. Generation II is the most acclaimed generation among older and more experienced Pokémon trainers and fans. It consists of Gold, Silver, and Crystal Versions on the Game Boy Color and Pokémon Stadium 2 on the Nintendo 64. The games mostly take place in the Johto region, but also include the Kanto region and White City. In the handheld games, the main character starts in New Bark Town and moves onto Kanto once he or she defeated the Elite Four. The events of Generation II are contemporaneous with the events of Generation IV, as proven by the opening events of Pokémon Diamond and Pearl.
Advances in gameplay
Pokémon Gold, Silver and Crystal brought with them many changes to the Pokémon world, as well as various advancements from the original games, most of which have now become a tradition. For example:
- Playing as a girl (Crystal only).
- Genders for Pokémon are introduced.
- Breeding
- Built-in clock, which allows for real-time events.
- IVs get more involved as breeding became available.
- Alternate colors for Pokémon, known as shininess among fans.
- Trading capabilities with Generation I via Time Capsule.
- 100 new Pokémon bringing the total to 251.
- 86 new moves, bringing the total to 251.
- Gust, Sand Attack, Karate Chop and Bite all have changed types.
- Two more boxes in the Pokémon storage system, allowing for 280 Pokémon to be stored.
- Some Pokémon introduced in Generation I get new evolutions or pre-evolutions.
- Two new Pokémon types: Dark-type and Steel-type. Magnemite and Magneton are now Electric/Steel.
- Happiness becomes a quality of all Pokémon.
- Special stat split into Special Attack and Special Defense.
- Pokérus introduced.
- Pokémon can now hold items.
- Opponent Pokémon Trainers given individual names.
- Exp. All replaced with Exp. Share.
- PokéGear added, which has a built-in cellphone used to call and rematch some trainers. PokéGear can be upgraded with a World Map and a Radio via installable cards.
- Item pack now split into separate sections.
- An item can be put on the select button for easy use.
- Pokémon have animations (Crystal only).
In addition, the Generation II games are said to be easier in comparison to the Generation I games, due to the different Gym types.
Starters
This time around, the Pokémon known as Chikorita, Cyndaquil, and Totodile are available to trainers at the beginning of the game. They too follow the Grass-Fire-Water (respectively) route of the previous generation. However, as opposed to the other three generations, where the Template:Type2 would be the most difficult to start with, due to Kanto, Hoenn, and Sinnoh's first Gym Leaders being of the Template:Type2 specialty, the Template:Type2 Chikorita is most difficult, followed by the Template:Type2 Totodile and leaving Cyndaquil as the easiest, as Johto's first Gym Leader specializes in Template:Type2s.
Gym Leaders
The Johto region's Gym Leaders had different gyms, all of different types than Kanto's, including one featuring one of the two new types introduced in these games. The leaders are:
| # | Leader | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Falkner | Flying |
| 2 | Bugsy | Bug |
| 3 | Whitney | Normal |
| 4 | Morty | Ghost |
| 5 | Chuck | Fighting |
| 6 | Jasmine | Steel |
| 7 | Pryce | Ice |
| 8 | Clair | Dragon |
Notes
Pokémon Crystal allows trainers to play as a female lead and has a slightly different storyline, as trainers focus on the Pokémon Suicune. Kanto became a different place than what trainers were accustomed to as changes were made, some of which are explained in the Kanto article. This generation is not compatible with Generation III and later, due to a number of internal mechanics changes, as well as the general incompatibility between Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance software.
The type chart is also changed slightly from Generation I, and these changes are carried into subsequent generations:
| Attacking | Defending | Old | New |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bug | Poison | 2× | ½× |
| Poison | Bug | 2× | 1× |
| Ice | Fire | 1× | ½× |
| Ghost | Psychic | 0× | 2× |
Trivia
- Despite the accepted "standard formula" for a generation to be two paired versions and later on a third version, Generation II is the only completed generation that has only this, as Generation I has four games in Japan, while Generation III and Generation IV have five games worldwide.
- Including console connectivity games, Generation II is the smallest generation yet.
- Generation II is the only Generation to have all of its starters (and their families) pure-Grass, pure-Fire, or pure-Water types.
- Generation II is so far the only generation where the total number of moves is equal to the total number of Pokémon in the National Pokédex at the time.
- Generation II is the only generation with no Fossil Pokémon introduced or even available.
- Generation II is expected to be remade during Generation IV. It will be released on its 10th Japanese aniversery.