Pokémon Crystal

About This Game

Gameplay

See also: Gameplay of Pokémon and Pokémon Gold and Silver#Gameplay Similar to Pokémon Gold and Silver, Pokémon Crystal is a role-playing video game where players navigate a fictional world by capturing, training, and battling with Pokémon. In addition, Crystal enhances aspects of Gold and Silver, providing cosmetic and gameplay improvements. The visual presentation of Crystal is enhanced through the animation of Pokémon sprites "Sprite (computer graphics)") when first encountered in battle, the inclusion of signposts appearing on the screen when entering a new area, and a range of minor graphical enhancements to various locations in the game. It includes the ability to select one of two player characters, adding Kris, a female trainer, with a unique sprite. The game introduces a Battle Tower, a new stadium that allows players to battle a series of seven trainers with three Pokémon set at customizable maximum levels to win prizes.

History

Crystal was developed by Game Freak in 1999 following the release of Pokémon Gold and Silver.Crystal was the first Pokémon game to feature Junichi Masuda as a lead director, who had previously been a composer for the Pokémon franchise and sub-director for Gold and Silver. Nintendo initially announced development of Crystal and the Mobile Adapter GB in December 1999, with the game developed under the working title of Pokémon X. Artist Ken Sugimori stated that Crystal was primarily developed to support Nintendo's launch of the Mobile System GB service. Masuda noted that the title of the game was intended to be associated with the "crystals used in electronic transmissions".