Although mostPokemonfans look forward to new mainline entries, remakes have also been quite popular. After the remakes ofDiamondandPearlhit Switch, the next games in line for remakes arePokemon BlackandWhite. These were polarizing games upon launch, as while some appreciated how much innovation went into the titles, others were put off by the designs and some gameplay choices. Consequently, the safest choice for Game Freak might be to releaseBlack 3andWhite 3instead of traditional remakes forPokemon BlackandWhite.
Doing this would give Game Freak another shot at designing Pokemon. It would also allow it to expand on some of the heavy themes raised in Gen 5, which were already deeply examined through the Generation’s original sequels. With a new story and Pokemon, fans would have more than enough reasons to revisit Unova.
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Pokemon’s Fifth Generation Wasn’t Particularly Well-Received
After the success ofPokemon DiamondandPearl, fans were ready to see what the franchise would pull off next. They were followed-up byPokemon BlackandWhite,which are set in the Unova regionthat’s loosely based on New York. This was a shift for the series that had every prior region act as an analogy for parts of Japan, and it meant that there were plenty more urban environments to explore. The Pokemon included in the games also reflected the region, with creatures such as Trubbish representing bags of trash.
However, the games weren’t fan-favorites at launch. Some complaints came fromGame Freak’s daring choice to only makePokemon native to Unovaavailable during the main game, leaving older monsters to only be caught during the post-game. Although this allowed the new creatures to shine, it also meant that players had to wait a long time before they could use their favorites.
Many fans also felt the designs from Generation 5 were lackluster, many of which acting almost like modern reimaginings of the original Kanto region creatures. This is a subjective judgment, and there are enduringPokemon like Zoroarkand Hydreigon that are popular to this day. However, some creatures like Vanilluxe and Watchog still leave many players unimpressed. One of the reasons whyPokemonremakes tend to be successful is because fans have nostalgic memories, and if that’s less potent withBlackandWhite, it could be a very risky endeavor to rerelease the games. Instead, it might be better to start from scratch.
Pokemon Black and White’s Story Can Be Expanded Further
Despite not striking a chord with all fans,Pokemon BlackandWhite- alongside their sequels - are noteworthy for being more philosophical and narrative-heavy entries in the series. They touch on complex themes including the duality between truth and ideals, represented by the box artLegendaries Reshiram and Zekrom. The games also interrogate the relationship between humans and Pokemon, causing players to question whether that partnership is as harmonious as it initially appears. In many ways, the games are a meta-commentary on the morality of catching and battling Pokemon, even if this is just subterfuge for a typical villain.
Black 3andWhite 3could delve deeper into these questions. It ishard to argue that Team Plasma doesn’t raise good points, although they may go about proving their point in destructive ways and are undermined by the true motives of Ghetsis. Nevertheless, the arguments put forward don’t have an impact on the rest of the series. Instead, players are treated to mechanics such as Pokemon Amie and picnics that lean more heavily on building friendship.
As of this writing, there is no word on what the nextPokemonremake project will be, or whether Game Freak is planning to do anything forBlackandWhite. The games already stick out by featuring sequels instead of a single third version, and releasing another follow-up could serve shake up the formula further.Not all players fell in love with Unova, though it still has the potential to impress fans again.
Pokemon BlackandWhiteare available on Nintendo DS.
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