

Like how FireRed and LeafGreen could link up with Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald to complete the Pokédex by trading regionally exclusive Pokémon, HeartGold and SoulSilver can link up with Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum to obtain Pokémon unavailable in Johto and Kanto (such as the Sinnoh starters) and vice versa. Some aspects exclusive to Crystal are also included.


While the games feature several expansions in key areas, the overall plot follows the same direction as the original Gold and Silver. Much like how Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen revisited the Generation I story of Kanto, HeartGold and SoulSilver retell the story of Johto, with the player's starting town being New Bark Town. Pokémon HeartGold Version (Japanese: ポケットモンスター ハートゴールド Pocket Monsters HeartGold) and Pokémon SoulSilver Version (Japanese: ポケットモンスター ソウルシルバー Pocket Monsters SoulSilver) are paired Generation IV remakes of the Generation II games Pokémon Gold and Silver. Pokémon SoulSilver Version's boxart, featuring Lugia. Pokémon HeartGold Version's boxart, featuring Ho-Oh. If you were looking for the Pokémon Trading Card Game expansion, see HeartGold & SoulSilver (TCG).

But it does mean Game Freak and The Pokemon Company need to put in far more time and money to make the transition work in a way that's faithful to the original game. It's already been done before with Resident Evil Revelations. Losing access to a second screen wouldn't be detrimental to Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver's core gameplay and that certainly wouldn't mean the games could never be ported to other platforms.
