Pokémon Silver

Like Pokémon Gold, which is essentially the same story with minor gameplay variations, Pokémon Silver casts players in the familiar role of a young Pokémon Trainer who is out to collect as many different kinds of Pokémon as possible. As in previous games, gameplay consists mostly of exploration (completing various quests in the process) and Pokémon battles, which employ a unique battle-system that is like a complex twist on rock-paper-scissors.

But despite the similarities, it's quite apparent that Pokémon Silver is a whole new ball game from the start. The game is played out in real time, with the current time and day-of-the-week (recorded by an internal clock) having a direct impact on gameplay elements such as what Pokémon you will find in the wild, and when certain events occur and characters appear.

While there are simply too many new and improved features in Pokémon Silver to list here, among the highlights are 100 new Pokémon (including two new types), new evolution processes (including breeding) and a more streamlined game interface with better-organized menus and button shortcuts.

Although it's easier to progress in Pokémon Silver than the previous games, the sheer amount of fun and game time involved is daunting. You would be really hard-pressed to find a better value gamethan this. --Joe Hon