Let's Play Pokémon: Black Version! (56k warning!)

[Strife89]

Let's Play Pokémon: Black Version! (56k warning!)

So, I've been reading entries on the Let's Play Archive and decided I wanted to give it a try - and what better first game for a screenshot LP on TCoD than a Pokemon game?

This LP might take a looooong time to finish, because of my computer's poor performance with DeSmuME, and I won't be going for many of the extras, but rest assured that I intend to get this through to the end.

I know that a lot of people have already beaten a Gen 5 game and know most of what happens, but for the sake of this LP I'm going to (partially) pretend this is my first time. :P

So, without further ado, let's get this show on the road! :sunglasses:

EDIT: Folks were complaining about the unnecessary "fat" on the images -- the unused bottom screen on almost all of the screenshots, which were taking up a lot of screen space. I have mass-cropped almost all of the images to address this. (This accounts for about 27 KB of data for the first three chapters.)
EDIT2: Yes, I understand I took wayyyyy too long to get to and through the tutorial battles. Things will be speeding up quite a bit from Chapter 4 onwards.

Table of Contents:

Chapter 01 -- An Ominous Opening
Chapter 02 -- The Interview
Chapter 03 -- Homewreckers
Chapter 04 -- Speeeeding Things Up

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q. What does "56k warning!" mean?
A. It's just a little notice for users who are, for whatever reason, using a slow or throttled Internet connection -- the sheer number of images may cause the thread to take a while to load on such a connection. (Likewise, very old machines may have extra trouble with rendering the page.)

Silly Statistics (as of Chapter 4):

Average number of images per chapter: 46
Average combined filesize of game images in a chapter: 674 kilobytes (KB)
Average filesize of a single screenshot: 14.6 KB
Biggest screenshot: 55 KB, found in chapter 2

 

[Strife89]

Chapter 01 -- It all begins here!

16 years of Pokemon, with no end in sight.

Shiny!

Where'd the shiny go?

Give me back my shiny, you Freaks!

Wait, what's this? Some sort of castle?

A crowning ceremony. Definitely a castle.

I'd say this ceremony is gonna get straight to the point.

Who's this?

That Darmanitan could've flatten his kid self in no time.

TAKE IT

It's interesting to note that the crowner is literally black and white in this picture. Yeah, no way that's not symbolic.

"I got dibs tonight."

You might say that this is his ...

crowning achievement.

Notice the crowner's clothes. (The guy on the right.) The screen fades to white as the ominous music ends.

I have them.

Got those too.

We'll be making those.

Title screen! With an ominous glowy-white creature!

Next post: we get this thing going!

 

[....]

Re: Let's Play Pokemon: Black Version! (56k warning!)

asdfgh

:D

 

[Flora]

Re: Let's Play Pokemon: Black Version! (56k warning!)

Boss is the greatest name ever.

I think my sis is doing a SoulSilver LP, hopefully she'll post it on here soon.

("your sister's on here flora?" Yes, yes she is, just to creep on me XD)

 

[RespectTheBlade]

Re: Let's Play Pokemon: Black Version! (56k warning!)

Ooh this looks cool. I'll be watching this thread, I haven't seen a lot of LPs on here at all.

 

[Zero Moment]

Re: Let's Play Pokemon: Black Version! (56k warning!)

@Image 10
Who'2 thii2 douchebag?

 

[Strife89]

Chapter 02 -- The Interview

Text in quotes and in italics is a continuation of dialogue from the previous screenshot.

Adventure music!

"Welcome to the world of Pokémon!"
"My name is Professor Juniper. Everyone calls me the Pokémon Professor!"

Umm, Professor? You dropped your --

OWWW MY EYES

What was that for?!

"called Pokémon!"

Wait, that furry rodent next to you is a Pokémon? The rodent that came out of your --

"and live in many different places."

So you're saying that this world is inhabited by a crapton of furry rodents that all look different?

SCREW THIS, I'M TRAINING IN HOENN.

"we compliment each other. We help each other out to accomplish difficult tasks."

So, what, does that furball help you out in bed, or ...

"the bonds between people and Pokémon. And that is why I research Pokémon."

You're sure it's not because you're just looking for extra help in bed?

Uh, sure. You want my family tree first? My school records? My most embarrassing moment?

You can't tell just by looking?!

GEE HOW'D YOU GUESS?

Well, sure. It's --

Have you no patience, lady?!

Wait, no, wrong ID ...

No, that's my evil twin's ...

Why is HIS ID in my wallet?!

Found it!

It's right here on the card, lady!
"And this is your real ID?"
"Absolutely!"
*scribbles on a notepad*

Lady, I know who my friends are, I don't think this is nece--

"He can be a little difficult, but he's a very honest person."

Why am I friends with someone who's difficult?

"She's a little flighty, but she works very hard."

Flighty as in

?

"a very, very important Pokémon."

So you're giving me a super-rodent or something?

Sir! .... Er, Ma'am!

"The moment you choose the Pokémon that will accompany you on your journey, your story will truly begin."
"During your journey, you will meet many Pokémon and people with different personalities and points of view!"

Ma'am, believe me, I do that every day.

"That's right! Befriend new people and Pokémon and grow as a person! That is the most important goal for your journey!"

Somehow, that line still gets me a little.

ALRIGHT LET'S DO THIS THING

Introduced in Gen 5: seasons!

The seasons in Pokémon Black/White cycle every realtime month, going by the DS's clock. As of this writing, it's July; the other Autumn months are November and March. (Assuming the USA release here.)

This is your first sign that the series is more cinematic than ever.

Oh, wait -- that was the opening movie.

No racial jokes, please. Seriously.

Juniper just strolls on into this house, and then, seconds later

she strolls right on out.

NEXT TIME:

 

[Strife89]

Chapter 03 -- Homewreckers

Darn, I thought more people would be responding to part 2 after that impressive Part 1 response. Oh well.

Home sweet home. :)

"I heard from Professor Juniper. We can have a Pokémon?"

Yeah, something about some super-rodent or some other critter.

I dunno, but Juniper said she was a little off.

Oh, there she is.

Notice Cheren's impatient pose.

Well, gawwwsh, you don't have to be so drawn-out about it.

"Bianca ..."

"Today's the day we can get a Pokémon from Professor Juniper!"

Bianca: "So, where are the Pokémon?"

Cheren: "The Pokémon are waiting for us inside that gift box. Wakka, you take the first look. I want to meet the Pokémon right now!"

Those silhouettes don't look like rodents ...

"You're not gonna even look at the other ones?"

Nope

Oh Bianca, you so demandin'

She beat you to it.

"Oh, never mind. I wanted Snivy from the start, anyway."

Surrrrrre you did.

"Hey, I know! Let's have a Pokémon battle!

Wait, here in my room? I don't think we ...

"Even though they're still weak Pokémon, you shouldn't have Pokémon battles inside a house."

Yeah, they could like, claw out the place with their little rodent claws or something!

"We have to let them battle so they'll get stronger. It's settled, Wakka!"

Ain't none of this is settled! Where's my say in thi-.... Oh, right.

"Get ready for a Pokémon battle!"

W-Wait a second!

D-Don't I get to speak to my insurance agent first?!
Bianca looks so cute here.

Out comes Bianca's Pokémon, Tepig. Yup.

Out comes *my* Pokémon,

Oshawott.

So this is the main menu of the battle program. It's gotten quite a visual makeover since the 4th generation of games, but the functionality is the same.

On the bottom screen, the top row of Pokéballs (the smaller ones) represent your opponent's party, while the bottom (bigger) row represents yours.
You can choose to: have your Pokémon use a move (FIGHT!); look inside your bag for an item to use (BAG); check on your party and even switch Pokémon (POKéMON), or run from the battle (RUN, although it only works in battles against wild Pokémon).
The clock on the top left is extremely handy, and I'm amazed that they never thought to show it during battle back in Generation 4. I'm glad it's here now!

FIGHT brings up your Pokémon's moves; each Pokémon can learn up to four moves. Not all moves do direct damage.

Each Pokémon exchanges blows on a turn-by-turn basis until one of them faints - and that happens when a 'mon's HP reaches 0.

Tepig Tackles us back.

Moves like Tail Whip reduces a Pokémon's Defense stat, which causes them to take more damage from physical attacks. The effect lasts until either the battle ends or you change Pokémon.

Not that Oshawott should worry or anything.

That might be stretching the truth a bit. :)

WAIT, SHIT

How the hell did they do all this?!

All they did was tackle each other!

Bianca: "No doubt!"

"Bianca, would you take a look around?"
"Wh-whoa! What happened?!"

You happened

If by "strong" you mean "destructive", then yes.

Bianca: "I'm so glad that I get to have a Pokémon!"

Well don't come crying to me when your Tepig decides to wreak havoc on your room as well.

I hope so. You see this mess I have to clean up?

"Here! I'll restore your Pokémon for you!

I think Bianca has an idea.

Heck no, the room's already in bad shape!

Bianca: "With all you know, I'm sure you can battle without turning the room into a disaster area like I did!"

It's a weeeeeeeeee bit late for that, Bianca.

What

Cheren you're supposed to agree with ME on this subject

"It'll be no problem for me to keep the room from getting any messier."

Exactly how do you plan to do this? Hold the Pokémon while it fights?

.... Point made. Fine, let's do this.

Oh yeah, we're just ramming into each other.

An excellent plan.

If by "everything" you mean "my worst room-cleaning session ever".

While Oshawott's this little jumpy cute-as-a-button otter, Snivy's over there all like

"Hurry up and pick your move".

GLEAM OF DEATH

Actually it's just Leer, it lowers Defense.

:)

Oshawott grew to Level 6!

"this feeling I have ... ... I'm finally a Trainer."

Feels good, doesn't it? Now fix my room.

"But first, we'd better go apologize to your mother about this messed-up room."

Well, yes, but then you should, you know, help me clean it up.

Bianca: "Oh! I'd better come, too!"

It's a Wii console!




NEXT TIME:

 

[Strife89]

Chapter 04 -- Speeeeding Things Up

Alright, I know nobody likes a slowpoke, but I couldn't resist wailing on the early exposition. ONWARDS!

Yeah, well, it has good reason to be.

Wait Bianca what are you doing

Dammit now she's going to find the "mess" we made in bed

Yes but only once we clean up this mess. By ourselves.

Mom, it's not what you think, I swear --

Er, well, ... uh, yeah, if you want to call it that.

Right, the Pokémons' cries. Not human cries. Yeah.

Ummmmm. Yes. I'm sure it did.

I'll be leaving now, to find some mind soap.

She gives us the Xtransceiver before we depart. It's basically a 4-way video phone.

But first --

-- Oshawott's current stats.

Wakka signs his Trainer card with a finicky touchpad.

FLY, BIRDIES, FLY

A fetishist?

Game Freak really went all-out with the visual aspect of the overworld in this game. The time-of-day lighting and things like the water effects are very nice overall, especially given that this is the Nintendo DS. The ground textures are especially remarkable.

Cheren's house, seen at the top of the previous screen.

He keeps a tidy room. I thought nerds were supposed to be messy? http://fi.somethingawful.com/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif[/IMG

[IMG]http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1905158/Lets%20Play%20Pokemon%20Black/Chapter%204/Pokemon.Black.Patched.USA.NDS-PWNSuppliers_18_15_239532.png

The TVs throughout Unova air a variety of programs, each with multiple "episodes". They air at specific times during any given hour, and I think some only air on specific days of the week. Some are genuinely informative, while others are just amusing. This one is amusing.

Bianca's house, just west of Cheren's.

Inside, a commotion can be found.

"You may NOT have sex with your boyfriend!"

Bianca: But I'm ... I'm a good Trainer who got a Pokémon and everything! I can totally go on an adventure!

She notices Wakka and does a little curtsy. Apparently Wakka asks what's wrong.

And she heads off for the lab, telling us to meet her there.

"How could my daughter, who knows nothing about the world, be going on a journey with Pokémon?"

Hey, you gotta turn 'em loose someday. How else will she learn anything about the world?

You don't say.

"All children go on adventures with Pokémon. It's part of growing up."

Bianca's room.

FINALLY

She tries to introduce herself to us, but Cheren's all like

"we know".

"Today is a day to remember always, so it's best to behave with some formality."

At last,

OBELISK has come!
I dunno exactly where the name comes from, it was a friend's suggestion.

Cheren: It's for the Pokédex, right?

Pokédex get!

Destination: Route 1

"I can explore and maybe find out what I want to do in life. I think I'd like that."
Cheren: "Of course. We can travel however we want while we complete the Pokédex."

It's not 100% clear, but you really get the feeling that Bianca wants an excuse to get away from her father as much as she legitimately wants to go adventuring.

Apparently the professor lives in her own lab. Huh.

Mom meets us outside. She already knew that the professor was going to ask us about the Pokédexes, so she brought us some

Town Maps.

"No need for any of you to worry. I'll take care of tidying up."

What, are you surprised I'm following you?

LET'S ALL SKIP THROUGH THE GRASS IN UNISON


Next time: