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Generation II - Bulbapedia, the community-driven Pokémon encyclopedia

Sebastian Wright
Generation II
Title screen of Pokémon Crystal Version

The second generation (Japanese: 第二世代 second generation; ポケットモンスター金・銀シリーズ Pocket Monsters Gold and Silver Series) of Pokémon games, referred to as the Gold & Silver series in Pokémon Crystal's box blurb and instruction manual, and commonly referred to by fans as Generation II (Japanese: 世代ＩＩ Generation II), is the second set of Pokémon games released, and a sequel to the games of Generation I.

This generation started with Pokémon Gold and Silver, which were later followed by Pokémon Crystal. It also includes the side game Pokémon Stadium 2.

Table of Contents

Terminology

The Japanese name 「ポケットモンスター金・銀シリーズ」 (Pocket Monsters Gold and Silver Series) has been used in the pokemon.co.jp website, referring to the games Pokémon Gold, Silver, Crystal, and Stadium 2.[1][2][3]

The manual of Pokémon Crystal states that this game is part of the Gold & Silver series.

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History

Generation II began the Pokémon series' expansion-focused nature, introducing to the world 100 new Pokémon which did not exist and are unable to be obtained in the Generation I games, and the new region of Johto. Many of these Pokémon expand the evolution families of older Pokémon, while a majority of them are brand-new evolutionary families.

The initial hint that Generation II was on its way came in early 1997, with the release of the anime's first episode. A Pokémon appears to Ash Ketchum on the first day of his journey, shortly after he and Pikachu become friends, that cannot be identified by the Pokédex; this Pokémon, later revealed to be the Legendary mascot of Gold Version, Ho-Oh, was the first Pokémon from a future generation to debut in the anime. The games, initially named "Pocket Monsters 2", were set for release in late 1997, but were pushed back to 1999 with the intention to redevelop the games to work with the Game Boy Color better.

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Details in the games indicate that the storyline of the Generation II games occurs three years after the one in Generation I and Generation III, while the storyline of the Sinnoh-based Generation IV games indicate that they occur contemporaneously to Generation II as Generation I does to Generation III.

Advances in gameplay

In addition to retaining the system from Generation I in almost every aspect, several key innovations were made to the series, most of which have been retained in every generation since.

Major additions

  • The introduction of 100 new Pokémon, bringing the total to 251. Several are evolved forms of or pre-evolutions of Generation I Pokémon, while others are their own evolutionary lines.
  • The addition of 86 new moves, bringing the total to 251 as well.
  • The addition of two new types, the Dark and Steel types, which balance the Psychic and Fighting types.
  • A new region to explore, Johto, in addition to the Generation I region, with the latter accessible after the Elite Four have been defeated. Johto has its own set of eight new Gyms and Gym Leaders to defeat, while the Elite Four have changed since Generation I.
  • Pokémon have determinable genders, and two Pokémon of opposite genders may breed if they share an Egg Group.
  • The Pokémon Storage System can store more Pokémon than it could in Generation I and now includes the ability to move Pokémon directly between Boxes.
  • A new player character, Ethan.
  • Seven new types of Poké Balls, made from Apricorns found in Johto.
  • A built-in clock, allowing for in-game events to be affected by the time of day and the days of the week.
  • Shiny Pokémon, alternate-color Pokémon which sparkle when brought into battle.
  • Baby Pokémon, most of them pre-evolved forms of Generation I Pokémon.
  • Friendship, introduced in Pokémon Yellow, becomes a stat used by all Pokémon.
  • Pokémon can now hold items and use them in battle.
  • A special Pokémon virus is introduced that boosts stats.
  • Roaming Pokémon are introduced.

Major alterations from Generation I

  • A change in the types of four moves: Gust, Sand-Attack, Karate Chop, and Bite. All formerly Normal-type, they are now Flying, Ground, Fighting, and Dark, respectively.
  • The addition of Steel as a secondary type for Magnemite and Magneton.
  • An improved stat system, with the former Special stat being split into Special Attack and Special Defense.
  • In-game opponents now have PP like players.
  • Although still classified as a Normal type move, Struggle now deals typeless damage.
  • The Bag is no longer one 20-item container, but has four separate sections for different items: Normal items, Poké Balls, TMs and HMs, and Key Items.
  • Hidden moves can now be used by interacting with the relevant obstacle (e.g. interacting with water for Surf), in addition to the previous method of selecting the move via the party menu.
  • A Key Item can be set to and then subsequently accessed with the select button, enabling its use without menu navigation.
  • When an opponent Pokémon Trainer encounters the player and challenges them, the player now turns to look at the Trainer.
  • The held item Exp. Share replaces the Exp. All.
  • In the previous generation, a Pokémon could gain enough experience through the defeat of a single Pokémon to increase its level by more than one, thus missing out on the opportunity to learn moves it could have learned in the levels between. From this generation onwards, if a Pokémon is currently in battle, it levels up multiple times if it gains enough experience to do so, and may learn moves at all levels at which it is eligible to do so. While other Pokémon may increase their level by more than one, the player will still be prompted to teach the Pokémon moves that it would be eligible to learn at intermediate levels.
  • The Town Map is no longer a Key Item; instead, it is available as a feature of an electronic device, the Pokégear, which also has cell phone and radio capabilities.
  • The way the game handles color on the world map has been improved. Overworld sprites such as the surfing Pikachu no longer change their palettes when moving between areas.
  • The type chart has changed from Generation I:

Character names

  • Red, Blue, and Daisy had their definitive names revealed in Generation II.
    • In Generation I games, the player (Red) and the rival (Blue) could be named by the player. In the Japanese manuals of Generation I games, they had multiple possible names referencing game titles.
    • In Generation I games, Daisy was unnamed and simply referred to as the rival's sister.
  • The words "Grunt" and "Executive", referring to Team Rocket ranks, were introduced in this generation.
    • In Generation I, the Team Rocket members were simply known as "Rocket". In this generation, each is them is known as a "Rocket Grunt". In Generation III, this was expanded to "Team Rocket Grunt".
    • In some later generations, "Executive" is known as "Admin" instead.
  • Opponent Pokémon Trainers are given individual names.

Further additions in Pokémon Crystal

Regions

Johto

Main article: Johto

Generation II introduced a new region to the Pokémon universe, Johto, located directly west of the Kanto region featured in Generation I. Johto's culture is notably more old-fashioned than Kanto's, especially in the more rural areas, which are more plentiful than in Kanto. Like Kanto, it has a sea to the south and mountains to the north.

First partner Pokémon

The first partner Pokémon introduced in Generation II follow the same Grass-Fire-Water alignment as those of Kanto. Despite this, they are not the same trio as in Generation I. Instead, Professor Elm offers Chikorita, Cyndaquil, or Totodile to the player as protection on an errand to Mr. Pokémon's house on Route 30.

Unlike other generations, where the first Gym is strong against the Fire-type and weak to Grass and Water, in this generation, the first Gym is strong against Grass, while Fire and Water both have an opening. Also, Pokémon available can cover for the weaknesses of the first partner types very early on in the game, unlike in Generation I.

Gym Leaders

Johto's Gym Leaders specialize in types different from Kanto's Gym Leaders, with eight of the nine types not covered by Kanto being the specialty types of these Gyms. Like Kanto, these Gym Leaders will give out Badges and TMs on their defeat.

Kanto

Main article: Kanto

Unlike later games in the series, the Generation II games offer the player the chance, once Johto's Gyms are conquered and the Elite Four is defeated, to return to the Kanto region where the Generation I games are set. Here, players will find that many things have changed over the past three years.

Gym Leaders

Unlike in Generation I, the Gym Leaders of Generation II Kanto will for the most part not give away TMs; only Janine and Erika do this.

Johto thematic motif

The second generation of Pokémon games were more directed towards mythology and tradition.

This was the first installment that put emphasis on Legendary Pokémon being actual legends in-game, in contrast to Mewtwo and the legendary birds of Generation I. Ecruteak City fleshed out the legends of Ho-Oh and the three beasts, their relationship with one another, and the story behind their departure (the Burned Tower). Lugia was also glimpsed by an elderly man in Ecruteak City, and others, who stated it looked like a dragon in the sky. Even the uncatchable Celebi was mentioned as the "Forest's Protector" at the shrine in Ilex Forest.

The Kimono Girls upheld ancient tradition in both battling Pokémon and dancing. The buildings in both Ecruteak City and Violet City have an older structure to them as well. Kurt offered a more traditional means of creating Poké Balls via Apricorns which proved variably superior to manufactured Poké Balls.

Reception

Pokémon Gold and Silver were among the most-hyped games in the Pokémon franchise, with the innovations introduced in them becoming staples of the series. The later-released Pokémon Crystal began the series' focus on Legendary Pokémon of the regions in which the games take place, first bringing them into the plot of the game. Due to these improvements, Generation II is highly acclaimed among long-time fans. Unlike future games, Generation II stood as an extension and a sequel of Generation I, and has been criticized by some for this.

Like Generation I's games, the popularity of the Generation II games proved great enough that remakes were made during Generation IV as sequels to Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen. Another reason why remakes were made was the fact that the original versions are incompatible with Generation III and onward.

Title screens

English title screens

Game Boy Color

Super Game Boy

Japanese title screens

Game Boy Color

Super Game Boy

Korean title screens

Trivia

  • This is the smallest completed generation so far, with only seven games and three core series games, if the Pokemon mini or arcade games aren't taken into consideration.
  • This is the first generation to:
  • This is the only generation:
  • This generation leaves the least extra space for Pokémon in the Storage System if one of every species is caught. Only 280 Pokémon may be obtained at once; there are 251 different Pokémon species available in this generation.
  • This generation features the first core series game, Crystal, whose Japanese title is in katakana only and that uses an English word, rather than using the Japanese counterpart word in kanji. No game since has been named in kanji.
  • Unlike in other generations, should the player use a glitch or cheat in a Generation II game to get into tall grass without a Pokémon, the fight will instantly end (and be treated as a victory in case of Trainers), instead of the player sending out a glitch Pokémon.
  • This generation started the trend of featuring Legendary Pokémon on the boxart of the core series games, rather than first partner Pokémon or their final evolutions.
  • Because of the introduction of a completely new stat due to the special split, this generation had the most base stat changes between Generations where all 151 Generation I Pokémon had their base stat total increased.
    • Additionally, this generation arguably had the most base stat increases and decreases between Generations as the majority of Pokémon received a different value for their Special Attack and Special Defense while some had both Special stats remain the same.
  • This generation introduced the fewest Poison-type moves of all generations, with only one.

References