Pokémon Black vs. Black 2: What Is the Difference?

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The world of Pokémon has brought tons of unique adventures for fans, and the Pokémon gaming saga is no exception. Pokémon Black and Pokémon Black 2 have been enjoyed by plenty of players from all over the world, but many people wonder if there is a difference between Pokémon Black and Black 2.

Pokémon Black 2 is considered a sequel to Pokémon Black, occurring about 2 years after the original. Pokémon Black is richer in terms of story and lore, but Pokémon Black 2 has new features, areas, characters, more Pokémon, and much more. Pokémon Black 2 would be recommended if the new additions are appealing, but the best option would be to get both (if possible) for a complete story and experience.

Although Pokémon Black and Pokémon Black 2 are similar, there are a many differences that can make either game more appealing – depending on what you’re looking for. Stick around to find out about Pokémon Black and Pokémon Black 2, how they differ, and which of the two games would be the better choice.

What Is the Difference Between Pokémon Black and Pokémon Black 2?

To start off, the main difference between Pokémon Black and Pokémon Back 2 is that Black 2 is seen as a sequel to the original Pokémon Black. The events that transpire in Pokémon Black 2 are said to take place a couple of years after Pokémon Black, including new towns, features, characters, as well as a new story.

Pokémon Black and Pokémon Black 2 are pretty similar in terms of visuals and basic game aspects, although Black 2 is clearly more detailed, as seen in the gameplay images below thanks to Nintendo Everything.

Pokémon BlackPokémon Black 2

But, the two installations do feature other differences that may or may not be deal-breakers, depending on numerous factors. The most fundamental differences, according to Pokémon fans who have played both titles, between Pokémon Black and Pokémon Black 2 have been outlined below:

AspectPokémon BlackPokémon Black 2
StorylineBetter story, with dark lore that can be incredibly fun to follow as a new player.The storyline is still exciting and gripping in some places.
Post-game content can be compared to the story in terms of length.
GameplayGameplay may fall flat in some areas.Graphics are superior and it runs smoother overall.
CharacterGood character development.
More characters.
Much more content to enjoy.
Brand new characters.
Pokémon Gives players Reshiram as the legendary.
A decent selection of Pokémon.
Epic legendaries.
Wider variety of Pokémon.
ChallengesMultiple Rivals.
A new battle system that enables players to catch Pokémon with classic Pokémon battles.
Players can level up Pokémon at a gym.
Harder challenges, but Easy mode is available to make challenges more beginner-friendly.
Addition of the Pokémon World Tournament, amongst other features.
EnjoyabilityPlayers feel more immersed and connected.
There are plenty of tasks and more trainers to battle.
Features a brand new adventure and a new world to explore.
Includes new locations such as Aspertia City, Virbank City, Floccesy Town, Lentimas Town, and Humilau City.

Which Is Best: Pokémon Black or Pokémon Black 2?

Many fans believe that both Pokémon Black and Pokémon Black 2 can be the ‘better’ option, as it all depends on what gamers prefer and what they’re looking for out of the experience. In a nutshell, Pokémon Black is best for enjoying the storyline and characters, while Pokémon Black 2 offers an enhanced gaming experience.

Most players believe that Pokémon Black 2 managed to resolve many of the issues that were experienced in Pokémon Black. Some examples of this include Pokémon Black’s underwhelming postgame leveling system, and the fact that only one Unovan mons could be caught in the minigame – Pokémon Black 2 fixed many problems, and also increased the regional Pokedex.

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Some other benefits of choosing Pokémon Black 2 include:

  • Move tutors, which are not included in Pokémon Black.
  • Access to tons of extra legendaries.
  • Battle gym leaders and champions of all regions in a classic tournament format.
  • Plenty of new dream world abilities to enjoy.
  • Catch non-Unova Pokémon at the beginning of the game, while Pokémon Black only allows this in the post-game.
  • Use the Dream Radar with 3DS to acquire Therian Landorus, Thundurus, and Tornadus, which can be really great for competitive instances and can also be transferred by means of a Pokémon Bank.
  • With White 2 and another 3DSi, players can also do Black Tower and White Forest in one save file. Having both White 2 and Black 2 allows players to get all version exclusives and obtain a free Shiny Haxorus.

Plenty of Pokémon gaming fans have stated that in terms of the gameplay experience, Pokémon Black 2 is the better option. But, choosing Pokémon Black 2 solely for playability may come at a minor cost – possibly since it may be assumed that players have already gotten through everything that’s included in the original Pokémon Black.

There are a few aspects of Pokémon Black 2 that some players didn’t like. In addition, it seems that the Pokémon Black 2 cartridge is DSi enhanced and is region locked, which can be tricky to work around for some players. But, the majority of Pokémon players seem to prefer Black 2 over the original.

Despite various improvements, there are still a few players who feel that Pokémon Black 2 came off as too cramped and over-crammed with content, or were not too keen on the new features added in the game. These players still prefer the overall experience provided by Pokémon Black, despite its possible flaws.

Choosing between Pokémon Black and Pokémon Black 2 will always come down to preference. Still, most players enjoy the new features, Pokémon, characters, and potentially enhanced aspects that are included in Pokémon Black 2, feeling that the stories and regions were expanded.

Should I Get Pokémon Black 2 If I Played Pokémon Black?

Pokémon Black 2 may be great if you played Pokémon Black, especially if you’re looking for a fresh experience without too many changes to the game itself. On the other hand, if you have never played Pokémon Black, then Pokémon Black 2 may be slightly hard to follow. Some players have found that it can be somewhat confusing to follow the storyline in Pokémon Black 2 when playing it as a starter game.

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As a result, most Pokémon gamers suggest going with Pokémon Black if you’re looking for a game that you can stick to. While Pokémon Black 2 will offer a few benefits that make it more fun to play, the story and lore can suffer, potentially leaving players feeling somewhat disconnected from the characters.

That being said, many players have also said that Pokémon Black 2 isn’t too hard to follow if you know enough about the Pokémon world overall. So, you might still be able to keep up to speed with everything that’s going on without having played Pokémon Black. In addition, there is a new feature called the Memory Link, which reveals NPC flashbacks that shed light on the events that occurred between the titles as well.

Choosing between Pokémon Black and Pokémon Black 2 all comes down to what kind of features appeal to you, and whether or not the additions seem like things you would enjoy. The best scenario would be to try out both if possible, for maximized lore and gameplay experiences.

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