Structure of this Series

A Dream of Your Own: The Formulas of Unova—Black & White dissects the first set—and the first set only—of the fifth generation of Pokémon games in their entirety. Within the introduction you’ll find an overview of the major themes that will crop up throughout this venture.

Part I: The Components of Unova explores individual gameplay and mechanical elements that come together and make the world of Black and White fun to play in. More than just a superb story excursion, Black and White feature fantastic feats of game design that make them incredible even for those who button-mash through all the dialog.

Some parts of Black and White’s story and overall gameplay experience must be looked at holistically. Sometimes specific story segments hold significant enough value and involve numerous characters that they stand out in their own right. Others may intelligently bridge the gap between gameplay and narrative—and others still utilize a combination of factors. Whatever the reason, Part II: The Chapters of Unova takes a look at each major segment of the games and how they tie together into a brilliant tapestry of adventure.

Part III: The Cast of Unova looks at each major character one by one. The cast of Black and White are the pillars upon which the meaningful and moving narrative is built. They are the ones players will remember long after their journey has come to a close, and as such this series closes with them. These analyses include visual and written character components.

This series aims to bring to light the details that build up, grain by grain, resulting in a video game experience that is enjoyable both within and outside the confines of the Pokémon series. Black and White run on many different formulas, but they all work together to result in an unforgettable experience.