Waiting Around

True, the early caves in Johto are the Unown's ruins, and Union Cave. The latter links to the former. In addition, it is mentioned that Pokémon make strange cries in Union Cave.

As we noted, the Unown resemble the style of the Gyms after Union Cave: repeated attacks. In addition, before you enter there are people there, who mysteriously vanish. However, statues of Pokémon remain. These probably have something to do with the Unown.

The statues are unexplained. Further, the Unown area has strange radio signals, like Team Rocket would later use. Hence, the early sections in Johto are closely linked by such things, until we reach Ilex Forest and the also peculiar 'forest guardian.' Hence, the areas are closely connected to these kinds of Pokémon. This is followed by Ecruteak's area of ghosts and hidden legendaries. After this, it becomes less pronounced. Just like the legendary 'dogs' or 'beasts' flee and spread across the region, so areas become more sparse as well and the game spreads out. Nonetheless, the early caves and 'natural areas' are quite special.

After Ecruteak, with its 'dogs,' you find places with more 'ordinary' functions as well. Hence, the legendaries enter a more 'ordinary' or familiar area. This leads to a juxtaposition of sorts, compared to the earlier areas. The places seem suddenly less concerned about the legendaries, in an explicit manner: they just 'happen across' it. While legendaries earlier were 'native' or had an apt location, now the roaming legendaries can enter 'foreign' territory. The places themselves seem to only 'accidentally' contain the legendaries, as if unaware of these creatures. It's slightly like entering a new region.


That's true, in a way. There are plenty of pathways, and any of these could lead to a different scenario or area. However, the content within the mount is often slightly simplistic, as others have said.

One hence has several potential scenarios, and can 'choose' between them.


I agree. The Ruins, as well as Union Cave, are more coherent and atmospheric than the corresponding Mt. Moon. Mt. Moon is an area, certainly, like a dungeon. However, the G/S caves centre around the strange Unown and their area, and hence are slightly more meaningful.

Nonetheless, Mt. Moon was also altered in G/S. In some ways it was interesting: the cave led to an open, strange area. The caves in G/S are slightly improved, often.

This might make up for the tedium of later segments such as the Radio Tower fights. However, it depends. Gold and Silver have good content, however it is often exhausted quite quickly.

At least it isn't D/P, which starts in possibly the worst way possible.


A possible problem with the Safari Zone is that it's too 'specialised.' You have to get entry first, then have a limit on your stay, and finally don't battle normally. Hence, while I agree with Dragons being rare, having them in a conventional area would reduce the sense of artificiality to encountering them. In addition, encountering a 'dragon' in the wild is more interesting than encountering them in an overlooked situation.

Extra content:

Glance at this briefly, then away. Do you see anything?



For instance, a Mew?

That's true, on the Mew.

Edited the Dragon part in here due to us having a discussion of the Safari Zone. With the Dragon-types, etc., do you figure that the Safari Zone area would make an interesting place without the usual limitations? Some of the more OP Pokémon could be moved elsewhere, to compensate. Featuring the Safari Zone as an ordinary area would allow some parts, such as the Dragon-type, to shine more. In addition, it lets you roam freely among strange Pokémon.

I sometimes feel the same way as these Pokémon.

Mt. Mortar can't be bad, the Fighting Dojo guy used it for waiting quite a while!

Not a fan of Mt. Mortar! Can you get that far though, without winning the League first??!

It's not a really special cave, I guess..... Similar to Mt. Moon from before, or Shoal Cave, still it's not as good... Le ss exciting creatures and not a focus or important!

I guess you would have Surf, at least...