Brain Full of Games

More Pokémon Crystal, and we got pretty far this week despite playing a lot of The Long Dark (’tis the season. Actually it’s hard to say that here because it doesn’t snow or even really get cold in London. But you know).

Writing this up on Saturday (I’ll write more on Tuesday when I do a full recap): I’ve arrived in Ecruteak City with 58 in my dex, recently unblocked the path back to Violet City so I’m going to have a look around and see if there is anything I could do before progressing the story in Ecruteak. I’ve hit the point where I’ve spent too much money on Pokéballs and now I cannot afford to pull my Pidgey out of the Day Care. It’s pretty funny. Finger crossed someone challenges me to a rematch soon so I can get poor old Wizzle back. I don’t know why I named him Wizzle. I guess I won’t learn Fly for a while so maybe I don’t need him.

Going back, I gathered up some Berries and Apricorns, caught the rest of the Unknown that are unlocked (I think only up through J), and trained up the Poliwag I forgot about. I think I need another Oddish for a trade later on, and for a Bellossom, so Oddish is in the Day Care laying eggs.

The gym battle with Morty was really difficult, so I think I need to grind a little more before I get to Olivine, which is why I was wandering around, going back to pick up things I missed, and get balls from Kurt. Unfortunately I forgot to catch a Quagsire when I was back in Violet City (you can get it by surfing), but I’m still sitting on 66 Pokémon now as I head towards Olivine. Hoping to catch a Miltank and Tauros on my way there. I think with a few more trades and evolutions, I will probably have 80 Pokemon going into my 5th Gym. I might really catch them all this time.

Up until now, I haven’t been worried about my Pokémons’ levels or experience, but Morty’s gym battle was where I hit a snag: it took a few rounds to get his Gengar. I haven’t been really trying to get a Party in order and have really been more focused on training up random Pokémon from my box to evolve them (with help from the Day Care people), but now I think I need to start making some tough decisions about who I want in my permanent group. I would consider this to be mid-game; things are getting serious.