Pokemon HeartGold Version

 DS
User Score
9.1

Universal acclaim- based on 1081 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 975 out of 1081
  2. Mixed: 54 out of 1081
  3. Negative: 52 out of 1081
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  1. litnlowkey
    Sep 8, 2023
    8
    A proper remake of one of the better entries in the series, adding the extra complexity of the DS Era and building on an already solid foundation. HeartGold and its sister game SoulSilver, released on the 10th anniversary of their predecessors, Gold and Silver, marking the golden age of Game Freak and the Pokémon main series as a whole. The scope of the originals is very expansive and theA proper remake of one of the better entries in the series, adding the extra complexity of the DS Era and building on an already solid foundation. HeartGold and its sister game SoulSilver, released on the 10th anniversary of their predecessors, Gold and Silver, marking the golden age of Game Freak and the Pokémon main series as a whole. The scope of the originals is very expansive and the dedication put into this remake should be the standard for the industry.

    The game takes everything good about the old entries and furthers it with some fourth generation enhancements. The Johto and later Kanto regions feel refreshed with updated graphics, making them feel more akin to the prior fourth gen games, Diamond and Pearl. The addition of a safari zone is welcome considering the original versions of Gold and Silver severely lacked a variety of Pokémon to catch, especially in the early stages of the game. While the soundtrack is considerably better than anything modern Pokémon has to offer, it remains quite forgettable in comparison to some of the more popular entries. The battles received a solid overhaul with the addition of the Physical/Special split, and, although panned for the steep level curve later in the Kanto region, a solid challenge makes succeeding in battle feel all the more satisfying. This is topped off by some quality of life features, the most notable of which being the first Pokémon in your party following alongside you, making you feel as though you are playing a character straight out of the anime. Paired with the Pokéwalker, Game Freaks iteration of the tamagotchi craze, this feature proves to be an excellent extension of the Pokémon I.P. that would have been a solid foundation for Pokémon Go to build off of.

    Designs received a major update, and some of the more prominent Pokémon in the series belong to the ancestor games. Fan favourites like Typhlosion and Tyranitar, introduced in the 2nd generation line-up, and additional Pokémon from the 4th generation are present as well. The legendaries are some of the better designs in the series, and the box legendaries Ho-Oh and Lugia are truly iconic.

    Overall, the decision to remake some of the most expansive games in the series and Game Freaks ability to add to it while keeping the original feeling of it’s ancestors makes this an experience worth taking your time to dive into. It’s minor grievances, mostly being the level curve of the games second region, actually benefit it in the form of providing an extra challenge to an otherwise easy endeavour. The game is far from the best of Pokémon’s offerings, but has more than enough going for it already.    … Expand
  2. TreasureOrTrash
    Sep 8, 2023
    10
    Treasure!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  3. fnenamg
    Sep 8, 2023
    8
    This is exactly what people want from Pokémon.
  4. Atonnie
    Sep 5, 2023
    10
    Jeu tout simplement colossal après un pokemon platine on reprend toute les bonne idée et on en rajoute, la difficulté est très bien mesuré et les fonctionnalité dopé l'ajout du pokéwalker donne un prolongement du jeu en effet même quand on n'a pas de ds a la main on reste quand même attaché a l'univers en se baladant avec son pokemon façon tamagotchi
  5. M1sfiT
    Sep 3, 2023
    8
    Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaameeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees! phv
  6. AxelLat
    Jul 19, 2023
    8
    Es muy buen remake por no decir el mejor pero tiene fallos como por ejemplo la pokedex o el tener que usar caramelos para que la experiencia sea mas disfrutable
  7. ND-Bringer
    Jun 19, 2023
    6
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Pokemon Heart Gold and Soul Silver are incredibly faithful games! A bit too faithful though. So much so that it prevents me from fully enjoying the colorful graphics and the soothing remixed music. The sluggish grinding mechanics really kills the adventure, especially halfway through the game. It doesn't matter if you're an experienced trainer. These dated experience gaining tropes are responsible for turning perfectly fine role playing games into electronic chores.

    So why do people enjoy this game so much? Well if you look close enough, you can see just how many gimmicks this game harbors. From strolling with your first slot Pokemon, to the Pokewalker, to the Pokeathlon mini games, to the customizable safari zone, when is comes to simply bonding with your favorite Pokemon...this game excels at adding a lot of heart to experience.

    Its great and all that I can really bond with the Pokemon of Johto to this degree, but the actual gameplay is so by the numbers that rather than feeling like an evolution of generation two's ideals, it feels more like a copy and paste job of what was considered enjoyable gameplay for the time. I'm challenging every trainer in the game, collecting all the rare candies, and it's still not enough to match the levels of the Elite Four or the Kanto Gym leaders.

    All of these wild Pokemon are far too low weak. You would have to slay armies just to stand a chance against the upper class. I would rematch the trainers, but its such a complicated process of contacting them on certain days of the week with luck based mechanics, that I'd rather waste time slaying Miltank by the waterfall, on Route forty seven. I really want to enjoy this game. But every once in a while, when I go to take a photo with my prized team I start to wonder, "Is this really enough?"

    The best Johto Pokemon like Houndour and Murkrow still live in Kanto exclusively. Building a decent team still feels as limited as it did in the original games. Most of the gym leaders are nothing special, their teams are only difficult to defeat due to how limited the Johto Pokedex is. For Arceus' sake, Bugsy doesn't even evolve his cocoon Pokemon! And remember that great move tutor system from Platinum? that's now available in the battle frontier in the post game...and you have to pay a truckload of battle points in order to use it. Have fun using the elemental punches again!

    I feel so weak in this game, even with a team with decent move sets, I never felt comfortable during this journey. I could never sit down and enjoy the set pieces like the shiny Gyarados, the secret rocket base, or the Glitter Lighthouse. I was sick of fighting the same Pokemon consecutively. One of the worst fights in the game is against Executive Petrel and his army of Koffing and Weezing. I don't have any trouble defeating him and yet I feel so tired.

    This game needed fixing, not just a new coat of paint. I can't even challenge the Battle Frontier because I am unable to properly prepare for those challenges. How are trainer supposed to help there Pokemon grow with these horrible grinding methods. Johto's Victory Road contains Pokemon in their early to late thirties, while Sinnoh's Victory Road has Pokemon appropriately in their forties. The wild Pokemon are weaklings, complete weaklings!

    My nostalgia just isn't enough to command my joy to come full circle. It doesn't matter how nice the game looks. The polish for this game was redirected into making more unique rocket executives and some decent Pokemon olympic challenges. Not a terrible journey, but rather a journey with missed potential.    … Expand
  8. AnthonyStf
    Jun 18, 2023
    7
    This is not the best pokemon game and is probably the most overrated.

    ------
    "AnthonySTF will be going away to far ne land from hear that? If you dont hear it"
  9. Degia24
    May 30, 2023
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. HeartGold is the G.O.A.T. of every Pokémon game (originals and remakes)
    Maybe not flawless (due to certain opponents who have Pokémon with annoying movesets) but a great game that everyone should try.    … Expand
  10. JasonFajardo
    May 5, 2023
    9
    Greatest remake of the franchise, i still feel Johto uncomplete and Kanto so empty but both together are great, technically the best post-game out of any Pokémon game.
  11. chochinx16
    Apr 29, 2023
    9
    It is undoubtedly the best pokemon game that has been created, it is simply fun with the 2 generations and it is fun after finishing the game since it has a very good postgame since the game knows how to perfectly introduce the adventure sensation and of new challenges making the game very replayable and feeling like a very complete game that is worth trying
  12. Berkeb09
    Apr 20, 2023
    10
    Best pokemon game with last battle and musics the only thing, game is very easy except postgame
  13. JT0718
    Jan 7, 2023
    8
    I have never loved Pokemon games, but I enjoyed this game a good amount. I think the game is still bogged down by some frustrating mechanics (I have always hated the random encounters), but generally the moment to moment gameplay is pretty fun. The map is pretty solid and the visuals are also pleasant to look at. I don’t think I would replay the game again unless I did a nuzlocke or someI have never loved Pokemon games, but I enjoyed this game a good amount. I think the game is still bogged down by some frustrating mechanics (I have always hated the random encounters), but generally the moment to moment gameplay is pretty fun. The map is pretty solid and the visuals are also pleasant to look at. I don’t think I would replay the game again unless I did a nuzlocke or some other challenge like that, but overall I enjoyed the game.… Expand
  14. J1mbo
    Dec 28, 2022
    10
    One of the best pokemon games of all time. The graphics are great, the gameplay is really good. This remaster is so good that a remaster of this remaster seems like a really good idea.
  15. AlexMakesToast
    Nov 23, 2022
    7
    Heartgold = 7/10
    ............................................................
  16. polishedrelish
    Nov 21, 2022
    10
    The best video game remake of all time.

    Everything about the already phenomenal Johto games is cranked up to 11 with lots of new content and QoL from gens 3 and 4. The visuals aged beautifully and the Pokemon sprites, both in battle and on the overworld, have lots of soul. HGSS added 2 new starter choices, Hoenn legendaries, events with mythical Pokemon, and a Safari Zone unlike    The best video game remake of all time.

    Everything about the already phenomenal Johto games is cranked up to 11 with lots of new content and QoL from gens 3 and 4. The visuals aged beautifully and the Pokemon sprites, both in battle and on the overworld, have lots of soul.

    HGSS added 2 new starter choices, Hoenn legendaries, events with mythical Pokemon, and a Safari Zone unlike anything else in Pokemon. Beyond that, there are gym leader rematches, revamped elite 4 rematches, and much more.

    Play these games if you have the chance.    … Expand
  17. hector_bcn98
    Nov 7, 2022
    8
    Me sigo quedando con los originales, de la misma forma que me pasó con los remake de la 3a generación. Soy un nostálgico.
  18. elliot5
    Oct 6, 2022
    10
    (10/10) - It was the first Pokemon game I've ever played and is easily the best Pokemon game to ever release. It also has one of the greatest soundtracks ever.
  19. B0ssReviews
    Sep 3, 2022
    8
    Johto has one of the worst level scaling in pokemon and most of the best pokemon are trade evolutions and the whirl islands suck

    Still one of my favorite pokemon games, amazing experience.
  20. carhigh
    Jul 8, 2022
    9
    Excellent remake and improves in almost every way off the original. Pokemon Heartgold is a whole game and then a whole new game right after.
  21. Toasttt
    Mar 26, 2022
    7
    79/100 . .
  22. AverageAccuracy
    Mar 18, 2022
    10
    This game is a great remake! You get extra Pokemon, easier way to obtain them and the gyms were hard. I love post game, you get the entirety generation 1, and extra content. Shiny hunting is easier to obtain and safari zone makes it easy to catch the hard Pokemon to catch.
  23. Jak3y_Soto21
    Mar 1, 2022
    10
    Pokemon HeartGold & SoulSilver are the definitions of the perfect Pokemon game. Having a massive national dex, two regions to explore, fixes to physical/special attacks, new typings and a story you can’t get attached too. This was all followed up by the Generation 4’s mesmerising soundtrack which can be played in the 8-bit tone of a Gameboy Colour. These games are truely masterpieces!
  24. Livan
    Mar 1, 2022
    10
    Best pkm game ever best pkm game ever
    Best pkm game ever best pkm game ever
    Best pkm game ever best pkm game ever
  25. MissingNo000
    Feb 27, 2022
    10
    The best Pokemon game ever created. Graphics, innovative game systems, incredible events and full of history never seen before. The only flaw: it ends
  26. fanmadeendings
    Feb 15, 2022
    9
    The beautiful, fun, definitive experience of the back then definitive pokemon game. It is just a little slow in battle.
  27. Federx
    Jan 30, 2022
    10
    to this day the best and most feature complete games in the entire franchise.
  28. 32fromdiscord
    Jan 29, 2022
    10
    Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver are objectively the best games in the series, and anyone who disagrees is wrong, plain and simple. People can nitpick these games and tear them apart over their few miniscule flaws, but at the end of the day, it's just that- nitpicking. The positives far outweigh the negatives here, from the gorgeous 2.5D graphics, to the sheer amount of content packed intoPokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver are objectively the best games in the series, and anyone who disagrees is wrong, plain and simple. People can nitpick these games and tear them apart over their few miniscule flaws, but at the end of the day, it's just that- nitpicking. The positives far outweigh the negatives here, from the gorgeous 2.5D graphics, to the sheer amount of content packed into the cartridges. There's no argument to be had. Everything that came before and after HeartGold and SoulSilver pales in comparison.… Expand
  29. greninjaX
    Dec 4, 2021
    10
    perfect game. easily one the best pokemon games of all time, and is definitely the best remake. they actually did more than the bare minimum, unlike some really bad gen 4 remakes that came out recently.
  30. TheHonestMan
    Nov 21, 2021
    9
    Simply put ,this game is a masterpiece for Pokemon. The original content was left intact as well as elements from Crystal version - and a ton of new features brought to the table. The towns are lovingly remade and made more distinct, the remixes are interesting new takes on the songs, and the game is jam packed; With 16 gyms, rematches, battle frontier, and side activities like theSimply put ,this game is a masterpiece for Pokemon. The original content was left intact as well as elements from Crystal version - and a ton of new features brought to the table. The towns are lovingly remade and made more distinct, the remixes are interesting new takes on the songs, and the game is jam packed; With 16 gyms, rematches, battle frontier, and side activities like the pokeathlon which has a surprising amount of effort put into it.
    The game also comes with a pokewalker accesory to give you something to do even when not playing. There's just so much to do, and it's hard to fault the games outside of the weirdly low level curve which was a flaw of the originals. The postgame and side content more than makes up for that in my opinion though. So much better than the remakes we get today.    … Expand
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Awards & Rankings

3
#3 Best DS Game of 2010
1
#1 Most Discussed DS Game of 2010
3
#3 Most Shared DS Game of 2010

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
87

Generally favorable reviews - based on 59 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 59 out of 59
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 59
  3. Negative: 0 out of 59
  1. Official Nintendo Magazine UK
    94
    It may not be too revolutionary but this is by far the biggest, most packed Pokemon yet. [Mar 2010, p.67]
    Read full review
  2. Games Master UK
    88
    It's still the Pokemon you know and love - and handheld entertainment of the highest order. [Apr 2010, p.78]
  3. Nintendo Gamer
    88
    The Pokemon formula stays unchanged, but Gold and Silver remain our favourites. Essential for Johto newcomers and veterans. [Mar 2010, p.94]
See all critic reviews »