Image: pokecharms.com

These days existing in popular culture mainly as ironic, semi-nostalgic Facebook groups, Nintendo’s Pokémon video game franchise remains strong nonetheless; it is the second highest-grossing series of all time behind only Mario. Since the average Brig reader would have been around ten years old at the height of its popularity circa 1998, the RPGs – including original releases Red & Blue – have since sadly, but inevitably, been stored away by many in the locker of childhood memories amongst the yo-yos, Pogs and those squishy alien things that apparently had babies if you rubbed their arses together. However, to dismiss them is to undermine the entertainment quality and intricate detail woven into every instalment since the ‘90s, including the recently released Black & White Versions.

Still using the blueprint of a local professor giving some young children their own pet Pokémon and sending them out into the world to make them maul other kids’ companions, the story of these titles sees you exploring the new world of Unova (based on New York City) to find 156 new beasties and stop the notorious Team Plasma. The absence of all old Pokémon is a refreshing change, but this rekindling of interest is somewhat diminished by the designs of some of the new ones; if they’re not slightly-altered copies of those that came before, they’re bottom-of-the-barrel scrapings such as a black bin bag monster (seriously) and goofy cartoon-like animals.

That said, most of the fifth generation are passable at least, with my personal favourite being a unicorn with a lightning bolt for a horn. Cool as ice. Furthermore, despite following roughly the same storyline as its predecessors, the antagonists in this game have a more thought-provoking back story and reasons for their actions, unlike the typical cookie-cutter evil organisations of yore like Team Rocket. You may even find yourself torn between the heroes and villains as the plot thickens.

Image: gbatemp.net

One letdown with these first offerings of the 2010s is their graphical aesthetics. On the plus side, a stylish 3D overview has been introduced, with the camera panning and contorting to bring a whole new shine to the world. Where the visuals often fail, however, is in the reluctance to change the character to anything other than a 2D, four-directional bunch of pixels. In the new, breathtakingly cinematic environments, this leads to the protagonist often looking sloppy and distorted. The same can be said for the new battle system, in which the pixellated creatures’ now-constant movements often make them look somewhat anachronistic in contrast with the sleek new arenas and menus.

It has its flaws but, since it remains as true to the tried-and-tested formula that has sold over 200 million units, while introducing remarkable new elements, Black and White could be seen as the turning point of a series that has not yet seen its day. And, above all else, twelve years ago you were informed that you had to catch ‘em all. This has never been rescinded.