2009-12-30, 09:19 PM
Bibarel and Tropius can learn all 8 HMs between each other, but I don't know if Tropius is obtainable in Pearl. It is in Platinum though, so you could ask someone to trade you one if you really want. The game is still possible to beat with a team of 2-4 Pokemon. I got through most of the game with just Staraptor and Infernape. I added Giratina and Azelf (legendary Pokemon) before facing the Elite 4 (in Platinum). I highly recommend getting a Starly early on and training it as one of your team members. Its final evolution, Staraptor, is one of the best ingame Pokemon. It's fast and has high attack. It also learns Close Combat (120 BP Fighting) and Brave Bird (120 BP Flying, so 180 with STAB).
The biggest change in 4th gen is probably the physical/special split. Now attacks are no longer physical or special based on their typing. For example, Waterfall and Surf are both Water type attacks. In gen 3 and below, they would both be considered special attacks. In 4th gen, Waterfall is a physical attack, which uses the attack stat instead of special attack. Surf is still special based however.
3rd gen brought in effort values and abilities, but I'm too lazy to explain them.
The biggest change in 4th gen is probably the physical/special split. Now attacks are no longer physical or special based on their typing. For example, Waterfall and Surf are both Water type attacks. In gen 3 and below, they would both be considered special attacks. In 4th gen, Waterfall is a physical attack, which uses the attack stat instead of special attack. Surf is still special based however.
3rd gen brought in effort values and abilities, but I'm too lazy to explain them.