Let's Play Pokemon SoulSilver Part 1: Our Johto Journey Has Begun!

[Aerosteam]

[small]This playthrough is paused, there is literally no time for it right now. Education is good.[/small]

Spoiler: Newcomers click here!

Spoiler: What the hell is this and what makes it special?

[HEADING=3]What the hell is this and what makes it special?[/HEADING]This is a playthrough of the main Pokemon series on the Nintendo DS currently. Here's why I think it's cool: Every single pokemon I catch will be nicknamed by one of you lovely people.

Anyone can start following this at any point and still be eligible to do this!

Spoiler: That's the greatest thing I have ever heard! How can I do that?

[HEADING=3]That's the greatest thing I have ever heard! How can I do that?[/HEADING]One of your posts during the current game you are able to reserve 1 pokemon and a name for it (another opportunity to do this again is when a new game starts), this is a sure-way of getting at least one pokemon named by you. This excludes legendaries and starters.

The main bulk of the names will come from suggestions from everyone. When I reach a new section of the region, such as a route, I'll post an update including a list of the new pokemon I'm able to catch.

After this, it's your job to give names to each of them by posting a list of the ones you want to name and then a name for them next to it. Then I'll choose the one I like the most for a particular pokemon and name it that.

I will catch every single pokemon I can only once, different evolutions count as different pokemon.

Spoiler: Even legendaries?

[HEADING=3]Even legendaries?[/HEADING]Yeah, pretty much. Encountering the version mascot or sets of legendaries (for example, all roaming ones of the region) will likely be an entire update, and you are able to give 3 names instead of 1 for legendaries.

Spoiler: Any other special cases?

[HEADING=3]Any other special cases?[/HEADING]Here's an example: in Platinum, we're given an Eevee at some point. After this happens the next update will involve you choosing what pokemon it will evolve into as well as a name for that particular evolution you have chosen. On a later update, through breeding with Ditto we're able to get the other evolutions of Eevee we don't have and they will be posted as a list within the update, that's when suggestions for them will be made.

There are special cases all around the series, I have not played SoulSilver or White before starting this so I'm not able to mention any from them.

Spoiler: What are the restrictions for nicknames?

[HEADING=3]What are the restrictions for nicknames?[/HEADING]There's a maximum of 10 characters for a nickname- blame GameFreak. No offensive names or swears- minor profanity is allowed ("butt" is allowed and "ass" isn't) and obviously no naming things the N word. No other peoples' usernames- This will just start a chain. No gibberish- give me something creative!

Spoiler: Nicknaming a pokemon is literally the worst possible thing a human being can do.

[HEADING=3]Nicknaming a pokemon is literally the worst possible thing a human being can do.[/HEADING]So?

Spoiler: Get to the technical stuff with getting all the pokemon.

[HEADING=3]Get to the technical stuff with getting all the pokemon.[/HEADING]Let's say I'm set out to obtain a Gible, Gabite and Garchomp. Only Gible is encounterable in the wild, so to get all of them I'll have to catch 3 Gibles and evolve 1 of them once and another twice so I have a Gabite and Garchomp as well as a Gible.

Assuming no one has reserved a name for any of the pokemon, the update which includes a list containing the 3 Gibles will instead be labeled as Gible, Gabite and Garchomp to make it easy for you to give a name for each of the evolutions.

Breeding to get pokemon I don't have is an option, but will only be definitely used for pokemon only obtained by breeding.

Spoiler: How will we see the game and what equipment are you using?

[HEADING=3]How will we see the game and what equipment are you using?[/HEADING]I'll be playing all these games on my red and white (pokeball colours ) 2DS. I'm going to take pictures with my digital camera, the shots aren't as bad as you might expect. There will be pictures of rarer pokemon and key parts of the story.

Spoiler: How will doing this play out in the end?

[HEADING=3]How will doing this play out in the end?[/HEADING]Pokemon Bank. Imagine seeing a collection of multiple years worth of pokemon all named by fellow Escapists.

Maybe have a huge giveaway in the end.

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[HEADING=2]Part 0 (Choose the Starter!)[small] - [Post 10][/small][/HEADING]

[HEADING=2]Part 1 (Our Johto Journey Has Begun!)[small] - [Post 26][/small][/HEADING]

 

[Aerosteam]

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[HEADING=1]Part -1:[/HEADING] [HEADING=2]Platinum, SoulSilver or White? Choose the Game![/HEADING]

Spoiler

This is the first choose I'll let you guys make: Platinum, SoulSilver or White. This is the first game I'll play for this, the others we'll get to afterwards.

I would prefer it if we started with White, we'll eventually get to White 2 which has all the same pokemon but more. Having the largest time starting between the two will minimize how boring it will get visiting the same region. There is a 2 year gap between White and White 2's story so there's that.

Platinum is the only game here I have played (then completed) before starting this. Since it was released before the others I'm assuming it has less features than them, so starting with this game then progressing to the others as they get more polished might make sense.

The first and second generation of pokemon are in SoulSilver. We can catch pokemon by mostly following the numbers on the national pokedex as we progress through the games (so we kinda have to skip 3rd gen pokemon and go straight to 4th after it).

[HEADING=3]Before we begin our pokemon journey we need to decide which game we're going to start with.[/HEADING]Post below the game you want to start on (and why if you want). After this we'll choose our starter and a name for it!

 

[Liquidprid3]

I think we should play SoulSilver. The Gen 2 remakes are great, and those who haven't played Pokemon since the earlier generations will also be able to enjoy this thread.

 

[GiantRaven]

Ooh it's a toughie to pick between SoulSilver and Platinum. My favourite generation of Pokemon games.

I'd say go with SoulSilver.

 

[JoJo]

Got to vote SoulSilver this time, always nice to see the classic Pokemon again

 

[Barbas]

Since everyone is going for SoulSilver or Platinum so far, I suggest White.

 

[Risingblade]

I'm gonna go with white on this one.

 

[Fractral]

I suggest Platinum. Best of the Generation 4 games by far.

 

[Poppy JR.]

I'm gonna have to go with SoulSilver. Also, I think Poppy is a lovely name for a Lugia.

 

[Aerosteam]

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[HEADING=1]Part 0:[/HEADING] [HEADING=2]Chikorita, Cyndaquil or Totodile? Choose the Starter! (And its name!)[/HEADING]

Spoiler

Spoiler

Spoiler

As we start the game, we're greeted by Professor Oak, it's a bit strange since this is the only time where another professor does this instead of the main one featured in the game. As usual, he asks if you are a boy or a girl. [small]*Quickly checks*[/small]

Now I would choose the male character, but his legwear always confused me, are those shorts too long or trousers to short? Because of this reason which is totally valid, I shall choose the female character and totally not because girls are hot.

Spoiler

Next he asks for my name, expecting it to be 7 or less characters long so I can't have what I wanted which is something like "Escapist". There's "Escapee" but that'll only give the indication of me being an escaped convict to other the characters.

I'm going by the name of Jackie. The story behind this is that I had a friend with that name and used to share profiles with (including this website). She changed all of our profile's settings to have her name instead of mine everywhere which I was fine with as long as I'm allowed to impersonate her and wind people up. (Don't worry, this was only on Xbox LIVE for a short while.)

Spoiler

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*Insert obligatory joke about how being shrunk down being incredibly painful*​

Spoiler

As usual, you wake up in the middle of your room from a dream where Professor Oak-
*Insert obligatory joke about him liking kids*​

Spoiler

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So you go downstairs and your mum gives you a bunch of stuff (ironically not any goddamn running shoes) you can quickly access on the touch screen. One of which is your Trainer Card, kinda ruining the surprise that you'll become a pokemon trainer at some point. That's to be expected... but still.

She tells you your friend, Ethan (who looks suspiciously like the male player character), is playing hide 'n' seek with his Marill. I don't know why, I wasn't paying attention. She also tells you to visit Professor Elm who's next door in his research lab/house. I don't know why, I wasn't paying attention.

As you can probably not see, some red-haired kid is at the side of the building, probably waiting for a pie to be left on the windowsill and steal it.

Spoiler

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So Prof. Elm talks about how we studies pokemon breeding *snicker* and in the past everyone used to walk with their pokemon because there were no pokeballs. Strange to think how people coped with that, I would assume water types were unpopular due to having to carry them around in a fish bowl everywhere.

He wonders if the pokemon walking with you had something to do with increasing a trainer's bond with them, and said something about delivering a package/message/whatever to some guy. (Yeah, I've really got to start paying attention to people). He decides to kill two Pidgeys with one Geodude and tells you to deliver that thing while a pokemon followed you. He offers to give you one, and surprise-surprise: there's three of them, a grass-type, a fire-type and a water-type.

Spoiler

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When choosing a starter, it's best to think what their final evolution stage is since they'll be that stage longer than the others. Fun fact: the second generation is the only one where all the starters remain a single type.

Meganium (grass-type) is obviously the least popular choice and it's another dinosaur-esque pokemon like Venusaur. It focuses more on both of its defences than the others.

Typhlosion (fire-type) is definitely my favourite of the three. And has such a cool name: Typh. Losion. Not sure where "typh" comes from but I know "losion" comes from "lotion"- my favourite thing in the world. It has higher stats on its Sp. Attack and Speed.

Feraligatr (water-type) makes me laugh. Since pokemon names are restricted to 10 characters or less, the "o" had to be missed out in the "gator" part of it's name. It's a physical attacker and has higher Defence than Sp. Defence.

[HEADING=3]Before we begin catching 'em all we need a companion.[/HEADING]Post below who you want to choose as our starter and suggest a name we can give to him.

 

[Liquidprid3]

Starter should be Cyndaquil, and name it Cindy! Hopefully it's a girl.

 

[JoJo]

I vote for Megan the Meganium, also hopefully a female

 

[blizzaradragon]

There is only 1 right choice for a starter, which is Cyndaquil.

As for a name, it should be named Exbo(or Explotaro depending on which translation you read) after Gold's Cyndaquil from Pokemon Adventures. Or Steve. Steve is always good.

 

[Hero of Lime]

Cyndaquil of course! If you get lucky enough for it to be female considering the odds, it has to be Cindy the Cyndaquil. If it is male, I would suggest Tyler the Typlosion. If it wasn't obvious before, I'm not used to nicknaming Pokemon.

Though I have a question, could we donate Pokemon for you to use in these Poke-let's plays?

 

[Aerosteam]

Though I have a question, could we donate Pokemon for you to use in these Poke-let's plays?

That wouldn't be a problem, but how would you donate them?

 

[NoOne852]

I vote Chikorita and suggest to name it Kumquat. A name perfectly neutral for male or female =D

I think I'm going to nickname all my grass pokemon as vegetables and fruits from now on...

EDIT:
Also, will name reservations be accepted now or in the next update?

 

[Hero of Lime]

Though I have a question, could we donate Pokemon for you to use in these Poke-let's plays?

That wouldn't be a problem, but how would you donate them?

Just by trading, I was thinking about giving you the other two Johto starters since I always have lots of fun using all three in a generation. I don't want to intrude on your let's play, just take it as a suggestion.

 

[Aerosteam]

Though I have a question, could we donate Pokemon for you to use in these Poke-let's plays?

That wouldn't be a problem, but how would you donate them?

Just by trading, I was thinking about giving you the other two Johto starters since I always have lots of fun using all three in a generation. I don't want to intrude on your let's play, just take it as a suggestion.

Intrude? Oh heavens, no! These playthrough are going to involve the people following it as much as myself!

So you mean trade through the GTS?

 

[Aerosteam]

Will name reservations be accepted now or in the next update?

Next update! Also only for pokemon available in SoulSilver at the moment.