Pokemon Black and White was a game like no other.
Throughout the story, there is constant clashing of morals and values, and some characters come to realize that the answer they have to a problem is no more right that the person they’re fighting against.
[To the Seven Sages] “I can empathize with some of what you say, but I can’t forgive the way you reject everything else!” ~Drayden
“It is the way of the universe to take from excess and fill emptiness. Taking Pokémon from people is restoring balance to nature!” ~Zinzolin
“Originally, Pokemon lived in the wild. So is it right to contain them like this?” ~The Ace Trainer
“You have two options. Challenge me to a fight you can’t win, or leave this place and watch the birth of a new world where Pokémon are free of people!” ~N
“Since I couldn’t become the hero and obtain the legendary Pokémon myself…I prepared someone for that purpose—N! He’s nothing more than a freak without a human heart.” ~Ghetsis
“Pokémon cannot speak. People may hurt Pokémon even more by imposing their selfish thoughts on them. But, no matter what, Pokémon and people believe in each other, need each other, and will continue to live together…” ~Drayden
“If the king of team plasma rules the world, battles will disappear, and disputes will end! Isn’t that a great vision?” ~a Team Plasma Grunt
A lot of them understand this in the end
[At Ghetsis] “HE is the one without a human heart!” ~Cheren
“Those who left Team Plasma and are behaving with respect and understanding toward Pokémon… Them, please forgive! However, those who won’t interact with Pokémon in a kind and honest way… Even I will never forgive them!” ~Bronius
“No matter how many battles I fight, I don’t know what strength is. Perhaps you can find the answer.” ~Brycen
“The legend of Unova is about Pokémon and people working together to build a new world! The message is that simple and that strong. If changing the world makes you a hero, anyone can become a hero. As each of us changes what is in our power to change, so the world itself changes.” ~Giallo
“Strength and strength alone is what matters in this world. So I believed, until I met Alder here [on Route 5]. But, winning in Pokémon battles isn’t all there is to life. Once I learned that lesson, my eyes were opened to many different things. We all have our own brand of strength, people and Pokémon both. The strength to make our dreams a reality, the strength to protect what we hold most dear… Why do I think this way now?” ~Cheren
“The longer my journey continued, the more unsure I became. All I kept meeting were Pokémon and people who communicated with one another and helped one another. That was why I needed to confirm my beliefs by battling with you. I wanted to confront you hero-to-hero. I needed that more than anything.” ~N
There’s symbolism hidden in almost every quote, even down to the most minute details
“This lighthouse shines with the light of freedom. Only authorized personnel may enter.” ~sign outside the Liberty Garden
“That room was the world that was provided to our lord N… I don’t feel anything, even when I go into the room… But you may feel something.” ~Shadow Triad
“‘Eyes brimming with dark flame, this man rejected everything other than himself in order to bring about one singular justice…’ That’s part of a novel I’m writing. I was inspired by the challenger who was just here, and somehow I got a little sad…“ ~Shauntal
Game Freak was working on generation five before HGSS, before Platinum. They wanted to make a Pokemon game that sent a message to fans, and made them think about the Pokemon world - and even ours - on a philosophical level. Unfortunately though, most people failed to notice the theme behind every word spoken in Black and White, to see the lesson taught in this masterpiece of a Pokemon game.
“We’re all different and we should do the things that we can do. There are as many truths and ideals as there are people and Pokémon.” ~Cheren
“Change your perspective– and the reality changes.” ~Child on Route 3
[To Bianca] “You know, there are many people in this world. There are people whose way of thinking may be completely different from yours. Sometimes, this means you may get hurt.” ~Elesa
“I couldn’t understand it. I couldn’t believe there were Pokémon that liked people. Because, up until that moment, I’d never known a Pokémon like that.” ~N
“N has been separated from people since he was young. He was brought up with Pokémon… Pokémon that were betrayed, mistreated, and hurt by bad people… Ghetsis deliberately brought only those poor Pokémon closer to N. N was touched by their plight, and started pursuing his ideal/truth, thinking only of Pokémon. N’s heart is pure and innocent. But there is nothing more beautiful or terrifying than innocence.” ~Concordia
If you’re one of those players who disliked generation five, go back and play now that you know what to look for. Go back and see that there is brutality in beauty, pain inside truth, difference within ideals, and that one simple question has many correct answers. Even something as simple as a Pokemon game has complexity.
Because when you face reality, nothing is ever truly Black and White.
