If you've read my past Pokemon and game related blogs it probably comes as no surprise to you that my favorite Pokemon game is Pokemon Black and White versions. These games have a riveting story line backed up by an interesting cast of characters all packaged in what is still one of the hardest Pokemon games to actually defeat. All of these would be great on their own but up until recently I hadn't realized just how deep this game truly goes.
The land in Pokemon Black and White is based off of the real-world location of the USA. I've written blogs in the past about how GameFreak brings this world to life in the Pokemon and characters of the game. However the deeper I look, the more I see that there is an elaborate comment on the way American society functions as a whole. The main evidence of this is the two main legendary Pokemon in Black and White. Zekrom and Reshiram are the legendary Pokemon of ideals and truth respectively. The legendary Pokemon of each region usually represent the heart and soul of that region, the core values of the real life people who live there. In different regions we might see a sun God Pokemon or a Pokemon that controls time. Instead we see in America that ultimately we pursue our own goals. Instead of deferring to higher gods or powers, in America the ultimate power is your own will to get things done. The legendary Pokemon also reflect this aspect in how they follow humans. Most legendary Pokemon are found in far off places. They avoid humans or actively seek to destroy them. Zekrom in Reshiram however follow humans by nature. Even in their Pokedex entrees it claims that they follow a trainer with strong truths/ideals. Could it be that GameFreak is making a larger comment on American society by doing this? We can't be sure. However, one thing is certain, these Pokemon games are much deeper than many people give them credit for and deserve to be looked at in greater detail from time to time. -Why I like Pokemon Black and White -What is GameFreak saying about America with Reshiram and Zekrom?
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AuthorSamuel Henry is a Senior at DSA in NC. He has 3 years of prior experience in the game design pathway and he's looking forward to becoming a great game designer. The views and opinions expressed in this blog are solely those of the author and do not represent those of Durham School of the Arts or Durham Public Schools Categories
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