5th Gen Has B/W Changed Your Playing Style?

Started by Oryx March 10th, 2011 2:47 PM
  • 2260 views
  • 36 replies
  • Poll

Has your playing style changed?

Oryx

CoquettishCat

Age 30
Female
Seen January 30th, 2015
Posted December 27th, 2014
13,184 posts
12.2 Years
I've noticed something about Pokemon White as I've been playing - I've been playing entirely differently than I normally play. I normally power through the game with my starter way overlevelled because it's the only one I'm using, or at most one other. I have 4 Pokemon on my team that are around the same level in my White, and am planning on catching and raising at least one more. I've also found myself strategizing much more, choosing Pokemon with dual types to be able to cover every type I might battle and paying much more attention to stats (but still not quite like EV/IV trainers). I feel like part of it is that I'm less intimidated, because I only have ~150 new Pokemon to choose from, not ~500 old ones to find the most powerful in.

Discuss:
Has anyone else noticed a significant change in the way they play the game, or are the rest of you playing like you used to? Is it working out for you?

Genshu

Idealistic Seeker Of Truth

Age 31
Male
Get Me Outta Here, USA
Seen June 30th, 2011
Posted June 4th, 2011
10 posts
12.2 Years
i'm not sure its changed my playing style, so much as having to adapt to the game. It plays a lot differently than the past games. The pokemon you have to play with are a big factor in that sense, because they are new and different. You don't have the old stand-bys in the main story, which is kind of a bummer. But it makes for a good challenge, i definitely like it.

Mario The World Champion

Tepig!

Age 41
Male
Western Massachusetts
Seen April 17th, 2017
Posted March 15th, 2017
3,299 posts
18.4 Years
I'm just having a hard time right now. I don't have a player's guide yet and it seems like the game doesn't want you raising your Pokemon to high levels before a big battle while the opponents are more powerful than you are.

If this is what they mean by getting back to basics, then they really got me taxed right now.
3DS Friend Code: 0232-8258-5085
Friend Safari: - Meditite, Pancham, Riolu

Kon~

Follow your dream to the end ~

Age 29
Female
Wherever the stars take me
Seen April 12th, 2011
Posted April 12th, 2011
1,358 posts
13.3 Years
I can't say it has, because I've always been for a balanced team; only catching Pokémon I really want to balance out weaknesses in my overall team; levelling them equally so I'm never at a disadvantage. And I never catch more Pokémon than I need to in the main story. So far, this playthrough, I've caught eight, which is more than usual because I had to do that stupid catching challenge at the very beginning and release those caught straight afterwards. >.>

"You want to look up at the sky and always see the stars." ~ Things You Remember
~~
~~

Zerrah.

Mauling with Ursaring

Age 30
Female
Seen January 15th, 2018
Posted May 29th, 2016
248 posts
15.3 Years
I raise my Pokemon and treat it like a competitive team, but normally in the Story Mode I've never really had to pay attention to what the CPUs are doing. Normally it is something completely random that won't screw me over. But in B/W I've had to keep close tabs on the trainers I'm fighting, because they always seem to surprise me. I remember the first time I got Zoroarked (sorry, I make up my own verbs ^_^; ) in the Battle Subway. They actually turned into a Flying type, so I didn't OHKO with Close Combat. XD


Friend Safari and DW Pokemon - A Gen VI Trade Thread

3DS Friend Code:
3754 7177 6489
Brittany

Ho-Oh

used Sacred Fire!

Age 31
Female
QLD, Australia
Seen June 5th, 2022
Posted April 23rd, 2022
35,988 posts
17.5 Years
I'm playing differently. For one, I'm using all three starters, I'm not entirely rushing through to beat the Elite Four, I'm catching most wild Pokemon and I'm even raising those three Pokemon pretty much evenly instead of using a bird type. New start for me. XD

Nateon

Pokemon Will Be Real One Day!

Female
Kent, UK
Seen August 7th, 2015
Posted May 3rd, 2011
89 posts
12.3 Years
I normally have my team of 6 with like a level difference between them (except my starter which always is strongest by 1 levels) with my starter never leaving my team and always the strongest. I always trained up as much as i could before taking on anything in my path, levelling up crazy if need be.
On black, i found i couldn't train up very well due to the new feature. I didn't like it at first but i think it's a really good new addition now. I have all my pokemon around the same level now (though starter still is strongest) and don't crazy train before taking something, just give it my best. I think this will stick by me when the next game comes out or if i new game an older one
--/My Real Team/--
Are You An Espeon or Umbreon?
Your Result: Espeon
You prefer to be out in the sunlight, maybe harsh at times, but nevertheless popular. You might have a good voice, or awesome at something. You might be scared of the dark, and like white, or light colors.
Result Breakdown:
78% Espeon
60% Umbreon
Please help my pokemon =]

Saryka

Seen July 16th, 2013
Posted July 16th, 2013
3,499 posts
16.2 Years
It definitely has for me. Instead of catching my party of six earlier on in the game, I'm swapping members of my party out for others over the course of the game. In other Pokémon games, I'll catch my six and keep them right 'till the Elite Four. This time around, I'm only using three of the six Pokémon I've originally caught for my party and swapped out everyone else.

Next playthrough I've already decided I'm ditching my starter as early as I can, which is a first for me.
Age 30
Male
UAE
Seen October 3rd, 2011
Posted June 2nd, 2011
82 posts
12.3 Years
actually in this game it was the first time I dont use my starter in all the game, I put my starter in the box when he was lvl 32 and never used it again (the grass one )because there are so many good pokes I wana use and they are better than the starters
SS : 5071 1907 0724

WHITE : 1764 2118 2290


my trade thread

Steve Z

Age 33
Male
Oakland FL
Seen March 6th, 2023
Posted September 15th, 2022
1,371 posts
17.7 Years
Yeah, it has.
For one, I'm not evolving my Snivy, not sure why. And I've got a team of 5, one being the Basculin you get in an in-game trade.

PokéStorm is my Pokémon fansite. Join if you'd like!
Age 30
Male
Long Beach,California
Seen April 23rd, 2011
Posted April 23rd, 2011
152 posts
12.2 Years
With all of the new powerful Pokemon introduced in 5th gen it has only added to my aggressive play style. While I do pay attention to weakness, I do tend to take offensive power over defense and BW has a lot of aggressive Pokemon for people like me such as Archeops.

Lady Gaga

Age 26
Male
Canada
Seen March 9th, 2020
Posted March 10th, 2015
2,697 posts
14.3 Years
The way I battle and the way I level up my pokemon (everyone to be basically the same level) has not changed at all. However, in terms of catching pokemon, that has changed a lot. Usually, I wil plan months ahead for what team I have, and will know every inch of the Pokemon map. With Pokemon Black, I knew absolutely NOTHING going in. Not even what starter I would choose. I have basically been catching whatever looks cool to me (see signature), and just goin along with the amazing story. I think it has enhanced my experience! :)
Age 32
Male
Seen August 21st, 2021
Posted August 19th, 2021
2,334 posts
15 Years
A bit, overally nothing has changed that much. However I did find myself waiting for team members longer than I did in Pokemon Diamond.

(Although I did still wait fairly long to get all the pokemon I wanted in pokemon platinum so it might not really be a change that happened with Pokemon White)

So not a lot really, it's actually strengthened how I level up all six of my pokemon team equally.
Looking for X & Y friends, friend code is: 2964-8571-0102
Send me a pm if you add me.
Male
Glasgow, Scotland.
Seen November 13th, 2019
Posted October 14th, 2014
239 posts
13 Years
I wouldn't say it's changed my playing style much, but I have caught 6 pokemon for my team (normally I only use 4/5), and I try to keep them all at the same level.

I also never planned my team ahead of time (because I didn't know the pokemon) which I normally do, but it's more fun this way :)
Age 28
Male
Somewhere over the rainbow
Seen February 24th, 2016
Posted February 24th, 2016
3,252 posts
16.3 Years
Not at all. My strategy is use everything you need to win. And that's exactly what I'm doing. My biggest change in strategy is not relying on Psychic-pokemon this time around, though.
Stop the cycle of hate!
Wondertrade version-exclusives Pokemons or rare Pokemons
NOT Bunnelbies or Elemental Monkeys!
If you appreciate what you got in trade, O-Power the person!
Shout "Nice" to the person whom you traded to!
Together WE can stop the cycle of hate!
It doesn't hurt you to be nice or appreciative.
Don't be that underaged player who doesn't know better!
Good Pokemons to trade: Leftover breeds, Shiny Pokemon, Rare Pokemon, HA Pokemon, Dittos
FC: 4038-6797-4873. Flying-type with Doduo, Tranquil and Tropius.
Remember to tell me if you added me!

Erufuun

apple bunny lover <3

Age 30
Texas
Seen October 26th, 2011
Posted October 7th, 2011
312 posts
12.6 Years
Most definitely. :3 I used to always make solo runs with the starter!
But now, with so many interesting Pokemon to catch, I am really tempted not to! XD
Err... And now with the new EXP system, a solo run wouldn't work that well anymore anyways... ^^;

Aaaaand, I used to also reserve spots for HM slaves on my team. Now there is no need, so I get to have a bunch of Pokemon. :3 <3


Male
Seen March 22nd, 2011
Posted March 22nd, 2011
3 posts
12.2 Years
Kind of changed my playstyle a little bit. However after the second gym the game got much easier. I still did my usual thing of getting one of the commonest and first types and just using it the most. Currently its Stoutland (From lilipup). First was a Ratatta and other ones for other games.

Currently my Stoutland KOs most pokemon in 1-2 hits. I don't like my Servine much. Seems kind of weak compared to Stoutland. It has my XP share though. It should evolve soon.

But no I just read a faq from gamefaqs.com to know everything. However it is tougher and I need to heal up my pokemon much more frequently. But the gyms atm are a joke. My Stoutland just killed the Flying (Jet Badge) gyms pokemons like nothing. He is over 10 levels higher than them though.

I do use an AR code but only one, and thats the 100% catch rate since I figure id be annoyed if something cool came up and couldn't get it. So I just catch anything new with just a normal pokeball.

All in all I am very happy at the game. I am using Pokemon White though, on my NDS phat ive had since they came out lol. (Still works perfect)

Oh yes. It's changed my gameplay like crazy!
Before I used to plan out a team to play through with even before playing a Pokemon game. I'd have everyone down, sometimes even down to genders, names, and movesets all ready before playing. With B&W I love so many Pokemon that I never planned a team. I wrote a list of a bunch of Pokemon way beyond 6 that I wanted, but I never followed it in the end. I just ended up playing through and catching any Pokemon I wanted and training it. It was all un-planned, and I'm going to end up with 3 separate teams to use and interchange it seems. Maybe even more than that! I have never ever done this before.. ever. It's pretty boggling really! To have so many different Pokemon to choose from and use throughout the game!

I believe with this change of gameplay, I'm going to be doing this way more often now. It's made me wanna go back to past generations, especially the first, and try out the new play style! <3