Derick's Pokemon Site

NEW BARK TOWN

When you start out, the first question that the game asks you is the time. You will wake up in your house in New Bark Town. Go downstairs, and after your mother asks you the day of the week and whether it's Daylight Savings Time, she will give you your Pok�Gear. She will also explain to you how to use the phone.

Crystal: You can select whether you want your character to be a boy or a girl.

Now proceed to the biggest house in the town. This is Professor Elm's Lab. Once you go into the lab, Elm will talk to you and then give you the one of three pokemon as a partner. The choices are:

#152: CHIKORITA (Grass)
Choosing this Pok�mon would make the game more difficult. The reason is that chikorita being a grass type would be at a disadvantage in the first few gyms. To beat the first gym leaders your pokemon would need to be at a high enough level.

#155: CYNDAQUIL (Fire)
Choosing this Pok�mon would make the game rather easy. The first two gyms possess Pok�mon that are weak against fire types. Also conquering the Bellsprout Tower would be extremely easy since most of the trainers there use the grass Pok�mon Bellsprout. Even gyms later in the game, such as the Olivine City gym would be a breeze.

#158: TOTODILE (Water)
Choosing this Pok�mon would make the game possess a medium degree of difficulty. It learns some pretty good attacks, however Sprout Tower may be hard. Since it is not absolutely necessary to beat the Sprout tower early in the game you can return to it once you catch some other pokemon strong against grass types.

Now that you have chosen your Pok�mon, you and Elm will then exchange phone numbers, and he'll tell you to go his friend, Mr. Pok�mon. Before you leave, Elm's assistant will give you a Potion. Now exit the lab and start your journey through Johto.