Throwback Thurdays: The Original Pokemon Games

Not only did these games define the videogame experience for the majority of my generation, but it launched the Pokemon epidemic that caused millions of kids to dive into its universe. This was the beginning, which makes these games (on top of the gameplay) that much more monumental.

First released on the Gameboy Color, Red Version and Blue Version came out first, then Yellow Version followed up. There is a slight difference between Red and Blue - coloration varies in the two and also the Pokemon that can be caught differs slightly. In order to "Catch em all", players need to pair up with another gamer who has the opposite version and trade via link cables. In Yellow Version, you start out with Pikachu instead of only having the option of picking between the three classic Pokemon - Charmander, Bulbasaur, or Squirtle. What makes these games so entertaining, besides from catching and training Pokemon to take on the Elite 4, is the simplicity of the plot. It is the classic "rags to riches story" about a boy who grew up in a small town in the Kanto region who gets his first Pokemon from a local Pokemon Professor and trains to be the best. Along the way, he runs into a Pokemon gang known as "Team Rocket" who use Pokemon for all the wrong reasons.

Bringing justice to Team Rocket, earning badges by overcoming the various Pokemon gyms, and battling your way to the top are the motives of the main character - an incredibly simple plot that allows the trio to supersede any other game of its time. Also, the groundbreaking free roam feature allowed the character to go anywhere he wished at any time. Although certain geographical obstacles tend to hinder the character in certain areas from moving on, you are free to roam once you solve all the puzzles to region has to offer.

The plot, the gameplay, the groundbreaking features of catching any Pokemon the player wants and nurture it to be a necessary asset in his Pokemon arsenal all combine to create a simple yet monumental game for its time. Instead of destroying an antagonist, or fighting against some out of this world evil, the games are just about a kid fulfilling his dreams to be the best. Like no one ever was.

9.6 out of 10

Richard Voltz