PPPB Part 16: On to Dragonspiral!

On to Dragonspiral

Well, not too often that I come up with a title before I actually start a new part. But, hey, I might end up redoing it.

Last time on Pokemon Black: Ninja. Dragonspiral. Ice. Something of a plot. And now... We head off!

Before I reach the next screen to the tower, I meet up with Dad-Juniper, and he and Bianca meet and introduce themselves.

I should also mention that the game does love to suddenly stop you in your tracks to do plot or something like that. Now, I know the mechanics doesn't offer much in terms of any cinematic flair, but it is rather jarring. And really, Bianca could have followed me. I mean, I'm sure Game Freak would know how to program characters following you. They've done it before.

Anyway, Dad-Juniper relays to Bianca that Team Plasma broke into Dragonspiral Tower and said that Brycen (I can never remember how you spell his name) and Cheren passed through here. Bianca asks what's at the tower, and Dad-J explains by very briefly mentioning the legend behind it. He also asks if we were going along as well and says its dangerous. Bianca shows some faith in Cheren as he is experience in taking care TP. However, the same cannot be said about her own skills, and volunteers herself as bodyguard duty for Dad-JJ

He agrees to it, leaving me alone to follow the others. I'm fine with this. Might as well. Give all the warriors something to do.


I head in, passing an irrelevant TP goon and, upon attempting to go up, hear a noise. The character wonders if something is going wild up there.

Upstairs, I see Cheren. Some of the columns fell over, and he says I could go on said broken columns before heading off.

And this is an oddly specific way the columns fell. However, there's also a boulder to use Strength on that bypasses the column bridge so... eh.

I've seen tougher stuff in Lara Croft's house. Next up there's a room with some ramps to jump off of.

Huh, you can add captions. How about that.

The room itself is rather easy to get through. Anyway, pass that I meet up with the others.


They might need a little help. Just a tad. They seem to be doing fine on their own.

Also, I have to say this... I do kinda like the Team Plasma battle theme.

I don't know. Do you remember how many slices of bread you've eaten?

 

I'd just like to take a moment to say that I do like this line, cheesy as it may be. And wasted on a group like Team Plasma. I can only hope this line was done on purpose and not on accident.


Because, you know... nights... knights.


After a few fights, I find myself in another "puzzle" area.

Now, what happens in the next room is... well. It's shocking.

The game/narrator/Hilda's inner monologue once more thinks something is wreaking havoc up above. But on this floor I walk into a group of TP guys. I get subdued.

And I fight them in sequence.

I thought I told you that we won't stop, uh!!

Once I beat everyone they let me through (because 4 people clearly cannot subdue a petite15ish year old girl.)

Yeah. Of course.

I reach up to another floor and I'm treated to an actual cutscene.

That figure in the fog... could it be...

MALOMYOTISMON!?!!?!!?!111

No, no...

 It couldn't be...

MECHAGODZILLA!!!!!!111113425454567

Oh, never mind.

I think I'm disappointed. .

Anywho, Nagneto says he's going to used this pokemon to win the pokemon league (I'd like to repeat that this plot point is so bloody awful), and that I'll be his equal if I find and am recognized by that Pokemon's counterpart.

So, if I want to "maintain the bonds" between Pokemon and Humans, I must find Reshiram.

Zekram just goes along with it, apparently recognizing Nagneto as a "hero". They both fly off, with the gym leader and Cheren coming too late.

Everyone regroups outside, and it's revealed that both legendaries are dragon types. Alder pops in.

However, Alder says this is no time for chitchat (which is what I was thinking, I admit). Alder says that pokemon could probably destroy the world, and TP would use it to force people to give up their pokemon. After some discussion, Alder says he has a good idea where to go next. Dad-Juniper and Brycen go back to investigate the ruins again, while Cheren and Alder head onward to Relic Castle. Bianca points out where it is, and this is where I end this part.


See you next time. Same Bat channel, but not the same Bat time. Because of an inconsistent upload schedule.

Especially since I've very recently gotten into Digimon Masters Online. Anyway...

PPPB Part 15: More Dirt. More Cold. But Less Hate.

Part 15: More Dirt. More Cold. But Less Hate.

I should really go to sleep now.


Hello and welcome to Panzer Plays Pokemon Black and man I want that Egg to hatch because it's taking up valuable real estate!

Anyway, I head up to Twist Mountain and, once inside, I see Cheren.

Not often I get to sneak up on someone. Usually people interrupt my travels, not the other way around. What isn't shown is that Clay is there as well. He speaks with us for a little while, and one thing he mentions is that the gym leaders did have a talk about Team Plasma (although he touches upon his concerns over TP ever so briefly), and mentions that this area would be a good place to train in, and that we can stay for as long as we want.

They both leave off and leave me alone. The next area is comprised of what looks like several floors interconnected by pathways in the sides. But no elevators because that was a gimmick they could do without!

Some of the trainers are actually hiding in dirt and pop out when you are seen. Just wanted to bring this up.

Eventually I see Cheren and a TP member. I then turned around and left because, hey, there was an area I skipped. Not much here, though, but a TM and a curious ice covered rock.

Alas, Cheren is still part of the Warriors, and I cannot leave him be.

And then I see a path leading upwards and pass Cheren again.

But that lead to a dead end (the sort of dead end where you can accidentally get there from another path and have to take the long way back up), so CHEREN I'M COMING!

But it seems like he didn't really need my help, as Cheren seems to have beaten him.

 And your sodium intake is too high because you're full of salt.

Cheren, dickish he has been lately, does bring up a good point in that, well, if they want to liberate Pokemon from humans, they should start with their own pokemon. Also stealing Pokemon is bad.

Another TP member comes in and says TP got what they came for and state they will use force to liberate the pokemon from humans. They leave, and Cheren says he'll stay to once more ponder over the Champion's words from before.

The second I get outside there's a guy waiting for me to ask how my Emboar is doing. I think it's Dad-Juniper. He asks me if I heard about Dragonspiral tower. I say no and he says he isn't surprised before talking about it.

It's an old area in the region where legendary Pokemon either come to life or remain in slumber. But not much else is known about it because no one has really went inside, but Dad-iper wants to go in heads off.

I also found another Pokemon and...

What is this? Seriously? I just don't get it. It's so bizarre.



I mean, Ground/Electric? Seriously? It's like having a Fighting/Ghost type. And I bet there probably *is* a Fighting/Ghost type Pokemon somewhere.

I head into

Iccirus Town 

proper. Sold my Nuggets for money, saw some people dancing, did some talking...

I think this is the first time in the game where Zekrom is specifically named. Well... I think it's the thing on the title screen...

Not looking it up, though. But this is probably Zekrom.


I also see another Pokemon Fan Club and I shown him my Emboar and got another EXP Share. I think it's the second one in the game, it's been a while. Anyway, another woman says that all the Pokemon I have on me are super friendly to me. And, yes...

...I tried the egg. It seems to be getting closer to hatching, though.

I tried another building and I get thrown into a "Pep Quiz" immediately. The first question is easy, what day is it. However...

...it isn't exactly multiple choice... its that word selector thing most of the games have. And since I almost never find myself using it, "what day is it" is not nearly as hard to figure out as "where day is it".

And yes I know not grammatically correct. 

However, I do not find it. So I just select "No". There are two other text categories that I cannot enter, so I don't know if the days are there or not. I get it wrong, but I get a simple item for my troubles. Whatever.

(((Note: In hindsight, they may have wanted me to say "Birthday". Because while doing this part the Pokecenter nurse was asking me if it was my birthday. How you answer doesn't matter, though.

But its not my birthday. In fact, as of me writing this my birthday was almost 2 weeks ago.)))

I don't check out the gym, I head elsewhere onto another route. A woman says she has a bunch of TMs in her umbrella and asked if I wanted one, but it was only a facade.

Elsewhere there's a girl who will give me rocks. And makes rock puns.

I like the cut of her jib. Also, there's some team plasma goons nearby. I can't get by them, but they will loudly declare...

So, yeah, I guess that's the next spot on my list of places to go.

Also my egg finally hatched into a Larvesta, a Fire/Bug type.

Continuing north past the town and Dad-Juniper... which leads to a dead in. Or at least the type of dead end where you realize you can get through this are, just not yet.

So, I head into the gym. It's fairly obvious that the gym leader uses Ice types

The guy says that Ice types are weak to, among other things, Fire and Fighting. I smell Emboar Sweep.

Oh, an ice slide jump OVER AN ABYSS. You're worse than Skyla, at least the Gym leader here has a place where carcasses just take care of themselves.

Also, while I'm not keeping count, this gym has a similar issue to the electric gym in that there's not a good variety of Pokemon. Mostly Cubchoo and Vanillish, although there's a third Pokemon I've seen here before the gym leader so it's not quite as bad.

Another oddity is that the trainers all seem to be martial artists. which is weird because:
1) These NPCs generally use fighting types. Even earlier in the game the "Karate NPCs" stuck with fighting types. Which Ice types are weak to.
2) It's in an ice area and I'm seeing martial artists. Even Cold Storage had a more thematically sensible area and NPCs.

In any case, I reach the gym leader, beat him, take a dangerous ice ramp to the entrance...

...is there someone who's going to talk to me the instant I walk out?

HAH, KNEW IT! I mean, the gym leader is just kinda there, no story associated with him. He gets a name drop or two outside the gym but that's it, really.

Yeah, you kinda became a bit of a power hungry jerk. Anyway...

Since, ultimately, everything between getting out of Twist Mountain and fighting the gym leader here has had no actual plot relevance (and because this game seems to like having people wait outside for you for plot reasons) there had to be *something* that happens.

Anyway Cheren starts talking about whether or not if its just his Pokemon becoming stronger, not him, and still questioning his own goals. Bianca tries to to lighten the mood but also is searching for what she wants to do. However, Brycen, the gym leader, comes out, and asks who they are. The other Warriors introduce themselves. However, Brycen wasn't asking Bianca and Cheren who *they* were, he was asking about the...

 Ninjas. Damn.


The Triad make themselves known to everyone. They congratulate Brycen on seeing them, and said that although they had a message to deliver to Hilda alone, they might as well tell everyone. Ghetsis wants Hilda to come to the Dragonspiral Tower, where Lord gabeN awaits.

The Shadow Triad leaves, and Brycen says that, if Cheren had wanted to challenge him, he'd have to wait. He needs to check on the tower. But the Warriors decide to go as well.

Join me next time as we take on this Dragonspiral Tower!

PPPB Part Surf: Surf

Surf

Welcome to Part Surf of Panzer Plays Pokemon Black! I've decided to use a surf slave and try to see what I can pick up, starting from the beginning of the game.

Route 17 is very close to where the game begins, so I head there. I eventually get to an areas I need to surf through, with water, trainers, rapids, and lots of water type pokemon.

There's also another area I can land on. I end up finding the HM Waterfall. However my Ducklet cannot learn it. BACK TO THE HOLD.

After a bit of a party change (I needed a couple other things taken care of other than the pokemon replacement), I return and get an egg from a treasure hunter.

Further along I also find some sort of disc filled with dubious data. I found it in Team Plasma's secret lab.

However, the lab doesn't look too impressive. Just a small building with a single room.

Next stop of note a particular cave that requires Surf to get to additional areas. I see a couple trainers using fighting type pokemon there, and I get a TM, Focus Blast.

After another surf area I fight a trainer who uses the three Simi's.

In another area (not an area that requires surf, just an area I completely missed out on), I find this.

Look's important. No idea what it is. Moving on.

I find another TM, Poison Jab. A poison type move where a poison tipped arm or tentacle is used to stab an opponent. A perfect move to give my Gabordor.

Too bad my Poison type Pokemon with tentacles cannot use Poison Jab. But McKenzie can learn it!


I'm not giving it to him.

That about ends it for my intermission. I'll see you guys later.

PPPB Part 14: Ariel's Prophecy Applies Here?

Part 14: Ariel's Prophecy Applies Here?

(Note: I don't expect anyone to actually know what I'm referencing.)

Howdy-doo, welcome to Panzer Plays Pokemon Black. Where's here at Mistralton so let's get right into it.



I quickly find out a use for those Heart Scales I've gotten on occasion. It's to give to an NPC that will allow me to teach a Pokemon a forgotten move. Well, that's nice. There's also a guy in the same place who will make a Pokemon forget a move. Which... sounds super dangerous. But, eh.

I don't get too far into the town when some guy comes up to me and says he wants to see my Pokedex.

He notes how many Pokemon I've caught and the act that I saw a Klink. And then he realizes he's being a bit too excited and decides to introduce himself.

This guy is Professor Juniper's father.

I find it weird that he referred to his daughter as "That girl". But he upgrades my pokedex. Nothing of real importance to me I don't think. He mentions that the pokedex will now take into account pokemon with different forms, as well as improved search functions. Basically, a Pokedex you should have began the game with.

Someone who also came with him comes up and asks who I am. It turns out to be Skyla, a gym leader here that I heard a bit about beforehand.

Also there's an offhand mention of the Kanto and Sinnoh regions which is I guess a neat little nod to actual Pokemon fans.

Anyway, it's made clear early on that the gym leader is also a Pilot. And while I'm free to challenge her, she has something she needs to do first.  While flying she saw something on Celestial Tower. She doesn't know what, but she wonders if it's a sick Pokemon and if so it would need rescuing. She heads off and leaves me alone.

 

 

So normal passenger flights? Screw you, that's what Pokemon are for!

Is Skyla a cargo plane pilot who works for Bowser on the side? Why does anyone need cannons?

This place is weird. And kinda dangerous.


There really isn't too much to this town. Perhaps because the town seems to be half cargo plane runway/greenhouses and half actual town that the town itself seems sparse. And so I head on.

This is unfortunate. The name, Shelmet... I like the name. It a neat name. The design looks awful. Not Roggenrola awful, but awful. I should also say that if you don't press anything the camera starts moving around like some drunk guy being unable to focus on the battle (or that one Spoony One gag where he talks about the cameraman in Quarantine and... you know what never mind!

I miss old Spoony. He seems miserable nowadays last I checked.)

, which is why, for those not familiar with this aspect, that the placement of the Pokemon is a bit off.

I also found out that if a pokemon is made drowsy and then digs, when it falls asleep it will interrupt Dig.

At some point I decided to rename two of my Pokemon, my Garbador and my Archetops (Names may be spelled wrong.)

Anyway, Route 7 has a couple thin roads you have to keep running on or you fall down. But it's nothing special. However there is a sign with a Trainer tip stating that EXP gain varies depending on the level. Gee, thanks for dropping that hint now of all times and not, like, near the beginning of the game.

Eventually I get a call from Mom. And nothing of importance was told. It was nothing more than a "I'm checking on you" call.

I should also note that in the area I fought the Simis. They're like the Pans but their higher forms. 

I get to the Celestial Tower, which is some sort of Pokemon Graveyard.

This reminds me that, for some reason, I've heard plenty of Pokemon fans claim that Pokemon cannot die. Now, I'm not really a Pokemon fan but I do remember a little town called Lavender Town. And we have this place as well. But there's all sorts of fans for any large franchise, and some are simply without any idea of what they're talking about.


Speaking of Lavender Tower, Celestial Tower is a lot like it. Multiple floors with random battles and trainers while navigating through a semi-maze of graves. Random Encounter Rate is kinda high, though.

I make it up to the top and see Skyla. She did find a hurt Pokemon, but she had already gave it a Max Revive and it left. So she says I should ring the bell.

The tone of the bell not only soothes the spirits or something, but it's also based on the character of the ringer. After I ring it, she says she likes the tone and invites her over to the Gym. And I get to see the cannons.

I take back what I said. She's not working for Bowser, she's working for Professor Bomb.

Unlike a couple of the other gyms, this one is rather straightforward. I mean, there's still the whole cannon gimmick but there's not much of a puzzle to it beyond knowing which way to enter said cannons.

Oh and I get shot into a wall by a cannon. No, Skyla, you will not escape your defeat by killing meeeeeee.

After I beat her she, among some praises, also noted that she had saw Team Plasma head off to another city.
 
However, just as I exit the gym, N-Gage spots me.

 

He states that he was raised around pokemon and he can talk to pokemon better than humans and he wants to talk to my Garbador to see what kind of trainer I am. He does get a rather concise answer, apparently, as he finds out my home town and a couple other things not immediately discernible with GABOGARBODOR.

I've never seen it talk but it's either that or weird growling noises.

He says that if more pokemon and humans were like us he wouldn't have to worry about separating Pokemon and Humans. He also states that Ghetsis is trying to find two stones to gain the legendary Pokemon associated with and hero prophecy (no this has nothing to do with the title of this part) and whatnot. Reverse-Meowth wants to get his own dragon legendary and befriend it and be ruler and stuff.

Ideally, he'd want to do it without force.

NOOOO, FOR REAL? WOW, WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT?

He realizes that the separation isn't necessarily a good thing for some trainers and heads off.

I head onwards to

Twist Mountain

But just as I get there Cheren catches up with me again. I beat him, and Aldur seems to have seen the fight, calling it a great battle. However, Cheren, seeing as he lost, is a bit perturbed by Aldur calling it good.

Aldur asks Cheren once more about what he would do after he becomes champion. Cheren sees being champ as justification of his existence, to prove that he's really living.

Aldur is reminded of someone named Marshal, and he gives us both Surf before heading off. Cheren reflects over his decision and leaves as well.

And I will leave here too. I, uh... I don't have a suitable Pokemon for surf aside from Ducklette. Anyway, I'll catch you guys later.




And it's a Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain Reference. "...but first, you must rise, and you must fall, and find your salvation in between." I go through a graveyard, go up a tower, and fight a gym leader and shut up it makes sense to me!