| Pokémon Crystal is a modified version of
the Gold and Silver titles designed for use with the Japanese cell phone
network. The gameplay is still the same Pokémon - find monsters, train
them for battle and catch 'em all - with a few tweaks. For example,
players can assume the role of a female Pokémon collector for the first
time in the series. Nintendo's "Mobile Adaptor GB" can be used to connect
the Game Boy to a cellular phone, enabling players to trade or battle
Pokémon with other players around the world. Nintendo has no plans to
release Pokémon Crystal (or the Mobile Adaptor) outside of Japan.
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 Pokémon Crystal is essentially a Special Edition version of
Pokémon Gold and Silver. The new Mobile Adapter system allows the Game Boy
Color to download data from a network -- rare Pokémon like Mew or Celebi
will probably be one of the key components of the Pokémon Crystal game,
forcing players to check in with Nintendo to see if they'll get the chance
to catch a rare Pokémon. |
 The biggest addition is that a new Pokémon
trainer has joined the team, and gamers can choose to be either a girl or
boy Pokémon trainer in the game! Nintendo has yet to release the name of
this new female trainer, but you can catch a glimpse of her over on the
right. She's not dressed as catty as Jessie or Misty -- more like a
scientist with the long coat and Poké Gear around her neck -- so perhaps
if she's included in the show, she will be less hyper-cutesy and more
serious about being a great Pokémon Master. |
 In addition to the female trainer, another main character has
been announced for the game -- a creepy looking fellow named Minaki. This
stranger is on a mission to find Suicune -- it is a mystery why he wants
this Legendary Pokémon so, but until you find out his motives, it's
probably best to stop his quest. Also added is a new radio station, with a
broadcast by a friendly female DJ called Hello Aoi, where Aoi may pass on
new secrets about the quest ahead. The game will also delve deeper into
the mystery of the Unown. |
Another new addition to the game is an
improvement of the graphics. Now in battles, the Pokémon will animate
slightly to show the attack better. For example, Cyndaquil lights up the
fire on his back. The animation will be limited -- you won't see Lickitung
launch its big tongue across the screen or Houndoom spit a huge fireball
that lights up the screen -- but its still a vast improvement over the
still, blah battles that you're used to.
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The following screenshots show that in Crystal,
you can catch Celebi without a GameShark.
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Here's some more screenshots from the Crystal
version.
 
 
Girl's
Bag Boy's Bag |
 
Girl's
Map Boy's Map
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