Pros: + Tiny changes over the Gold/Silver series, Battle Tower included
Cons: - Same layout of previous Gold/Silver (except for Battle Tower)
The bottom line: Buy Pokémon Crystal, catch all the Pokémon, and find all the numerous secrets you can. Master the game.
To be sure, I had played Pokémon for quite a while now. You could even say I was a "PokéManiac." Which could probably aptly describe me. Therefore, I thought myself fit in reviewing this game.

I first booted up the game. Ah, refreshing. It's politically correct, allowing you to choose between a girl and boy (I chose boy, since I am one). At first, the changes from the Gold/Silver versions seem to be minute. A changed position here, different lines there.

The moment I chose my Pokémon and went battling, though, I noticed a pleasant (or creepy) surprise. Pokémon against you not only made their cry, but made a little lifelike action before staying still.

The next surprise was collecting phone numbers. Before, in Gold/Silver, phone calls were static and uniform. ANTHONY THE HIKER CALLS YOU: "Hey Ash gotta see this, rare Pokémon!" Instead, in Crystal, Anthony the Hiker might call to give you an item, or to advise you with fighting strategies. He'll even confer the taste of Berries (which he did) and share his opinion with you.

Then I made it to Olivine City. There was an northern exit. So I visited it, and much to my surprise, I found a Battle Tower. Not until later, where I had beefed up my Pokémon did I find the Battle Tower challenging, with a erratic host of opponents to battle. Unlike the last games, these guys were actually challenging and offered decent prizes for winning. There was even a level restriction (10-70), and you could only take 3 Pokémon with you (Sticking more to the television show there...).

And, flipping through a few guides on the Internet, I soon found out that after beating the last -last- boss (the Pokémon protege of Pokémon Red/Blue/Yellow), you can pay him in game tokens to teach your Pokémon a rare move.

Despite a few stupid things that still weren't changed (like some people calling you too much or just to say useless things), Pokémon Crystal was a resounding success, drawing upon many of the cons of Gold/Silver and allowing the fans of the previous titles to indulge themselves in another Pokémon adventure. Although it's a little pricey at $35, it's worth it for a re-playability. Again and again...you gotta catch them all.