Pokémon Black and White

Development Info Prototype Info Prerelease Info Notes Unused Pokémon DataLost dreams and abilities... Unused Item DataThis game really has no balls. Unused Trainer DataA plague of Patrat. Unused Map DataTeam Plasma even tried to replicate Nuvema Town! Unused GraphicsThe delivery man can walk? Unused TextFrom this point on, we began to miss the Battle Frontier...

Unreleased Lock Capsule Event#

To do: Is this in other languages? Get a transcription of the other language strings too.

An event related to the unused Lock Capsule item from Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver is present in the game's code, but unused.

The Lock Capsule was planned to be transferable to Pokémon Black and White using the "Relocator" option in the main menu. After the transfer, it can be given to Mr. Lock in Castelia City, who will open it to reveal TM95 Snarl. Because this item was never distributed to Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver, this event was left unused and TM95 can't be obtained normally in-game. It was later made available in the sequels in Lostlorn Forest.Watch on YouTube

Mystery Gift text:

And the text for opening it:

Talking to Mr. Lock again afterwards:

The event is still fully functional and will work perfectly if a Lock Capsule is hacked into HeartGold and SoulSilver somehow, then transferred using the Relocator.

Unreleased Ribbons#

Most ribbons that a Pokémon can have are only obtainable through transferring Pokémon from older generations or by obtaining a Pokémon with special ribbons through events. Even though most ribbons are used due to this, a handful of ribbons were never released.

Icon	Name (EN)	Name (JP)	Description (EN)	Description (JP, Kana)	Description (JP, Kanji)	Notes
	Record Ribbon	レコードリボン	A Ribbon awarded for setting an incredible record.	ものすごい　きろくを　のこした きねんの　リボン	ものすごい　記録を　残した 記念の　リボン	The only leftover ribbon that remains unused. As its grouped with other memorial ribbons, it may have been intended to obtain this ribbon without the need of events. This ribbon has not been released in any game to date.
	Special Ribbon	スペシャルリボン	A special Ribbon for a special day.	とくべつな　ひの　とくべつな　リボン	特別な　日の　特別な　リボン	Replaces the Blue Ribbon from Generation IV. Event Pokémon with this ribbon were first distributed in Generation VI.
	Regional Champion Ribbon	エリアチャンプリボン	Pokémon World Championships Regional Champion Ribbon	ポケモンワールドチャンピオンシップス エリアたいかい　ゆうしょうきねんリボン	ポケモンワールドチャンピオンシップス エリア大会　優勝記念リボン	Replaces the Land Ribbon from the previous generations. This ribbon has not been released in any game to date.
	National Champion Ribbon	ナショナルチャンプリボン	Pokémon World Championships National Champion Ribbon	ポケモンワールドチャンピオンシップス こくないたいかい　ゆうしょうきねんリボン	ポケモンワールドチャンピオンシップス 国内大会　優勝記念リボン	Replaces the Sky Ribbon from the previous generations. This ribbon has not been released in any game to date.
	World Champion Ribbon	ワールドチャンプリボン	Pokémon World Championships World Champion Ribbon	ポケモンワールドチャンピオンシップス せかいたいかい　ゆうしょうきねんリボン	ポケモンワールドチャンピオンシップス 世界大会　優勝記念リボン	Replaces the Red Ribbon from Generation IV. An Event Pokémon with this ribbon was distributed in Generation VII.

Unused Audio#

Placeholder Music#

Similar to Diamond and Pearl, there are placeholder music tracks that consist of ascending notes:

These are called SEQ_BGM_MSL_DL_01 through to SEQ_BGM_MSL_DL_04, respectively, with 03 and 04 sounding like each other.

Unused Soundbank#

Download BANK_MUS_WB_SOUNDLIST converted to SF2 File: BANK_MUS_WB_SOUNDLIST.7z (7.52 MB) (info)

There's an unused soundbank (WAVE_MUS_BW_SOUNDLIST and BANK_MUS_BW_SOUNDLIST) that contains all instruments used throughout the game. This might have once been used for the composition of the game's music.

Regional Differences#

Region Lockout#

• The Japanese version of Black and White is region-locked so it'll only play if using a Japanese-region Nintendo DSi or Nintendo 3DS system, though the game still works on an original Nintendo DS system from any region.
• The International releases are not region-locked however, so they can be played on any Nintendo DS, Nintendo DSi or Nintendo 3DS, regardless of system region.

Introduction Cutscene#

The screen which precedes the opening cutscene had its copyright dates updated. Unlike the fourth-generation games, there is no ESRB notice on the bottom screen in the North American version. Incidentally, this would also end up being the last game in the main Pokémon series in which this change was made, as starting with Pokémon Black 2 and White 2 each mainline Pokémon game would consistently release the same year worldwide, and this copyright screen would be removed altogether starting in Pokémon X and Y.

Japan	International

Title Screen#

Japan	Korea	International

Online Battle Names#

The in-battle name for online play differs between languages.

Opelucid Gym Surf Glitch#

In the Japanese version of the games, it is possible to Surf onto a dragon tail in Opelucid Gym (similarly to the Surf glitch in Pokémon Diamond and Pearl) by opening the menu and selecting Surf, trapping the player. If the game is saved in this spot, the player will be trapped and (without hacking) they will be forced to start a new game. The glitch was fixed in the English versions, which disallow Surfing onto the tail by any means.

(Watch on YouTube)

Poison Touch#

In the Japanese version of the games, a Pokémon with the Ability Poison Touch has a 20% chance of poisoning the opposing Pokémon when it uses a contact-making move. This was changed to 30% in the international versions.

Imprison#

As in Diamond and Pearl, the move Imprison displays a large red X with the Japanese character "封" (short for 封印 fuuin, the Japanese name of the move) in the Japanese version. For international versions, this was replaced with a large red wax seal stamp graphic.

Japan	International

C-Gear Skins#

To do: Needs images and information on the Korean versions.

A total of 32 C-Gear skins were distributed over the Pokemon Global Link. The Japanese version had 31 available skins, the European version had 25 available skins, and the North American version had 22 available skins.

Additionally, the text and logo for the Pokemon Center stores were removed from the Earful Audino ♪ C-Gear skin in the North American and European versions.

Pokemon Musical Downloads#

To do: Needs images and information on the Korean versions. Get audio rips too?

Five downloadable Pokemon Musicals were distributed over the Pokemon Global Link. Only three were distributed to the Korean versions, while only two were distributed to the North American and European versions.

Victini Battle Glitch#

In the Japanese version, if the player talks to the event Victini and the game generates a shiny personality value for Victini, then the battle won't start.

This glitch was fixed in the North American and European versions. If Victini would spawn with a shiny personality value, then 0x10000000 is added to its personality value to prevent it from being shiny.

Anti-Piracy#

To do: Footage of the anti-piracy measures in action.

These games utilize the DS Protect anti-piracy library to ensure that it is not being run off a flashcart or emulator. If any of the DS Protect checks fail, the game will intentionally leak memory until it crashes.

Additionally, legitimate game cartridges have a special inbuilt infrared sensor used to interact with other copies of the game. This sensor would be absent from a flashcart or low-quality reproduction cartridge. If this sensor is not detected, the player's Pokémon will be unable to gain any experience.

Development Oversights#

TM icons#

In the Japanese versions, while Retaliate is a Normal-type move, its TM icon is normally used for Dark-type TMs. This suggests that the move was intended to be Dark-type.

Rock Smash is a Fighting-type move, but its TM icon is the one normally used for Rock-type moves. This remains in Black 2 and White 2.

Route 7#

In Black Version, Tornadus plays Thundurus's cry when encountered on Route 7.

Nimbasa City#

The lights in front of the southern gate of Nimbasa City incorrectly display the protagonist's shadow underneath the light tile, as opposed to above them. Strangely enough, this graphical error isn't present in the tiles right next to the gate or the ones used in the part of the town where the arena is found.

Dreamyard#

The stairs in the top-right corner of the Dreamyard has a row of three tiles along its left side which can't be walked on. None of the other stairs in this area have this issue, and this oddity was fixed in Pokémon Black 2 and White 2.

Relic Castle#

In the Relic Castle's third lower floor, next to the sand pile in the top-right corner, is a wall with what appears to be incorrect collision, allowing the player to walk "inside the wall". The "hole" is one tile deep, and functions like the regular floor in this area (namely, allowing you to encounter Pokémon).

Sprite Errors#

Pokémon has one hell of a bestiary, so of course some mistakes managed to make their way in.

For some reason, Arbok's front sprite lacks a tail segment, whereas its back sprite doesn't.

The Shellder attached to Slowbro's tail is missing an eye, as seen in its animated sprite. Note that the eye is indeed missing and not simply obscured.

Marowak can be seen holding a bone in its right hand in its front sprite, whereas its back sprite shows it holding the bone in its left hand.

Weezing's third gas chamber is attached on the back of its head instead of underneath it. This mistake was carried over from Pokémon Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum (Weezing's sprite being based on the one from those games, despite the one from Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver actually being on-model).

Darmanitan's Zen mode lacks its back stripes, which were consistently shown in the anime and later games starting from Pokémon X and Y.

Klink's back sprite shows its upper gear on the wrong side, and as a result the gears also rotate in the wrong direction.

Klang's back sprite shows its smaller gear on the wrong side, and as above this means the gears also rotate in the wrong direction.

Klinklang's back sprite shows its smaller gear on the wrong side, meaning once again the gears also rotate in the wrong direction - however, the spiked ring surrounding the gears is not affected and rotates in the correct direction.

References#