Pokemon White for Nintendo DS Reviews by Gamers

It's not hard to think of things that could be improved about the Pokemon games. Like the fact that you have to spend so much time training your individual party members. And the fact that most of the game isn't really challenging at all, as you'll mainly face opponents with less balanced and smaller teams than you have.

And then there's the fact that if you've been playing since the beginning of the franchise, you've basically already played this game. Four times.

I wasn't going to get this game. I had to be convinced by someone getting the partner version, Black. I thought I'd play it a little bit each day to appease my friend but otherwise not get too involved.

Then I went ahead and pretty much played the game nonstop for about two weeks. It was kind of crazy!

I don't know what it is about this game, this franchise. I guess it is satisfying to build your own team, catch 'em all, outdo others. Even if outdoing others in the main game is really easy. And even though, with each sequel, the goal of actually catching them all gets even further out of reach. This game does have improved graphics, with the Pokemon now animated even as they wait to attack. And things seem to move just a bit faster, even if the pace is still comparatively slow to other games. It may not sound like much - it didn't to me in the previews - but I did notice the improvement in this game when I went back to Diamond so I could transfer over my old team. One big improvement: now TMs can be used to teach moves repeatedly. Thank goodness.

Pokemon is easy to mock, but I cannot truthfully deny that this game roped me back in and kept me as engaged and entertained as any other game I've enjoyed.

So if you think you've already outplayed the Pokemon franchise, as I had thought, don't count yourself out just yet. And if you've yet to start your Pokemon journey, there's no time like the present. I mean, unless you want to wait for the inevitable improved remake...