You start the game be setting the time in which the clock will start from. Then, Professor Oak gives his speech and asks that you give him your name. However, unlike in the Color Saga, you do not name your rival yet. Afterwards you start off in your room like normal.

Head downstairs and your mom gives you something and explains some stuff regarding it. When she is done talking, head outside and enter the building next door. The game takes over and you meet the new professor. He gives you your starting Pokemon: Chikorita (Leaf), Totodile (Water), or Cyndaquil (fire). See that machine next to him? It heals your Pokemon so make use of it if you can. When you leave his assisstant will give you a potion.

Leave the lab and head west.

Pokemon: Pidgey, Rattata, Ledyba (Silver, Morning), Spinarak (Gold, Night), Senret (Morning), Hoothoot (Night)

Navigate through the grass and you'll come across a pathway on the side of the ledge. Can up as far as yo can and then right you'll find a potion amongst some trees. Backtrack slightly and continue on west navigating through the grass and trees. You'll pass a building that leads up to Route 42 but its a route that only lets you go down, not up. It has Phanpy's (morning) and Geodudes at the base.

Just before you enter the next town, there is a man standing near a ledge. Behind him is a wierd looking tree. Press A to "talk" to the tree. These are berry trees and they drop a berry once a day. Berries can be held by Pokemon for in-battle use to recover HP, increase stats, or cure status aliments. When you go to select it from the items pack, select "hold" and you can choose which Pokemon to hold the item as long as it doesn't already have one. Items likme Potion and Antidote can't be used by Pokemon. continue on into the next town.

Talk to the Old Man at the entrance to town, and he will explains various things to you as well as give you a Map Card for your Pokegear. Heal at the Pokemon Center and buy a few items from the Pokemart, then continue north into Route 30.

Pokemon: Caterpie, Metapod, Weedle, Kakuna, Pidgey, Bellsprout, Hoothoot (Night)

As your progress north you'll find a house with a berry tree next to it. Grab the berry and enter the house and speak with the man to get another berry. Leave and continue north sticking to the right. You'll come to another house. Inside is Prof. Oak and Mr. Pokemon. The game takes over here with a long talk. Return outside. Elm calls and says someone stole a Pokemon. Head south back to Cherrygrove. Once there, head east back to home and you'll be stopped a man with red hair. He challenges you to a battle.

You should be at a high enough level to where you can just attack and not worry about healing in midbattle. It would be wise to attach a berry to you Pokemon before hand, and stock up on potions

After he leaves, keep heading East back to New Bark Town.

Enter the lab and you can name your rival. It doesn't matter if its ???. Nothing changes. Afterward, Elm's assistant gives you 5 Poke-balls. Now head to your house and speak with your mother so she can save money for you. When you attempt to leave town, you'll be stopped and asked if you know how to catch Pokemon.

Pokemon: (Route 42) Geodude, Rattata, Jigglypuff, Phanpy (Silver)

As you make your way back to Cherrygrove, head into the building (there is a blue man standing in front of it) and into R. 42

The only reason you need to come this way is to obtain a Geodude, which learns Rock Throw very early. You'll need it for later, so catch one. Proceed back to R. 29.

Proceed unto Cherrygrove and buy a couple of Pokeballs. Proceed north and stick the the left after you pass the berry man's house. The trainers have stopped battling anf you can continue. As you get closer to the next city, your mom will call only if you did not visit her back at New Bark. Head right and then up. Don't enter the cave as you cannot see in it yet. Head west, grab the antidote, and navigate the ledges here. Continue to Voilet City.

Pokemon: Rattata, Ghastly

Head for the center and heal. Find the mart on the other side of town and buy a potion or two if you can. Backtrack to the center and head up to Sprout Tower.

If you have Cyndaquil, this tower will be easy. Chikorita can do well since it is resistant to leaf and its Tackle move holds out. As for Totodile, find a Pidgey.

On the first floor of Sproute Tower, find the stairs that lead up. On the next floor, the next set of stairs is to the right. On the third floor stairs, there is an item behind them. Grab it and continue on to the next set of stairs. Head down and find the next set of stairs. On the next floor, there is four battles. One can be skipped. Head up and past the wiggling pole and talk to the elder. He'll engage battle with you.

Both Bellsprouts can be taken out with simple fire or flying moves. Hoothoot can be taken out with Rock Throw if your Geodude knows it. If not, jsut use any moves to defeat it.

Grab the Escape Rope to the right, use it to return to town.

I advise running to the center and heal your Pokemon. Time to tackle the gym.

The Violet Gym using flying type Pokemon which are weak to electric type moves, which you probably don't have. So, if you have a L. 11 Geodude or Onix (trade for Bellsprout inside a house near the Center) with the move Rock Throw, you should do just fine for most of the gym.

Pidgey and Pidgeotto can be taken care of with Rock Throw. However, Pidgeotto knows Mud Slap, which reduces accuracy and can take out Geodude or Onix.

When you leave the gym, you'll get a call from Elm. Head to the center to receive something from his assistant. He explains what ti is for. Now, you can continue on with your journey.