The Secrets of the Safari Zone

The concept of the Safari Zone is simple: here's a huge area full of Pokémon, here's a bunch a Balls, catch 'em! But if we look deeper, the Safari mechanics are actually completely crazy... and broken!

Kanto and Hoenn Safari Zone research by @ProfessorRex:
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External videos used:
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Chapters:
0:00 A unique concept abandoned
0:41 Gen 1 Kanto Safari Zone
3:24 Gen 3 Kanto Safari Zone
10:07 Gen 7 Safari Zone
11:09 Johto Safari Zone
11:39 Gen 3 Hoenn Safari Zone
19:14 Gen 6 Hoenn Safari Zone
20:15 Why the Safari Zone was abandoned

[Lyra]

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!

[dylanpailing]

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.”

[heartbeatatinman]

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.

[genuineangusbeef]

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

[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

[tiacat]

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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[DoporaBHeo]

"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

[chestnu]

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.

[williamdrum]

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

[derpypanda]

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 YouTuber. You are a hidden gem and deserve way more views and subscribers please don’t ever stop uploading

[erwinamanciosilva]

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

[NullatNulls]

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

[alecdejongh]

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

[Horatio]

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

[jaernihiltheus]

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.

[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