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kjorteoLast time: With the blessing of the Kimono Girl shrine maidens, the Legendary Pokemon is ours, along with all eight gym badges. Our next task is to brave treacherous journey to the Pokemon League, where we can fight to become Johto's newest Champion.
All that's left is to finish up any last remaining errands and forgotten tasks, and say our goodbyes. It's not a point of no return (Bladewings can Fly us to and from the frontier at any time, after all,) but it's meant to feel like one.
To walk the road of the Champion, one must be focused and clear of mind. There is no room for any doubt or hesitation. I must put all my unfinished business to bed if I am to move forward without it weighing on me.
...
In other words, it's time to finish up a bunch of sidequests and places we forgot to visit!
MOOBERRY CUPCAKES
We passed by a sick Miltank in MooMoo Farm on Route 39. My heart went out to the poor thing, but nursing her back to health required a large quantity of Oran Berries, and I simply did not have enough at the time. I at least gave her what I had, which was enough to make her feel slightly better, though her breathing and cry were both still faint.
I've been doing a lot of Pokewalking since then, and I'm now drowning in Blue Shards as a result. These can be traded in Azalea Town for a trio of Berries which happen to include Oran.
Let's go cure a cow.
With a team consisting of... it honestly doesn't matter because I don't expect any combat, but Bladewings to Fly and Omnihunter just in case there's a wild random encounter shiny, we set off. Everyone who actually sees combat is an even level 50 at this point, by the way.
No encounters along the way, so Omnihunter wasn't necessary after all. Oh, well.
In the barn, the sick Miltank still hits me with the heartbreaking low and weak version of her cry, so I give her...
One. One berry. On the very first berry I hand over, she becomes totally healthy.
...
I spent all this time Pokewalking, unsure how many more she needed. I made sure to come here with another 20 or so just in case. I felt so sad that the poor dear was acting as if at death's door while I was away. All this time, she was one single berry away from a full recovery.
Okay.
Our prize for this detour is the Seal Case, which allows us to customize the particle effects and animations when we send out our Pokeballs. We also get a bunch of Seals to start. It's a neat reward, though not one I plan to spend a lot of time with in this run. We also can now buy Moomoo Milk from this farm, which is an HP-restoring item. I go ahead and pick up a dozen bottles, because what else am I going to do with all this Pokewalker money?
INTO THE DARKNESS
Dark Cave is, to quote Bulbapedia: "a single-level cave located in eastern Johto. Though it is not necessary to enter the cave to complete the storyline, Dark Cave is the only place in the Generation II games to capture wild Dunsparce and Wobbuffet. As its name implies, Flash is required to illuminate the cave."
The Dark Cave is also a one-way passage from just outside Blackthorn to just outside a few of the earlier areas in the game. It was possible to poke around the exit end within the first hour or so of the game, but there wouldn't have been anything there worth seeing except some level 2-4 Zubats and the like. Plus, we didn't even have Flash back then.
Now? Well... to be honest, there's still not a lot in here, but the music taps directly into my nostalgia (see what I wrote about Ice Cave back in that entry, since it's the same song.) Besides, we have Flash now, so may as well use it on something.
This is a low level area, such that the encounters really aren't worth my time. I'll be using a lot of Repels, so once again, the team doesn't particularly matter. Still, just for why-not factor, I'll take Falkor (lead), Empress, Oracle, Omnihunter, and of course Drake and Bladewings (for Flash).
But first, Cameron the Photographer happened to be at the farm when I was about to set off.
Dark Cave starts with a big lake and... why can't I Surf?
... because Auryn has Surf. One second.
Dark Cave has nothing in it except loot (not even other trainers) but we do get a Black Flute, some BlackGlasses, and another False Swipe TM, should we need it.
A level 10 Geodude attacked when I used Rock Smash on a rock that was in the way. Have I mentioned that Dragonair's battle intro animation looks a lot like Falkor is flipping the enemy off with her tail? Not that I have any particular reason to be bringing this up now.
Another Rock Smash gets us attacked by... oh hey, Dunsparce! There's... basically no reason I would want one, as they're not exactly powerful and likely will sit in my box forever. Still, a trophy, I did say they're kind of rare. If I'm not interested in Dunsparce/Wobbuffet, then what exactly am I doing in Dark Cave?
This Dunsparce is level 8, so I bring in Omnihunter for a quick False Swipe. I then throw an Ultra Ball for an easy catch.
Now, what to name this thing? It's yellow, and according to its SoulSilver Pokedex entry: "If spotted, it escapes by burrowing with its tail. It can float just slightly using its wings." "Fluttershy" it is. (He's a boy but I don't care.)
And that's Dark Cave. But we're not quite done spelunking yet.
OUT OF THE DARK AND INTO THE, UH, MORTAR
Mt. Mortar was the other Flash-requiring location I skipped earlier, and... uh... wow.
This place is kind of a clusterfuck, you guys. It has four entrances from the overworld, which give access to semi-overlapping portions of the entrance map and its six passages to various combinations of up or down. They all converge on each other except when they don't and... whew. I've just been studying these maps trying to plan a route before I actually do this in game, and the maps are giving me a headache.
I'm not going to try to get every item in here. For one thing, that's impossible without Rock Climb, which we won't get until near the end of the game. For another, I don't care about random medicine enough to put up with this map for more of it. Instead, I'll just make one pass through and get at least as much of the important stuff as I can.
My plan:
1) Start in the center, Surf/Waterfall up through G.
2) Clear out all of that room through G, and proceed through H.
3) Loot my way down to I, proceed through that.
4) Clear out everything in the upper half of that basement (basically everything I can get without Surfing), then backtrack up through I back into the previous area again.
5) Loot and clear my way through as much of that section of that room as I can without Rock Climb, making my way down to the bottom.
6) Proceed through A or C (it doesn't matter which,) and back out to freedom.
Any loot that's in the other areas, I officially don't care.
I take the same team, and... Mt. Mortar is no longer dark in Gen IV. This used to be another Flash-dungeon. Huh.
Among the loot is another Aerial Ace TM. Nimbly isn't here right now, but unless I forget by the next time I play, having a second one means I can spare one to upgrade her Wing Attack.
Youngster Joey calls me in the middle of all this, challenging me to a rematch. Oh, this should be good. Not now, of course, but I definitely pencil him onto the to-do list for later.
In Mt. Mortar's basement is Black Belt Kiyo, who challenges me with more or less "I train alone in this cave! You there! Battle me! Hwaaarggh!" NPC trainers don't need complicated backstories, okay? Karate outfits are comfy and easy to wear.
Kiyo sends out a level 34 Hitmonlee. Falkor swats it down in one Dragon Rush. (Well, two, but only because the first missed.) Kiyo follows with a level 34 Hitmonchan, to much the same result.
Kiyo is defeated, and as proof of our victory, he gives us... I have no room in my party.
...
Right. Let's just... use an Escape Rope, go put Empress away, and try all of this again.
(Also, wile I was getting my party switched, Poke Maniac Brent called for a rematch. I added him to the list.)
Three Max Repels' worth of backtracking later, Kiyo is defeated, and as proof of our victory, he gives us a Tyrogue! This... will probably never see use in our party. I think they were trying to push the concept of the newly introduced pre-evolutions in Gen II, but the Hitmons were never really my thing anyway. I mean, if I wanted a Fighting type, I already have Atreyu.
But as an "only one in the game, given to you by the plot" Pokemon, it makes for a neat trophy! He can evolve into a Hitmonlee or a Hitmonchan, or even a Hitmontop less commonly. I shall call him Onion. Kick, punch, it's all in the mind.
Anyway, the rest of the trip is uneventful. The outline mentioned above works, we get through with some of the loot, and this place is done.
THE WANDERING WARRIOR
Our final errand before moving on to Johto's endgame (yes I know we still skipped the Ruins of Alph; there are sidequesty reasons I'm saving those) is to take care of all those people who called me for a rematch. I can't even remember who all that entails at this point, but fortunately the game keeps track on your map! So, (after putting Onion away and getting Empress back,) let's roam the countryside beating people up.
Camper Todd (Route 34):
Todd leads with... a level 17 Geodude. Even the upgraded rematch version of this battle is not going to be a harrowing evenly-matched contest, is it?
He has three Pokemon, as it turns out, and the second is a duplicate of the first. My level 50 Dragonair Dragon Rushes them both. I assume his third Pokemon is going to be just as...
His third Pokemon is a level 31 Psyduck.
Okay, that's a bit of a leap, there. I mean, Falkor still has a very comfortable level lead, but that could have been a nasty surprise.
Falkor wins with a third Dragon Rush, and hits level 51 in the process. That's probably enough of leveling with him for now, so I bring him back and put Empress in front.
Youngster Joey (Route 30):
Joey has one Pokemon, atop percentage level 34 Raticate.
Empress is level 50, but she's also a Meganium. I'm not afraid of losing this fight, but unlike Falkor, she might need more than one hit to get the job done.
Magical Leaf hits for about 95% of Raticate's health. Awww, so close. Raticate counters with Assurance, which does six damage. Another Magical Leaf at the top of round two ends it. Joey gives us an HP Up for the trouble.
Poke Maniac Brent (Route 43):
Brent has a fair number of Pokemon. His first is a level 32 Nidorina. This tells me that, barring any Todd-like surprises, Empress should slowly but surely mow through his team.
It takes three Magical Leaves to drop the Nidorina (it was a Not Very Effective move,) 3 more for a level 34 Nidorino (same issue), and 3 more for a level 32 Gyarados (normal effectiveness, but it had Intimidate and Leer.)
And that's... everyone? Really? And that's all the errands we had, too.
Next time, we begin our final journey (for this half of the game.) Our distractions dealt with and our purpose clear, it is now time to conquer the region.
All that's left is to finish up any last remaining errands and forgotten tasks, and say our goodbyes. It's not a point of no return (Bladewings can Fly us to and from the frontier at any time, after all,) but it's meant to feel like one.
To walk the road of the Champion, one must be focused and clear of mind. There is no room for any doubt or hesitation. I must put all my unfinished business to bed if I am to move forward without it weighing on me.
...
In other words, it's time to finish up a bunch of sidequests and places we forgot to visit!
MOOBERRY CUPCAKES
We passed by a sick Miltank in MooMoo Farm on Route 39. My heart went out to the poor thing, but nursing her back to health required a large quantity of Oran Berries, and I simply did not have enough at the time. I at least gave her what I had, which was enough to make her feel slightly better, though her breathing and cry were both still faint.
I've been doing a lot of Pokewalking since then, and I'm now drowning in Blue Shards as a result. These can be traded in Azalea Town for a trio of Berries which happen to include Oran.
Let's go cure a cow.
With a team consisting of... it honestly doesn't matter because I don't expect any combat, but Bladewings to Fly and Omnihunter just in case there's a wild random encounter shiny, we set off. Everyone who actually sees combat is an even level 50 at this point, by the way.
No encounters along the way, so Omnihunter wasn't necessary after all. Oh, well.
In the barn, the sick Miltank still hits me with the heartbreaking low and weak version of her cry, so I give her...
One. One berry. On the very first berry I hand over, she becomes totally healthy.
...
I spent all this time Pokewalking, unsure how many more she needed. I made sure to come here with another 20 or so just in case. I felt so sad that the poor dear was acting as if at death's door while I was away. All this time, she was one single berry away from a full recovery.
Okay.
Our prize for this detour is the Seal Case, which allows us to customize the particle effects and animations when we send out our Pokeballs. We also get a bunch of Seals to start. It's a neat reward, though not one I plan to spend a lot of time with in this run. We also can now buy Moomoo Milk from this farm, which is an HP-restoring item. I go ahead and pick up a dozen bottles, because what else am I going to do with all this Pokewalker money?
INTO THE DARKNESS
Dark Cave is, to quote Bulbapedia: "a single-level cave located in eastern Johto. Though it is not necessary to enter the cave to complete the storyline, Dark Cave is the only place in the Generation II games to capture wild Dunsparce and Wobbuffet. As its name implies, Flash is required to illuminate the cave."
The Dark Cave is also a one-way passage from just outside Blackthorn to just outside a few of the earlier areas in the game. It was possible to poke around the exit end within the first hour or so of the game, but there wouldn't have been anything there worth seeing except some level 2-4 Zubats and the like. Plus, we didn't even have Flash back then.
Now? Well... to be honest, there's still not a lot in here, but the music taps directly into my nostalgia (see what I wrote about Ice Cave back in that entry, since it's the same song.) Besides, we have Flash now, so may as well use it on something.
This is a low level area, such that the encounters really aren't worth my time. I'll be using a lot of Repels, so once again, the team doesn't particularly matter. Still, just for why-not factor, I'll take Falkor (lead), Empress, Oracle, Omnihunter, and of course Drake and Bladewings (for Flash).
But first, Cameron the Photographer happened to be at the farm when I was about to set off.
Dark Cave starts with a big lake and... why can't I Surf?
... because Auryn has Surf. One second.
Dark Cave has nothing in it except loot (not even other trainers) but we do get a Black Flute, some BlackGlasses, and another False Swipe TM, should we need it.
A level 10 Geodude attacked when I used Rock Smash on a rock that was in the way. Have I mentioned that Dragonair's battle intro animation looks a lot like Falkor is flipping the enemy off with her tail? Not that I have any particular reason to be bringing this up now.
Another Rock Smash gets us attacked by... oh hey, Dunsparce! There's... basically no reason I would want one, as they're not exactly powerful and likely will sit in my box forever. Still, a trophy, I did say they're kind of rare. If I'm not interested in Dunsparce/Wobbuffet, then what exactly am I doing in Dark Cave?
This Dunsparce is level 8, so I bring in Omnihunter for a quick False Swipe. I then throw an Ultra Ball for an easy catch.
Now, what to name this thing? It's yellow, and according to its SoulSilver Pokedex entry: "If spotted, it escapes by burrowing with its tail. It can float just slightly using its wings." "Fluttershy" it is. (He's a boy but I don't care.)
And that's Dark Cave. But we're not quite done spelunking yet.
OUT OF THE DARK AND INTO THE, UH, MORTAR
Mt. Mortar was the other Flash-requiring location I skipped earlier, and... uh... wow.
This place is kind of a clusterfuck, you guys. It has four entrances from the overworld, which give access to semi-overlapping portions of the entrance map and its six passages to various combinations of up or down. They all converge on each other except when they don't and... whew. I've just been studying these maps trying to plan a route before I actually do this in game, and the maps are giving me a headache.
I'm not going to try to get every item in here. For one thing, that's impossible without Rock Climb, which we won't get until near the end of the game. For another, I don't care about random medicine enough to put up with this map for more of it. Instead, I'll just make one pass through and get at least as much of the important stuff as I can.
My plan:
1) Start in the center, Surf/Waterfall up through G.
2) Clear out all of that room through G, and proceed through H.
3) Loot my way down to I, proceed through that.
4) Clear out everything in the upper half of that basement (basically everything I can get without Surfing), then backtrack up through I back into the previous area again.
5) Loot and clear my way through as much of that section of that room as I can without Rock Climb, making my way down to the bottom.
6) Proceed through A or C (it doesn't matter which,) and back out to freedom.
Any loot that's in the other areas, I officially don't care.
I take the same team, and... Mt. Mortar is no longer dark in Gen IV. This used to be another Flash-dungeon. Huh.
Among the loot is another Aerial Ace TM. Nimbly isn't here right now, but unless I forget by the next time I play, having a second one means I can spare one to upgrade her Wing Attack.
Youngster Joey calls me in the middle of all this, challenging me to a rematch. Oh, this should be good. Not now, of course, but I definitely pencil him onto the to-do list for later.
In Mt. Mortar's basement is Black Belt Kiyo, who challenges me with more or less "I train alone in this cave! You there! Battle me! Hwaaarggh!" NPC trainers don't need complicated backstories, okay? Karate outfits are comfy and easy to wear.
Kiyo sends out a level 34 Hitmonlee. Falkor swats it down in one Dragon Rush. (Well, two, but only because the first missed.) Kiyo follows with a level 34 Hitmonchan, to much the same result.
Kiyo is defeated, and as proof of our victory, he gives us... I have no room in my party.
...
Right. Let's just... use an Escape Rope, go put Empress away, and try all of this again.
(Also, wile I was getting my party switched, Poke Maniac Brent called for a rematch. I added him to the list.)
Three Max Repels' worth of backtracking later, Kiyo is defeated, and as proof of our victory, he gives us a Tyrogue! This... will probably never see use in our party. I think they were trying to push the concept of the newly introduced pre-evolutions in Gen II, but the Hitmons were never really my thing anyway. I mean, if I wanted a Fighting type, I already have Atreyu.
But as an "only one in the game, given to you by the plot" Pokemon, it makes for a neat trophy! He can evolve into a Hitmonlee or a Hitmonchan, or even a Hitmontop less commonly. I shall call him Onion. Kick, punch, it's all in the mind.
Anyway, the rest of the trip is uneventful. The outline mentioned above works, we get through with some of the loot, and this place is done.
THE WANDERING WARRIOR
Our final errand before moving on to Johto's endgame (yes I know we still skipped the Ruins of Alph; there are sidequesty reasons I'm saving those) is to take care of all those people who called me for a rematch. I can't even remember who all that entails at this point, but fortunately the game keeps track on your map! So, (after putting Onion away and getting Empress back,) let's roam the countryside beating people up.
Camper Todd (Route 34):
Todd leads with... a level 17 Geodude. Even the upgraded rematch version of this battle is not going to be a harrowing evenly-matched contest, is it?
He has three Pokemon, as it turns out, and the second is a duplicate of the first. My level 50 Dragonair Dragon Rushes them both. I assume his third Pokemon is going to be just as...
His third Pokemon is a level 31 Psyduck.
Okay, that's a bit of a leap, there. I mean, Falkor still has a very comfortable level lead, but that could have been a nasty surprise.
Falkor wins with a third Dragon Rush, and hits level 51 in the process. That's probably enough of leveling with him for now, so I bring him back and put Empress in front.
Youngster Joey (Route 30):
Joey has one Pokemon, a
Empress is level 50, but she's also a Meganium. I'm not afraid of losing this fight, but unlike Falkor, she might need more than one hit to get the job done.
Magical Leaf hits for about 95% of Raticate's health. Awww, so close. Raticate counters with Assurance, which does six damage. Another Magical Leaf at the top of round two ends it. Joey gives us an HP Up for the trouble.
Poke Maniac Brent (Route 43):
Brent has a fair number of Pokemon. His first is a level 32 Nidorina. This tells me that, barring any Todd-like surprises, Empress should slowly but surely mow through his team.
It takes three Magical Leaves to drop the Nidorina (it was a Not Very Effective move,) 3 more for a level 34 Nidorino (same issue), and 3 more for a level 32 Gyarados (normal effectiveness, but it had Intimidate and Leer.)
And that's... everyone? Really? And that's all the errands we had, too.
Next time, we begin our final journey (for this half of the game.) Our distractions dealt with and our purpose clear, it is now time to conquer the region.
no subject
Date: 2018-08-31 03:34 am (UTC)Dunsparce! There's... basically no reason I would want one, as they're not exactly powerful and likely will sit in my box forever.
Hrmf.
no subject
Date: 2018-08-31 03:39 am (UTC)