Masuda’s “Ying-Yang” explaination behind Gen 5 sequels

[Crossroads Bulletin]

Junichi Masuda*has given GameInformer a reason behind the absence of Pokemon Grey.Before the release of the Generation 5 sequels,*Pokemon Black 2 & White 2,*fans had long expected a*Pokemon Grey*to be unleashed upon the world. This would’ve went along with the then-normalized notion of a third, combined version of the Generation’s previous pair of games.
However, the fandom were thrown a curveball with the release of the sequels, a practice that Game Freak have at least somewhat continued with Gen 7 and*Ultra Sun & Moon.*With the release of the latest*GameInformer,*Junichi Masuda has finally given us reasoning behind the sudden change:

“A lot of people were expecting Pokemon Gray at the time, but the concept of Black and White was kind of these opposing forces – a yin-yang kind of thing. If we went with Gray, it would have moved away from that concept so we decided to keep the titles there.”

Does Masuda’s explanation make sense? Do you agree? Feel free to voice your opinion in the comments.
Source: GameInformer
The post Masuda’s “Ying-Yang” explaination behind Gen 5 sequels appeared first on Pokémon Crossroads.


Read more or post a comment.

[Shruikan]

Well, that makes sense, since before B&W the only differences in game was the legendary & evil team in Ruby & Sapphire, whereas Black & White has Opelucid City and several other locations which were completely different between games, tying into the Yin-Yang theme, which wouldn't have worked for Grey.

Also, as a handy note, there's no such thing as "Ying-Yang." It just has the one G.

[MC Elesa]

I like that they did this with Gen5. It was pretty cool and added a nice twist to the generation. I wished that they did this for XY because those games had so much when it came to loose ends. I hope USUM is like BW2 where it adds to another great story.

Also, as a handy note, there's no such thing as "Ying-Yang." It just has the one G.

This has been fixed for the main site. Thanks for the catch.

[Pokemon Trainer Sarah]

I don't mind this but I still think they could have done it all in one game rather than make 2 almost identical sequels :/ Same with US/UM.

[Neo Emolga]

I don't mind this but I still think they could have done it all in one game rather than make 2 almost identical sequels :/ Same with US/UM.

Yeah, for this same reason, I'm totally passing on US/UM. It's paying full price for just the same thing all over again save for a few minor features that feel like a weak DLC that I wouldn't even pay $5 for. Nintendo and Game Freak really need to quit doing that because it looks like bad money-grubbing. The remake frenzy is already a bit questionable as is.

[Pokemon Trainer Sarah]

Yeah, for this same reason, I'm totally passing on US/UM. It's paying full price for just the same thing all over again save for a few minor features that feel like a weak DLC that I wouldn't even pay $5 for. Nintendo and Game Freak really need to quit doing that because it looks like bad money-grubbing. The remake frenzy is already a bit questionable as is.

Yep. I'm gonna buy them because I own all the other main games ever released but I still think it's lame there are 2 of them. I don't think the content added to BW2 justified having 2 either.

[MC Elesa]

Yep. I'm gonna buy them because I own all the other main games ever released but I still think it's lame there are 2 of them. I don't think the content added to BW2 justified having 2 either.

Oh man! Those are fighting words.

Ask me if I like BW or BW2 and I will be undecided. I will tell you that BW2 had more work included in them then Emerald and Platinum. They made new cities and a completely different story. BW2 was the perfect cherry on top of the sundae that was BW. It gave me closure that Pokemon games haven't done since HGSS.

Sorry. I really like those Gen5 games.

[Pokemon Trainer Sarah]

Oh man! Those are fighting words.

Ask me if I like BW or BW2 and I will be undecided. I will tell you that BW2 had more work included in them then Emerald and Platinum. They made new cities and a completely different story. BW2 was the perfect cherry on top of the sundae that was BW. It gave me closure that Pokemon games haven't done since HGSS.

Sorry. I really like those Gen5 games.

I agree BW2 were better than the third versions that came before them! But I don't think the small amount of extra content justified there being B2 and W2. They should have just made one single sequel game with an option at the start to pick Black or White or whatever, you know? There weren't enough differences between B2 and W2 to make them worth separate titles imo.

Third versions like Platinum, Emerald etc. were never that interesting. BW2 were better but they didn't need to make 2 of them. xD And now they're doing the same with US/UM. At that point it just seems like a money grab. :/I feel like I just played through SM and didn't like it all that much so that doesn't help, I guess. If they released remakes of Kanto or Sinnoh and THEN released US/UM, they might be more exciting as we've had a bit of a break. BW and BW2 had 2 years between them, while SM and USUM will only have 1 year.

[MC Elesa]

I agree BW2 were better than the third versions that came before them! But I don't think the small amount of extra content justified there being B2 and W2. They should have just made one single sequel game with an option at the start to pick Black or White or whatever, you know? There weren't enough differences between B2 and W2 to make them worth separate titles imo.

Third versions like Platinum, Emerald etc. were never that interesting. BW2 were better but they didn't need to make 2 of them. xD And now they're doing the same with US/UM. At that point it just seems like a money grab. :/I feel like I just played through SM and didn't like it all that much so that doesn't help, I guess. If they released remakes of Kanto or Sinnoh and THEN released US/UM, they might be more exciting as we've had a bit of a break. BW and BW2 had 2 years between them, while SM and USUM will only have 1 year.

I see. I think the only reason they made B2 and W2 is because both games had their differences such as locations and cover Pokemon. Like the gym that had the Dragon gym leader had a different look depending on the version that you played. So they made them as B2 and W2 so that way players really feel like they were playing a continuation of their B or W game. Especially if they used the Unova Link.

I do agree with you on that part about USUM. The dual games do seem like a cash grab but that will have to be decided upon once the game are release. I keep hearing they are retellings which makes me iffy on if we really do need two different games. Though were did you hear about USUM taking place one year after SM? If that is true that I would be happy. I would love to continue the story that I started with SM. I thought those games were pretty strong and would love to see more of them.

I would only want remakes of Sinnoh or Kanto if they were just for the fact that we see them in the 3DS universe. Though I think I would like to see a true sequel to RB if we got to revisit Kanto on the 3DS. We have played that RB game way too many times and I would like to know what happen after the events of GS or maybe even what happen in the three years between RB and GS.