Starting today and going until May 5, Nintendo's made available a brand-new route for everyone's Pokewalker to access. It's the Yellow Forest route, and if you choose it as your destination before sending a monster to the device and going for a walk, you'll find that you encounter nothing but Pikachus when you go to use the PokeRadar. No disappointing Zubats, no endless stream of Geodudes. Always Pikachu, 100% of the time.
What's more, some of the Pikachus you'll come across in the Yellow Forest are equipped with special moves that a normal Pikachu wouldn't usually be able to learn -- there's one Pikachu with Surf, and another one with Fly. Now, Surfing Pikachu has happened before in past Nintendo promotions, so that might not excite you. But Flying Pikachu? That's just ridiculous. Think about having the little yellow guy be your go-to monster for warping around the Johto region. Crazy.
Enticing enough? Well then, here's how you open up the Yellow Forest route for yourself. You'll need to be able to log on to Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection (which you should already be able to do if you've ever used the game's Global Trade Station), and then follow these steps. These directions are taken straight from Nintendo's official website for HeartGold and SoulSilver, and I've already checked them out myself -- they work.
Step 1: Select "MYSTERY GIFT" on the Main Menu. (Note: You must have obtained the Pokedex in your game to select "MYSTERY GIFT.")
Step 2: Select "RECEIVE GIFT."
Step 3: After you select "RECEIVE GIFT," select "GET VIA NINTENDO WFC" and choose "YES."
Step 4: Watch as you receive the Yellow Forest Route Map!
Step 5: Go to any Poke Mart and talk to the deliveryman in green standing in front of the counter. He will give you the Yellow Forest Route Map.
Step 6: The final step is to save your game. This is very important, so don't forget!
Step 7: Select "CONNECT TO POKeWALKER" from the Main Menu.
Step 8: Select a Pokemon from your PC Box to send to the Pokewalker. (You must have a Pokemon in your PC Box.)
Step 9: Select the Yellow Forest Route Map.
Step 10: Connect to the Pokewalker and now you are ready to stroll!
And there you have it. Keep in mind that even after starting a walk on the Yellow Forest route, the most specialized Pikachus will still be rare to find -- you'll have to log a lot of steps and earn a lot of Watts before the Surfing or Flying Pikachu will appear. Will you have the patience to do it? Will you have the physical stamina? Will you have the lung capacity, the willpower and the burning desire to burn that many calories Pokewalking? We'll see. First person to actually snag the Flying Pikachu, come back here and leave a Comment on this story secures eternal Internet bragging rights -- you Pokewalking legend, you.
(Oh, and for anyone thinking this is an April Fool's joke, it's not. It's on Nintendo's own site right here and I've tested and verified it. The timing is just a coincidence. And if you still don't trust it, well, more Pikachus for the rest of us.)