The second generation of thePokemongames were a huge leap for the series. Not only did it introduce the widely beloved Johto region and an additional 100 Pokemon to catch, it brought a lot of features that are now staples of thePokemonfranchise.
Things like a day-night cycle, breeding, and the special attack/special defense split were all introduced during Gen 2. Now, approximately 20 years later, Gen 2 is due for a current-gen overhaul that will bring it back for new audiences to enjoy.
RELATED:10 Small Details You Only Notice Replaying Pokemon Gold and Silver
Why Gen 2 Deserves a Remake
Pokemon GoldandPokemon Silvereasily won the hearts of many players when they first released in 1999 or 2000 (Japan and the US respectively). Players got to play the game with new starters, encounter loads of new Pokemon, and explore the Johto region and unravel the plot of the remnants of Team Rocket. What’s more is that once players complete the base game, they can then travel to the Kanto region to face off against another eight gyms - and even battle the mysteriousRed atop Mt. Silveras a great way to wrap up the generation’s post-game content.
Additionally, the graphics in this generation were a great step up from Gen 1, as they were optimized to make the most of the Gameboy Color’s hardware. The gameplay for this generation was vastly improved compared to Gen 1, and players can still visit the iconic Gen 1 locations thanks to the ability to travel between Kanto and Johto. Gen 2 did already have a remake in the form ofHeart GoldandSoul Silver;however, these important and formative generations deserve a current-gen remake on the Switch.
In terms of game mechanics, Gen 2 saw the birth of a lot of series staples that fans take for granted today. Breeding and Baby Pokemon made their first appearance. Shiny Pokemon also dazzled fans for the first time, though they workslightly differently inSwordandShield.Many players encountered their first shiny Pokemon inGoldandSilverin the form of the Red Gyarados in the center of the Lake of Rage.
Gen 2 also marked the Special split, where the Gen 1 “Special” Stat was broken up into Special Attack and Special Defense, marking a huge move forward in battle variety. Held Items were also introduced, as well as the Dark and Steel types. The first seeds of the competitive Pokemon scene was born in Gen 2, but many players didn’t know it yet.
Gen 2 has been the only generation ofPokemonthat has allowed full exploration of two regions. Some games featured smaller side-areas that could be explored, but never to the extent thatGoldandSilverhad.Pokemon SwordandPokemon Shieldcould do this thanks to their new DLC model thatcould keep the games going for years, but Game Freak has yet to confirm if this will ever happen - or if any DLCs will come out after The Crown Tundra. Because of this, Gen 2 is often seen as the best when it comes to endgame content.
Once players defeat the Elite Four of Johto, they are free to explore the Kanto region and see all the changes that occurred between Gen 1 and Gen 2 - like the destruction of Cinnabar Island, or the removal of the Lavender Town Pokemon Tower. This alone is reason enough to give these games another pass and remake them, especially considering how well the Johto and Kanto regions could be expanded and fleshed out using the Switch’s hardware.
Let’s Go vs. Full Remake
During one of Game Freak’s Pokemon Presents livestreams, someinterestingly curated plushieshave fans believing that a Gen 2 remake is coming soon, or at the very least an announcement for one is. That begs the question: will the Gen 2 remakes be aLet’s Goinstallment or a main-series installment? Some fans speculate that aLet’s Goinstallment would make the most sense.Let’s Go PikachuandLet’s Go Eeveewere a great gateway for those who were introduced toPokemonfromPokemon Goand eased them into the corePokemonformat with mechanics that felt familiar to them.
It also created a beautiful and unique representation of the Kanto region to explore with a partner Pokemon. Since the assets are already there, it could be good to create what fans are calling “Let’s Go Johto” under the same system - and they could even port over the Kanto region they’ve created (with some modifications of course).
If it were to be aLet’s Gotitle, then Game Freak would need tofind newPokemonstarters for players to choose. The firstLet’s Gotitles featured Eevee and Pikachu, two of the series' main mascots, but unless they just use those two again (which would likely not go over well with some fans) then they would need to pick new ones. Marill and Togepi come to mind as iconic Pokemon of that generation - Togepi being the first Egg Pokemon players ever encounter, and Marill being the partner for the player’s “friend” inHeart GoldandSoul Silver. Regardless of the choice, Game Freak will still have to decide if it wants to stick to the “no evolutions” mantra that they had with the originalLet’s Gostarters, or if it will allow more freedom this time around.
On the other hand, many die-hard fans would likely want the remakes to be full-blown installments rather thanLet’s Gotitles. With full remakes, they could really expand on the two regions ofGoldandSilver, perhaps even turning the routes into Wild Areaslike the Isle of Armor DLC did. While it may not make sense to have Dynamax Pokemon in the Johto Region, perhaps Game Freak could appeal to the fans who have missed Mega Evolution and bring that mechanic back, at least for a time.
Johto is home to several Pokemon that had Mega Evolutions, plus they could always find a way to write in a way for Mega Evolution as a mechanic to migrate to the region. That’s not to say that Mega Evolution couldn’t be in theLet’s Govariant of Gen 2, especially since it’s coming toPokemon Go,but without Dynamax, the competitive scene will likely want some sort of “gimmick” for the competitive scene.
Pokemon GoldandSilverare fan-favorite games for a number of reasons. While they received remakes during the DS generation, it’s time for these classics to be remade once more to fully utilize the Switch’s hardware. Whether the games would be aLet’s Gosequel or a fresh new installment in the franchise, it’s time to return to Johto and explore Generation 2 once again.
Pokemon SwordandPokemon Shieldare available now for Nintendo Switch.
MORE:Pokemon Diamond and Pearl Remakes Seem Less Likely By The Day, But There’s Still Hope
