I think playing Crystal on rainy car rides down to the coast from my hometown is why I find comfort in this game. Whenever it rains I can hear the music playing in the back of my mind, and the urge to buy a Gameboy Color is so strong. I hope to pass the game down to my son when he's a little older. Thank you for this retrospective, it makes me smile whenever I think about this adventure
"I personally value strong creature design far above potential strategic depth" Definitely agree right here. If I like a pokemon's design, I'm gonna use regardless of its battle capabilities.
Something I've enjoyed with the older games, and have come to appreciate even more now since it's missing in the newer games, is all of the optional areas that encourage exploration, with unique rewards (rare Pokemon, items, etc.) that you can't get anywhere else, as well as having actual level design. The initial half of Johto may be linear in terms of progression, but it never feels like it because of the optional things you can do along the way. Dark Cave is optional (all 3 sides of it), Sprout Tower is optional (not in HeartGold, mandatory), Ruins of Alph is entirely optional, Union Cave's second half is optional, Mt. Mortar is entirely optional, Whirl Islands are optional (not in HeartGold, mandatory), Battle Tower (Frontier in HG) is optional and accessable as soon as you walk up to it, and eastern Johto is optional. Then you get to Kanto, and any place that doesn't have a Gym is optional, especially the dungeons (Rock Tunnel, Seafoam Islands and Cerulean Cave in HGSS). The dungeons have actual level design and puzzles, like the strength puzzles and ice puzzles. All of that is missing in the newer games; heck even the caves stopped being multifloor, and are just single-floor hallways. As the saying goes, you never know what you have til it's gone. Gen 5 was probably the last time we had actual level design, and even then Gen 5 was the start of the decline of it; it was still decent, since it still had navigational puzzles and multi-floor caves, but it was the start of everything getting hallway-esque. Crystal has always been my favourite (with HGSS right next to it, naturally), since it's still arguably the game that provides the most ADVENTURE of Pokemon. The Johto games are also the only ones to really embrace the time of day and day of week stuff to make the worlds feel more alive, and like it's moving with or without you, instead of just being a world solely built around the player. Crystal inspired me to get into game development (along with the GBC Zelda titles), so it'll always hold a special place in my heart, and with hindsight and the state of Pokemon these days, it's only strengthened the bond.
You said it better than I could but I 100% agree and have largely fell out of love with the modern Pokemon games for the reasons you outlined so eloquently. They feel so lifeless compared to the classic era. Thanks for sharing!
The obscurity of the Dex was meant to extend the life cycle of the game experience. It's a slow burn. And we weren't overexposed to the Kanto roster at that time. The fun was in learning how to locate these new, rare Pokémon.
@@Anonymous36 I agree, I found the hunt to fill out the dex super satisfying. Also, I appreciate how much of the dex can be completed within just one game. That’s something Gen 3 kinda fails at.
@@AustinAshworth It's interesting that what was a boon to the player experience back then has since been rexontextualized and is now perceived as a negative. Over time, the Kanto favoritism has soured. But back then we still loved them and thought them fresh. GSC was a slow simmer and laidback. It worked then, but not now.
For me, I always come back to the atmosphere and the colors of Johto. The stories told through the world are beautiful, the Legemdary Beasts, Whitney and her Miltank, the radio tower goons, and so much more. The idea of walking through this world 2 decades ago and it feeling so alive will just always stick with me. It's also the Gen where my second favorite pokemon got its beginning, Sneasel.
To me Gen 2 holds a very special place in my heart, not just because of what it brought to the table and improved from Gen 1, but mostly because it was the reason why i loved Pokèmon in the first place. I remember the days that i would just spend time just laying in my room playing either Gold or Crystal, wondering to myself what i would i find next. There's a lot of memories and friends that i made thanks to these game back in the day and i'm glad it did.
I am a gen 2 fanboy ill admit it im biased as hell lol. But seriously Crystal is my favorite pokemon experince Ive actually been playing the game on my N64 with Stadium 2 its one of the best ways to play the original
Wow original hardware? That's dedication! I got my start in the games with Gen 3, but was first introduced to Pokemon in general with Gen 2 so they both hold a very special place in my heart.
Crystal is legitimately a great game. I won’t let anyone tell me otherwise. Playing it again on 3DS with the availability of the Celebi event was the Cherry on top.
19:43 My theory is that gymleaders are intentionally bad because the devs fully intended you to seek foes IRL. The gymleaders are essentially just a "tutorial"
Perhaps but that feels like a cop out to me. Regardless, it doesn’t detract from the game too much thankfully. Thanks for sharing different perspective!
@@AustinAshworth Oh, it is a total cop out, just like all the other trainers (and for my next pokemon I choose pidgey... again... (after the previous two got one hit KO:ed) ) But I still love it too :D Loved your vid, keep at it, I just subbed :)
I’m so glad to hear that! Fair warning it won’t be right away, got a few other videos planned before returning to Pokemon. Your patience is appreciated!
Gen 2 is INCREDIBLE, but also flawed, which is okay! I just wish some people would understand flaws (level curve, eggs taking too long to raise, Kanto not being as fleshed out, Johto pokemon not being all that available until postgame) don't ruin the whole game.
@@foxhoundms9051 might not be the strongest pokemon, but at least the caterpie line has a really bold recoloration for the shinies. It’s so underwhelming when you can barely tell the difference!
As a kid, I got stuck on the sudowoodo. I didn’t know where to get the squirt bottle. I trained my Pokémon to lvl 34 until I figured it out. Wouldn’t matter because Whitney’s Miltank would dog walk me until I got over that hump. I also had a shiny Noctowl, and I didn’t even know it was shiny. I thought the game had it because Ash had a shiny one.
I do prefer Gen 2 over Gen 1 but Gen 2 has that one problem. Gen 2 feels like 'Gen 1 if it was good' than its own thing. But Gen 2 was technological marvel. Gold/Silver are not games made for Game Boy Color but the original Game Boy and it has two regions.
I agree, Gold/Silver being playable on original GameBoy is wild! That’s a fair point, it doesn’t bother me but I see how Gen 2 could feel like it lacks its own identity.
Even though Crystal's better, Gold will always be my favorite out of the three versions. As someone who loved the hell out of Stadium 2, Crystal's lack of compatibility with it was a huge fatal flaw.
@@Chdonga I didn’t realize that was the case! I did some quick research and I am seeing some sites mention crystal working with Stadium 2, was it just a limited compatibility or something? I didn’t play at time of release and certainly not with Stadium 2 so I’ll have to trust your expertise here. Thanks for sharing!
@@AustinAshworth It seems like a limited compatibility thing. I googled it and Nintendo's website says it *does* work, but I also spotted a few people saying they couldn't get their Crystal to work on Stadium 2 so... ???
For me it's the "attitude" of Gen 2. Slightly darker more serious tones. Also, quite a bit more detail in the towns and map, and the 'mons themselves. The Gen 2 'mons have some of the best designs, but it's a shame most of them are locked until post-game. Unlike Gen 1 (especially Japanese version) the sprites are GREAT. Astonishingly, can also be played on the original gameboy. They took risks that weren't necessary, like breeding and item holding, but added a lot of depth to the series. "Nostalgia" is a buzzzword that gets wayy overused online; Often old things were generally made better, sometimes even due to the technical limitations of the time, they had to try harder. Not just for videogames, but for anything. I think people are truly starting to realize that technology alone doesn't make a better product.
Agree 100%! The technological limitation often leads to creative solutions that make older games more deep and unique. Gen 2 does have that special vibe that really appeals to me.
Silver Version was the last Pokémon game I played all the way through. I never had a GBA or DS so I kind of naturally fell out of the fandom and have only been rediscovering the series over the last few months. Even when my cartridge's internal battery died (I'm pretty sure way sooner than it should have) and I would lose all my progress if I ever turned the game off, I would just put fresh batteries in my GBC and leave it on until it died or I made it to the end. I shudder to think how many batteries I burned through and tossed before we finally started buying rechargeable ones... I will not stand for this baby Pokémon slander, though. I agree that Smoochum can get in the trash where it belongs and Magby's on thin ice with its weird hair that looks uncomfortably like its brain to me but leave my precious Igglybuff alone! I'd also swap Miltank and Ariados on your tier list. I hate spiders but I love Ariados's colors while Miltank's sausage udders make me deeply uncomfortable. In fact, other than Miltank, Croconaw, and Granbull, I don't think there are any Gen II Pokémon I significantly dislike. I even think Dunsparce and Sunflora are pretty cute. I also disagree about only looking at final evolutions when evaluating team-building with Johto's new roster. Gen II, IMO, has some incredible middle stages and I never thought twice about preventing my Pokémon from evolving if I preferred their base or middle stage. Like whenever I chose Chikorita as my starter, I would almost never allow it to evolve the final time because I love Bayleef's design so much more than Meganium while with Totodile, I couldn't wait to fully evolve it, partially because Feraligatr is awesome but mostly because I just do not like Croconaw. Typhlosion is the only one where I don't have a problem with any of its stages, although Cyndaquil is unquestionably the best of the three and I always feel like Typhlosion is flashing me whenever it's shown from the front while standing on its hind legs. Even going back to Gen I, any Dratini I got would only ever get as far as Dragonair because I just do not like the look of Dragonite. Design has always mattered more to me than anything and I would rather massively overlevel a lower-stage Pokémon to get me through the game than allow it to evolve into a form I like far less.
Thanks for sharing! My intent behind only listing fully evolved wasn't to say players can't use not fully evolved pokemon, but to narrow down 3 pokemon (Chikorita, Bayleef, and Meganium for example) into just 1 line (represented by Meganium). Whether you stop at Bayleef or continue to Meganium, the evolutionary line still just represents one team building option. It would be extremely surprising to me if someone would actually want both Bayleef and Meganium on their team. Apologies if that's confusing, I'm probably explaining it poorly.
The terrible level curve is one of many reasons why I find Gen 2 highly overrated. The 2nd gym "challenge" has Blue with a lower level team even though 3 years have passed. Embarrassing. They did everything they could to shove Kanto down our throat instead of showing off the new mons. I'll never not think of Johto as just an extended Kanto
All fair points but I will say that I actually like how Johto feels like an expansion of Kanto. As I detailed in the video is makes everything feel so cohesive and unified. I appreciate the rebuttal though, always good to hear opposing views.
literally paused to screenshot and complain to a friend about qwilfish in d, then unpaused and immediately heard "apologies if i disrespected your faves" edit: oh dunsparce is down there too. you are not forgiven. death penalty /lh
Haha, one of my best friends is also a fan of those 2 in particular! To be honest, I don't get the appeal but I'm sure some of my favorites seem random to you as well
I think playing Crystal on rainy car rides down to the coast from my hometown is why I find comfort in this game. Whenever it rains I can hear the music playing in the back of my mind, and the urge to buy a Gameboy Color is so strong. I hope to pass the game down to my son when he's a little older. Thank you for this retrospective, it makes me smile whenever I think about this adventure
You’re welcome! And thank you for sharing your memories with us!
@@AustinAshworth Wonderful in depth analysis man! Got yourself a new sub! God bless ya and Jesus loves ya!
@@espelhodasconstelacoes thank you so much!
"I personally value strong creature design far above potential strategic depth"
Definitely agree right here. If I like a pokemon's design, I'm gonna use regardless of its battle capabilities.
Something I've enjoyed with the older games, and have come to appreciate even more now since it's missing in the newer games, is all of the optional areas that encourage exploration, with unique rewards (rare Pokemon, items, etc.) that you can't get anywhere else, as well as having actual level design. The initial half of Johto may be linear in terms of progression, but it never feels like it because of the optional things you can do along the way. Dark Cave is optional (all 3 sides of it), Sprout Tower is optional (not in HeartGold, mandatory), Ruins of Alph is entirely optional, Union Cave's second half is optional, Mt. Mortar is entirely optional, Whirl Islands are optional (not in HeartGold, mandatory), Battle Tower (Frontier in HG) is optional and accessable as soon as you walk up to it, and eastern Johto is optional. Then you get to Kanto, and any place that doesn't have a Gym is optional, especially the dungeons (Rock Tunnel, Seafoam Islands and Cerulean Cave in HGSS).
The dungeons have actual level design and puzzles, like the strength puzzles and ice puzzles. All of that is missing in the newer games; heck even the caves stopped being multifloor, and are just single-floor hallways. As the saying goes, you never know what you have til it's gone. Gen 5 was probably the last time we had actual level design, and even then Gen 5 was the start of the decline of it; it was still decent, since it still had navigational puzzles and multi-floor caves, but it was the start of everything getting hallway-esque.
Crystal has always been my favourite (with HGSS right next to it, naturally), since it's still arguably the game that provides the most ADVENTURE of Pokemon. The Johto games are also the only ones to really embrace the time of day and day of week stuff to make the worlds feel more alive, and like it's moving with or without you, instead of just being a world solely built around the player. Crystal inspired me to get into game development (along with the GBC Zelda titles), so it'll always hold a special place in my heart, and with hindsight and the state of Pokemon these days, it's only strengthened the bond.
You said it better than I could but I 100% agree and have largely fell out of love with the modern Pokemon games for the reasons you outlined so eloquently. They feel so lifeless compared to the classic era. Thanks for sharing!
The obscurity of the Dex was meant to extend the life cycle of the game experience. It's a slow burn. And we weren't overexposed to the Kanto roster at that time. The fun was in learning how to locate these new, rare Pokémon.
@@Anonymous36 I agree, I found the hunt to fill out the dex super satisfying. Also, I appreciate how much of the dex can be completed within just one game. That’s something Gen 3 kinda fails at.
@@AustinAshworth
It's interesting that what was a boon to the player experience back then has since been rexontextualized and is now perceived as a negative.
Over time, the Kanto favoritism has soured. But back then we still loved them and thought them fresh. GSC was a slow simmer and laidback. It worked then, but not now.
I love gen 2 so any new retrospective or review is a plus for me 😁.
@@Smitty_Werbenjagermanjensen111 Hope you enjoyed!
For me, I always come back to the atmosphere and the colors of Johto. The stories told through the world are beautiful, the Legemdary Beasts, Whitney and her Miltank, the radio tower goons, and so much more. The idea of walking through this world 2 decades ago and it feeling so alive will just always stick with me. It's also the Gen where my second favorite pokemon got its beginning, Sneasel.
Thanks for sharing your memories! Johto does have such a special vibe that it's hard to put into words. Sneasel is a great pick too!
@AustinAshworth Appreciate the time it took the make the video and relive it man!
To me Gen 2 holds a very special place in my heart, not just because of what it brought to the table and improved from Gen 1, but mostly because it was the reason why i loved Pokèmon in the first place. I remember the days that i would just spend time just laying in my room playing either Gold or Crystal, wondering to myself what i would i find next. There's a lot of memories and friends that i made thanks to these game back in the day and i'm glad it did.
I have those same feelings towards Gen 3, which were my first games. Thanks for sharing your memories!
I am a gen 2 fanboy ill admit it im biased as hell lol. But seriously Crystal is my favorite pokemon experince Ive actually been playing the game on my N64 with Stadium 2 its one of the best ways to play the original
Wow original hardware? That's dedication! I got my start in the games with Gen 3, but was first introduced to Pokemon in general with Gen 2 so they both hold a very special place in my heart.
Crystal is legitimately a great game. I won’t let anyone tell me otherwise. Playing it again on 3DS with the availability of the Celebi event was the Cherry on top.
It's just... Kanto 2 overrated
19:43 My theory is that gymleaders are intentionally bad because the devs fully intended you to seek foes IRL. The gymleaders are essentially just a "tutorial"
Perhaps but that feels like a cop out to me. Regardless, it doesn’t detract from the game too much thankfully. Thanks for sharing different perspective!
@@AustinAshworth Oh, it is a total cop out, just like all the other trainers (and for my next pokemon I choose pidgey... again... (after the previous two got one hit KO:ed) ) But I still love it too :D
Loved your vid, keep at it, I just subbed :)
@ thank you so much!
Oh? What has the algorithm delivered to me tonight?
@@golgarisoul something good I hope!
@AustinAshworth I must agree! Very good, my fine sir.
Looking forward to gen 3!
I’m so glad to hear that! Fair warning it won’t be right away, got a few other videos planned before returning to Pokemon. Your patience is appreciated!
I love Gen 2 so much, but I was PISSED when I found out Houndour could only be found in Kanto. Houndoom is my favorite Gen 2 pokemon.
@@gamer11011101 That one hurts for sure, such an awesome pokemon in its design! Great pick!
Gen 2 is INCREDIBLE, but also flawed, which is okay! I just wish some people would understand flaws (level curve, eggs taking too long to raise, Kanto not being as fleshed out, Johto pokemon not being all that available until postgame) don't ruin the whole game.
Agreed!
My only shiny claim to fame besides the red Gyarados was a shiny Caterpie I caught and evolved into a Butterfree. Super awesome! 😂
@@foxhoundms9051 might not be the strongest pokemon, but at least the caterpie line has a really bold recoloration for the shinies. It’s so underwhelming when you can barely tell the difference!
Thanks for making this friend, really like your demeanor, attitude, and approach. Subbed.
@@StarsAndSticks Thank you so much, so glad you enjoyed! I really appreciate the kind words, it means a lot!
Gen 2 has always been my favourite, every time I play a Johto game, I always start with my favourite Chikorita
It’s a shame poor Chikorita has such a poor matchup against the gyms. Feels like GameFreak wanted to give the guy a hard time for some reason.
yeah, but I still pick Chikorita every time lol
As a kid, I got stuck on the sudowoodo. I didn’t know where to get the squirt bottle. I trained my Pokémon to lvl 34 until I figured it out. Wouldn’t matter because Whitney’s Miltank would dog walk me until I got over that hump. I also had a shiny Noctowl, and I didn’t even know it was shiny. I thought the game had it because Ash had a shiny one.
That’s a fun shiny! It’s so funny how pretty much every player has PTSD from that miltank lol
I do prefer Gen 2 over Gen 1 but Gen 2 has that one problem. Gen 2 feels like 'Gen 1 if it was good' than its own thing. But Gen 2 was technological marvel. Gold/Silver are not games made for Game Boy Color but the original Game Boy and it has two regions.
I agree, Gold/Silver being playable on original GameBoy is wild! That’s a fair point, it doesn’t bother me but I see how Gen 2 could feel like it lacks its own identity.
Literally Kanto 2
@@AkamexAris1023 in more ways then most think. The game literal looks and plays like a Gen 1 game. This is glorified expansion pack.
Even though Crystal's better, Gold will always be my favorite out of the three versions. As someone who loved the hell out of Stadium 2, Crystal's lack of compatibility with it was a huge fatal flaw.
@@Chdonga I didn’t realize that was the case! I did some quick research and I am seeing some sites mention crystal working with Stadium 2, was it just a limited compatibility or something? I didn’t play at time of release and certainly not with Stadium 2 so I’ll have to trust your expertise here. Thanks for sharing!
@@AustinAshworth It seems like a limited compatibility thing. I googled it and Nintendo's website says it *does* work, but I also spotted a few people saying they couldn't get their Crystal to work on Stadium 2 so... ???
pokemon crystal is my fav main series installment even after all these years idc
@@stonedimmaculate2942 it’s a good choice!
A retrospective well worth the wait. Can't disagree with Gligar, you did Delibird dirty though >:(
Glad you enjoyed! Gligar's my boy haha
Favorite generation and a fantastic video! Thanks for the upload, just subbed and looking forward to seeing what you put out in the future. Take care!
Thank you so much! Happy to have you on board!
For me it's the "attitude" of Gen 2. Slightly darker more serious tones. Also, quite a bit more detail in the towns and map, and the 'mons themselves. The Gen 2 'mons have some of the best designs, but it's a shame most of them are locked until post-game. Unlike Gen 1 (especially Japanese version) the sprites are GREAT. Astonishingly, can also be played on the original gameboy. They took risks that weren't necessary, like breeding and item holding, but added a lot of depth to the series.
"Nostalgia" is a buzzzword that gets wayy overused online; Often old things were generally made better, sometimes even due to the technical limitations of the time, they had to try harder. Not just for videogames, but for anything. I think people are truly starting to realize that technology alone doesn't make a better product.
Agree 100%! The technological limitation often leads to creative solutions that make older games more deep and unique. Gen 2 does have that special vibe that really appeals to me.
Silver Version was the last Pokémon game I played all the way through. I never had a GBA or DS so I kind of naturally fell out of the fandom and have only been rediscovering the series over the last few months. Even when my cartridge's internal battery died (I'm pretty sure way sooner than it should have) and I would lose all my progress if I ever turned the game off, I would just put fresh batteries in my GBC and leave it on until it died or I made it to the end. I shudder to think how many batteries I burned through and tossed before we finally started buying rechargeable ones...
I will not stand for this baby Pokémon slander, though. I agree that Smoochum can get in the trash where it belongs and Magby's on thin ice with its weird hair that looks uncomfortably like its brain to me but leave my precious Igglybuff alone! I'd also swap Miltank and Ariados on your tier list. I hate spiders but I love Ariados's colors while Miltank's sausage udders make me deeply uncomfortable. In fact, other than Miltank, Croconaw, and Granbull, I don't think there are any Gen II Pokémon I significantly dislike. I even think Dunsparce and Sunflora are pretty cute.
I also disagree about only looking at final evolutions when evaluating team-building with Johto's new roster. Gen II, IMO, has some incredible middle stages and I never thought twice about preventing my Pokémon from evolving if I preferred their base or middle stage. Like whenever I chose Chikorita as my starter, I would almost never allow it to evolve the final time because I love Bayleef's design so much more than Meganium while with Totodile, I couldn't wait to fully evolve it, partially because Feraligatr is awesome but mostly because I just do not like Croconaw. Typhlosion is the only one where I don't have a problem with any of its stages, although Cyndaquil is unquestionably the best of the three and I always feel like Typhlosion is flashing me whenever it's shown from the front while standing on its hind legs.
Even going back to Gen I, any Dratini I got would only ever get as far as Dragonair because I just do not like the look of Dragonite. Design has always mattered more to me than anything and I would rather massively overlevel a lower-stage Pokémon to get me through the game than allow it to evolve into a form I like far less.
Thanks for sharing! My intent behind only listing fully evolved wasn't to say players can't use not fully evolved pokemon, but to narrow down 3 pokemon (Chikorita, Bayleef, and Meganium for example) into just 1 line (represented by Meganium). Whether you stop at Bayleef or continue to Meganium, the evolutionary line still just represents one team building option. It would be extremely surprising to me if someone would actually want both Bayleef and Meganium on their team. Apologies if that's confusing, I'm probably explaining it poorly.
Remembered gen 2 gold and silver can be played on GBC and Original GB you didnt even have to upgrade tocatch them all
@@gumpyflyale2542that is easy to forget! Crazy what they were able to accomplish on their older (even at the time) hardware!
will then gen 3 retrospective have the remakes?
No sorry, sticking to original games with these with a focus on the enhanced third version as it applies. No ORAS.
The terrible level curve is one of many reasons why I find Gen 2 highly overrated. The 2nd gym "challenge" has Blue with a lower level team even though 3 years have passed. Embarrassing. They did everything they could to shove Kanto down our throat instead of showing off the new mons. I'll never not think of Johto as just an extended Kanto
All fair points but I will say that I actually like how Johto feels like an expansion of Kanto. As I detailed in the video is makes everything feel so cohesive and unified. I appreciate the rebuttal though, always good to hear opposing views.
39:26 ambidextrous tail?!?! WTF XD
@@ChinoWantan whoops… meant to say prehensile! Now I’ve gotta delete the whole video and redo it lol
@@AustinAshworth Looking forward for gen 3
Ps. Kingdra is peak desing for expanding a ev line
Great retrospective! I hope the one covering Zelda Wind Waker is also coming at some point. :)
Wind Waker is definitely in the works! I appreciate your patience, sorry to keep you waiting but these take a long time for me to put together
@AustinAshworth Take your time, friend! No hurry!
Now make a retrospective on Gens 6+ but you're only allowed to say nice things. I dare you.
"If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all" haha
literally paused to screenshot and complain to a friend about qwilfish in d, then unpaused and immediately heard "apologies if i disrespected your faves"
edit: oh dunsparce is down there too. you are not forgiven. death penalty /lh
Haha, one of my best friends is also a fan of those 2 in particular! To be honest, I don't get the appeal but I'm sure some of my favorites seem random to you as well
@AustinAshworth they just have the absolute most "funny little fella" energy and are also related to some inside jokes
Pokemon Crystal is gen 2 hard mode
@@Murphdog405 how so? Cant think of any major differences that would effect the difficulty.
Which part is hard?
@@AustinAshworth restrictions of staples such as Mareep and Magmar
Partner polemon can't and won't catch on
GameFreak has my family hostage, I had no choice but to use their terminology haha
I'm gay and even I like pokemon lol
yet a millionth hour-long review of a videogame.
UA-cam, please stop recommending me this mind-numbing drivel.