Homemademech - Gameboy Color Pokemon Crystal reviews

Competitions

Affiliates

Poke'mon Crystal

Do you hate Poke’mon? Do you think that it’s uncool to watch Poke’mon? Do you?
Well if you do then perhaps you might have a difference of opinion about the ga-- no, don’t go away!
Yeah, I know the GameCube has just rolled out a new Poke’mon game (Gale of Darkness) and there’s a new one for the GBA (Emerald), not to mention a pinball game and 101 game games and card games that “utilize“ the seldom used card reader device for the GBA… whatever… waitaminute! This is supposed to be a POSITIVE review, so where’s the positive vibes!!

Anyway why give a damn about Poke‘mon? Because this is a GameBoy Color game… and it offers over 100+ hours of gameplay (and it won‘t insult your intelligence like the must maligned Digimon World 4 for the GameCube)! Really, and if a game that comes from 2001 can offer up gameplay like that then what do you think you’ll get from the newer GBA games? Then that has got to be something that’ll last you awhile! Now isn‘t that nice if you are away from your home system for some reason -- like trip or evacuation due to hurricane or flood or something.

As much as the Poke’mon franchise is seemingly unloved in Anime or Manga circles, there is still something to be said about the games… mainly the “meat and potato” games like Crystal (GBC) and Fire Red/Leaf Green or Ruby/Sapphire or Emerald for the GBA. These games have their own “Worlds”, and gameplay that lasts abit so you can see that there‘s some love in these games for the interested player! Heck, after all look at me! It took me 40+ hours just to record 50 captures in this version!! 50!! Out of 250 -- damn I’m slow.

There’s no need to go into the story -- it’s mostly the same thing over and over.
You are an aspiring Poke’mon trainer, you get a Poke’mon, you travel the “world” and fight eight gym leaders (and go into a various amount of side-quests along the game) while collecting Poke’mon left and right to become the best trainer in the world -- there, that’s the story for the most part.
Each game has some variations, of course, like Crystal which features the “return” of Team Rocket (which was disbanded in the Red/Blue/Pikachu Yellow games) and your rival who seems to be quite abusive towards his Poke’mon (despite the fact he seems to look like quite a -- well -- ahh, never mind), while trying not to be “Gary“ (Ash‘s rival from the Poke‘mon series).

Crystal has several little extras which makes it stand out, for instance there’s the very useful Poke’gear which is packed with lots of extras, new stuff to find and buy, and new places to visit like the National Park (and the bug catching contest) as well as all the cities from the Johto seasons of the Poke‘mon series.

Let’s start off with your Poke’gear. With your Poke’gear you have a few interesting little quirks that are actually of some use! One thing you didn’t have before in previous games (which the Poke’gear provides) is a cell phone, which allows certain trainers who record your phone number to call you back for re-challenges or to give you items… OK, they don’t REALLY give you items over the phone! They tell you to come back to where they are and THEN they’ll give you an item… yeah, lots of walking if you didn’t teach your Poke’mon to “Fly” yet. Sigh.
Another of the Poke’gear’s quirks is a radio where you can listen to hints (Via Professor Oak‘s talk radio), music (to either calm or excite wild Poke‘mon depending on the day of the week you listen), or play a competition or two (one being only useful if you trade lots of Poke’mon with other human players).

Then there’s the new things, starting with Kurt’s custom Poke’balls, which can only be made by collecting and giving Kurt things called Apricorns (which grows at the rate of one per day, which is the same as everything else you find growing on trees). Oh, and you can also gather berries and other natural items your Poke’mon can hold and use during battles (one per day).

And then there’s the special locations and the cities of Johto. You can go to places like the National Park (where you can play the bug catching contest three times a day), the gambling casino (in Goldenrod City, the same place you’ll find the radio station where you can acquire a radio card to play the radio), the underground market and more. Each of these places have their own unique quirks, and though sometimes they may remind you of Red/Blue/Pikachu Yellow (like the casino) there’s more new than used here.

Basically the game has enough going for it to keep you going for hours and hours. With lots to explore, lots to capture and (even then) lots of leveling up and secrets to uncover (new areas, new Poke’mon and so forth including incredibly powerful ones that are hard to come by) this game keeps you going and going and going. For a game based on a not so loved series you get quite abit of playability out of it, and heck that’s not bad at all if a game like this can keep you playing for hours on end.
And if you can find a game this old that has that much playability then you got something good going.
Then again good luck finding this particular game! Too bad you’ll not be able to find this anywhere after so much time. Maybe a garage sale or thrift store might have it, but I wouldn’t count on it if I were you.
So maybe the Poke’mon games might be for you. If the recent GBA games are as involved and deep as Crystal (for the GameBoy Color) then there’s something good to be said about this franchise despite the fact that series itself is not as loved. Breakdown will tell.

Poke’mon Crystal Breakdown
What’s Hot?
The game is actually interesting. Considering it can offer up quite a few playable hours and keep you going you have to wonder how deep the GBA versions of the game has to be if you have lots to do just from this old 2001 version of the franchise! Of course it is better than previous versions (except Pikachu Yellow which is the best of the first gen of Poke’mon games) so I wonder how well the future games are in comparison to this game.

What’s Not?
Of course if you are a total Poke’mon hater then you are probably not going to be swayed by any talk of the long gameplay values of this game! Why? Because if you can’t stand Poke’mon no amount of gameplay opportunities or depth of gameplay will change that dislike of Poke’mon games.
Of course add the fact this game is compatible with the classic Poke’mon Stadium 2 from the Nintendo 64 might also not interest you in the slightest, especially if you don’t have the old game or the old system.

Moments to Remember?
Well -- the game is not filled with lovely memorable moments, but at least the gameplay will keep you going and going so it’s not that bad.

What to Ignore?
Sorry, Jesse & James will not make an appearance (they only appear in Pikachu Yellow).

Overall?
For an old 5+ year old Poke’mon game there’s some merit in playing this… of course finding this won’t be the easiest so you might have to pick up a $20 or so GBA game… well… since I can’t justify blowing $30-$40 on a Poke’mon game! Get an older version (for $20 or less) and give it a whirl! If the future GBA games are anywhere as good as this old version (or better even) then there’s no reason not to give the Poke’mon franchise for the GBA a chance… if you can find it nice a cheap that is, otherwise only the die hard Poke’mon fans will be shilling out $30-$40 for the latest Emerald game. Of course if you can find an old Crystal game to play that still works and probably for a few bucks… oh, heck, go for it!

Gameboy Color - Pokemon Crystal

Gameboy Color Pokemon Crystal Reviews

Poke'mon Crystal

Gameboy Color Pokemon Crystal Images