Johto in Trainer's Memo

[Silktree]

Coronis has brought an interesting piece of information to my attention.

The Japanese web sites, which unlike their English counterparts have not ceased research on Diamond and Pearl, have developed a program called Pokémon Maker. Although its functions are limited to certain third-party accessories, the program sheds an interesting light on the Trainer's Memo list of names. Other than the game locations, there are the two Pal Park descriptions, namely "Transferred from Hoenn" or "Transferred from Kanto," and a chunk of yet-unused names.

If to get to the point, there is a description which reads "From Johto." Notice that the transfer terminology is absent. Another description says the same for Shin'ou itself.

What could this mean? Ruby and Sapphire's Trainer's Memo does not acknowledge FireRed and LeafGreen, nor vice-versa. Emerald, however, does include the list of FireRed and LeafGreen locations. This time, Game Freak might have decided to be more thorough, or rather less secretive. Should there be Gold and Silver remakes in Generation IV's future, Diamond and Pearl will regard Pokémon obtained in those games as being from Johto, while the remakes will regard Pokémon obtained in Diamond and Pearl as being from Shin'ou.

There seem to be many other Trainer's Memo descriptions for events, among which are those for Pokémon Movies 6-16. This does not really bode well for the feasibility of the above, seeing as movie Jirachi, Deoxys and Mew are described as transferred from Hoenn or Kanto, and even Manaphy occupies the game location at which it happens to hatch. Besides, the idea of movie 16 being relevant to Diamond and Pearl is quite ridiculous.

However, we can already vouch for the authenticity of one of the event descriptions: "Concert Event Hall". It is the one used for the recently-distributed Perrap. Unfortunately, Coronis was unable to decipher the characters for the other descriptions due to technical reasons dealing with his browser.

Discuss and debate.

 

[Habunake]

Ooooh, sounds neato!

 

[Zeta]

I notice that there's nothing indicating "From Orre" or "From (Unnamed Region)" which doesn't bode too well for those wishing to see another Col/XD. Unless GS decides to throw everyone off on a loop and sets the game in Johto, but with Shadow Pokemon. I'd like to see everyone's reactions to something like THAT . . .

 

[Habunake]

OMFG, SERIES IS RUINED!

I'd love a 3-D remake of the Johto region though...that would be awesome..........

 

[Misty]

hatehatehatehatehatehatehatehatehatehateetc.

 

[Silktree]

I notice that there's nothing indicating "From Orre" or "From (Unnamed Region)" which doesn't bode too well for those wishing to see another Col/XD.

That shouldn't be a surprise at all. Emerald was complemented with FireRed and LeafGreen's entire list of locations, yet not even one general description for Orre was slipped in (which would have accounted for Colosseum, as well as the then-upcoming XD).

Unless GS decides to throw everyone off on a loop and sets the game in Johto, but with Shadow Pokemon. I'd like to see everyone's reactions to something like THAT . . .

Wouldn't that just raise the question why Colosseum and XD were not set in Johto in a different time period?

Assuming Genius Sonority is not preoccupied with non-Pokémon games (they have some part in Dragon Quest Swords), they will make sure to add enough hints to a Wii RPG game in Battle Revolution. XD simply made it far too apparent that the developers had a sequel in mind.

 

[XD375]

They are obviously doing a Johto remake because...

...the fans want it. They've been asking for so long, so why not remake them?

 

[Illidan]

I can understand why people dislike the idea of a remade Johto. It's repetitive.

I WANT a Johto remake because it gives a sense of "completeness" to the Pokemon world we have adventured through.

 

[FabuVinny]

I would like a Johto remake to wait until Generation V but it is looking more and more likely that we will be getting it in the next couple of years.

 

[Nando]

If they mopped up the story's sloppy points a bit, or even built a new story from scratch and based it in Johto, a new game based there would be most excellent. I agree with the comment about "a sense of completeness," and we could finally get the Global Communications Center that was supposed to be in Goldrenrod City.

As for this topic, we're talking descriptions like "Caught in WHIRL ISLANDS at level 40," correct?

 

[Silktree]

I would like a Johto remake to wait until Generation V

May I ask why it is imperative that the Gold and Silver remakes not be compatible with FireRed and LeafGreen, in contrast to the original games? I hope that your reasoning is better than anything to do with using the remakes to complement the generation's main series with missing Pokémon.

At the beginning of Generation III, it was made clear that the missing 184 Pokémon would find their way into Ruby and Sapphire. No one suspected remakes of the original games were the answer (the idea of a GameCube RPG was hinted in some fashion, so Colosseum was not as great a surprise).

This time, we do not have to worry about old Pokémon in Diamond and Pearl. With this in mind, Game Freak decided to add a plethora of Johto references that reinforce the favorable idea of the series being to Diamond and Pearl as FireRed and LeafGreen are to Ruby and Sapphire. What will the remakes introduce? Nobody knows--obviously easier means to obtain the fairly elusive 100 Pokémon, most notably Lugia and Ho-oh, as well as Red Gyarados and an in-game Celebi event. It is not enough, but who are we to assume that Game Freak has exhausted all surprises in its sleeves?

There is also the fact that Diamond and Pearl will be a far cry from Ruby, Sapphire, FireRed and LeafGreen's combined sales. The third game will have a hard time matching Emerald as it is.

As for this topic, we're talking descriptions like "Caught in WHIRL ISLANDS at level 40," correct?

Correct. But if you were to catch a Lugia in one of the remakes and trade it to Diamond and Pearl, the description would show up as "From Johto."

To Diamond and Pearl WiFi users, what does the Trainer's Memo say for your traded Pokémon? Does the caught level show up? Is it the specific location, and if so, is happiness raised more sharply when training in that location?

 

[Gamenerd Color]

obviously easier means to obtain the fairly elusive 100 Pokémon, most notably Lugia and Ho-oh, as well as Red Gyarados and an in-game Celebi event. It is not enough, but who are we to assume that Game Freak has exhausted all surprises in its sleeves?

Along with Entei, Raikou, Suicine, Totodile, Chikorita and Cyndaquil - All unobtainable in Diamond/Pearl alone. Perhaps they could make the legendary birds of Kanto available, too. They could lurk Kanto after beating Red, just like the dogs run around Johto after being released. And the Kanto starters.

Think about it. It would make sense that all DP unobtainables be obtainable between this rumoured game and PBR, right?

Right. No gen should have a Pokedex that can't be completed without a previous gen.

 

[Doctor Oak]

I don't want a G/S remake. G/S took Johto and ruined it by tacking on Kanto afterwards.

What I want is a Johto game. Not even necessarily a remake, but a game set in Johto - where the region can actually get a chance to be used fully for the first time without having to compensate to cram in the uselessness of Kanto afterwards.

I have to say though, anyone that didn't think a Johto game of some description was on the cards after Fr/Lg was just being blind.

 

[Illidan]

I so hope that they bring back the music from Gold, Silver & Crystal. I LOVED that music. Especially the variations that played at night. This is why was so happy that variations of the music returned in the Sevii Islands.

Some of my fondest memories of playing a Pokémon game were during my treck through Johto within those titles. Something about the whole story was... great. Perhaps it was because G/S/C was such a step up from R/G/B/Y as far features go, I just can't forget how fun it was. Johto seemed to have an Old World Japanese feel to the region and that whole experience I'll remember for years to come.

 

[Birdyspot]

I too hold GSC's soundtrack closest to my heart. Although I loved the new versions of Kanto music in those games (except for Lavender Town--that ALWAYS needs to stay RBY-style ^_^).

I would really love to play a "remake/updated" game based in Johto that doesn't contain Kanto. However, considering Gamenerd Color's point:

No gen should have a Pokedex that can't be completed without a previous gen.

...think of it this way: a remake of GSC kills two birds with one stone for GameFreak. It would be lot better than FR/LG+Sevii Islands tacked on just for Johto Pokemon, anyway. I would just hope that they use both Johto and Kanto to their full potential and not shaft either one of them.

 

[Zeta]

Right. No gen should have a Pokedex that can't be completed without a previous gen.

Generation II would disagree with you.

 

[Habunake]

Um, the starters?

 

[deja0entendu]

...the birds, mewtwo...

 

[Orion-Sama]

Most interesting find...

I'd say a Remake is now imminent, given how the data actually exists (Those Software makers actually crack into the game's data...), and unless they're playing a prank in such crackers (Which'd be a stupid waste I doubt they'd ever think of doing...) or want to have useless data in the games, it's bound to be used in one way or another.

Still, I gotta agree with Misty for the most part...

I hope they do what Doctor Oak suggested and make a game focused in Johto. One of the biggest problems besides the poor showcasing of new Pokémon was the fact that Johto stood as a mere subordinated by being a different path for the same destination. I think Johto deserved its own League and have its Pokémon distributed over its Region, and not over the neighborhood one. Yet, it's a most doubtful prospect. At most, I expect an added-on area a la Sevii Islands. Here's hoping it's Northeastern Johto, where we can battle the Johto League and have a view beyond Mt. Silver...

If not that, at least they hopefully showcase 2nd Gen Pokémon properly this time. It's a shame their own Generation didn't make them as much justice as did "external" games like Colosseum.

Besides that, most excellent. I do hope for actual value, such as WORTHY Special Moves, easy to obtain rare Items, and such. The game won't offer anything new to those with access to most 3rd Generation games besides nostalgia. =/

Ah well. I miss being a pimp, and none better than the 2nd Gen main guy. Plus, it'll be good to go back home and rebattle, as well as revisit my sweetheart in flashy DS graphics. :-D

 

[Gamenerd Color]

Generation II would disagree with you.

Um, the starters?

...the birds, mewtwo...

And that's what I didn't like about the second gen. Heck, they even shown trainers with the starters, but you had to buy a previous game from a previous console to catch 'em all.

Most interesting find...

I'd say a Remake is now imminent, given how the data actually exists (Those Software makers actually crack into the game's data...), and unless they're playing a prank in such crackers (Which'd be a stupid waste I doubt they'd ever think of doing...) or want to have useless data in the games, it's bound to be used in one way or another.

Still, I gotta agree with Misty for the most part...

I hope they do what Doctor Oak suggested and make a game focused in Johto. One of the biggest problems besides the poor showcasing of new Pokémon was the fact that Johto stood as a mere subordinated by being a different path for the same destination. I think Johto deserved its own League and have its Pokémon distributed over its Region, and not over the neighborhood one. Yet, it's a most doubtful prospect. At most, I expect an added-on area a la Sevii Islands. Here's hoping it's Northeastern Johto, where we can battle the Johto League and have a view beyond Mt. Silver...

If not that, at least they hopefully showcase 2nd Gen Pokémon properly this time. It's a shame their own Generation didn't make them as much justice as did "external" games like Colosseum.

Besides that, most excellent. I do hope for actual value, such as WORTHY Special Moves, easy to obtain rare Items, and such. The game won't offer anything new to those with access to most 3rd Generation games besides nostalgia. =/

Ah well. I miss being a pimp, and none better than the 2nd Gen main guy. Plus, it'll be good to go back home and rebattle, as well as revisit my sweetheart in flashy DS graphics. :-D

I don't know. I like Kanto and Johto being attached at the "waist", and being able to visit them so easily. Maybe if they added alot of new towns/areas (they could perhaps use the layouts from beta towns that were never used) and included references to the GSC adventures (maybe with this game taking place, what, five years in the future?), I'd be able to accept it.

Also, you should be able to battle Gold/Silver at the end of the game.




But all in all, I'd prefer a real remake, rather than a completely new game in the same region.