GB Sounds

GB Player redirects here. For the Nintendo GameCube accessory, see Game Boy Player.

GB Sounds ＧＢプレイヤー GB Player

Pokémon Global Link artwork

Introduced in Generation IV Pocket Generation IV Key items (HGSS) Generation V Key items Generation VI Key items Generation VII Key items

The GB Sounds (Japanese: ＧＢプレイヤー GB Player) is a type of Key Item exclusive to Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver.

In the core series games

Effect

Manual activation

The item changes the background music to chiptune-like rearrangements of the tracks in the area that are similar to the original ones from Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal. Sound effects and radio music are unaffected by the GB Sounds.

Description

Games Description HGSS BWB2W2 A music player that allows you to listen to nostalgic songs. It's operated with a single switch. XYORAS SMUSUMPE SwShBDSPLA SV A music player that allows you to listen to nostalgic songs. It's operated with the flip of a single switch.

Acquisition

Games Method HGSS Celadon Condominiums 3F (from Game Freak sound designer after obtaining all 16 Badges)

Music information

Changes

Despite the fact that the old-style tracks are supposed to sound like the original tracks from Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal, none of them sound exactly like the originals. This is due to the way chiptunes are handled on the Nintendo DS. The capabilities of the PSG found in the DS line is limited compared to the one found in the Game Boy line. The DS PSG has fixed square wave and noise channels like the Game Boy PSG, but lacks the crucial 4-bit wavetable synthesis channel, which renders the DS incapable of generating the variety of different waveforms the Game Boy could. This meant that parts played using the 4-bit wavetable synthesis channel in the original tracks were approximated using square waves, leading some parts to sound vastly different. In addition, some tracks had their tempos altered somewhat and other notes in various tracks are not even heard at all.

Additions

Main article: Pokémon HeartGold & Pokémon SoulSilver: Super Music Collection

Several tracks that are absent in the original Pokémon Gold and Silver have received old-style rearrangements. Examples include Global Terminal and Route 47. Despite this, none of the Battle Frontier facilities, except for the outside area and the Battle Tower, received an old-style rearrangement. Battling in the facilities at the Battle Frontier with the GB Sounds active will also result in the old-style Battle! (Trainer Battle—Johto Version) being used. This effect is reverted when battling a Frontier Brain.

Limitations

Some of the original tracks from Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal, such as Professor Oak and Opening Movie (Pokémon Gold & Pokémon Silver), cannot be listened to with the GB Sounds. The tracks pertaining to Team Rocket can only be listened to in the Giovanni event triggered by taking a Celebi to the Ilex Forest shrine. To solve this issue, the Pokémon Music Channel hosts the Pokémon Past Archive program every Sunday, which features these tracks in addition to a few others, such as all the Trainer encounter themes.

Oddities

If active during a Bug-Catching Contest, the GB Sounds will not switch to the old-style version of National Park during the contest results; however, it'll perform the switch after the results are announced.

There is also a glitch which results in the music being muted on Route 20 or Cinnabar Island.

The GB Sounds does not affect the unused SEQ_DUMMY (played in the Mystery Zones) or SEQ_TEST_TITLE tracks, which are mere copies of the regular Route 29.

Trivia

• Although the GB Sounds is unable to play certain old-style themes due to them only being able to play during parts of the game where the player would not have access to this item, if the player cheats in the item early, these themes will still be affected accordingly.

In other languages

Language Title Chinese Cantonese ＧＢ播放器 GB Bofonghei Mandarin ＧＢ播放器 GB Bòfàngqì * / GB Bōfàngqì * French Lecteur GB German GB-Player Italian Lettore GB Korean GB플레이어 GB Player Spanish Lector GB

See also

• List of Key Items in Generation IV
• DS Sounds

This item article is part of Project ItemDex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on all items.