Pokémon Gold And Silver Are Coming To The 3DS Virtual Console

The only announcement today that I cared about, but I'm very happy!

All those people who thought it was VC for the Switch LOL

Best thing comming out of the Pokémon Direct for me.

Gold & Silver? YES!
On 3DS? Come on, is it so hard to release it on Switch!?

The early ones (esp. with single use TMs) are just too tedious for me to go back to. Only replayed Blue due to Missingno trick.

The only good thing to come from that waste of 8 minutes of my life

Loved playing these back on the GBC. Day 1 for me.

Very cool, though Crystal is the only game boy Pokémon I never played. I'll keep waiting for it

Not surprised about these... 3DS VC seemed more likely than Switch VC at the moment... but they are coming a bit sooner than I was expecting.

Was hoping for Crystal version too but i guess i have to settle on Gold.

I'm getting Silver!

Tbh, I was suprised. They stated in 2016 that they have no plans to bring gen 2 on VC.

Really hope we get GB/GBA on the Switch virtual console when it launches, would love to go back and re-visit these games.

These are a drag and drop as far as I'm concerned. I'm glad we're getting them now, but why it has taken so long is beyond me. This simply prints money for them.

Getting Silver! Best part of the announcement!

I have a hard time slogging through these overly simplistic old games now since Pokémon has become so intricate.

The only generation I've still somehow haven't played is Gen 2, so I'm very glad to see that they're finally coming to VC after all this time, most likely I'm going Silver

Judging by the way things seem to be going my WiiU/3DS will still get plenty of use as my virtual console machines. Not so much a criticism of the Switch its just nice they will still get used and the Switch can innovate the virtual console. Best of both worlds.

@KTT Nintendo also said the WiiU was a great console and not dead for the last 5 years.

Nintendo also said the Switch was a finished product.

Nintendo also said the Wii wasn't underpowered.

Are we seeing a trend here yet?

@thesilverbrick same. The luster of playing yellow again died when I was reminded at how slow, overly simplistic, and barren the older games are compared to something like alpha sapphire. Gold is still on every of my favorite games of all time, but I couldn't justify slogging through it again. Maybe if it was the remake, but even those games feel dated compared to the 3ds entries.

Great stuff! With how battery hungry the original carts can be, it'll be great to play these versions of these games without the worry of losing game save data.

The trading and battling link ups, I know that's happening, but I wonder if the IR Mystery Gift will be emulated as well? I missed this feature in the remakes so I hope it'll return here as well.

Crystal is odd, but I guess that needed extra work somehow as that's a GBC only game while GS could run on a B+W GB. Not to say it'll never come, it might come along later as I'm sure it's extras (Suicune plot, girl trainer, etc.) would be more then worth it.

@Menchi187
This was Masuda, not Nintendo. Pokemon Company =/= Nintendo. At least not in 2/3.
Nintendo also stated that F2P games aren't their thing and that they won't enter the mobile market
They also promised StreetPass Relay in my country ¯(ツ)/¯

This is my favourite one.

I wonder if they will eventually release Ruby and Sapphire on the VC. Also, why are they waiting until September to release Gold and Silver?

Nintendo's plan for Switch year one: ¯(ツ)/¯ "Just port everything that Wii U had to the console. Wii U owners will just repurchase...."

Still see nothing compelling to make me want to upgrade to the Switch yet past the portability of it.

Because I still have my copy of Heart Gold, I'm gonna pass on this.

...but good news to those young-hearted Pokemon fans, though.

These were my favorite games in the series... until heart gold and soul silver came out

If it had been HG and SS I would get it but still have my originals.

Never played Gold so I'll pick that up. Shame about the lack of Crystal, my favourite Pokémon game of all time. My sister lost my Crystal cart years ago.

In my humble opinion, these were the best Pokemon games, period. They completely overhauled the formula by adding dark and steel types, held items, genders/breeding, and an in-game clock. Not to mention that you can revisit Kanto. An easy buy for me.

@KTT The principle is the same. They might as well be the same company. Especially since they all run off the same flawed Japanese business logic. Not that all Japanese business logic is flawed, just the stuff they do.

Awesome. Never beat it back in the day. Still have my silver cart but have been too lazy to find a Gameboy. (Lost mine years ago) Will be picking it up for sure

Pure, concentrated nostalgia..

Hard to believe it's been 16 years since these gems released.

@GoldenGamer88 The 3DS has Game Boy Color emulation right now, the Switch does not. I think it will arrive on the Switch at some point, just not this year.

Plus, the Switch may not get any retro games until Nintendo's paid online launches. Rather then buying retro games one by one, I would assume Nintendo's planned service only gives you access if you pay for online.

The 3DS has the Game Boy Color on its Virtual Console now, that's why its getting Gold and Silver. Plus, there are millions of 3DS owners still out there who would love getting these classics. I know I'm one of them.

I'll probably get them for the nostalgia factor alone. I have a lot of good childhood memories of these games.

This is amazing news. I knew G/S would reach the VC at some point <3 And just on my birthday too yay

If these had been Heart Gold and Soul Silver, I would have probably jumped on those no question. While I loved the originals, the remakes are the definitive versions for me

I don't know about the technical limitations of potential digital versions of DS games on the 3DS, but the DS remakes would be a lot better to have on the eShop.

Where the effity eff is Crystal?!! GAarrrr!!!

First they keep us waitin' another 4 months and now no Crystal?!!! Ugh.

Gold and Silver are great games in their own right, and there is a lot of evidence that they are closer to the original vision of what Pokemon was supposed to be. Some of the best things about them is that the games are longer compared to the rest of the series thanks to having two regions (even if Kanto is kinda trimmed down) and many end game boss fights that can be re-battled easily. Another feature I always liked was that both cover legendary Pokemon are available in either version.

The remakes are even better though, with more modern improvements, even more content, etc. but are increasingly hard to come by and often expensive.

I have no idea where Pokemon Crystal is but this is still great news! I've been asking for Gen 2 VC ever since Gen 1 was announced, and I'll be getting Gold DAY ONE. Wouldn't be surprised if they released Crystal a few months after Gold and Silver though...

This was definitely a great surprise. Gen 2 remains my top favorite one (HG/SS only improving upon it).

I wonder if the Pokemon Pikachu 2 GS will be compatible with these VC releases? Likely not, but the 3DS does have an IR port.

I actually predicted this yesterday!!! I was right!

Just in time to not be on the Switch. Yayyyy~

But honestly I still use my 3DS a fair bit so I'm happy, though it's a shame to not have any virtual console games on the Switch yet. That system could really use a few.

After playing Heartgold on DS, I don't think I can go back to Gold/Silver. I enjoyed the Red/Blue/Yellow re-releases but they were my first Pokémon games way back in the day so the nostalgia was there. But I missed Gold/Silver originally until they were re-released with updates on the DS. And I have to say, those versions were amazing.

Silver was the first mainline Pokemon game I ever played. This is an instant buy for me.

I'd much rather have a regular 3DS VC again instead of a service only utilized to release the occasional Pokemon game.

buys 3DS just to play best Pokemon gen

I'd rather wait for Crystal (if it's happening). The save on my old Crystal cart finally kicked the bucket awhile back, but last I checked my Silver file was still intact.

That said, for those who want to try a classic Pokemon game, I would consider these to be the pinnacle of the Game Boy Pokemon titles.

Ok so they can release more VC titles now than! More Gameboy games, more NES games, bring the tg16 VC over from Japan, being the VC over from WiiU to 3ds it can't be that difficult. It's easy money!

Silver was my favorite pokemon game until I played HG/SS, which is just terrific, but assuming the price isn't just bonkers this is still going to be a day 1 buy.

No joke, I had tears in my eyes when they showed this.

I know I have HeartGold already, but I'll absolutely get Gold on 3DS.

Is it bad that this was my favorite part of the direct? I was beyond happy when they announced this, especially after saying gen 2 3ds ports weren't in the works last year. I'm happy about this because my pokemon crystal cart is starting to act up and I'm afraid it will die within the next few years. I'm glad I have a chance to play gen 2 again

Aw, but Crystal is my favorite all time Pokémon version...

Glad to see this getting a VC release on the 3DS. Will be getting this as soon as it's released.

Honestly, this was the best part about the direct. You get 2 whole regions in these games.

Wish it was for the Switch but Gold/Silver will always be my favourite entries. I like the atmosphere johto has.

@MoonKnight7 Silver's been my favorite from the start, I even prefer it over the remakes. I'm so excited to play it all over again on the 3DS!

This is great news!

Just wait... there'll be NEW 2DS XL branded systems announced soon.

But I wanted Crystal...

@GameOtaku

It won't happen. This is just Nintendo repeating themselves. Months after discontinuing NES support, they released Pokemon Red and Yellow. Initially, this got me excited! "Oh, thank god! Let's kick it back into gear!" Then, nothing. Now, they're doing it again. Months after the last snes release, two new Pokemon titles. By doing so, they'll never have to make any sort of announcement that they killed the service. It's a shame, because I thought that a game like Super Mario RPG would have been all but guaranteed!

I'll get both of them for sure. Pokemon VC games are the way to print money.

And there are dozens of millions of 3DS uses, so I'd say it was a financially sound decision, and as a 3DS owner myself, I'm glad I can enjoy the system a bit more..

EDIT: I was waiting on Pokemon Stars on the Switch, but now I'll buy Pokemon Moon and Pokemon Sun Ultra instead. I think thats kinda good for them..

gold and silver where my favorites...I wish I'd gotten heart gold when it came out. I kept putting it off.

Kinda wish it were for switch too, since my 3ds is rather battered now and i quite like the switch in portable handheld mode. Oh well, i was hoping for this either way. Also kinda wish they'd use the japanese and Heart Gold exclusives (i.e. Donphan in Gold, Ursaring in Silver).

@BanjoPickles Me too, as a retro gamer fan, I actually feel a bit cheated 3DS hasn't any new VC games in years, (in fact, Japan has TurboGrafX-16 & NES games for it that we don't, making me feel further cheated...) besides the original Pokémon games, and the occasional SNES game that only New3DS owners can get...
(These BETTER work on old 3DS models too.)

I find it funny people are upset it's not coming to Switch. As somebody who doesn't have one, (nor really want one yet) and has a 3DS, I'm actually glad to see support for the 3DS VC. The Switch looks like a decent system, but it doesn't look like a proper successor or replacement to the 3DS, and not many people I know lug those expensive things around everywhere, and just leave them at home. So it's really no better then a WiiU at this point.

Sigh, like Red and Blue before it, there's no reason to play these games when you can play the much superior remakes instead, and in this case they're even playable on the same system. They could've at least given us Crystal Version to make it somewhat worth it, although even that one is the least different "update version" in the entire mainline series to date.

Although, I will admit this is good for those on a budget who don't yet have HeartGold/SoulSilver yet can't wait long to play in Johto, as it's extremely difficult to find a copy of HG/SS at a decent price. I'm still looking for a copy, myself.

Awesome

Would have loved them to add Cyrstal as well but if we don't get it I'll get Silver as I always chose the opposite version

@Beau_Skunk

Exactly! I don't understand why people are so excited about having VC on Wii U and Switch yet disregard the VC on 3DS (seriously, few really talk about it and I never see any articles about it).

Personally, I would have loved it if Shadowgate would have made it to 3DS In the West! Final Fantasy I? The TG16 games. The SNES games that seemed like an obvious choice, such as Kirby Superstar, Uniracers, Kirby 3, Mario RPG, Gradius 3 (Konami). It just seemed like such a missed opportunity, and I think that I'm annoyed because I literally bought a New 3DS because I always wanted to play SNES games on the go without resorting to downloading an emulator.

I was admittedly hoping to play Crystal, but while the difference between Red/Blue and Yellow was substantially between two distinct flavors (or, as @SLIGEACH_EIRE would say it, flavours) and equally valid gameplay experiences, Crystal would utterly destroy Gold and Silver in sales. That said, despite the fact we won't see Totodile tap-dancing on our 3DS screens anytime soon, I'm more than pleased with Gold and Silver even being a thing on 3DS. Given I had played HeartGold via emulation first and later got an actual SoulSilver game card, for the VC iteration I'll go with Gold again, by virtue of Gold being my first ever Game Boy game back when I was in my "early tens".
(Cue "d'aaaaaaaaawwwwwww", come on, you know you want to.)
In case you're curious about where this kind of dualism will lead me, follow my comment in the UltraSun and UltraMoon article.

These are the best in the series Day and night System added items 16 gyms colour graphics and huge 2MB cartridge to hold all the vast content. Although today it might be better to get the remakes on DS for around £50.

For the lovely price of 20 Euro, maybe (smell my sarcasm)?
Other then that, good news.