Pokémon Black and White: A nostalgic and timeless dilogy

When Pokémon Legends Z-A was announced as the next Pokémon game, many other Generation 5 fans and I were disappointed that Pokémon Black and White (BW) did not get the anticipated Nintendo Switch remakes, or even a Legends game, that they deserve.  

However, I remembered that Black and White had sequels (BW2). My disappointment was then doubled by the fact that the rich storyline, environment, characters, and soundtrack of the Unova region across the dilogy would not yet return for new generations of players to enjoy. 

This nostalgic time of year is perfect to reminisce on the games and stories that stick with us

I may be biased by nostalgia here – Pokémon Black was my first Pokémon game, remaining undefeated as my favourite video game of all time, despite no longer having access to my childhood copies of Black, White, and White 2. But as the days get darker yet cosier, this nostalgic time of year is perfect to reminisce on the games and stories that stick with us today. 

This article may contain mild spoilers for Pokémon BW and BW2.  

Pokémon BW takes place in Unova, following you and your rivals across the New York-inspired region. Along the way, you fight strong trainers (known as gym leaders) as you work up to the Champion, fill out the Unovan Pokédex, uncover the secrets of the villainous Team Plasma, and befriend the legendary dragons, Reshiram (in Black) or Zekrom (in White). 

The first point of review is going to be on the Pokémon themselves, being, of course, the main part of the franchise. Across the dilogy, 156 Unovan Pokémon were introduced – and, back in 2010 and 2012, many were received with mixed feelings. 

On a positive note, many Unovan Pokémon remain loved to this day. Pokémon like Cincinno and Whimsicott are cute while learning competitively lethal moves for battle. Others, like Chandelure and Volcarona, have beautiful designs as well as strong stats. Some designs even have unique forms, such as Deerling and Sawsbuck, changing their appearances based on the in-game seasons.  

On the other hand, Pokémon like Garbodor, Vanilluxe, and Amoonguss raised some eyebrows within the fanbase. The bold choice to have only Unova Pokémon available to players until the post-game for BW also contributed to the strong criticism of their designs, but this was changed in BW2, which expanded the Unova region and included Pokémon from previous generations. 

Another widespread criticism about the Pokémon, and one that I admittedly agree with, is of the absurdly high levels required to evolve some Pokémon. As much as Hydreigon is one of my favourite Pokémon of all time, having to reach level 64 to get it (the highest level any Pokémon needs to evolve by level-up to this day) is insane. It can make running around Unova and fighting wild Pokémon to gain experience points feel repetitive and strenuous. However, I would argue that the diverse environment of the region makes up for it. 

The Unova region in BW is wonderfully rich, with iconic areas like Chargestone Cave, Relic Castle, and Dragonspiral Tower. It also contains big, sprawling cities, like Castelia City (which, in all its bustle, is based on Manhattan), and Nimbasa City, with its iconic Ferris wheel and Musical Theatre, where players can dress up their Pokémon for shows. 

The story is by far one of the most well-thought-out in the franchise

BW2 amplifies this appeal, with areas like the Castelia Sewers and Flocessy Ranch both adding onto pre-loved locations from BW and opening new areas for exploration. Amongst said areas is the haunted Strange House, a personal favourite of mine for its ominous atmosphere, with its shifting furniture, and because I have fond childhood memories of making my older brother explore it with me when I feared going alone. 

In BW, the story is by far one of the most well-thought-out in the franchise so far. At first, Team Plasma raises an admittedly understandable point – why shouldn’t Pokémon be “liberated” from their trainers, free to live in their natural habitats? You find that another rival-like yet strange character, N, shares the same ideology, empathising with Pokémon forced to obey cruel trainers. However, a bigger threat arises as Ghetsis, the main villain, unfolds his plan to reign supreme in a world where only he owns Pokémon. 

This plot of BW transitions nicely into BW2, set two years later, with new threats from Neo Team Plasma and Colress, their scientist. Even the shifts in Ghetsis’s ominous battle theme show his change across the dilogy from a cold, ruthless leader to a maddened megalomaniac.  

This time, his goal is to obtain the legendary Kyurem, which takes the form of Black Kyurem in Black 2 and White Kyurem in White 2. Though Pokémon has had a few great villains, with fan favourites including Giovanni and Archie, Ghetsis is also a popular choice for the most genuinely evil villain of the franchise.  

Interestingly, the dilogy’s compelling narrative tackles powerful themes, such as morality, power abuse, and the dangers of ideology, yet still appeals to younger audiences. As fans online pointed out, BW and BW2 show that a kids’ game can be both child-friendly and complex. Evidently, the biggest conflict in the games is between truth (represented by Reshiram), ideals (represented by Zekrom), and the somewhat nihilistic absence of either belief (represented by Kyurem and its forms).  

The older magic of Unova’s limited 2D world remains special to those who grew up with it

I think that dealing with bigger themes in the plot, while maintaining a colourful and appealing world full of great Pokémon, multi-dimensional characters, and a distinctive soundtrack, is what makes Pokémon BW and BW2 a dilogy that still holds up today, over a decade later.  

Even as the franchise continues to release games, with Pokémon Legends Z-A releasing in a matter of days at the time of writing this article, the older magic of Unova’s limited 2D world remains special to those who grew up with it, return to it, or, perhaps, are only just being introduced to it.