24 Hours With the Pokéwalker

Haters gonna hate

When Pokémon Gold and Silver came out nearly ten years ago it revolutionized the series by introducing a number of new features.  The enhanced remake of these titles, Pokémon Heart Gold and Soul Silver were released yesterday and despite being ten years older and supposedly more mature, I had to pick up a copy.  Bundled with each game is arguably this generation’s most exciting new feature: the pokéwalker.

Similar to Nintendo’s Pocket Pikachu, the pokéwalker is an enhanced pedometer.  The player can transfer a pokémon from a box directly into the device allowing them to take a digital walk with the creature.  The digital walk of course requires walking in real life, or adept arm shaking (I find it’s all about the follow-through).

At first I was annoyed that I was required to take a warrior from my small roster, as I am not yet very far into the game.  Soon I found that this actually served as a safe way to level pokémon who may lack proper offenses, especially at certain points in the game.  For instance, while battling my way through the first gym filled with flying pokémon, I kept my Bellsprout hidden safely away in the pokéwalker, far from beak or talon.  It also works well with pokémon that don’t know many moves, limiting what they can actually take down.

My first trip with Bellsprout was pretty epic.  I needed to clean up my kitchen so I shoved the pokéwalker in my pocket, figuring that Bellsprout’s tiny leaf-like arms could provide some assistance.  Once I was done cleaning I saw that I had racked up a bunch of steps along with some watts — the currency required to play the pokéwalker’s various mini-games.

I used the watts I earned to catch a few critters which were not yet available to me in the game, as well as find some items.  The mini-games are quite simple: part chance, part are-you-smarter-than-a-5th-grader.  The pokémon I did catch in no way offset the balance of the game, which is certainly important.  Most of them are the variety you would see fairly early in any of the generations of titles out there.  Still, catching a new pokémon without having to use a pokéball is a good feeling!  I was a little sad that I could not nickname them, but since you are the OT you can change their names once you find a name rater.

After I had caught three pokémon and found three items, it was time to pack it in.  I sent Bellsprout back to my game, and all my spoils were transferred as well.  The leftover watts I maintained went towards unlocking a new path I can use next time, filled with different creatures and some different items.  There are a number of new paths which can be unlocked, both by accruing watts or by transferring special Nintendo event pokémon over to the PW.

I had managed to snag the Jirachi which opens “Night Sky’s Edge” and will probably spend today exploring the area, hopefully without being seen by anyone older or younger than myself.

Ultimately the pokéwalker is a great update to the series, accurately recapturing the innovation that was responsible for the original Gold and Silver.  I am truly charmed by the little device, either from the fog of nostalgia or because it really is just plain fun.

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