The official Japanese Pokémon website has just updated to include a full sized map of the Isshu region as well as providing us with some in-game pictures. The tour does not show off many places we have not already seen screenshots from but it does provide us with a full map of the region including what is speculated to be the new starting point for this generation. To get to the virtual tour, click here and then click the white button above the information bar.
A screenshot of the virtual tour
A flat screen TV in the player's(?) bedroom? It's come a long way from a simple NES!
This area to the far left of the map looks a lot like an airfield. Could planes be a new mode of transport?
We’re expecting the new issue of CoroCoro magazine to leak any moment now, but before it does, here’s a quick piece of news out of Japan.
In what will probably be the last of the 4th Gen related downloads, Japanese players will be able to download a Manapy over Wi-Fi and nintendo download stations at Pokemon Centers and McDonalds.
Available from August 14th until September 12th, the Manapy will be at level 50, have a mild nature and holding a Lansat Berry. It will know the attacks Aqua Ring, Water Pulse, Water Sport and Heart Swap.
A promotional leaflet for the event from McDonalds also details the Wi-Fi event following this one, the liberty ticket for the new Black and White games letting you get Victini. It states that Victini will have the Brand New move Complete Burn.
We’ll bring you more news when we learn it, which could be any moment now.
While it’s a rather small piece of news, the Gamefreak director’s blog (which used to be updated in English and Japanese but it seems they’ve given up on the English side) recently updated with an interesting tidbit, which you can read here.
In essence apparently Pokémon Black/White will feature absolutely no old Pokémon before getting the National Dex. This means it’s all new Pokémon in Isshu for the first part of your adventure. You could hear the Japanese Pokémon fans cheering across the globe as the news broke at the realisation that, until the National Dex at least, there would be no running into wild Geodude and Zubat in every cave ever. There has been some discontent over this as well as it also means you won’t be able to use any old favourites for a while and if no Pokémon from Generation V interest you then you’re stuck up until you get the National Dex. What do you think of the matter? Leave a comment or tell us on our forums!
With Black and White just over a month away, brand new news could happen at anytime and from anywhere. This time we’ve got a look at a new pokemon curtesy of Yahoo Japan, who accidently put up some Sugimori art earlier today (which was quickly removed).
Unfortunatly we dont have a name or anything else to go with on this guy yet, although he looks like he’s going to be a bug type (and maybe grass as well?). While ordinarily this kind of thing on its own would be taken with a large grain of salt, this was posted on the Japanese Yahoo Server under the usual folders they use for images on thier pages, and there was also Sugimori Art for the yet-to-be named Swan pokemon as well as Shikijika, both of whom were revealed on Oha Suta recently.
Sugimori Art of Shikijina and the Unnamed Swan
One other thing the site revealed was a picture with information on the Victini, numbered #000 in the Isshu Dex. Victini is revealed to be the Victory Pokemon, A Psychic/Fire Type. It will be 0.4m tall and weigh 4.0kg. It has a new ability called Victory Star, which we dont know what that does yet.
There is a chance that all of this is fake, but its a slim chance given that the art matches Sugimori’s very well and the source where these pictures came from. We will however, inform you if these turn out to be fake as soon as we know.
With Oha Suta constantly revealing new pokemon, Pokemon Sunday on every week and a new CoroCoro Magazine due to be released (not to mention there’s only 7 weeks until Black and White is released in Japan), New info could be coming think and fast now and we’ll post it up here as soon as we know it
This week’s Oha Suta has revealed some new Pokémon along with confirming that Pokémon Black/White will follow the standard formula of having an evil organisation – this time called Team Plasma.
Shikijika (シキジカ)
Two Miruhoggu (ミルホッグ), the evolution of Minezumi
Unknown Swan Pokémon, circled
Team Plasma, looking somewhat like mediaeval knights
Shikijika, the small deer Pokémon, may be a pre-evolution for Stantler. They are both deer Pokémon and Stantler’s Japanese name is Odoshishi, lending some similarity. This is all speculation however and has yet to be confirmed – what is confirmed is that Minezumi now has an evolution.
A short video, which you can view here, shows off the differences between Black City and White Forest as well as a look at what’s called the Pokéshifter, what appears to be a touch screen mini-game where you have to ‘catch’ Pokémon by drawing on a bow and arrow on the touch screen as they hop from bush to bush. This is shown to be used in the same manner as Pal Park and has confirmed that you can transfer Pokémon from Generation IV to Generation V.
Black City and White Forest. Also shows off the new larger Pokémon Centre design.
The Pokéshifter building and a screenshot of the minigame.
There is also a 6 minute Pokémon Black/White Promotional Video which shows off just how impressive the games look. The games are using a lot more 3D effects than any past handheld Pokémon game and it seems the development team have found a fondness for large sweeping environments, from huge bridges to trains spanning land masses. It’s worth a look because it reveals a lot of new information about the game. We’ve screencapped pieces we feel important below but it’s recommended you watch the video too to see it all in action.
The Isshu region. It's unknown if this is the entire region or if there is more.
Although difficult to make out as a still, trains are shown passing below the player. Later a shot shows the player boarding a train.
CGear, showing the connectivity the games will utilise between local wireless and Nintendo WiFi. Later the video suggests IR can now be used for linking games.
A close up shot showing character sprites are taller than before.
Dressing up your Pokémon. Curiously shows a signal strength box in the corner.
Your dressed up Pokémon take place in musicals which have apparently replaced contests.
