Pokemon: Silver Version Game Boy Color

A continuation of Nintendo's successful franchise, Pokémon Silver lets players once again test their skill at becoming the world's greatest Pokémon trainer. For those new to the series, gameplay involves collecting and then fighting creatures called Pokémon while challenging rival trainers for their badges. A secondary goal is to collect the entire roster of 250 Pokémon creatures.

Players travel from city to city, talking to people, entering buildings, solving puzzles, finding items, and testing their mettle against trainers looking to humiliate them. Winning a fight involves forming a balanced team of Pokémon that can stand up to the opposition. Success finds the creatures growing in experience, learning new abilities, and possibly evolving into more powerful types.

Pokémon Silver features an internal clock that can influence which Pokémon are available depending on the time played. Also included are special events occurring only on certain days of the week. As in previous titles, players may save at any point during their travels and later continue where they left off.

In addition to the clock, new features that distinguish Pokémon Silver from earlier versions are dozens of new Pokémon, two new types (Dark and Steel), a new world to explore, and additional evolutions for older Pokémon. Pokémon can also hold items during combat, and the hero now has access to a map, phone, radio, and more, thanks to the wrist-mounted Pokégear accessory.

In order to collect all the monsters, players will need to trade with owners of the separate Pokémon Gold. The differences between the two games are negligible, however. Other than the frequency of certain types of Pokémon, both titles play exactly the same and feature identical storylines.

Pokémon Silver is backwards compatible with the other versions of the game, meaning players can trade with owners of Pokémon Red, Pokémon Blue, and Pokémon Yellow, but the new creatures are exclusive to the Game Boy Color cartridges and cannot be transferred to older versions. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide