Pokemon is now over 20 years old. With its smartphone and card games, TV series, movies, and manga to its name, Pokémon has become the highest-grossing media franchise of all time. It is a cultural phenomenon.
But the entire franchise would be nothing without Pokémon Red, Blue, and Green.
Many of us have fond memories of the original GameBoy titles, and realizing that there is a demand for them, Nintendo has released Pokémon Red, Pokémon Blue, Pokémon Yellow, Pokémon Gold, Pokémon Silver, and Pokémon Crystal to the online store. So are the old Pokemon games still worth playing? And, more importantly, is it worth paying for?
This will be your immediate problem..
If you've picked up any Pokémon games in recent years, you'll be used to stunning visuals. Pokémon X and Y 5 Big Changes to Pokémon X and Y That Make the Series Worth Returning to 5 Big Changes to Pokémon X and Y That Make the Series Worth Returning to If you've been disappointed with the latest iterations of the Pokémon series, you'll be pleasantly surprised with X and Y. Read More The grass really did look like grass, the water seemed to flow (at least a little), and the Pokémon themselves could be enjoyed in higher definition.
Finding Latios or Latias in the South Island in Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire really expanded the gaming horizons, allowing you to explore the Hoenn region to the fullest and engage in Sky Battles. Here were two games that showed how far the franchise had come.
So what's it like going back to the original Gen I and II games?
Obviously, the images are a step down. Red, blue and yellow are uniform in black and white. Everything feels like Minecraft, and that's not good in this case.
Pokémon are less refined:they are darker or bigger. Chansey looks like she's had too many, for example; Without the anime to compare, the original Raichu is a bulky beast. They actually feel like monsters, not like the cute creatures we have now.
And yet they retain their charm. Surprisingly, the visuals feel as real as they are immersive. The less polished graphics feel oddly more intimate than the clean lines of Pokémon Sun and Moon Pokémon Sun and Moon:Are They Worth Buying? Pokémon Sun and Moon:Is it worth buying them? Pokémon Sun and Moon are finally here, after much anticipation. Are the latest entries in this treasured series worth your time and money? Read more.
Titles May Not Take Full Advantage of Your 3DS Games 25 Nintendo 3DS Games That Are Essential To Any Collection 25 Nintendo 3DS Games That Are Essential To Any Collection The 3DS has a lot of great games. You're not sure where to start? Here are the top 25 system titles, with something for fans of all genres. Read More The basic designs are still very clever, perhaps more practical than some modern games.
If the thought of inferior graphics puts you off downloading these early Pokémon games, you should immediately put your worries to rest. There's nothing wrong with the rustic approach!
Graphic media nothing if the frame does not exist.
For much of the franchise's history, the narrative of Pokémon games has basically remained the same:you collect Pokémon, you train them, you battle gym leaders for badges, you fire other trainers, and you don't make pits like Team Rocket. the final stage of battle to become a Pokémon Master..
That is, until Pokémon Sun and Moon. For Pokemon's 20th Anniversary 8 Ways To Celebrate Pokemon's 20th Anniversary 8 Ways To Celebrate Pokemon's 20th Anniversary This year, on February 27th, Pokemon celebrates its 20th anniversary. Here's how to celebrate in style! Read More Sure, you still collect and fight the little monsters, but the narrative is more flexible. There's a ton of support early on, and the only proper test is the island challenge. Team Skull is there to cause mischief and mayhem. It is the same structure, essentially, but it is not as regulated. And you can't show some colorful badges either.
Opinion was divided, as reviews often do. Either way, most agree the gym restriction is lost. That's where downloadable Pokemon games come in. The original formula works perfectly, and if it doesn't break...
Crucially, it feels streamlined without being patronizing or tedious. There is room for complicated ideas in all media, but let's not underestimate the importance of direct arguments. With no unnecessary detours, you can sit back and enjoy.
Also, of course, Pokemon is known for having some flexibility. The narrative is great, but the main goal is to collect the creatures. Get them all!
Downloadable games immediately feel slower than modern versions. We're not talking about the narrative:it's the actual speed of your avatar's movement. You can't run. You'll soon get used to it, don't worry. Still, it takes a while to adjust. Cerulean City has a bike shop, but the rates start at impossible prices. Head to the Vermilion City Pokémon Fan Club, where the President will give you a coupon for bikes. That will speed things up.
Surprisingly, the two most notable flaws in Pokémon Red and Blue still work on the 3DS. If you've never been a rebel (in a conformist way), these are:the Mew Glitch; and failed failure. We won't go into the exact instructions for them, but you should at least know they exist.
The first, as you might guess, allows you to catch the Legendary 151 Pokémon, Mew. This was originally an Easter egg for the employees of developer Game Freak, but once word spread about this mysterious creature, the game's popularity skyrocketed.
However, the Falling No. Glitch is riskier. It appears as a Pokémon to catch, but it looks like a coding error (which is exactly what it is). Getting it could cause your system to crash even more, and the only guaranteed way to undo the damage is to restart the game, losing all your progress. However, it can also lead to item duplication, including unlimited ball baubles. It's a gamble, essentially.
The other thing you need to be aware of is the fact that you cannot play against others online. One cool feature, however, is the ability to send Pokémon you catch in downloadable titles to Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon through the Pokémon Bank service. This means you're closer than ever to catching them all.
We can't ignore nostalgia as the main reason why you need to download Pokemon Red, Blue, Yellow, Gold, Silver, and/or Crystal. These take you back, back to the 90's and early 2000's.
There is nothing wrong with that! Nostalgia is good for you:it wraps you in a comforting blanket reminding you of happier times and places. It challenges you and returns things to you that you had already buried in the annals of the past..
And it's all there, still guaranteed to make you smile.
Because he has to enter a name, Professor Oak forgets the name of his grandson. You have forgotten the joy of those first evolutions. The first gym feels ridiculously easy; unless you've chosen Pokemon Yellow which pairs you up with Pikachu, aka the worst Pokemon ever to take on Rock-types. Our Tip Catch Pidgeys and Caterpies, and train relentlessly.
We're told not to “live in the past,” but there's nothing to feel guilty about here. That is why all the downloadable games are so popular. We need to embrace that.
This is the only question left. Because we've already answered the question of whether the old Pokémon games are worth playing, finally. Of course they are! So what should you choose?
You need to download at least one from Generation I. Go with the one you originally bought, if you were a fan back then. If not, Blue or Red are two solid options. It's a good idea to follow this up with Crystal because she combines the best of Gold and Silver..
The old Pokemon games are absolutely fantastic. And if you really want to delve into the history of the Pokémon series, check out our ranking of official Pokémon games The mega-list of all the official Pokémon games you can play The mega-list of all the official Pokémon games that you can play love Pokémon or do you want to start with the series? Take a look at this list of the official Pokémon mainline games, as well as how we rank them. Read more.
