Part 28: Over the Ocean

Update 22: Over the Ocean

Surfing



Ah, I feel better now. Probably one of my favourite tracks in the series.

"into the water."

: That's basic.



Oh boy, get used to fighting Swimmers for the next while and a half.

"away from here."

Thanks for reminding me.



: How about a quick battle first?



Holy crap, there's female swimmers in this game. But unfortunately, the feminazis that localized this game edited the sprite so they're no longer winking. The bastards! I'm going to complain about it on my livejournal.

"you. Yeah!"

Yeah, I'll admit, I can't swim for shit. I can at least swim and keep myself afloat, but I hate being underwater. This is why the Hoenn games trigger me.



Can anyone here that slowly rising dramatic music?



Yeah, no.

"carry me along."


Ehhhhhhhh, but HMs like connect us with our Pokemon or some bullshit.



Aurora Beam (Ōrora Bīmu) is a Ice move with 65BP, 20PP and 100% accuracy that has a 10% chance of lowering the opponent's Attack by one stage. For whatever reason, it has the animation Hyper Beam had last gen, more or less.



Oh yeah, we never talked about the evolved starters. Eh, we'll be seeing a lot of new Pokemon in this update, we'll go over them later.

"It's healthy."

That's all four trainers on this route. Not too bad. But just before we head to the next route...




HP: 80 | ATK: 70 | DEF: 65 | SP.ATK: 80 | SP.DEF: 120 | SPD: 100 | TOTAL: 515
#163: Tentacruel



Acid (Yōkaieki: Corrosive Liquid) is a Poison move with 40BP, 30PP and 100% accuracy that has a 10% chance of lowering Defense by one stage. Thankfully, some Pokemon no longer have this as their only STAB option. Leech Life on the other hand...



At least this time I won't need to use a Master Ball to catch it.



And with that, we're on Route 41. Strap in, folks, cause there's TEN trainers on this route, so we'll have some fun trying to find them around the islands.

"your POKéMON."



HP: 35 | ATK: 65 | DEF: 35 | SP.ATK: 65 | SP.DEF: 35 | SPD: 65 | TOTAL: 300
#172: Remoraid



Constrict (Karamitsuku: Coil Around) is a Normal move with 10BP, 35PP and 100% accuracy, that has a 10% chance of lowering the opponent's Speed by one stage. It's a real bad move. Don't use this move.



: But it's no easy return trip to OLIVINE either. What should I do?



"water."

: You'll get your wind back, so you can keep going strong.



Thankfully Kakarott levels up early, so I don't need to use it for the rest of the route. Unless the rest of the team also levels up. In which case I better not run out of Cut PP.



I was having 'Nam flashbacks there. Rapid Spin (Kōsoku Supin) is a Normal move with 20BP, 40PP and 100% accuracy that removes hazards from the field, as well as partially trapping moves. It affects Bind, Clamp, Fire Spin, Leech Seed, Spikes, Whirlpool and Wrap.

"ISLANDS."

A m-m-m-m-m-m-m-m-m-monster? Well yes, a Pocket Monster.



The Whirl Islands consist of four islands that dominate Route 41. Doesn't seem like we can enter.



Yeah, maybe later.

"WHIRL ISLANDS?"

I shall, when I can delve deep into its delicious interior.




: It's pitch-black inside!

"a daze!"

Shame I'm not doing this update at night time...




HP: 65 | ATK: 45 | DEF: 55 | SP.ATK: 45 | SP.DEF: 70 | SPD: 45 | TOTAL: 325
#176: Seel



Hrrrrrrmmmmm. Rest (Nemuru: Sleep) is a Psychic status move with 10PP that causes the user to fall asleep and restore all of their health. They'll stay asleep for three turns and wake up on the third. If Rest is pulled by Sleep Talk, the user's health will be restored and the number of sleep turns will be reset. Rest will now remove the lowering of Speed and Attack from Burn and Paralysis, respectively, unlike Gen 1.




: I won't pollute the water.



We're right in the center, so let's head up.

"by whirlpools?"

: There just has to be a secret!



While I'm not using a Fire type, using a Water type is a little iffy. But I'm fiiiiiiine. I'm fiiiiiine.

"from the islands."

: It was scattering feathers from its silver wings.



Uh, sure? Jeremiah's a little small for me, though.



Oh thank god, now I can use Pokemon that can actually use their STAB. Well, one of them. Peck counts, right?

"riding a LAPRAS?"

I don't remember doing that. Are you sure it wasn't a Pikachu?



Alright, we're halfway done with the route. No, the remaining trainers aren't particularly interesting.



Oh, cool. I think I've been beating them up.




HP: 80 | ATK: 92 | DEF: 65 | SP.ATK: 65 | SP.DEF: 80 | SPD: 68 | TOTAL: 450
#079: Seaking




: I wonder what it could be?

Alright, there's something super secret beneath the islands, geez!

"and limber."

: Sure, I'll take you on!



Same. But that's because I'm like 90.

"this?"

Swim, swim, hungry.

"surface."

Oh yeah, the Good Rod is pretty simply divided into Ocean and Pond encounter tables. So we won't see much variety until we go pond fishing.




HP: 30 | ATK: 40 | DEF: 70 | SP.ATK: 70 | SP.DEF: 25 | SPD: 60 | TOTAL: 295
#186: Horsea



Hoo that's a lot of fire. Dragon Rage (Ryū no Ikari) is a Dragon move that always does 40 damage, has 10PP and 100% accuracy. Thankfully, it's not longer the only Dragon move in the game, so there's STAB for that type!

"at the same time."

: It's so beautiful, it's scary.

Alright, nearly done. While I try and find the last trainer in this route, let's go over the new wild Pokemon we can catch. Uh, just the one.




HP: 60 | ATK: 40 | DEF: 70 | SP.ATK: 80 | SP.DEF: 140 | SPD: 70 | TOTAL: 465
#197: Mantine



Mantine has a really low catch rate, with 30, so it's a lot of fun to keep it in a ball.



Man, I'm so good at catching things these days.



Here you are, goddamn. Curse me for not going right at those crossroads earlier.




HP: 95 | ATK: 125 | DEF: 79 | SP.ATK: 60 | SP.DEF: 100 | SPD: 81 | TOTAL: 540
#077: Gyarados

"that island."

Phew, that could've been nasty since I don't have any Electric attacks.

Cianwood City



And we've finally made it. Let's not go over the ocean again, my Pokemon are pretty worn out from all the battling.



Healing time. Hm? Isn't that the Gym guy, uhhh, Jim Gui?

"macho bullies."

: If I stick around, they might come after me. Here's some advice: the GYM LEADER uses the fighting-type. So you should confound him with psychic POKéMON. Wipe out his POKéMON before they can use their physical strength. And those boulders in the middle of the GYM? If you don't move them correctly, you won't reach the GYM LEADER. If you get stuck, go outside.



Wow, he had a lot to tell us compared to Ecruteak. Anyway, now it's finally time to teach Churchill Strength, because why not. Before we head to the Gym, let's check out what's in this new city.


Cianwood City: A Port Surrounded by Rough Seas!
(From cyan and wood, which can float on water, hence how we get here.)
Tanba City: A sea town surrounded by rough seas.
(From tanban, the Japanese name of Chalcanthite, a rich blue/green coloured mineral and ha, wave.)



: A guy about your age with piercing eyes and long hair came in. He scared me into giving him my prized POKéMON! I still have one left, but what if he comes back? You look strong. Could you look after my POKéMON for a while?

Hmm, if this guy is who I think it is, then I'll have no problem keeping your Pokemon protected.



So who's our new friend?



Yep, it's Shuckie. It's the reason why I didn't catch that Shuckle back in Dark Cave, no reason to when I'm gonna get a free one later. We haven't yet gone over Wrap (Makitsuku: Wrap Around), a Normal move with 15BP, 20PP and 85% accuracy and a varying chance it will last from 2-5 turns, with a 37.5% chance for 2-3 turns and a 12.% chance for 4-5 turns. The target loses 1/16th of its health each turn, but it can attack, making this move not as useful as it was last gen. Thank fuck.



We'll carry it around, since Shuckle has one very unique feature.



: It would be much easier if your POKéMON knew how to FLY... But you can't use FLY without this city's GYM BADGE. If you beat the GYM LEADER here, come see me. I'll have a nice gift for you.



I will get right on to this battling, but there are a couple of things up north to do.



Ooh, I like me some pictures. Just make sure you get my good side, which is both sides!

"you."

Sounds good.

"graph?"

The only right choice is the one we've been with the longest.



Alright, let me get into posi-



Oh. Shit. Not again.



Well that was a wash, let's see what this Seer is about then.



: Certainly I know of your POKéMON! Hm... I see you met KAKAROTT here: NEW BARK TOWN! The time was Night! Its level was 5! Am I good or what? Incidentally... It seems to have grown a little. KAKAROTT seems to be becoming more confident.

Aww, you're doing great, Kakarott.



Two hidden items nearby, one of them I pick up in between updates. Whoops! Anyway, there's nothing else interesting in Cianwood that I can think of, so let's head to Gym time.



Battlebattlebattlebattle.