While I enjoyed Black and White, I went ahead and skipped over B&W 2. Maybe by the time X and Y come out I'll have gotten around to getting a 3DS finally. I do like that it's going 3D, but not that blocky, N64 style 3D Nintendo usually goes for on it's handhelds.
As for the starters, Ben said for the first time he's going grass, I think it might be the opposite for me. I usually do grass on my first run, then on my second copy go fire (like grass on white, fire on black). Problem is, the starters keep looking junkier. The fire type this time is the only passable starter, IMO. The grass type looks like what you'd normally get in your first normal type encounter in the wild (think ratattata). Though his mole like claws tell me he might be grass/earth like Torterra, which is a plus. The water type, like usual, is hideous, so no thanks. I never choose water type first anyway since water types are so abundant, and I'm definitely not choosing him now.
Then again, with the ability to breed and trade online so easily now, choosing a starter isn't as big of a deal since you can get all 3 fairly easily. Though I usually limit myself from doing that until later in the game. I like using what I can catch in the wilds until near the last gym or two. Then I start trading and putting together an uber team to beat the game with. Otherwise the game goes by a bit too easily, and it makes catching new Pokemon feel pointless and anti-climatic as you already have your team put together from the start. Atleast IMO. On my second run though I don't mind breeding, and transfering a dream team over.
Edit - Side note, that bird legendary looks awesome. The other, not so much. It will depend on what other exclusives they have, but I'm already feeling biased on which version I'll get based on which version the bird is in. I usually based getting legendaries with versions on looks as I never use them in actual battle. So starting with a fire type, and getting (what looks to be) a fire/flying type doesn't bother me.
t: Yes you can. I traded over a Snorlax I bred as soon as I could.
