B/W & B/W2, Two Stories? Nope.

[Dragonquester]

B/W and B2/W2 are separate, but knowing the story of one helps you better understand the other one.

[UnovaCastaway]

I also consider Gen V as one saga as a whole. BW is about Hilbert/Hilda beating Team Plasma to become the hero, and BW2 is about how Nate/Rosa and Hugh were caught up in Neo Plasma's activities while on their journey.

I feel that everything in Gen V hinges on the Reshiram-Zekrom battle at the end of BW. Memory Link also helps flesh out some characters a lot more.

[Dragonicwari]

I think they are separate

[TheOriginalOne]

I think that tough one could play B2W2 without BW and enjoy it, it would be much better to play BW first for the ones who love great storylines. Altough in B2W2 the characters in common refer important parts of the previous plot, they are very vague when they do that... Seriously, if someone is reading this post right now and hasn't got any GenV game but is trying to decide between BW and B2W2 - please, I beg you to buy BW first, in order to get more used to the GenV storyline, as I cannot deny the fact it is a great one.

[Azimuth1011]

BW and BW2 are obviously different plots with several connections to each other. But it's still better if you could get used to BW's story first before proceeding onto BW2.

[SoulSilver Eric]

I consider them whole, BW2 continue the events of BW to some extent. And with it being the 5th Generation of pokemong, I'm lumping the two games together.

[Reborn Cyrax]

Although I can see why people would say they were connected, I say nothing changes besides location and characters. Also, why is it that in B1, Cheren wears glasses, but in W2, Bianca wears glasses? Am I missing something here?

[Minedreigon]

I was hoping for a similar story last year. I got what I wanted

[zapto369]

I see BW1 connected to BW2 the same way that RB/LGFR is to GSC/HGSS. As Hilbert/Hilda/Red(/Leaf) you set in motion things that that would form parts of the story of Nate/Rosa/Ethan/Lyra. Red(/Leaf) shut down Team Rocket and became the Champ. Hilbert/Hilda stopped Team Plasma and did a few things

It's like The Hobbit connected to Lord of the Rings. I bet most of you see the LOTR movies/read the Books, and not read The Hobbit. BW2/GSC/HGSS/LOTR told you parts of the story that you needed to know for that game while not really spoiling the plot of the Previous "instalment".

I was just about to say something like this. So exactly, I agree.

[Cutty]

Two different stories like series, you know like Harry Potter books too...

[wc662]

reading this i really wish i would have gotten black 1 instead of black 2 to start off with, it was an impulse buy truth be told and the only cart they had at wal-mart was black 2. It hasn't ruined the game or anything, I would just have liked to play them in order to see what some of the returning characters stories were

[telivisionhead]

They're two entirely separate plots that share some antagonists. You can understand most of BW2 without having played BW1.

True. I played white 1 first before I got the second ones though. Some of the game would be confusing if you hven't played the first game/s. But many people would get it anyway.