04: Nobody Calls Him That
We begin passing from night into day, passing from Jubilife to Route 203.
We stop literally two tiles after that.
Well, one of us has a full team now.
So no pressure, but I’m sure by this point the game isn’t going to let me lose rival battles, so now is the time of decision.
Cool beans, she wasn’t using that anyway.
This part seems pretty over yet.
A level 7 Starly just isn’t much of a threat.
That will change.
C’mon Mina. That was just a fluke. RNG had the AI use Withdraw six times. Sheep are better than turtles.
NOPE IT TURNS OUT IT WILL JUST USE WITHDRAW SIX TIMES AGAIN.
But now we’re not stuck bashing our heads against this turtle.
Can’t withdraw your brain from being messed with by Dogu!
“ …I won?”
And so Barry runs off, leaving our hero in confused elation over having won. Maybe this Pokemon journey won’t be a trainwreck of failure after all…
The Trainers here all yell what Pokemon they’re using which… I don’t quite understand? It’s not like you can change your leading Pokemon between text box and battle.
…Huh. I guess Gen IV was before they made it so Electric-types can’t be Paralyzed. I’d say that I’m going to keep the tactical considerations of this in mind, but it’s unlikely to come up.
“ Castellia learned WHAT? ”
Oh… kay… so no sudden moves around her and everyone be real gentle.
You did not! I didn’t take a screenshot of this battle and it didn’t sink in until I was going through screenshots, but all she has is a Psyduck with Scratch!
(thanks Bulbapedia)
You did not beat the Rock-type Gym, LIAR MADELINE!
The cave was not indicated on the map. The Hiker right here gives you Rock Smash, establishing this game as being daring and bucking tradition by not having you get Cut first.
Why are you trying to Cut things in a cave, anyway?
Mud-Slap! For when Dogu’s just being too effective with Confusion.
Oreburgh City: Coal minin’ town.
It’s weird that you start with a coal-mining town and the last Gym (spoiler) is in a solar-powered town. At least it’s not that coal mine that’s on fire.
(No massive underground fires making a town look like Silent Hill occur in this game so don’t get your hopes up)
So did Barry already beat the Gym? Or is he somehow going to win between Roark plot-teleporting back and me arriving, while giving Roark enough time to heal his team or get new Pokemon?
Spamigo stood in front of the sign, staring in puzzlement at the quote. He glanced down at Wilhelmina, who didn’t seem to understand it any better. He tried- quietly- to say it aloud, thinking that maybe it would make more sense that way, but it still sounded bad. In the end the only conclusion he could reach was “No one calls him that.”
Facts.
Well it makes more sense than naming your Psyduck Green.
Okay hold on.
I’ve circled Oreburgh on this map. Y’all’ll note that we are nowhere near the ocean.
HOW BIG IS THIS MINE?!
HOW FAR DOWN DO THESE STAIRS GO?!
Sid that… that’s not really better.
I guess this is why no one goes on and on about how much of an early game powerhouse Seviper is.
There’s Roark, and that big block behind him is coal, apparently. The entire thing, a hunk of coal the size of a small house. He shows you how to Rock Smash and then runs off.
Like so.
Now that the Gym’s going to be open it’ll be time to solve this mystery!
NEXT TIME: THE STUDY BUDDIES IN “THE MYSTERY OF THE NICKNAME”
But can the world be ready for the truth?