The Secrets of the Safari Zone

[@Lyra]

The deep dive into Gen 4 and the Johto Safari Zone is here! kzbin.info/www/bejne/j4PEpoZsds-jrLs Some more Pokémon mechanics craziness to end the year. That's my gift to you I wish you a Merry Christmas, Wonderful Holidays and a Happy New Year!

[@bashvash]

Thank you

[@chrisdcane5451]

Thank you Lyra🙏

[@funwithoutpants]

Same to you, guy!

[@GigaOtomia]

For what it's worth, the ₽ symbol refers to Russian rubles in real life. I choose to believe it refers to the same in the Pokemon universe.

[@MaxRavenclaw]

Wish I knew this before finishing my recent replay of FRLG. But it's just in time for my replay of Emerald. Just yesterday I reached the Safari zone there. P.S. I really liked your site too. Not going for a full live dex, but I have been replaying the various generations these past months and your site helped me organize my boxes. Wish there was a way to export settings and dexes, though, as I had to switch between two computers at one point and had to recheck all pokemon manually. Plus I wanted to track Emerald and FRLG separately, but that I just got around by using different browser profiles. Anyway, again, neat site. You're cool.

[@heartbeat4atinman]

I think the Safari Zone not returning in Let's Go makes sense. The entire game pretty much uses Safari Zone-like mechanics for capture to begin with, so new players (who the games are targeted at) wouldn't get what makes it so special.

[@JanusHoW]

In fact, the Savanna biome in the Indigo Disk DLC of Gen 9 has pretty much all of the Pokemon you could find in tall grass in Gen 1's Safari Zone and near Fuschia City - Kantoan Tauros, Chansey, Doduo/Dodrio, Rhyhorn/Rhydon, Scyther, Venonat/Venomoth, and Exeggcute/Kantoan Exeggutor can all be found there.

[@Jlaps941]

@@JanusHoWwow I felt like the savanna biome felt somehow familiar, and this makes perfect sense

[@Adowrath]

@@JanusHoW Oh god I was so confused what you were talking about before googling made me realize it's the new SV DLC, lol.

[@DystopianOverture]

@@JanusHoW Glad I ain't the only one noticing the Safari Zone vibes on that location.

[@SEMIA123]

SV DLC2 is basically a giant safari zone and imo the wild area in gen 8 felt like it was conceptually inspired by the safari zone.

[@genuineangusbeef8697]

it probably is worth mentioning that, despite Chansey being available outside the safari zone, it's only in Cerulean Cave as a post game location. In the main story, Chansey is safari zone exclusive

[@carsonwyatt8915]

Isn’t kangaskhan also exclusive to safari zone? I fuck shit up with kangas using megapunch, rest, reversal and endure

[@88porpoise]

​@@carsonwyatt8915That is what this video says. In Gen I and FR/LG, Kangaskhan is exclusive to the Safari zone except for Japanese Blue, where it is an in-game trade.

[@GhengizKanye]

​@carsonwyatt8915 why would you use megapunch instead of bodyslam? Seems like wasted oppurtunity.

[@cactneir]

​@@88porpoiseya but RBY made our favorite safari pokemon a time consuming hunt...... tauros and scyther never stays around long enough to be caught and chansey i can get later.

[@JungleCrook]

@@carsonwyatt8915 that set doesnt make any sense lol

[@tiacat11]

On the business of Pokédollars, (very funny how it seems like that's a pretty large chunk of the comments for a throwaway line), I actually asked a friend who lived in Japan and knew Japanese what his take on the whole "Pokédollars = yen?" thing was. He actually pointed out something very interesting to me, that in Japanese versions the kanji used is actually the word 円 / yen, rather than the symbol ¥. He went on to explain that yen can also just mean money/coins, the way people in the States call money "dollars" but that doesn't necessarily limit it to just USD. So, it _is_ called yen, but there's more nuance to it than that, in that it doesn't necessarily need to translate 1:1 with Japanese yen.

[@MorganTiller]

Ive always counted it as cents. Like a youngster giving me *68 makes sense as $0.68 being given to me from a kid. And 2.00 for a pokeball makes sense

[@superheriber27]

Pokeyen

[@TalonSky]

As a kid, I absolutely REFUSED to throw rocks in the Safari zone. I thought it was cruel and mean and that my Pokemon would start off not liking me as much if I manage to catch it lol

[@st.altair4936]

The franchise is literally about hurting wild animals to near death, enslaving them, and making them fight each other to near death over and over again for our entertainment (and profit). I don't think morality matters much here lol Wonder if we'll ever get a Pokemon game that tackles that. There was N, but that went nowhere. Probably not child-friendly enough of a subject for Nintendo to ever deal with unfortunately.

[@henrysullivan6341]

I throw rocks then flee :)

[@mahomaho4]

MADMAN ​@@henrysullivan6341

[@Godzilla00X]

Based

[@CookieCurls]

Blast Pokémon with fireballs and lightning: ✅ Throw a rock: 🤯

[@KenMantheUltimate]

I think the Terarium in Scarlet and Violet's DLC is like a modern interpretation of the safari zone. Four areas with diverse biomes and special pokemon (Chansey and Tauros are even here). There's also a "walk 500 yards" quest i think as a nod to the 500 step limit in the original safari zone.

[@ultrapokesim]

Definitely felt like the Terrarium was Unova’s safari zone. Especially when roaming the Savannah area and seeing all the Kanto safari Pokémon. Doduo, scyther, tauros, rhyhorn, etc. Only thing I think is kind of jarring is how the transitions are drastic with those block barriers but the whole premise is it’s an artificial ecosystem. Makes me kind of think of the Aether Paradise.

[@Lebon19]

I thought exactly the same thing! I think Lyra should cover it at some point.

[@gimok2k5]

@@Lebon19 Not sure what's there to cover. Mechanically, it's basically a regular region. Catching works like everywhere else, encounters work like everywhere else and outside of buying an upgrade to each region to add more Pokemon to spawn (which is a permanent one-time-deal), there isn't anything to influence in that regard, either. For all gameplay-related intends and purposes, it's a regular area no different from anywhere else in Paldea or Kitakami.

[@yoster39]

All of lets go eevee and pikachu

[@pyroflare7774]

​@@yoster39and pokemon go

[@RighteousBisonEnjoyer]

This guy could code gen 1 from memory

[@halierlockehart]

Well... I guess if you hit your head on the keyboard just the right way you should have about 68,3% of getting it right.

[@magicamadeye]

@@halierlockeharti mean…not wrong

[@CommanderWiggins]

​@@halierlockehart Add in some chewing gum and paper clips and you'll get to about 83.89%.

[@TooMuchDad]

He would probably fix too many things on accident though! 😅

[@halierlockehart]

@@TooMuchDad Not sure if we should call that an inevitability or just the cost of re-creating those games.

[@DeuxisWasTaken]

I do fairly like how gen3 handled the Safari Zone. It's a zone for pokemon from other regions, allowing you to catch some cool ones from gen1 and gen2 in the games that replaced most of the roster with new species. The pokemon from each gen have a different vibe too, with the difference between gen1 and gen3 most visible, so these mons do feel exotic.

[@Lyra]

I agree. It's something I should have mentioned a bit more. The Hoenn Safari Zone is basically an area to capture Pokémon from other regions aka previous generations. It is a bit less exotic if you have played the previous generations however, hence the reason I have always considered this Safari Zone to be a tad disappointing. Interestingly, the Hoenn Safari Zone is a look at how the developers would see the area: as a way to bring Pokémon from other generations to the current one. Which is why it was replaced with more direct ways to achieve that goal.

[@theaveragegamer9632]

@@Lyra I think the opportunity to catch them is what makes it fun. Just because they can flee, never bothered me. Because they are still right in front of me and I still have a chance to catch them.

[@thatothergalperson]

@@Lyra That tracks. As a person who did not play the Johto games till HGSS I thought the Emerald Safari Zone (also my 1st pokemon game I beat) was really cool and created for me this fascination for the previous gen's pokemon.

[@Urthdigger]

I've always called the money Poke (Po-kay) after the PMD games. Also kinda figured the symbol was meant to look like the yen symbol, which also makes a lot of the math more reasonable. I am spending a little under $2 for a pokeball, not $200.

[@dominiccasts]

I've always thought of it as "Pen" myself, due to the Yen symbol, but it seems that's just me.

[@jeremyabbott4537]

yeah, I always called it pokeyen or just poke myself

[@CosmicPlatonix]

Back in the pre-PMD days I called it Pokébucks (a 'buck' being common American slang for a dollar in case anyone reading this didn't know that.)

[@adrianmcbride1666]

Same, but I pronounced in p-oh-k-ee/po-key

[@MythikosOntos]

Same, Explorers of Sky was such a core memory of my childhood, I had apparently gaslit myself into thinking that all pokemon games called it Poké. Only realising my mistake with this video

[@getthegoons]

I kind of miss the Safari Zone. If they bring it back it should just play like Legends Arceus, you gotta sneak around and stuff.

[@TheEmeraldWeirdo]

I had the same idea!

[@RednekGamurz]

I was just thinking of this. Just give the player a bunch of Safari Balls, a time limit, and drop them into a big, open area. You could even make it where at the end of a run, it tallies up your score (based on how many Pokemon you caught, which Pokemon you caught, and how big the Pokemon you caught are) to give the Safari Zone a bit more of a game-y element to it. It could be really addicting. Maybe you could even have a special MP mode tied to it, where you're running around the Safari Zone trying to catch Pokemon in real-time with other players online. You could even do special variants of this MP mode, like the Bug Catching Contest, where it's the same basic rules, but only bug-types count towards your score. I highly doubt GF would do something like this, but it'd be a fun way to bring back the Safari Zone, while updating it in a new way.

[@getthegoons]

@@RednekGamurz that sounds cool. How many Pokemon do you think Nintendo would have to remove to do that, gotta figure at least 30

[@RednekGamurz]

@@getthegoons lol, yeah around 30-40 at minimum.

[@christiancinnabars1402]

I feel like Legends Arceus was a thinly veiled last hurrah at capturing the Safari Zone concept, and they absolutely nailed a homerun. Seeing as how even S/V couldn't help but visit its gameplay loop in the DLCs, I'm hoping Gen 10 (because a Gen 5 remake has next to no chance at adding in a Safari Zone) does add in a Safari Zone that echoes Legends Arceus - just without the failsafe of using your Pokemon once you are spotted.

[@chestnu1]

I think you nailed it when you said that the safari zone wasn't fun. Due to the chance of fleeing I always disliked going into the safari zone what is the point of encountering a rare wild Pokemon that can run away.

[@astupidlylongnamethatstoolong]

I agree on flee rates being not explained anywhere also sucked too. I never even knew pokeblocks could manipulate flee rate to essentially 0%

[@revenevan11]

To be fair, gamefreak didn't know that either 🤣

[@Bdavis2475]

I thought the safari zone was pretty thrilling, the limited step count always got my heart racing

[@Muhahahahaz]

Seriously! And I never felt like I understood when to throw rocks or bait… Usually I just threw bait with the rare Pokemon and prayed. Though the fact that the ball would “miss” constantly made me try without bait as well

[@Eggzy-b7f]

​@@Bdavis2475U can just stand in 1 spot and press up Down, Left Right to change direction (Without Moving a Step) Used to stay in there for ages on The Gameboy Pokemons!!

[@DoporaBHe6o]

"very close to russian ruble" funny enough - the symbol for ruble was introduced 10+ years after pokedollars first appeared in games. I remember laughing at the real life concept back then as it reminded me pokemon currency lmao

[@starleaf-luna]

they using pokedollars in real life lmao ... I would not be surprised if pokedollars were worth more than the ruble now

[@theelectricneko]

And Pokédollars probably have more value than the Ruble

[@andreirotenev]

@@starleaf-lunathe economy is fine lmao

[@derpypanda7]

No joke I sometimes check ur channel like every over day to see if you uploaded bc it’s been a long time since I was addicted to watch a KZbinr. You are a hidden gem and deserve way more views and subscribers please don’t ever stop uploading

[@Soysause767]

One of the most underrated pokemon channels out there

[@Lyra]

Thank you so much for your very nice and kind comment! I hope I can keep making content you enjoy ❤

[@williamdrum9899]

9:36 Originally when you showed the chart that said Chansey's flee rate after bait is just 10% I thought "BS." Now I understand why

[@Muhahahahaz]

*dramatic music* THE OVERSIGHT! 😱

[@jaernihiltheus7817]

You can actually manipulate the Safari Zone even further in Emerald - as Emerald is the game that added overworld effects to abilities, and one of those abilities (Synchronize) gives a 50% chance of the wild mon being the same nature as the Synchronize pokemon if it's in the front of your party.

[@Whiteythereaper]

Static summoning more Mareep and Pikachu, Magnet Pull dragging in more Aron and Mawile in Granite cave, Illuminate just making encounters more common, Intimidate and Vital Spirit forcing encounters to be on the higher end of the level spectrum (not sure if this was a Gen 4 addition tbh, it's been a while since I checked)

[@alecdejongh5008]

I’d love a video on the Game Corner. The Gen 1 code for it is bonkers and really weirdly in depth.

[@theotakuwolf8573]

I knew a guy who was uniquely talented at the game corner games In pretty much every game. Dude could rack up coins so fast I just handed him my game when trying to get a porygon

[@Lyra]

I would love to do a video the Game Corner, its code, evolution and censorship through the years! In fact, it is happening at some point for sure, so enjoy being the first person to know about it

[@joeb6750]

Someone did an in-depth one on the Gen 2 games and it's somewhat similar to Gen 1. They had some code trouble so it wasn't a full code trace but was a full behavior record instead using 1000s of runs. Essentially there's a variance each machine is loaded with at the time of play. This variance controls the possibility of being able to obtain a jackpot and without it you cannot obtain jackpot no matter how precise your inputs. That cascades to the slides with some random chance of what could happen (reel sliding and whatnot). In the end, it's very apparent the slots are cheating when you slow the frames down but hard to notice on the gameboy

[@CrushedParagon]

I once did my own personal deep dive into the HGSS Safari Zone and cannot wait to see that video on it, there's so much depth that is NEVER explained to the player so idk how anyone was supposed to figure that shit out naturally

[@VeyaAE]

I always called Pokemon currency "Poké Yen", because the icon is very obviously meant to be an alteration of the symbol for Yen which is a stylized Y(¥), with the Y replaced with a P, therefor, Poké Yen,

[@burner555]

Pokýen

[@Battezu]

It's so obviously this, I'm surprised Lyra missed it

[@Horatio786]

I liked the Johto Safari Zone. It was my favorite by far with its customization.

[@Moodyman90]

The HGSS Safari zone was interesting in concept, but needlessly complex and with convoluted requirements, but I'll save further comments for that video. Only thing I can add here is that you could cheese the step restriction in the first games by spinning in place. Just find a patch of tall grass, step in, and tap lightly to change the direction you was facing. You'd never actually take a step, so the counter wouldn't go down, but eventually you'd get an encounter because you was technically moving in the tall grass.

[@dan5974]

It should’ve allowed for the capture of version exclusives. No reason as to why you shouldn’t get Pokémon like Skarmory in HG if you add certain blocks to the safari zone.

[@drygnfyre]

That's the same trick you can use to have Repel last forever if you are hunting for either a roaming legendary or a specific Pokemon.

[@glam4663]

Sweet scent and honey also work

[@dylanpailing4314]

I think it’s hilarious how the safari zone is completely counterintuitive to the beginning of Pokémon: “you can’t leave town. You don’t have a Pokémon. You’ll get hurt.” Safari zone: “You can’t take your Pokémon into this place with rare Pokémon one of whom literally has blades for arms, Here’s a rock. Have some fun.”

[@user-to9ge8ii9n]

There should have been a 5% chance of being trampled and reviving at the hospital.

[@IkaNyan404]

On the topic of Pokedollars. Personally i've always called it Pokeyen as it also looks similar to the yen in its symbol form much like the other one lyra pointed out. Y instead of P. Seeing as Pokemon came from Japan it makes sense to me but I know there's loads of us out there who are so used to calling things out of habit. Amazing videos as always and hope to see more in the future.

[@melvinshaw7574]

I stick to just calling them Poké, which if I'm remembering correctly, is the term used in the Mystery Dungeon games. PokéDollars is, I suppose, just as valid a term though

[@IkaNyan404]

@@melvinshaw7574 its really whatever the heck people grew up calling it. for too long its been just a symbol with not much to name it. colosseum as mentioned in the video is one of the few times they give it a actual term.

[@Ryuji777x]

nice, i also call the currency pokeyen. it just makes more sense to me; the symbol even resembles the yen symbol. though i do wish there was an official name. the games deliberately avoid any specific ways that it could be referred to as. it's always just the generic 'cash' or 'money'.

[@carlbishop6281]

For the low cost of 500 *pause for effect* ...flag with two lines.... LOVE IT. I usually call it Pokedollars, or could just go with Japanese Yen (as it was originally meant to be Yen in the older beta leaks)

[@gengarzilla1685]

I just call it Pokéyen.

[@PlushPilla]

I just call it Poké because of Mystery Dungeon Red/Blue Rescue Team

[@duy02091999]

This guy is like the son of Gnoggin and the guy that used coding to make A.I trainer in Pokemon Red compete with each other. I love it!

[@NullatNulls]

Never been so excited for the finale of a trilogy in my life.

[@vineheart01]

i always found it weird they didnt use the Safari zone as an excuse for older pokemon to exist. Such as, the region has X number of pokemon normally available, with the remaining Y that exist (outside of legendaries) found within the Safari Zone(s). But, with Legends Arceus gametype the entire game kinda feels like a safari zone.

[@BirdieSenpai]

Since Exeggcute, Rhyhorn, Kangaskhan, and Tauros are only found in the Generation I Safari Zone, might this be an indication that they are not native to Kanto? Exeggutor, for example, is only 6'7" in Kanto but even taller than Steelix is long in Alola, hinting Kanto is not its natural environment and stunts its growth. I retired after Generation III, so I don't know if there was a similar indication with Rhyperior in Generation IV.

[@gengarzilla1685]

There wasn't any suggestion of that with Rhyperior. The evolution from Rhydon just uses an item that was presumably first found and documented in Sinnoh. Rhyperior's case is closer in comparison to Kleavor, Scyther's other evolution from Legends Arceus, in that they just needed an unavailable object instead of the correct environment like Exeggutor did.

[@BirdieSenpai]

@@gengarzilla1685 Ah, gotcha. Thanks for the clarification!

[@MysticKenji2]

It could also mean that they're whatever the Pokémon-world equivalent is of endangered.

[@Jlaps941]

That’s what I always thought since several other safari zones have Pokémon only available there for that region, and the whole thing feels very manufactured, like a zoo. Plus plenty of Pokédex entries show pokemon have been imported from other regions, like Corphish and Yungoos, so we know Pokemon can be

[@Nazberrypie]

Yeah, that would make sense, since the Safari Zone is literally a zoo. You can see that especially in fuschia City, where the town displays rare enclosed pokemon near the entrance of the Safari Zone. When you look at what these pokemons are based on (coconut tree, rhinoceros, Kangaroo, buffalooooo?) you can also tell they are not from Japan(Kanto) Although it's not specifically mentionned I think. You could also extrapolate that to Generation 3 with exclusive Safari pokemon like Natu, Doduo, Girafarig and Phanpy.

[@SSKazega]

Fun Facts: in the Generation 1 Safari Zone, if you tap a direction other than the one you are facing you will turn in place. This action can generate an encounter, but it will not count as a step on your timer. Also if you were attempting the MissingNo Glitch You will encounter Pokemon based on the table of the last area you were at. Simply pick out your Safari Area, and run through the glitch.

[@mr.sniffly5297]

Turning in place never counted as a step

[@Slender_Man_186]

This also works in Gen 3, turning in place counts as an encounter check but doesn’t use up any steps.

[@goldenhydreigon4727]

Shoutout to the HGSS Safari Zone Its the GOAT for letting us get stuff like Doduo, Wobbuffet, Murkrow, Grimer, Clefairy, and especially Larvitar early

[@pikminologueraisin2139]

misdreavus my beloved

[@Whiteythereaper]

I've always called the Pokedollar Pokéyen, since it's a non-decimal currency, and the ¥ symbol is clearly the base for the Pokémon currency symbol. Also, in the Delibird Presents shops in SV, the price tags in the window clearly look like the price tags you see in Japanese shop windows. It's clearly Yen, but with a P instead of the Y for the symbol.

[@Xiroxys]

"The entire code" had me rolling haha I'm also realizing I was SUPER lucky and SUPER UNlucky when I was a kid. Things fleeing on bait, not fleeing for rock turns, crazy stuff

[@endymallorn]

I mean, in Gen1, there are no Safari Zone exclusive Pokémon in practice. Just Fly from the Safari Zone to Cinnabar & Surf along the coast. It’s simple, and makes catching Safari Pokémon *much* easier. I’m not sure if 1.5(Y) fixed that, and given that FRLG gave us the Nugget Bridge exploit, I don’t think it’s that important there since you can Kaiba your way out of any trouble.

[@tiacat11]

I'll never forget the first time I saw a shiny pokemon. It was a Dratini, in Pokemon Leaf Green... in the Safari Zone. I'd never seen one before in my life, I had no idea what I was looking at, but it was different and cool and pretty and I wanted it. Then that whole business, where a flee chance happens before the player can even do anything? Yeah, I knew about it, after that encounter. Goodbye, shiny Dratini :,) I've joked that since then I've been completely cursed, as I played every single game in the series after that and never saw another shiny in the wild until Pokemon Violet. Fuck you Safari Zone, I'm glad you're gone.

[@colincraigo5793]

This could have easily been an hour long video or more. You should do an extended versions for freaks like me.

[@TexasFlowers]

i think another reason they didn't bring back safari zone to lets go pikachu/eevee is because if you think about it the games entire catch mechanics are already way too similar to safari... i mean, no battling, you throw berries that either calm it or make it easier to catch. it would make a safari area no different than the entire rest of the region

[@Monsuco]

I feel like things like the Johto bug catching contest were an interesting alternative to the safari zone. You got to use normal-ish mechanics but there were some special rules in place.

[@Iowsbub]

The safari zone was my favorite zone in Pokémon Blue as a kid! So many evolved Pokémon with big sprites, I liked it a lot. I recently played Pokémon Leafgreen and still hab a lot of fun! And in my opinion the safari ball is one of the nicest balls of all time in aestheticts.

[@AkaAkoVT]

I've never really had much of an exposure to a pre-Black/White game, so this is really interesting to learn about, though I can see why they abandoned the idea. Not only did the games kind of grow out of the idea mechanically, but they came up with more interesting ways to hide away rare Pokemon

[@_Paul_N]

Ive caught Scyther and Kangaskhan at the Safari Zone in the OG blue/red Pokémon games, but had never caught Tauros. I think his RNG for catching it was non existent lol.

[@seangoldman6833]

I never had the patience to catch safari pokemon in Gen 1. I always used the broken tiles on the coast of Cinnabar to get safari pokemon through normal encounters.

[@user-to9ge8ii9n]

​@@seangoldman6833I remember this blowing my mind, and was how I caught all of the exclusives. So much easier in a "fair" fight!

[@mqtakk]

I've been watching for a year and this has become one of my favorite channels. I love in depth information about Pokemon games. Keep it up 💚

[@WowOafus]

I’ve played Pokémon red and blue more than any game I’ve played, side from maybe WOW. I got blue when it came out. I didn’t ever think about the fact that the safari zone is needed for two HMs until your graphic on the section. Just always went through blindly getting them without that thought. Interesting.

[@MrFredazo]

9:45 I remember in Fire Red, I found a shiny Rhyhorn in the Safari zone when I was a kid. There was no internet to check, nor guides besides magazines. It was my 2nd shiny ever. I stopped so long thinking about what I felt was the best odds for catching it. I threw a rock, and caught it on the 3rd pokeball afterwards. It felt so good, core memory there. Thanks to the oversight, maybe. Now I know!

[@xiongray]

That's an amazing shiny! Have you transferred it to Pokemon Home?

[@risel56]

Of you think about it, Pokémon Go is essentially the spiritual successor to the Safari Zone.

[@ktvx.94]

I'll be real I've always ignored the safari zones. I just prefer the good ol' catching method of wearing down the pokemon, applying a status and throwing a ball that fits the situation. As a kid the SZs gave me anxiety.

[@fireyums]

I’d love to also see an explaination of XY’s Friend Safari in a future video. It may not be exactly the same, but it at least has Safari in the name!

[@gengarzilla1685]

It's a spiritual successor, for sure, but it didn't even transition into ORAS.

[@borismuller86]

It was the best way to promote finding new friends on the 3ds.

[@Aluranae]

Hey kids wake up, Lyra dropped another video for Christmas! Joking aside, I do wish they'd mess with the safari zone mechanics a bit to give us something like a slice-of-life game if that makes sense. Shift the focus from battling to raising, and refine the mechanics to be applicable more broadly. It could be a fun way to shake up the formula. Hell, Legends Arceus showed you could do just that. Craft a better frame around it overall and it could be an excellent way to decouple battling from the Pokemon experience for those who just want to catch and care for their mons.

[@mangoschmooves]

The frlg safari zone has given me trauma. I’ve lost 2 shiny pokemon because of it. Chansey and rhyhorn. I fell victim to the update lag because I threw a bait at chansey and it still ran.

[@rjagad]

Wow that's sucky.

[@mangoschmooves]

@@rjagad both were super painful. I hope to never encounter a safari shiny again lmao

[@christiancinnabars1402]

Encountering a shiny in the Safari Zone is one of the top Pokemon-related fears. Next to finding a shiny that knows Self-Destruct, Explosion, Teleport, or Memento.

[@mangoschmooves]

@@christiancinnabars1402 I’ve actually done that too. Found a shiny graveller in platinum. However, luckily it wasn’t in the marsh so I actually managed to catch that one in a quick ball. Looked it up afterwards to see if it had it and it did (like years later when I was talking to my brother about it)

[@gamerguydood4999]

Omg, i remember looking into HGSS safari zone last year when i wanted to do some shiny hunting and it is SO needlessly complicated and it feels like a lot of people still don't understand how it works, im just glad there's a method to speed up the process but I was lucky enough to have already done the set up needed beforehand without knowing I did lol, best of luck on the next video im excited for it

[@TrueN8-bit]

12:36 I've always called the currency Poké, which is what it's called in Pokémon mystery dungeon. I saw that as a kid and assumed it was called that throughout the series. Don't actually know for sure if that is the case. I have definitely heard Pokédollars from plenty of other people, though, so you're definitely not alone. Anyway, fun video. It's really interesting to see how these strange mechanics actually work after all these years. I kind of miss the safari zone, even if I was never really particularly excited about going through it.

[@wygolvillage2637]

I always called it Poké or Pokéyen and I think this was also slightly influenced by PMD

[@erwinamanciosilva7693]

Gen3 kids: "lets get closer to it so we dont miss(go near)" Gen1 chads: "lets give it concussion(throw rock)"

[@22sfs22]

Great video as always Lyra. Thanks for elucidating the great mysteries of mine childhood!

[@raddaradda8682]

Loved the video Lyra! If at some point you wanna stitch all 3 parts together and release an hour+ video I'd definitely watch it. Longform content is my go to for work lol

[@ben501st]

I would have loved an extra area and/or gen 2 pokemon released into the safari zone as post game content in FireRed and LeafGreen.

[@MegaKBang]

I love the johto safari zone in HGSS! I dunno why but all the data about the blocks and waiting times super intrigued me. I really enjoy playing with it.

[@BiggerK]

Exactly what I wanted for Christmas

[@Red_Biker_Dude]

Exactly what I wanted for my birthday

[@alext6933]

​@@Red_Biker_Dudehappy bday 😊

[@Red_Biker_Dude]

@@alext6933 thanks

[@username5155]

12:32 Here’s a compilation of -every- official name for the Pokémon currency: -Mainline JP: Yen -Mainline: Unknown name -Colosseum JP: Pokédollars -Colosseum: Pokémon dollars -Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Poké -Pokémon Anime Episode 5: _Showdown in Pewter City_ : USD??? I don’t get it

[@Clockehwork]

"A franchise willing to keep features and tradition sometimes to a fault"... are we playing the same games? Me, and everyone else I have ever talked about pokemon with, regularly complain about the franchise dropping things just for the sake of novelty and cutting corners. The safari zone is just one of a laundry list of examples. Pokemon is practically allergic to not removing features.

[@EmperorZ19]

It's kind of both. The series rarely makes any permanent steps forward because it's constantly cutting any additions. The traditional parts are the only reliable aspects.

[@deongeiss12]

​@EmperorZ19 sure, except when those traditions are something they want to keep. They have changed everything in modern games, some even change the core mechanic of catching pokemon. The game corner is gone, grinding is basically gone, after gen 4, it's barely even pokemon anymore

[@randomtheone]

Tauros was/still the only Pokémon I didn't catch on my Leaf Green... that keeps me up at night.

[@jastermereel7330]

In at least Gen 1, you can turn 90% in place for a chance to proc a Pokémon encounter without using any steps

[@austinmitchell2652]

Learning about Pokemon mechanics always massages my brain just right. Thank you for continuing to make these excellent breakdowns 🙏

[@sicicune5013]

I always saw the Pokédollar symbol as a marriage between the (other) symbol for yen (Y with two lines through it) and "P" for "Pokémon". So, maybe it's actually Pokéyen?

[@seanellis5410]

Not me figuring out through this video, after TWENTY. YEARS. Of playing Pokémon crystal that the G/S/C national park was in the shape of a pokeball. I’m in a state of existential crisis

[@Peterkringle]

Not the point of the video I know but man I feel so vindicated knowing the signs in the safari zone were mislabeled because I remember getting so confused as to where I was.

[@FalconFetus8]

The speech at 20:23 reminds me of why I think dnd's battle system works so much better than Pokemon's: its transparency. When you boost a stat in a Pokemon game, it can be hard to notice any difference, because the formulas are all secret. That leads to casual players focusing on things that they _can_ see immediate value in, which usually means damaging moves and status effects. DND, on the other hand, _needs_ to tell you the formula for everything, because there's no computer that can do it for you. That means you can immediately see how a +1 buff affects your chances of success!

[@Lyra]

I completely agree! It is the reason I only used damaging moves for the longest time in Pokémon. It's the only time I can noticeably see the effects of my actions.

[@ENCHANTMEN_]

As a kid I had no idea stat changing moves did anything. I only ever noticed it if it was used like 9 times in a row

[@kaitogirldraws]

Lyra!! I've been busy so I couldn't watch this video, but I'm so excited for it!! I've always been a great fan of the safari zone and I'm excited to see it in depth with you ❤

[@KingBowserLP]

Heart Gold was my first pokemon game, so i'm looking forward to that video 👀

[@lynkaster8182]

I would have killed to have that safari map when I was a kid...

[@recino2]

Wasn't there also the friend safari in X/Y? Seem to remember it had better shiny odds too.

[@standard-carrier-wo-chan]

The pokedollar symbol is similar to the Russian ruble completely by coincidence. It's supposed to be the yen symbol but with a P instead of Y.

[@aurafox1]

I generally use the name Pokedollar, too. But I think Poke is the more "official" name for the currency. While it goes unnamed in the main series titles, and it's not necessarily the same currency, Pokemon Mystery Dungeon does call its currency Poke. And the coins that appear in Pokemon Rumble also appear similar in design to the Poke from PMD. Regardless, if you use Pokedollar, Poke, or whatever else you want to call it, I don't think it should matter as long as people can tell what you're talking about.

[@BernJSimpson]

Baby wake up. New Lyra Christmas video just dropped.

[@ashsquest1235]

Happy to see you back after being gone for what felt like so long.

[@LuigiTheMetal64]

Using Repels, and turning around will have you encounter wild Pokémon without wasting steps. The Pokémon you encounter depends on the active leading Pokémon's level when using Repels.

[@SmeargleStuff]

I think the safari zone could reappear in the next generation using the Legend Arceus catching mechanics and consist of a backlog of pseudo legendaries, starters and other strong Pokémon.

[@hiroassi]

I was hoping you talk about gen 4 and it is for the next vídeo 😅 sad, but hyped hahahahaha

[@arcthesavior]

this is quickly becoming one of my favorite pokemon channels on youtube

[@SegaSonicSuper7]

You are so talented with your videos dude these types of videos are so amazing! I have ADHD so the visual explanations are great and easy to follow along! I hope you keep making amazing content in the future!♥️

[@yevgeniylankin7032]

Feels nicely to sit and watch these videos late at night with a nice smoke

[@azazel166]

The Indigo Disk DLC in Gen 9 is pretty much what Safari Zone wished to be.

[@semicharmedlife311]

Great video! Visiting the Safari Zone is always an exciting part of a Pokemon game and all games should include them, imho. Also, "Mach" pronounced like "mock" not "mack". Cheers and Merry Christmas!

[@Lyra]

Yep, turns out I didn't know how to pronounce "Mach" right when I made this video... But I do now, thank you! xD Hope you had a great Christmas, and I wish you a fantastic year 2024!

[@semicharmedlife311]

@@Lyra No worries. Not ripping on you or anything. You have a fantastic 2024, as well!

[@sarahsander785]

The concept wasn't droped completly. Legends Arceus is - in it's basic form - nothing more than taking the concept of the Safari Zone to it's extreme. I would love to see a classic zone return in this style, as I have to say I enjoyed the catching style of this game a lot and am very disappointed they didn't give you the same opportunity in Scarlet/Violet. Also, I call it Pokédollar as well. It was the term used by magazines when the games first came out in Germany. Even so "Poké-Yen" would've made more sense.

[@alicevioleta3184]

actually crazy that this came out today, i was just talking about the safari zone earlier

[@Mr_SU]

Really looking forward to you talking about the Johto Safari Zone! I've been waiting for a month for Solrock to show up for my gen 4 pokedex and it's been a nightmare.

[@sevex9]

The Poke-Rouble on Commie Red version? In Soviet Kanto Poke'mon catch you.

[@CaptainFalcon333]

You just reminded me how much of a nightmare it was to farm a single Lucky Egg from Chansey (before elite four).

[@blackfrieza6969]

Flag With 2 Lines Are Pokémon Dollars/PokéDollars. In Japan It's Just Yen.

[@Torqegood]

I assumed the safari zone was a newbie trap. Pokemon never got caught, so it just tricked you with impossible to get pokemon

[@eshasunrise]

The ORAS Safari Zone does use the Emerald mons, plus a few more, with the ecological expansion after Groudon/Kyogre, with more in the DexNav. Also, the Johto Zone would be fine if it didn't have those arbitrary, multi-month long wait times for certain encounters. Without that, it's basically a customizable secret base with Pokemon encounters, like in BDSP.

[@gengarzilla1685]

Almost everywhere gets an availability upgrade with the DexNav. It's not a specific "Safari Zone" nod.

[@NmanStully]

Damn, leaving us on a cliffhanger. Great video, as always, Lyra!

[@fyoozhn]

awesome stuff bro keep it up

[@Yithiru]

Great video and I'm very much looking forward to the Gen IV video. To be honest I never quite understood how the HG/SS safari zone worked... I wanted to do a catch them all playthrough of Storm Silver but shortly after unlocking the safari zone I stopped. My brain is too small and smooth to figure it out haha.

[@howiethao277]

I’m laughing because just as you said, the inner mechanics of the Safari Zone was always confusing to me as a kid so unless there was a Pokémon I wanted from it, I avoided it. There were multiple playthroughs that I never went to the Safari Zone.

[@KingOskar4]

Thank you😊❤ so much Lyra. I also wish for the Safari Zone to have... Less Randomness😅 and more like "Hey, here's some cool pokémon you cannot get Elsewhere." I love me some exclusives😍 Gotta mention Some Romz hacks, like Renegade Platinum and similar, where they add more 'mons to the Safari zone, increasing the variety of pokémons you can capture within Safari Zone.❤❤

[@stuckfart]

hg & ss' safari zone is... something. looking forward to your video on it

[@Coolbond2]

Great vid as always Lyra, still miss your live streams and cant wait for you to resume them!

[@xerda4979]

love your videos so much nostalgie ty

[@AzureKyle]

So, I was watching the previous video and this video about the Safari zones and just as you said you were making another one for gen 4, I started to scroll down to watch it, only to realize it just dropped 4 hours ago.

[@quailron1581]

Ayyyyy I just rewatched the Sevii Islands video, and was wishing there was more. A christmas wish come true!

[@vellusviridi]

I've always called the currency Pokéyen, cause it's the ¥ symbol but a P instead of a Y

[@BigPharmaa]

love the vids bro, keep grindin!