Team

*same as Day 14*

After this, I'm skipping all the way to the end(I've actually already passed the Johto League, so I'm lagging behind here. Playing the game is definitely less cumbersome than writing about it :P)

Like I said in my previous blog post, there was an extra cave opening to the left of Cianwood City. This wasn't in the old Johto games, so I was pretty excited. New areas to explore in old regions always thrill me, just like the Sevii Islands in FireRed/LeafGreen. Freshest new sights I've ever seen in Kanto.

Okay, so there's a gate and a huge billboard that says 'Safari Zone Ahead' or something. Anyway it has something to do with the new Safari Zone in Johto, to replace the one that was missing in Fuchsia. Nice. I turn left, walk up a long flight of stairs and going on top of rocks....crap, there's an item where you need to Rock Climb down to get. You don't get that HM until much later. Much, much later.

Going outside the cave, new sights and sounds! This is New Johto(what I like to call the two new routes), Route 47! Immediately after you enter Route 47 you're bombarded with an awesome new music track and a wonderful clifftop route, in front of two waterfalls, and you can see the ocean directly below! You can go down there if you want, and that's what I did. I won't find much use for the ground level of Route 47 till I get the later HMs though.

The theme music for Route 47/48

Only picture of the route is on serebii, and they don't allow hotlinking, so go there to see pictures.

I took my time savoring the beauty and there were a few Trainers along the way to fight, but none of them were too difficult. Making my way to the upper level of Route 47 via a narrow cliffside cave, I see the top of both waterfalls and more Trainers. There's a place where you can Rock Climb here too (cripes). It leads to Groudon/Kyogre, but again, that's for much later.

Route 48 is a small stopgap between 47 and the Safari Zone. It's pretty wide, and there's some grass here, where you can catch a Tauros. The Safari Zone itself is pretty nice, with outdoor stalls that remind me of Slateport City and Two Island. Very festive atmosphere, but the real fun begins once you get in. You're allowed an unlimited amount of time, but a limited number of Safari Balls, to catch whatever you want. Later, you can customize the Safari Zone, which kinds of terrain you want to influence the Pokemon that appear. So far it's all the Johto regular things though. Looks like the National Dex is needed to get the rest.

This is one new area that requires you to backtrack a lot. But it's a whole lot of stunning.