GAME-BOY-COLOR RPG Action 1999

Pokémon Gold Version

Reviewed by Console Codex Editorial Team · Released 1999

The second generation of Pokémon introduced 100 new creatures, day/night cycles, two full regions, and a secret post-game that doubled the content of any RPG of its era.

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💡 Pokémon Gold Version — Key Facts

→ Pokémon Gold Version was developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo
→ Released in 1999 on GAME-BOY-COLOR
→ Genre: RPG, Action
→ We rate it 9.5/10 — an absolute classic
→ Part of the Pokémon franchise
→ The second generation of Pokémon introduced 100 new creatures, day/night cycles, two full regions, and a secret post-game that doubled the content of any RPG of its era.

Overview

Pokémon Gold Version (1999) is the second generation of the Pokémon franchise, developed by Game Freak for the Game Boy Color. It introduced 100 new Pokémon (for a total of 251), the Johto region, day/night cycles, Pokémon breeding, and a two-region post-game that remains the franchise’s most ambitious structural design.

Gold and Silver launched during the peak of Pokémon mania — the anime was airing worldwide, the trading card game had caused a global shortage, and Nintendo’s quarterly earnings were being driven largely by the franchise. The games delivered on every expectation.

The Day/Night Cycle

Gold and Silver introduced real-time day/night cycles that changed the game state based on the Game Boy Color’s internal clock. Certain Pokémon only appeared at night (Hoothoot), others only in the morning (Caterpie), and weekly events — Pokémon Swarms, the Bug-Catching Contest, the Safari Zone’s daily layout — made the world feel like it existed independently of the player.

This was the most ambitious use of a real-time clock in a Game Boy game and remained unique in the franchise until later generations added online features.

The Post-Game: Kanto

After defeating the Johto Elite Four, Gold’s post-game opens the entire Kanto region from the original Pokémon Red and Blue. All eight Kanto Gym Leaders (including rematch versions) must be defeated, and eight more Gym Badges collected. The sequence ends at Mt. Silver, where the original game’s protagonist — Red, level 81 Pikachu, level 77 Espeon, level 73 Snorlax, level 70 Venusaur, level 68 Charizard, level 68 Blastoise — waits as a silent, optional final boss.

Red remains the franchise’s hardest canonical battle and most beloved post-game challenge.

Our Review

9.5

Masterpiece / 10

🎮

Gameplay

★★★★★

🎨

Graphics

★★★★★

🎵

Audio

★★★★★

🔄

Replay

★★★★★

Gameplay

Pokémon Gold and Silver refined the first generation's formula with structural improvements that remain the standard. The day/night cycle changed which Pokémon appeared by time of day, creating genuine emergent discovery. The two-region structure — Johto plus the original Kanto — gave completionists 16 Gym Badges to collect and one of the most satisfying post-game sequences in franchise history.

Graphics

The Game Boy Color hardware let Gold and Silver use full color effectively for the first time. Pokémon sprites were more detailed and expressive than the first generation, and the day/night cycle created genuine visual atmosphere with tinted screens.

Audio

Gold/Silver's soundtrack is the most beloved in the franchise. Cherrygrove City, Ecruteak City, and the legendary Pokémon themes (Ho-Oh, Lugia) composed by Junichi Masuda remain iconic. The rival theme is one of the most memorable battle themes in RPG history.

Replayability

Extremely high. The 251 Pokémon roster, competitive battling, Pokédex completion, the Pokémon Day Care breeding system, and the weekly in-game events (Pokémon Swarms, contests) create a game that changes over time in ways the first generation never did.

Historical Significance

Gold and Silver are consistently rated among the top two Pokémon games ever made. The introduction of breeding, held items, the Dark and Steel types, and the two-region structure became defining franchise elements used in every subsequent generation.

✅ Pros

+ Two full regions to explore — Johto + Kanto post-game
+ Day/night cycle and weekly events create a living world
+ 100 new Pokémon with excellent designs
+ Breeding, held items, and new battle mechanics add depth
+ Final boss (Red at Mt. Silver) is the greatest endgame in the franchise

❌ Cons

- Internal battery in original cartridges drains over time, deleting save files
- Balance issues with certain Pokémon types
- Kanto post-game is abridged compared to the original games

Also Known As

Pokemon GoldPocket Monsters GoldPokémon Gold and Silver

Pokémon Gold Version FAQ

Is Pokémon Gold better than Silver?

Gold and Silver are nearly identical in content. Gold has Ho-Oh as the legendary and the Gold Bird Trio of Entei, Raikou, and Suicune. Silver has Lugia. Most players choose based on which legendary they prefer — Ho-Oh in Gold or Lugia in Silver.

What is the secret post-game in Pokémon Gold?

After defeating the Elite Four and Champion in Pokémon Gold, the original Kanto region from Red and Blue opens up. You can explore all 8 Kanto Gyms, collect 8 more badges, and then challenge Red — the original game's protagonist — at Mt. Silver, the hardest fight in the game.

How do you fix the internal battery in Pokémon Gold?

Original Pokémon Gold cartridges used a CR2025 battery to maintain save data. These batteries fail after 10-15 years, causing save files to delete. The battery can be replaced by a technician or DIY with a soldering iron for under $5.