Pokémon Black Version 2 and White Version 2 (ポケットモンスターブラック2・ホワイト2 Poketto Monsutā Burakku Tsū & Howaito Tsū, “Pocket Monsters: Black 2 & White 2”) are role-playing video games developed by Game Freak, published by The Pokémon Company and Nintendo for the Nintendo DS. The games are direct sequels to Pokémon Black and White, and is part of the fifth generation of the Pokémon series of role-playing games. They were released in Japan in June 2012, with a worldwide release in October later that year.[3][4] The games were first revealed on the February 26, 2012, episode of the Japanese television program Pokémon Smash!,[5][6] followed by an international confirmation on the Pokémon official website.[7] The games feature the new Legendary Pokémon identified by Junichi Masuda as Black Kyurem and White Kyurem.[8][9]
Black 2 and White 2 are set two years after the events of Black and White, and much of the beginning events take place in new locations on the western side of the Unova region. These new locations also feature several Pokémon that were previously unavailable in Black and White, featuring a total of 300 unique creatures available from the start of the game, including Psyduck, Mareep, Growlithe, and Riolu.[10]
A new game mechanic introduced in Black 2 and White 2 is the “PokéStar Studios” side game, where the player character participates in the filming of a movie involving Pokémon and other actors. A character named Brycenman also appears, as Brycen from the original games returned to his movie career.[11] Another new mechanic is the Pokémon World Tournament, where the player battles powerful trainers from the previous games in the series, ranging from Gym Leaders Brock, Misty, Volkner, and Giovanni to Champions Cynthia, Steven, and Lance.[12]
Black 2 and White 2 are also compatible with a new downloadable game for the Nintendo 3DS, Pokémon Dream Radar.[13] Pokémon AR Searcher introduces the character Professor Burnett, as well as alternate forms for the Pokémon Tornadus, Thundurus, and Landorus, which can be transferred to Black 2 and White 2 after being captured in AR Searcher.[14] The legendary Pokémon Keldeo also received a new form in the game, known as the Resolution form.
