The 2009 release ofPokemon HeartGold and SoulSilveron the DS stands out not just as remakes ofGold and Silver, but as some of the most content-rich games ever released in the series. An immersive world featuringboth ofPokemon’s Johto and Kanto regionsin the updated Generation 4 mechanics of the time, these titles spotlighted a feature that remains a fan favorite after setting a high bar that modern releases still haven’t been able to meet.
Introduced inPokemon Yellow, the concept of having Pikachu follow the player in the overworld was a revolutionary instance of mimicking the anime’s feeling by providing a new level of connection to a partner.Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilverexpanded this concept to its limit, allowing every single Pokemon in the game to follow the player as their partner, regardless of logistical challenges. While this mechanic has become more prevalent in several games of recent years, none have managed to recapture the same magic.
Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver’s Follower Pokemon Felt True to Scale
Taking Full Advantage of Generation 4’s Art Style
One of the most memorable aspects ofHGSSthat has remained is the way that its follower Pokemon were scaled relative to the player. Within the platform’s pixel art, Legendaries like Rayquaza or Arceus were shown as reasonably towering figures when compared to human sprites, while smaller species appear adorably sized. Though some ofthe largest Pokemon like Dialgawould potentially obstruct the screen if they were brought to life in their true size listed in the Pokedex, these remakes struck a perfect balance between authenticity and gameplay practicality.
Despite the inherent limitations of the DS' hardware in regards to their expressions,HeartGold and SoulSilver’s follower Pokemonwere able to be given their own respective personalities. Players could interact with their follower mons, triggering reactions that had nuanced layers that rewarded investigation. Depending on the species and the location, certain special interactions could take place that reward the player with a Happiness increase or a random item. Without even featuring battles or proper animation, these text-based moments can end up being some of the most immersive of aPokemonjourney.
Follower Pokemon in More Recent Titles Have Been Playing Catch-Up with HeartGold and SoulSilver
Subsequent Implementations of Partner Pokemon Exist in HGSS' Shadow
In the years since the Gen 2 remakes, titles likeLet’s Go, Pikachu!andEevee!have seen the concept of follower Pokemon resurfacing in major ways.Let’s Gofeatures generally true-to-scale models and several species, like Onix, can even be ridden, but it also is essentially confined to the Generation 1 Pokedex alone versusHGSS' complete National Dex at the time.Sword and Shield’s Isle of Armor DLC sees the feature return as a progression reward, but these models being scaled inconsistently and struggling to follow the player has hardly made it as impactful. Most recently, a significant step forward has been seen in more dynamic control andauto-battle mechanics inPokemon Scarlet and Violetfor a fresh twist, but it’s taken this long to properly iterate on the raw charm of followers established over a decade ago.
The remakes ofDiamond and Pearlmade an attempt at reviving the partner Pokemon mechanic, but this ended up being received as a disappointment when compared to their predecessors. Critters with dramatic flair like Rayquaza appear awkwardly small, a far cry from their seemingly imposing scale inHGSS. Thedivisive art style ofPokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, while true to much of the original DS era, ultimately clashed with the larger-than-life feel that fans received in the pixel art days and leftHeartGold and SoulSilver’s take on follower Pokemon the most fondly remembered to this day.
