Which Is Better: HeartGold Or SoulSilver? (Full Breakdown)

In 1999, Pokémon came out with Pokémon Gold and Silver.

The games HeartGold and SoulSilver are the modern remakes of each.

The game director Shigeki Morimoto retained a lot of the feel of the original games due to their cult following.

To attract new fans and maintain the existing ones, Morimoto cleverly developed the new game to look and feel like a new game with elements of the old game.

It has proven successful with great reviews from critics worldwide.

Which Is Better?

HeartGold is better for those who prefer an easier game.

SoulSilver is said to be a more challenging game, and that seems to be the consensus in the forums.

In truth, the answer is subjective.

You seem to get exclusives in each game, so it depends on which characters you like best.

Those who liked SoulSilver better, in our research, tended to lean towards Lugia, and those who liked Ho-Oh lean towards HeartGold.

You get each character at the beginning of the game they appear first in, and you can enjoy your favorite for the majority of the time you are playing.

Most players we saw stated that it’s the legendary that is different in each game.

You will notice, however, that some of those legendaries like Spinarak, Ledyba, and Caterpie will appear at different intervals of the game as well, and most will appear in each at least for some of the time.

Therefore, it really depends, again, on how much you really like the popular characters in each.

In the forums, those seem to be Lugia and Ho-Oh.

If you prefer HeartGold, you are a lover of Ho-Oh and get to see them appear earlier in the game.

In SoulSilver, he doesn’t show up until the end.

There are many other incredibly interesting characters in both games who appear as exclusives.

You may want to explore some of the ones we have here as well as some of the strengths they have when choosing which ones you will use for the first time in the game.

What Are The Exclusives In Each Game?

The exclusives seem to be the only difference between HeartGold and SoulSilver.

There are subtle differences and nuances of the game as a whole, which we will get into, but there aren’t too many.

Here are the exclusives for each game that you can experiment with and see who you like better.

This seems to be the crux of the choice of game that players make.

Exclusives For HeartGold

1. Teddiursa
2. Ursaring
3. Delibird
4. Skarmory
5. Mawile
6. Gulpin
7. Swalot
8. Groudon
9. Baltoy
10. Claydol
11. Kyogre
12. Mantyke
13. Gliscor

Exclusives for SoulSilver

1. Vulpix
2. Ninetales
3. Meowth
4. Persian
5. Ledyba
6. Ledian
7. Mankey
8. Primeape
9. Growlithe
10. Arcanine
11. Spinarak
12. Ariados
13. Gligar
14. Mantine
15. Phanpy
16. Donphan
17. Sableye

Can I Play HeartGold And SoulSilver On My PC?

Yes, you can play HeartGold and SoulSilver on your PC!

You do need a good laptop that can handle downloads.

The first step is to find your computer’s information as to whether it’s a 34-bit or 64-bit system.

Once you have this information, you can continue to download the emulator.

You now need to download the game.

You can go to DownloadRoms only and download the game on the safe link there.

The download takes a little while to finish.

The game is 15 MB.

Once you download it, you can save it on the desktop.

You will end up with two emulators.

You can delete one of them and then you have the original emulator and the file with the rest of the downloaded material in it.

We have no idea why they suggest downloading the emulator separately.

Either way, it’s not a big deal.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cdpw7qyvuCE

Click the folder and hit “extract”.

This will extract the game files.

You can create a shortcut for everything you need and store it on the desktop for quick and easy access.

Once you open the game file, it should load.

However, you can drag and drop the emulator right into Game Freak and start playing.

From here, go to Config > Control and Config, and choose your configuration settings.

If you have a control console and are playing with that, just hit control or settings, depending on what it says, and review and choose your game settings from there.

You can also widen the screen to a comfortable position for you.

From here, you’ll have to get the tools you need to save your game and other things.

You’ll get your trainer’s card from your mother.

Yeah, that’s how it works.

You go downstairs in the house you’re in, in your game, and your mother in the game will engage you in conversation.

In that time, she will give you your trainer’s card and all the tools you need going forward.

It saves a record of the program and where you left off.

When it’s time to save, you go to the bottom of the screen where you will find the tools Mother gave you.

Go to inventory, then Load State, and it will prompt you to save.

That is the first of two ways to save.

The second way to save is to go to Files, then save, and it will list slots available.

You can just go right to slot 1 and save your progress there.

When you want to load the game back.

You go back to load state and click on Slot 1 or wherever you saved it.

That’s it! That’s how easy it is to load either HeartGold or SoulSilver to your PC and start gaming right away.

Which Starter Pokémon Should I Use As A Beginner On HeartGold Or SoulSilver?

There are three top Pokémon to use if you are just starting out on HeartGold or SoulSilver.

Here they are with a bit of an introduction so you can start right away and enjoy the game without too much frustration.

You’ll get the hang of it and all the characters soon enough, but starting with the best ones for the beginner is a smart choice.

1. Totodile: Totodile is the elite of the starter sets. Team them up with a really strong Pokémon team, and you could wipe out most of your attackers. It’s graced with the power of attack as well as good HP and superior defense. It trumps the power of most other water types and can learn some fierce moves. Make sure they learn the Crunch, Dragon Claw, and Dragon Pulse abilities when they breed.
2. Cyndaquil: For beginners of SS and HG, this is a great choice. It uses Blaze and is strong in both speed and special attack. You will still have some strong issues with the 5, 7, and 8 gym leaders in Johto and the 4 and 6 in the Kanto region. With the right training, it has been known to obliterate the Elite Four. That one is going to take some practice.
3. Chikorita: This one is a well-balanced Pokémon. It’s called a Grass Type with the ability of Overgrow. It has special attack and defense and speed. Though Chikorita has good capability on the ground, in the air, and against even some of the most basic Pokémon, it will have some big issues unless it’s trained hard. This is the time to train this baby up and build a team before attempting any fancy footwork against characters like Falkner, who is in the strong flyer in the Violet Gym.

You will first go up against bird types and bug types of Pokémon.

Use that information to train your Chikorita.

We are also referencing Pokémon SS and HG for some.

Then, if you want a peek into what may be next, the 5th, 7th, and 8th gym leaders use Dragon, Ice, and Steel type Pokémon.

You have your work cut out for you.

How Can I Succeed Playing HeartGold and SoulSilver?

1. Make It Harder: That’s right, make it harder than it has to be—or rather, than it is. Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver are not hard games. In fact, once you already have a strong team, it’s not hard to slay all day. It’s a great way to make things quick and boring. Take your time with the game and pass and fail a few times and really have fun, train your team, and use different techniques.
2. The Few and the Proud: Instead of concentrating on bringing every Pokémon you capture to a high level, train a few to be absolutely superior. Have an army of 12 that are in the fighting categories you need, in layers like a true military strategist would. You’ll have more fun and kick some serious butt along the way!
3. Keep the Game Tutorial for Emergencies Only: Does that sound scary? It should, and you should take that fear and uncertainty to the next level and explore! If you get lost in the system, you can refer to the tutorials and walkthroughs and tips that are available, but don’t make it a crutch. Part of the point and the fun is the unknown. Take a look at the Pokémon that are on your capture list. Study the tools you’ve got to use and dig in!
4. Fight Any Trainers You Come Across: Fighting the wild Pokémon is a main point in the game, but the real valor and money—and well everything—come from fighting the trainers. We say fight the most powerful to win and practice on the weaker set. Does that sound like a plan?
5. Talk Isn’t Always Cheap: The game developers in this and every RPG want you to fully enjoy the immersive experience, and they created these games with a storytelling core. Don’t run towards action and away from conversation. Go into the towns and cities and talk to the inhabitants. There, you’ll find valuable information that you can use to navigate your surroundings and train your Pokémon better, too.

The Most Important Thing You Need To Know About HeartGold And SoulSilver

Healing and saving are of utmost importance.

They allow two things that are majorly important that most other RPGs don’t.

Take your team to a Pokémon center and heal them for free, always.

The second, but even more important thing is to save often.

This is done a bit differently than other RPGs.

You can save wherever you left off.

Other RPGs don’t allow that.

The only caveat is this: Don’t ever save when you are in a truly dangerous or vulnerable situation.

Only do it when you know you’re safe, because after the save, for a moment, you could get wiped out and ruin your save file.

In Conclusion

The Pokémon RPGs HeartGold and SoulSilver are basically the same.

The games are really predicated on who your favorite exclusives are.

Some say that HeartGold is easy and SoulSilver is tougher, but that’s relative to each gamer.

The games are built on taking your time to explore and learn and meet people and have conversations.

Yes, you are supposed to challenge and win the game, no doubt about it, but the joy and the wisdom are in the journey.

When you take the time to explore within the game, you obtain the same benefits as you would in life, which are strength, knowledge, strategy, personal skills, and agility.

Fiction really does imitate life.