Two new Pokemon games, Pokemon Black Version and Pokemon White Version, are slated to release in March 2011, Nintendo announced today. The two new Pokemon DS games will introduce more than 150 new Pokemon creatures and an entirely new region to explore.
On March 6, Pokemon Black Version and Pokemon White Version let players catch, train and battle new Pokemon, some of which can only be caught in one version of the game. For instance, the Legendary Pokemon Reshiram can only be caught in Pokemon Black Version, while the Legendary Pokemon Zekrom can only be caught in Pokemon White Version. Yes, that means if you want every single Pokemon you’ll have to buy both SKUs.
In addition, the two games will feature different areas for the first time in the series. The game world of Pokemon Black Version will include a unique metropolitan area called Black City, while a lush, green area named White Forest will only be available in Pokemon White Version. Both games will also have their in-game seasons change, the first time this has taken place in the franchise.
The seasonal changes will be more than cosmetic, though, as certain Pokemon will appear more frequently during different seasons, and players can only access some areas during a specific season.
Pokemon Black Version and Pokemon White Version let players start with one of three new Starter Pokemon: the Grass-type Snivy, the Fire-type Tepig or the Water-type Oshawott. Until the main story of the game is complete, every Pokemon that players encounter will have never been seen before in previous Pokemon games. The games also feature original boy and girl trainers who set out on an adventure in the new Unova region.