Why Are Pokémon Black and White 2 SO EXPENSIVE?!?

[@muffin95ify]

"Go buy all the games" Okay mystery youtube man, you don't have to tell me twice

[@temerson2]

Imagine just booping around on KZbin and you see someone playing your 10 year old save file and making fun of your starter 😂

[@Jironic]

There is no way that could happen tho right 😂😳

[@BMAjoeA]

black 2 and white 2 are still some of the best pokemon games to this day and it's so unfair how badly they sold compared to the other games.

[@fellowpassenger_54-67]

They did sell relatively well when you compare them to the third versions of previous generations so it was a success on that end Gen 5 as a whole unfortunately didn’t sell as well as other generations but they did do really well with critics so that’s something

[@datcatsavedme7071]

This is why it’s ok to have an R4 card or any cartridge where you can pirate the games to play on the DS or emulate because I don’t think these games will ever be rereleased ever again because of the two screen Ds feature

[@bryancartagena3286]

Part of the reason why they didnt release B2W2 for 3DS was because it was in the middle of the Gen 5's lifecycle. I don't think they've ever released a sequel/3rd version of the current gen games at all. An example would be to take Ruby & Sapphire. They wouldn't release Emerald on the DS if the DS was out already by the time Emerald released. GameFreak doesn't do that, whether or not it would've been a financial gain. Its the same reason why Sun & Moon released on 3DS but Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon didn't release on the Nintendo Switch but Let's Go Pikachu/Eevee did.

[@MintleafCakes]

im forever glad that i was given both black 2 and white 2 by my grandma while they were still in stores bc man. thats pricey

[@300kyuubi]

I paid $130 for my copy of black 2 at my local game store 4 days ago. It had an a lot of legendary Pokemon and it had Genesect and Keldeo on file 😁 $130 well spent I have obtained Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, X and Y, Sun and Moon, Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, Platinum, Soul Silver, and Black 1 and Black 2. Spent one whole year on that journey all because my cousin didn’t want his 3 DS anymore and I wanted to get back into Pokémon again after the these years

[@GeekCritique]

"I want you to put yourself back in 2012, trying to convince your mom to let you go see The Avengers..." Well, I was 24, so I'm pretty sure she'd have wondered why I was asking her. :V

[@mctankies]

Love your videos!

[@zidaneffixexe]

The truth is, it's artificial supply and demand. There are resellers that are sitting on hundreds, if not thousands, of copies of these games.

[@Axël_der_Steppenwolf]

Seeing that price makes me reconsider how i just leave the cart out on the desk/table instead of putting it back in the case when I’m done with it…

[@-Wisdom-]

2012 was a busy time for me, but when I emulated it in 2014 I was surprised how good the games were after my last authentic game being Platinum. The music is amazing, good story, good villains, good gym leaders that actually help you thwart the evil org, and the free shinies at the post game. At that time I can't ask for anything else, Gen 5 was very solid

[@robinmartin2818]

You didn't check the metals. One of the reasons it can go for so much is with the shut down of some servers it is impossible to 100% the metal rally without a couple of those metals on there before 2020.

[@Jironic]

I did not know that! That makes sense.

[@robinmartin2818]

@@Jironic In fact Since I know WAY too much about the series, the reason they had azuril on the team is that one of the metals is rewarded for using splash.

[@nana_tsukakushi]

i really love all the aesthetic and pacing of pokemon DS games, but i never got one in my childhood, nowdays i have almost one of each generation and going to complete the collection!

[@PURPLE_G0J0]

I got my copies of B & B2 with box and all for $50 each at the start of the covid pandemic lockdown right before prices hit triple digits. I already had W & W2 with box and all from my childhood

[@jannelmaiquez2438]

Unfortunately growing up I was very poor. I only had the shovel ware games so I never had a chance to play Pokémon for the DS. Fast forward to 2017 where I got Pokémon Ultra Sun as my very first Pokémon game for the 3DS. Now in 2024 I can finally play Pokémon games that I've been wanted to play since I was a child! I currently own all Gen 4, Heartgold, White, Black 2! I am still searching for the rest and honestly hunting for these games is such a fun thing to do. Of course it's very expensive but once you have it and own then, it's so rewarding!

[@TBG1]

I got mine for 25 bucks from like, ebay or sum last year. I thought I lost mine, but turns out I didn't. So now I've 2 black 2 cartridges

[@MintleafCakes]

25 bucks?? you lucked out haha

[@TBG1]

@@MintleafCakes ikr! But I don't have a case for the game, so it's always on the brink of slipping into the void of my closet

[@MintleafCakes]

@@TBG1 oh i feel that. currently on the hunt for my copy of soulsilver...

[@TBG1]

@MintleafCakes ooooh, I gotta look for mine as well... it's been years

[@MintleafCakes]

@@TBG1 fr. i moved recently and tbh im not even sure if i have it on me 😭😭 might have left it back home, which would suck but at least it wouldnt be lost i suppose

[@starkiller1341]

I think due to poor sales they ditched the black 2 white 2 formula and decided to play it safe with xy such a shame these were the last best games

[@tythecakelord445]

i bought a copy on launch never getting rid of it

[@thatanonwholurksmoar7386]

And this is why emulation is a thing. Like damn

[@decarabiaumbra560]

Harder to get the Unova link and other cool features on emulator though. The price is almost justified based on how much is locked to physical cartridge.

[@Tsukune2001]

@@decarabiaumbra560nothing justifies the outrageous price.

[@decarabiaumbra560]

@@Tsukune2001 Eh, It's at least more reasonable than any of the third version games or remade games on the after market

[@mightza3781]

@@decarabiaumbra560 always better to play rom hacks on on emulators since it isn't worth playing vanilla since the community is supposed to be half the content. Pokemon in some ways is the precurosor to today's live service games.

[@thatanonwholurksmoar7386]

@@decarabiaumbra560 lmao no

[@iota2619]

damn now you've made me consider selling my boxed one I got back on release :P

[@d4c_reznor470]

I feel so big brained having kept my copies from when I was a kid, and in pristine condition too

[@selfconfidenceee]

I will never forgive the fans that dragged or never played Pokemoned BW and BW 2, yall missed an amazing Gen, music and story

[@djjjjjd]

Black and White deserved to be dragged, they are some of the worst games in the franchise. The bad impression they made on so many players is why BW2 didn't sell well, despite being definite improvements over BW1.

[@Lisazoeytranz]

Just got my Pokémon white and white 2 one was $60 and the other $120 I think I did okay I traded in Pokémon cards and some games I don’t play anymore so I only paid a few dollars I’m very happy :)

[@1fault]

This was my first pokemon game ever, and then Pokemon Y I never finished either of them until recently, and now thinking of transfering my pokemon to pokemon home and selling them LOL there were never be a better game than black 2 though imo

[@rexskirmisher4040]

Lmfao, I find it very funny that you think GameFreak needed to move onto 3d so quickly. After all, Black and White plus their sequels were Pokemon at it's best and now Nintendo/GameFreak don't even know how to make a proper game.

[@Jironic]

The point was that there was little attempts to differentiate B/W 2 from it's predecessors. Moving the games to the 3DS, a brand new console begging for a system seller game at the time, could have been the change needed to make B/W 2 stand out to consumers and not just feel like a rehash of Unova. Not that they needed to hurry into 3D. Clearly they are still not ready for 3D. In fact I still prefer the 2D games to replay.

[@spunkyre3917]

I’m really happy to still have black, white 2, soul silver, and those other prized Pokémon games, along with a pokewalker!! Those prices would drive me nuts

[@decarabiaumbra560]

I believe it was probably more in line with md marketing for the games that they didn't sell well, rather than not being on 3DS. That commercial being the main one fails to draw hype for the game and distinguish it from the preceding Black and White, making it so many even to this day still think that BW2 are just rehashes of BW1. Their price is a mixture of scarcity and the hindsight of knowing how much great content is held in one cartridge, with it being the conclusion and explanation for what happened to Unova after BW1, multiple great battle modes and mini games, as well as having to guaranteed shinies. This was actually a fairly good save file for the price, seeing as most of them come with the person not having gone past gym 1.

[@supersonic4863]

dude, turns out i got this game back in 2012, the year it came out, on just some random day. i still remember going to my tiny local toy shop and checking the ds section right by the window, at a weird angle, i found this game and inazuma eleven 2: firestorm, somehow managing to have my mom buy me both, dont remember how i pulled that off at all, but i've had a blast in multiple runs of both games. still have the cases (and all the booklets they came with) of both of those games. i was fuckin 7.

[@supersayandarmanitan]

What really gets me is the boxes. I have the games but how can I look at these colorful boxes like "I'll throw these away"

[@riccccccardo]

I went crazy last year for my 3ds I bought all the old Pokémon’s like sapphire, conquest, rangers and pokemon gold l, platinum sun and moon ultras cost a ton of money was not cheap!

[@sandwichlover4000]

Purchased the original Pokemon Black back in 2020 for around 21 dollars. Begun to see them going up for 115 dollars now in the place I live, so I feel really lucky. Never picked up the sequel in the time however, so I’ve gotta face these maniacal prices D:

[@louisebarker3731]

my first pokemon game was yellow at age 15 in 1998 i missed a gb and gba pokemon game here and there and grew up to regret it looking at ebay prices.thankfully i learned by ds era to always buy both pokemon games versions and i still live by this rule at age 40 😂

[@FromAnArtistsMind]

I subbed! I had to watch this informative vid because I literally found this game in an old unused DS Lite😂.. I think I’m gunna find a charger and play it though!🎉

[@sge2000lbp]

It's the only way to transfer your Pokémon up to X & Y+, but you also need Pokémon Bank. Not sure how it is with servers being down, haven't ever done it myself yet. But that's why I believe it has the nigh mark up

[@ChicagoMel23]

No it isn't the only way. Mod and get pksm, do it that way

[@sge2000lbp]

@@ChicagoMel23 Is that only using modded DS?

[@JusterinoSan]

eBay is a better place to purchase a used game than Amazon. As long as there are clear pictures of the whole cartridge (and in some cases even shined through a light) you can find out if its authentic. Also its cheaper. Great video btw.

[@Jironic]

I think I got mine of Macari but I didn't think ahead enough to grab screenshots for the video when I bought it last year. So I grabbed prices close to what I was talking about in google. Lol.

[@grani05]

i had whie black and black 2, i played to long my mom comes in takes my ds and everything is gone im so fkn sad

[@kitkitsune6570]

I remember that I kept telling my mom that a 3Ds is different because of the game card shapes Cause of that she knew that the ds would eventually not be supported and got me the 3Ds

[@JGr2000]

A lot of the DS pokemon games are super expensive now. Luckily, after selling my DS around 2012, and getting another one years later I picked up a lot of DS games at GameStop, including Pokemon Diamond, SoulSilver, White, and Black 2 in 2017. Now, most of the DS pokemon games, besides Diamond and Pearl, are super expensive. I saw a boxed copy of HeartGold at a retro game store for $140 a few years ago

[@ItisJG]

Didn't B2W2 sell better than the original BW?

[@liamkellogg8934]

tell them it was 235, even though its 227, and emulation is free

[@Jironic]

The listing found for the screenshot isn't the one I bought. That's why. Emulation is a different conversation. I personally will only emulate games I own.

[@JasonSpielberg]

@@Jironic emulation is fair game if they're not making any more copies, not allowing anyone else to do it, and the only legit ones are overpriced.

[@Ricky-ln4pb]

was a time when pokemon took a dive in popularity, anytime that happens, buy multiple copies of the games theyll be few and far inbetween in circulation lol

[@justatypicalyoutuber8402]

Well damn. That makes me feel good about my buy of a CIB one for $30 lmao. Though, I feel like selling mine so I can buy a cartridge of FireRed. Decisions decisions...

[@TheEuropeanFox]

I also spent about 150 euros on white 2, worth every penny

[@PokeFan-tk1iu]

Black and White are actually the worst selling pokemon game that introduced a new generation. So it make sense the sequal didn't sell super well.

[@midnightcontemplations8014]

Great game, gen, story and mons. Completely underrated for whatever reason.

[@PranamThapa-y2p]

Bruh over 200 dollars is crazy i just emulate games and use my controller but the og way to play is still the best❤

[@NatureBoy818channel]

$150 for White 2 and $175 for Black 2 being $235 is too expensive unless as all the complete Dex and shiny but even is too much.

[@The31st]

Great video dude! I also missed this game.

[@seabass1737]

I remember randomly buying black 2 for $30 back in early 2020

[@snowfrostmortal264]

either mod 3ds freely or play on r4 card Its easy than buying expensive ones

[@RRB0724]

And now im suddenly pissed that i lost my copy of the games when i was younger 😂

[@Mitsunee_]

"where is my threedimensional Pokemon game Nintendo?" proceeds to show threedimensional Pokemon game on Nintendo DS.

[@Jironic]

If you are talking about the Gen 5 games they are technically considered pseudo-3D but if you mean Pokedex 3D I would say that's a stretch to call a game. More like an app.

[@circledude2362]

I WISH this were the case for both the games AND the anime. Sure, it returned in the anime at gen 7 but the games NEVER did this at all! I won't be so surpriced when Palworld adds Evolution (Pal-Formation) and adds animation to the evolving pals.

[@highsol222]

I don't even know how or why but I have both. I'm really on the fence whether I want to keep or sell. Even have the box for white 2.

[@salomonjr8014]

I still own pokemon white and white 2 but had to buy soulsilver which cost me $120 plus another DS lite $80

[@martinthomas2520]

$82 for my copy of Black 2…

[@firelogarithm]

B2W2 are the last good, and in my opinion best, pokemon games... and I have both of them.

[@devinbakon]

So fuckin happy I got Pokemon Black 2 just before 2020. Got that shit for $34 in 2019

[@diegomonsterenergy862]

I got my copy for 5 bucks from a yard sale

[@Jironic]

Lucky

[@HDGamerofficial]

I have so much to say to say about this lil video that I can’t fit into a comment 😂 nothing bad but I have so many questions and I have some talking points that I’d love to talk about. Do ya have discord or another place where I could dm you cuz I’m very interested in this topic and really wanna talk about it but I don’t wanna overstep 😅 Great video, Unova is the best and I love Pokémon!

[@Jironic]

I'm always open to respectful conversations (even if you do disagree). Discord is in the description!

[@Curtis-mf4rz]

Black & White and v2 are masterpieces

[@longboyy]

Just go to a retro game shop. Sure you’re still overpaying but a lot less cheaper for sure.

[@Forte413]

I still have my cib copy i got for free from a friend when he quit gaming lol thanks a lot jerome 🤣

[@zuz7168]

I lost my black one inside of my modded new 3dsxl, it was a sad month

[@denniskay9486]

Nah in 2012 I was a 20 something adult and throughly enjoyed that Pokémon game 😂 bought it in 2013 it was white 2 got soul silver a week later 😂 bought heart gold and a ds from a buddy cause he knew I was a fan best 100 dollars spent then 2016 I sold all of it worst mistake.

[@collidingwithmars]

In 2018 I didn’t have a switch yet and I had a long flight from America to Europe. I went to my local GameStop and picked up the cheapest Pokémon DS game they had… which was Pokémon Black 2. there wasn’t any demand for the game back then so I got it for $35, probably the luckiest I’ve ever been with market timing hahaha

[@yodatscrazy981]

Wow I bought them both in box for $30 in 2017 😂

[@Lucky-fu3sr]

I paid 247 for both complete in box

[@delaneyknipp9485]

great video :]

[@Mowgli.2845]

Why is it so expensive though? Is it just that it’s Pokémon and is the orice gonna go up any more? I have a copy and I’m just curious if u should hold onto it or if it’s gonna go up in price soon.

[@Jironic]

There is honestly no way to know. Some of it is nostalgia fueled and when that dies off, as it always does, the price will come down as demand does. But that could still be another 5-10 years (totally guessing that time frame)

[@Mowgli.2845]

@@Jironic thanks so would you recommend holding on to it for a little longer or just selling it now?

[@Jironic]

@@Mowgli.2845 i don't feeel comfortable giving finantial advice in a KZbin comment section tbh. but if it were me, i don't like to to gamble so if i wanted to sell i probably would look into that yes.

[@Mowgli.2845]

@@Jironic okay thanks for the advice just wanted to get someone opinion who knows more than I about this stuff. I am going to keep looking into more I just wanted to know how long it’s been up for and if it’s common for the price to go up again fast and soon

[@vlc-cosplayer]

Corner the market, and you'll know the price for sure ;3

[@RetroSmoo]

Way cheaper to buy the Japanese versions, just bought a copy of Japanese Pokemon yellow for cheap

[@ripemango-bc7en]

i got my white 2 for 50 like 2 weeks ago

[@djjjjjd]

I think one of the main reasons BW2 didn't sell well is because of how bad BW1 were. I know it's an unpopular opinion since gen 5 went on to be the most glazed generation of all, but the first entries in gen 5 were so bad that it makes BW2 hard to enjoy because my impression of gen 5 is tainted by the bad taste BW1 left. Even though BW2 are clear improvements, the damage was already done by BW1, which are some of the worst games in the franchise imo. PS don't @me if the gen 5 games were the first or second Pokemon games you ever played.

[@PrincessNine]

One of the best selling pokemon games Shit has been rare to get in box since year one. I hate Nintendo fans

[@Jironic]

It's one of the worst selling games tho. Only beating Platinum, Emerald, and Crystal.

[@sansukanaka]

Usa: amiibos or games are sold out scalpers go for outrageous prices!!! Mexico: heres your amiboo for retail price we still have plenty and a used old game dirt cheap. Americans have a a serious case of fomo

[@Korok96]

Problem is you bought it off Amazon still expensive on eBay but definitely cheaper brother

[@Jironic]

I actually bought it on Mercari but I bought it a few years back before I had the idea for this video so I didn't take screenshots at the time.

[@andrewweber9930]

All the games are so expensive 😢

[@Big_Dai]

Dude! I wish you asked! Could have sold mine for $200

[@Jironic]

Still in the market for white 2 tbh. 👀

[@irvinjramos]

I could of bought it the day i bought pokemon x

[@arturodominguez2]

Dude i got mine 3 months ago for 170 you got scalped so bad

[@Jironic]

I bought a few years back before prices started coming down

[@arturodominguez2]

@Jironic wild but it is what is. The love Pokemon man

[@hosway873]

lmao hm slave … Good times😂

[@kurocxl5497]

U were not 12

[@Jironic]

Yeah. 12-13. I was born in 99

[@Zpermspeed]

I don't need that I can be a Pirate

[@wilpikle7754]

Homebrewing is easy guys

[@Jironic]

Or emulators

[@MintleafCakes]

sometimes you just want the physical thing (not against homebrew or emulation for the record, i utilize them all the time)

[@MusicJunkie37]

​@@MintleafCakes R4

[@MintleafCakes]

@@MusicJunkie37 fair enough i suppose

[@Jironic]

I collect video games, what's why I bought it physically. I agree, sometimes you just want a physical official copy.

[@fall5923]

I got that game for free, don't even need a ds to play it. Yarharhar.

[@glockdookie2863]

Delta+rom=$0

[@Jironic]

I prefer Desmume but yes