Kanoko Town

Then it will go into a little opening scene, starting with you inside your house. Cheren will be up in your room and then Bianca will show up and they'll start talking about Juniper. Apparently she left the three of you a present! Sweet!
Before you pick your Pokemon...

If you're looking for a point to save your game before you pick your starting Pokemon, you need to do it right now, before you check out the present. This will give you the option to reset your game if you're looking for a specific gender or if you're resetting for a shiny starter.

You can save by pressing X and then selecting the icon that looks like a book.

You'll open the box automatically and then get to pick your choice of Snivy (the Grass-type snake Pokemon), Tepig (the Fire-type pig Pokemon), or Oshawott (the Water-type sea otter Pokemon).
Which Starter should I choose?

This choice is a very important choice, because, unless you decide to ditch your starting Pokemon at some point, it ultimately helps shape your team in the long run. Keep in mind that all three starter Pokemon are perfectly capable and can be functional throughout the game. They do have different strengths and weaknesses, aside from just the type chart, but there isn't necessarily a 'wrong' choice. I also want to say that I've personally used all three, so I'll base my judgments on my actual experiences rather than just speculation.

SnivySnivy is the Grass-type snake Pokemon, and has perhaps one of the more unusual distribution of stats out of any starter Pokemon. Its primary focus is having high Speed, but it also has impressive Defense and Sp. Def. Unfortunately, this means its offensive stats are rather lackluster, even after it fully evolves (it has less "oomph" than even Meganium does).

Early on, it learns Vine Whip at level 7, Leaf Tornado at level 16, and then some other attacks after evolving into Servine. It isn't until level 32 (as Servine) that you finally learn the very respected Leaf Blade, which is easily the Snivy family's greatest attacking asset. But sadly, even that doesn't do a whole ton of damage, even after it evolves to its final evolution at level 36, Serperior.

Snivy and its kin focus more on defense, so you can utilize this tactic of theirs by using Leech Seed, Mega Drain and Giga Drain to keep your HP constantly high, as well as using stat upping moves like Growth and Snake Coil to give you an edge. Light Screen and Reflect, which can be obtained fairly early on, can help benefit your team as well as increase Snivy and its evolutions' survivability. Return is also a recommended move, since there isn't a whole lot available to the green snake line.

If I were to rank Snivy and compare it to the other two starters, I would definitely say that Snivy is the most difficult to raise and the least effective throughout the game. It suffers from a lot of problems, a lack of offense, and a diverse pool of weaknesses.

TepigTepig is the Fire-type piggy Pokemon, eventually turning into a fierce Fire/Fighting-type boar. It is the only one of the starters to develop a second type after evolution. Tepig and its family's strengths are its high Attack, HP, and even decent Sp. Atk. It lacks defenses and Speed, making it essentially the polar opposite of Snivy in the end.

These tankish stats work well with Tepig, Pignite, and its final stage, Emboar. It learns a variety of attacks and can learn even more through use of TMs, plus, since TMs are now unlimited use, you can really take advantage of that. Sadly, Tepig starts off fairly lackluster until level 15, when it learns Flame Charge, a Physical-based attack that also boosts Tepig's Speed by a stage, making it zippier for the next foe that comes its way. It also learns Arm Thrust at level 17 as Pignite, right after evolution, which hits multiple times and is handy early on in the game (but you will want to replace it later with Brick Break or Hammer Arm).

From there forward, Tepig and its kin learn almost exclusively attacking moves, including some great ones such as Heat Stamp (which does more damage the heavier you are and will hit hard if used by Emboar), Flamethrower, and even Head Smash if you're feeling bold. At level 62, it learns the powerful Flare Blitz, although you're not going to see that for awhile (obviously). It won't matter, because you'll hardly need it. Additionally, it has access to some excellent TM moves throughout the game, including the Water-type Scald, Earthquake, Sunny Day and SolarBeam (for a good combo), Poison Jab, and even Wild Charge. It can learn a stunning amount of attacks and the only trouble you'll have is picking only four to use at a time!

If I were to rank Tepig and compare it to the other two starters, I would honestly say its tied with Oshawott for first place. Emboar has more diversity and oomph behind its attacks, but Samurott has just two weaknesses, and gets the reliable Razor Shell at just level 17, making it less of a wait before it gets good.

OshawottOshawott is the Water-type otter Pokemon with the funny name. There's nothing that Oshawott and its kin particularly excel in; they tend to be relatively well-rounded, placing a slight emphasis on Sp. Atk and Attack over their defensive stats and Speed. It also has the fewest weaknesses of all of the three starters, finding itself weak to only Electric- and Grass-type attacks — both of which fairly easy to see coming in most situations.

By offering enough defenses to avoid becoming a pincushion, but also enough attack power to inflict reliable — although often not overwhelming — damage, Oshawott is a good choice for beginners and for advanced players alike. There's not quite as much you need to worry about when using Oshawott and its evolutions.

As far as its moves go, it learns Water Gun right away — and, unlike the other two starters, it actually has the appropriate offensive stat to put it to good use. Water Gun will be powerful compared to either of the other two's typed attacks early on. Sadly, that is all it learns of interest until it evolves at level 17 into Dewott, where it learns the very useful Razor Shell attack. Razor Shell hits hard, has a respectable 95% accuracy, and also has a high 50% chance of lowering the target's Defense. It will do fantastic until you get access to Scald and Surf later on in the game, but you'll also have other choices for attacks such as Water Pulse (which isn't quite as good as Razor Shell, but at least has more PP), Revenge for some Fighting-type flair, and it can even learn Megahorn as Samurott with a Heart Scale later on, making it great against Psychic- and Dark-type Pokemon.

Sadly, there aren't quite as many TMs for it to learn when compared to Emboar, but it has much more diversity than its serpentine colleague, Serperior. Dig is helpful early on, around your 4th Badge, but might not be necessary depending on your team. X-Scissor, Aerial Ace, and Return can also be found fairly early on and make for good attacks to use. Grass Knot is an option, but you won't be fighting the heavier stuff until later on in the game. Plus, when in doubt, there's always Return, which is great for Samurott and will do plenty of damage by the time you get it.

If I were to rank Oshawott and compare it to the other two starters, I would honestly say that I have to tie it with the pig, Tepig, for first place. Oshawott and its evolutions are just so friendly for newer players and are very well rounded (with a slight preference towards offense, which is good), and it can learn sufficiently powerful attacks, but it lacks the awesome diversity and extra oomph that the beastly boar, Emboar, has in its final form. That's why I'd say they're even, although if you're facing doubt, pick Oshawott as it is friendlier for beginners.

Right off the bat, you will battle against Bianca and her new starter Pokemon, which will be of the type yours is strong against.
Boss Fight
Bianca Bianca (if you picked Snivy) $500
Oshawott Oshawott Male Water Lv. 5

(if you picked Tepig)
Snivy Snivy Male Grass Lv. 5
(if you picked Oshawott)
Tepig Tepig Male Fire Lv. 5

The battles play out mostly the same as in Diamond, Pearl, and the other Gen IV games, but you'll notice that the entire battle scene is much more lively and animated! Very well done.

This battle isn't particularly hard, no matter which starter you chose. All of the starters have Tackle and then either Tail Whip or Leer. You can usually win by just using Tackle, which has been powered up to have 100% accuracy and 50 power.

After winning, you'll be around level 6 and pocket a bit more cash; if you don't win, it's no big deal, so don't worry about it. You just miss out on the EXP (of course, if you saved your game beforehand, you can just reset and try again).

Once the battle has concluded, you and Bianca will have made an absolute mess of the room. Little smoke clouds will fill the air as your once tidy room now is in shambles. Ah well, it's no worry for a Trainer like you who's about to leave, anyway!

Cheren will heal both your and Bianca's Pokemon with some Potions, then will challenge you to a battle to try out his new Pokemon, which is the one yours is weak to type-wise.
Boss Fight
Cheren Cheren (if you picked Snivy) $500
Tepig Tepig Male Fire Lv. 5

(if you picked Tepig)
Oshawott Oshawott Male Water Lv. 5
(if you picked Oshawott)
Snivy Snivy Male Grass Lv. 5

Again, he's mostly going to be the same as Bianca. Just use Tackle over and over until you either win or lose. Your Defense-lowering attack may seem helpful, but since it takes 4 hits on average to win anyway, it's only smart to use at the very beginning of the battle, and even then, the difference is marginal.

If you win against him, you'll get more money and also a good chunk of EXP. If you don't, he'll brag about it for all eternity.

Anyway, go downstairs afterwards and the three of you will talk to your mom for awhile. Your two friends will then leave and then your mom will heal up your Pokemon. She'll also give you the Xtransceiver. You can come back to her to heal your Pokemon if ever they get injured, which may be handy coming up soon on Route 1.

Now you can leave the house and do a bit of exploring of Kanoko Town. There's this one girl on the west side of town that will ask you if you can understand Kanji. If you say yes, she'll switch your language from Kana to Kanji, so try to avoid her or just answer no to keep your language complexity the way it is.

Bianca is in the southwestern house, and when you go inside, she'll be in an argument with her father and will then storm off. After she's done that, go to Prof. Juniper's lab in the northwestern part of town. You won't be able to do much else anyway other than check out Cheren's house in the southeast corner of town, but he's sort of waiting at the lab anyway.

Professor Juniper will say a bunch of stuff, but will ultimately ask if you'd like to give your Pokemon a nickname. Feel free to give it one if you'd like, but just remember you're restricted to just five characters since it is a Japanese game.

After some more dialogue, Prof. Juniper will give you the Pokedex. Woohoo! That's what you've been waiting for! You didn't have to deliver parcel or anything to get it, either!

As you leave the Lab, your mom will show up and be all proud of you and stuff, then she'll give all three of you a Town Map, which lets you take a look at the Unova region in depth. Go ahead and use it from your Key Items if you'd like.

Shortly after entering the route, you'll receive a call on your Xtransceiver from your mom. After some dialogue, it turns out she was actually right behind you and heard that you were going to Striaton City! To make your journey easier, she gives you the Running Shoes, which now let you run by holding in B. Handy! No, it doesn't look like there's a feature to auto-run, though. Oh well.

Now head through the grass and pick up the Potion in the middle of it. Get ready, because you're gonna fight some Trainers pretty soon! But also be sure to catch some Pokemon in the grass, since there are plenty of new ones available for you and Trainer battles are a great way for them to earn experience.

The Trainers use Pokemon that are about level 7 or so, so you'll want to keep your new Pokemon under careful watch of your starter in case things get rough. Remember, switch-training can be your best friend here, so be sure to utilize that. What's switch-training, you ask? Well it's just starting with the Pokemon you're looking to train, then switch it for a stronger Pokemon like your starter Pokemon to finish the fight, splitting the EXP.

The first three Trainers use level 7 Patrat, Purrloin, and Lillipup in that order. Just one Pokemon on each Trainer's team, of course. It's just enough to give you a good run for your money, but a lot more of a challenge than in some of the more recent games.

Past the three Trainers, you'll find the city up to the north, but you can also climb some steps and head south to pick up a Potion and a Poke Ball in a little secluded area. Hey, why not? You might have seen these earlier if you dealt with the people playing instruments.

Anyway, as you head north towards Striaton City, you'll be challenged by Bianca, who wants a battle right away to test out her newly caught Pokemon!

She shouldn't be very hard at all, especially since her main Pokemon is weak to the type your starter is. Hopefully yours learned one of its elemental attacks by now, because that will be your best bet against hers.

After beating her, she'll leave, allowing you to visit Striaton City.