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The Safari Zone is an area of the Pokémon video game series. As its name suggests, the player, upon entering, may capture Pokémon in an environment resembling a safari. Although many Pokémon residing in the Safari Zone can be caught elsewhere, some, such as Scyther and Pinsir, are exclusive to this area only.
It also includes 1, 10, or 30 Safari Balls possible. If you pay the fee of 500 Poké-dollars you get 30 Safari Balls. If you have less than that you will get 10 Safari Balls. If you don't have any money you get 1 Safari Ball.
Unlike most areas containing wild Pokémon, the Safari Zone places several restrictions on the player.
The Safari Zone in the Red, Blue, and Yellow versions of Pokémon is located in the northern part of Fuchsia City. It contains four areas, each containing different species of Pokémon.
When encountering a wild Pokémon, a Pokémon from the player's team is not sent out. Instead, the player has the option to run away, offer bait, throw rocks, or attempt capturing the Pokémon by using up a Safari Ball. Offering bait will make the Pokémon less likely to run away, but decrease the chance of catching it. Throwing a rock will anger the pokemon, making it easier to catch but increasing it's chance of running away.
In the Gold, Silver, and Crystal versions of the game, the Safari Zone is absent. The entrance still remains at its usual location in the north of Fuchsia City, but the player is unable to enter it. A "beta" version of a Safari Zone map is included in the programming of the game, leading to the speculation that it might have been removed due to the discovery of so many glitches in the R/B/Y versions. However, it is also likely it was simply scrapped due to time restraints. The unfinished Safari Zone may still be accessed through GameShark or another cheating device.[1]
In ''Pokémon Ruby'' and ''Sapphire'', the Safari Zone made a reappearance. It is located about halfway through Route 121, and while it is similar to the R/B/Y Safari Zone, it introduces several new key differences. Only 500 steps and 30 Safari Balls are permitted, as in the old version, and the player is still restricted to engaging the Pokémon themselves by luring, distracting, capturing, or running away. However, instead of using unlimited "baiting," the player must now use a Pokéblock chosen from their own inventory. Instead of throwing rocks, the player is given the choice to "get closer," likely to avoid any charges of promoting animal cruelty.
Other changes include the addition of Pokéblock feeders, on which you can place a Pokéblock and wait for Pokémon to appear, rather than look for them. Also, some areas are inaccessible unless the player has a particular bike. The Mach Bike is needed to reach the Northwest corner of the map, while the Northeast corner of the map requires you to have the Acro Bike. Each area contains a different set of Pokémon.
Finally, the player cannot save while inside the Safari Zone. However, quitting at any time is available by choosing the "RETIRE" option on the Start menu or talking to the man by the exit.
The player can still use Pokémon abilities, such as Surf and Rock Smash, inside the Safari Zone, along with the new move, "Sweet Scent," which can be used to draw wild Pokémon without walking. Also, fishing or turning in circles without moving will not count against your time quota.
The Safari Zone is also present in Pokémon Emerald, and is the same as Ruby and Sapphire's; however, it now has a new section to the right of the entrance that will open after defeating the Elite Four. This new area has a north and a south section, each filled with Pokémon from the Johto region (this is the only place in the game in which some Pokémon can be caught without trading).
The Safari Zone here is, for most intents and purposes, exactly the same as in Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow, though most glitches have been removed and the step count increased to 600.
The Safari Zone is located in the North of Fuchsia City. It is divided into four areas. There is slight difference in the available Pokemon of each area. The fourth area is the westernmost and contains the HM 03(Surf).
Renamed Great Marsh, and located near Pastoria City. The player can travel by train to access each area of the Great Marsh, although some areas are interconnected without train. There are six areas in the Great Marsh most of which are covered with mud. You will get stuck in the mud and to get out, simply move the character around. If you say in the mud too long you will be returned to the entrance. The ability to "move closer" has returned to "throw mud", which functions much like the "throw rocks" of the earlier games, and "throw bait" also returns from the older games, while bait feeders were removed. However, according to the game, bait also makes Pokémon more likely to flee, which brings into question what differentiates the two functions.T
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