Overview
Everything improved. Gold and Silver added 100 new Pokémon, breeding mechanics, day/night cycles affecting encounters, and a real-time clock. Then came the revelation: after becoming Champion, players could return to the entire Kanto region from the first games. The cartridge contained two full adventures. Many consider it the series’ peak.
Fast facts
- Developer: Game Freak.
- Year: 1999 (Japan), 2000 (West).
- Platform: Game Boy Color.
- New Pokémon: 100 (251 total).
New mechanics
| Feature | Innovation |
|---|
| Day/night | Time-based encounters |
| Breeding | Egg mechanics |
| Held items | Equipment system |
| Friendship | Evolution condition |
Real-time clock
| Time | Effect |
|---|
| Morning | Certain Pokémon |
| Day | Different encounters |
| Night | Nocturnal species |
| Days | Weekly events |
Post-game revelation
| Content | Scope |
|---|
| Kanto return | Full region |
| Original gyms | Eight more badges |
| Red battle | Ultimate challenge |
| Total badges | Sixteen |
Technical achievement
| Feat | Method |
|---|
| Two regions | Compression mastery |
| Iwata assistance | Code optimisation |
| Battery/clock | Cartridge hardware |
See also