after going through almost all of the Videos from extra credits I went on the one about innovation and the first thing I thought was Pokemon. Now I know the majority of people who tossed pokemon away as a "child's play thing" claim its the same thing with little innovation and differences just 100+ pokemon and a new area. How every getting my hands on pokemon black (as well as the Extra credits video) made me think about the series as a retrospective.
Pokemon Red and Blue: I remember this very clearly when we first got this it was amazing. Pokemon made my childhood, going to each others houses and spending hours of our summer holidays playing the game, but what made it so good? well it was the creativity, the immersive worlds, and the aspiration of become a pokemon master. When we first saw the cartoon (I refuse to call it an anime during this) also helped this bonding between me and the games. The excitement of getting that first pokemon (which was normally charmander) all the way to getting your hands on mewtwo. that single game was to forge my future.
Pokemon Yellow: Pokemon yellow hmmm... what can I say apart from it was the shit. getting all the starters was awesome and the way how it followed the cartoon we loved it from start to finish. we used to hang around with our game boys just to watch pikachu dance.
Pokemon Gold and Silver: with little teasers they threw in the cartoon, this was easily to predict this was going to happen. the new area of Johto, new gym leaders and such. it was amazing how the world of pokemon changed and yet still felt familiar to us. the introduction of two new types and how the pre-existing pokemon before that formed around it (for example magnemite became electric and steel rather then just electric) the day and night system and how the pokemon behaved towards that made the pokemon world more absorbing and addictive. one thing that really did make this game stick is the music, it was more easily remembered, and there were a lot more good one in it too. seeing Lugia for the first time was a sight I never forgot.
(I'm not going to mention pokemon crystal)
Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire: I really didn't expect this to happen and it seemed to hit right when it mattered as pokemon in our minds was seen as childish when we grew up and then it hit our gameboy advance and well nothing more. the new world, advanced graphics, more imaginative and creative creatures now spanning from whales to the moon. the new pokemon abilities really refreshed the pokemon series to us. whist introducing new pokemon and keeping the old ones the "spirit" of the game came back. catching kyogre and groudon, rayquaza and the 3 regis was something to really behold. i remember sitting in my friends back garden playing pokemon sapphire just after i spent all night defeating the elite four and finding Latias, i was soo thrilled that i dropped my gameboy and it froze
<)
(I'm not going to mention Fire Red or Leaf green since I lost mine and I didn't find it significant)
Pokemon Diamond and Pearl: me, my brother and my friends had enough of the series and let it rest when this came out as a weak attempt to try to get the old spirit back I convinced my brother to get pokemon pearl, and what was good about it unfortunately had very little appeal to him, after a short while of completing it I stopped playing for a while.
Pokemon Heart Gold and Soul Silver: Holy shit seeing the first picture of Red gyrados I yelled in excitement it was awesome from the first few screens to when i finally got the game (like 2 months after its release lol) it was epic, the pokemon following you, in cinematic cut scenes of the legendary pokemon, it was what the pokemon series needed, it was a shame however that the spark didn't return to my friends when this game out
Pokemon black and White: from what i've seen, innovation isn't short of this game and loads of the decisions they made regarding this was a benefit. All new pokemon; changed all tactics previously of importing all your pokemon to help with the gyms are out of the questions. the "lakitu" style camera gives a real sense of size in the Isshu regeon (not just length and width but hight as well. The new pokemon although many looked pretty bad but some where cool (meguroko is my new favourate)
To those who say the series has lacked innovation
Pokemon R,B: started it off
Pokemon Yellow: pokemon following you (yellow, Heart gold and soul silver specific)
Pokemon G,S,C: Steel and Dark types. more pokemon and a deeper story
Pokemon R,S,E: Abilities, more pokemon and more pokemon type combinations, all pokemon sprite tune up
Pokemon Fr,Lg: nothing major me thinks
Pokemon D,P,Pl: Introduction of more about the pokemon world (like how it was created and such). deeper story
Pokemon Hg,SS: Pokemon following you, cinematic cut scenes.
Pokemon B,W: 2 Rivals, All new Pokemon only, New story, New style of gameplay.
Comments, suggestions (including spelling mistakes, things ive missed out. then feel free to comment.
Pokemon Red and Blue: I remember this very clearly when we first got this it was amazing. Pokemon made my childhood, going to each others houses and spending hours of our summer holidays playing the game, but what made it so good? well it was the creativity, the immersive worlds, and the aspiration of become a pokemon master. When we first saw the cartoon (I refuse to call it an anime during this) also helped this bonding between me and the games. The excitement of getting that first pokemon (which was normally charmander) all the way to getting your hands on mewtwo. that single game was to forge my future.
Pokemon Yellow: Pokemon yellow hmmm... what can I say apart from it was the shit. getting all the starters was awesome and the way how it followed the cartoon we loved it from start to finish. we used to hang around with our game boys just to watch pikachu dance.
Pokemon Gold and Silver: with little teasers they threw in the cartoon, this was easily to predict this was going to happen. the new area of Johto, new gym leaders and such. it was amazing how the world of pokemon changed and yet still felt familiar to us. the introduction of two new types and how the pre-existing pokemon before that formed around it (for example magnemite became electric and steel rather then just electric) the day and night system and how the pokemon behaved towards that made the pokemon world more absorbing and addictive. one thing that really did make this game stick is the music, it was more easily remembered, and there were a lot more good one in it too. seeing Lugia for the first time was a sight I never forgot.
(I'm not going to mention pokemon crystal)
Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire: I really didn't expect this to happen and it seemed to hit right when it mattered as pokemon in our minds was seen as childish when we grew up and then it hit our gameboy advance and well nothing more. the new world, advanced graphics, more imaginative and creative creatures now spanning from whales to the moon. the new pokemon abilities really refreshed the pokemon series to us. whist introducing new pokemon and keeping the old ones the "spirit" of the game came back. catching kyogre and groudon, rayquaza and the 3 regis was something to really behold. i remember sitting in my friends back garden playing pokemon sapphire just after i spent all night defeating the elite four and finding Latias, i was soo thrilled that i dropped my gameboy and it froze
<) (I'm not going to mention Fire Red or Leaf green since I lost mine and I didn't find it significant)
Pokemon Diamond and Pearl: me, my brother and my friends had enough of the series and let it rest when this came out as a weak attempt to try to get the old spirit back I convinced my brother to get pokemon pearl, and what was good about it unfortunately had very little appeal to him, after a short while of completing it I stopped playing for a while.
Pokemon Heart Gold and Soul Silver: Holy shit seeing the first picture of Red gyrados I yelled in excitement it was awesome from the first few screens to when i finally got the game (like 2 months after its release lol) it was epic, the pokemon following you, in cinematic cut scenes of the legendary pokemon, it was what the pokemon series needed, it was a shame however that the spark didn't return to my friends when this game out
Pokemon black and White: from what i've seen, innovation isn't short of this game and loads of the decisions they made regarding this was a benefit. All new pokemon; changed all tactics previously of importing all your pokemon to help with the gyms are out of the questions. the "lakitu" style camera gives a real sense of size in the Isshu regeon (not just length and width but hight as well. The new pokemon although many looked pretty bad but some where cool (meguroko is my new favourate)
To those who say the series has lacked innovation
Pokemon R,B: started it off
Pokemon Yellow: pokemon following you (yellow, Heart gold and soul silver specific)
Pokemon G,S,C: Steel and Dark types. more pokemon and a deeper story
Pokemon R,S,E: Abilities, more pokemon and more pokemon type combinations, all pokemon sprite tune up
Pokemon Fr,Lg: nothing major me thinks
Pokemon D,P,Pl: Introduction of more about the pokemon world (like how it was created and such). deeper story
Pokemon Hg,SS: Pokemon following you, cinematic cut scenes.
Pokemon B,W: 2 Rivals, All new Pokemon only, New story, New style of gameplay.
Comments, suggestions (including spelling mistakes, things ive missed out. then feel free to comment.