Product Description

In case you've been hiding under a rock and you've missed the commotion up to this point: The word "Pokémon" refers to a series of 150 different "pocket monsters" that you are challenged to collect, trade, and nurture in hopes of becoming the greatest Pokémon trainer in the world. You use your monsters to help in battle against other trainers. Kids love collecting these pocket monsters, and they'll love it even more when they get a load of POKÉMON: Crystal Version. A follow-up to the Gold and Silver editions of the handheld POKÉMON saga, the Crystal Version offers enhancements and updates that will keep little trainers going for hours on end. Play as a male or female trainer, collecting, and schooling growing monsters for tournament-style combat. You'll be aided by an unusual Suicune creature, which serves as the next generation of Pikachu. Play alone or take on a friend in this addicting masterpiece

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1604 in Video Games
• Brand: Nintendo
• Released on: 2001-07-30
• ESRB Rating: Everyone
• Platform: Game Boy Color

Features

• New monsters
• the ability to play as a female trainer
• tournament-style combat
• awesome graphics
• two-player action

Amazon.com Review
Pokémon Crystal is to Pokémon Gold and Silver what Pokémon Yellow is to Pokémon Red and Blue. It features several minor upgrades from its predecessors, but in essence it's still the same game. The classic Pokémon formula of adventuring, collecting, and battling is at a series best with Crystal. This is one of the best and most addictive role-playing games for the Game Boy Color.

The most notable feature is the selectable female trainer who has her own set of animations and backgrounds. This is a great option for female Pokémon fans who were previously stuck playing the game as a male character. There are also subtle improvements to the cell phone system, HM moves, and prebattle animations. Rival trainers' phone calls are now more plentiful and pragmatic. HM moves, which are required throughout the game, are available at the push of a button--you'll no longer have to navigate menus to use these moves. Lastly, seeing a Pokémon's new animation makes encountering new creatures more fun than before.

If you haven't played Gold or Silver yet, Crystal is definitely the way to go. If you've played those previous games, Crystal has only enough new features to justify a purchase from Pokémon fanatics. This game is compatible with the link cable, Game Boy printer, and Pokémon Pikachu 2. It's playable on Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance only, and can be played on a television using Pokémon Stadium 2 and a Transfer Pak. --Raymond M. Padilla

Pros:

• New female trainer
• Prebattle animations are cute
• Lots of subtle improvements

• Too similar to Gold and Silver
• Mobile phone features not in the U.S. version

Amazon.co.uk Preview
Pokémon Crystal is to a large extent identical to Pokémon Gold and Silver. However, there's a new intro, a few extra animations, a bit more info on the Unown, and some changes to the rarity, availability, and position of certain Pokémon--and for the first time you can now choose whether to play as a male or female character. Crystal's big selling point in Japan is its compatibility with the Mobile Adapter, allowing players to trade and fight at a distance via their mobiles, but that functionality is sadly lacking in the Western release.

Much of the game is still about nurturing your Pokémon creatures, breeding them to create new types, and pitting them in battle against the Pokémon of other trainers. Crystal also retains the day-and-night gameplay and the ability to import trained Pokémon from older versions of the game or trade with friends.

Also, as in Gold and Silver, you can communicate with in-game non-player characters by giving them your character's phone number. Doing so will open up opportunities for you to receive rare items and important information. You will find a radio tuner mixed in with your gear, as a radio show can also put you in touch with special items. For players of Pokémon Red, Blue, or Yellow, there are two new Pokémon types, Dark and Steel, as well as an all-new world to explore.

In summary: a great game, and a very worthwhile buy--but only if you're a Pokémon completist or you haven't already upgraded to Pokémon Gold or Silver.

Customer Reviews

Pokemon Crystal
I have just recently reserved one for myself. I saw screen shots opf the Japanese version, and it is better than Gold/Silver. For one, when you enter a new route or city, a little box will appear at the bottom of the screen to let you know what city/route you have entered. Also, the legendary dogs/cats, whatever they are, are now seen in the wild. Suicune is the main Pokemon in this game. What I mean by that is, you will see what he lopoks like and Entei and Raikou will appear as they do in G/S. Also, you finally get the G/S Ball. If you take it to Kurt, he'll take it for a day, give it back to you when you go back. When you get it back, you can take it into the Ilex Forest, put it in the Shrine you past by, and have a chance of carching Celebii. There are also a few new items, but, I don't know what they're are called. It also has updated information on the Unown. Also, there are new puzzles you have to figure out in order to catch the 26 Unown. This game is going to be of of the best sequels to any Pokemon game. This is a must-have for any die-hard Pokemon fan.

The Real Deal For Pokemon Crystal
1.The Best thing about this game is the new battle tower in olivine city You can go in pick the other trainers levels of Pokemon and battle them (This is helpful for raising pkmn) if you win you can get rewards like carobs and protein :) 2. in the runes of Alph you have to read the massages on the wall like a book to figure out puzzles. this makes this side quest harder. 3. You will have an easer time catching one of the hardest to find Pokemon Suicune after you battle the wise trio. in tin tower 4. in gold and silver the dragons den is just a hiding place for the dragons fang in crystal you have to pass many quizzes to get the last badge in johto 5. Buena a radio DJ in the radio tower of johto gives out a password every day and you go to her tell the password to her and she gives you points that you can redeem for prizes like nuggets and iron and other great things here is a full list ultra ball is 2 points full restor is 2 points nugget and rare candy are 3 points protein, iron carbos calucim and hp up are a whopping 5 points each. 6 in the day care center next to goldenrod city a man will give you an egg but IT IS NOT TOGEPI it could be Pichu or maybe igglybuff it is a mystery?????? 7. the images in crystal have been enhanced like the ice path to blackthorn city it looks like it is pure ice the ground is covered in snow and the "rocks" the things that block the sides of the path look like ice crystals it makes you feel cold while going through it. and a new thing in battle and in the pokedex the Pokemon move around i call this Pokemation for example Sentret waves its arms and bounces and Pikachu waves winks and raises one foot before battle. 8 in gold and silver the cell phone is just for rematches but in crystal you can get real good info and things like evolution stones potions and other great stuff 9 some Pokemon learn new attacks like Yanma it learns wing attack and Snesel learns metal claw and dug trio learns Tri attack 10. and the newest and the best thing for pokegirls every where you can chose to be a boy or girl. 11. there is a guy that will teach one of your pokemon ice beam thunderbolt or flamethrower to your pokemon for a price of 4000 coins whitch is not bad if you have pokemon stadiunm 2 and a transfer pack. 12. one bad thing is to catch hoho you have to catch all the ledgendary dogs and defeat the eliet four talk about demanding. one more thing YOU CAN'T CATCH THE TIME TRAVILING POKEMON CELEBI this fact is proven by nintendo and nintendo power magazine it is just another roumor like the mew code in red blue and yellow it is not real I'm real sorry i had to spill the beans on the sad truth.

Good fun, no new pokemon
Whatever that guy before me said about Crystalix, it's not true. No new Pokemon have been added to Pokemon Crystal, but I do believe there's a way to obtain Celebi in the game. I've seen screen shots of the japanese version, but don't quote me on this I'm not too sure. Moving on -- you can choose to start as a male or female character, and your pack's desing will change depending on your gender. Also, there's a new rival out there who's obsessed with catching Suicune, and supposedly you have to stop him or something. This game is very centered around Suicune, as you can see on the box design, and a feature in the game that I like is that the legendary dogs are actual sprites in the game now, and when you see them, you click on them and fight them, so it'll be easier to find and catch them. Three new TM's will be added -- Thunderbolt, Flamethrower, and Ice Beam -- but you can only teach them to your Pokemon at the Game Corner for a whole crapload of coins. New moves can be bred or learned by Pokemon now -- like Eevee learning Baton Pass and Cloyster learning Spikes.