Originally submitted for Level 64 Klutz' Review Wars (Guilty Pleasures)
It's a shame I was born on Earth. We now live in a world where everything we eat, drink, do, or think about causes cancer. We can't walk outside, because terroists may bomb us, and we can't find safety on the internet, because everyone is a rapist and/or a pedophile. And in this world, we're often told we're "uncool" or otherwise "failures to society" because we enjoy something that the vast majority of an unseen panel of judges deemed out of style. Why are we mannequins for their act? Perhaps I should refer to my appreciation of the Pokemon series by calling it a "Guilty Pleasure", but I don't think that's accurate, really, for if I did, I would be letting the new wave of hipsters determine who's way of thinking is a bigger asset to the world. No, the first generation of Pokemon is not deserving of such a title. It deserves every bit of its fame, despite being ridiculed for being too childish by some or out-of-style by others.
That said, I haven't enjoyed the series past the first generation of the Pokemon series: Red, Blue, and Yellow. Perhaps a slap of the wrist is deserving of a statement like that after my opening paragraph, but my excuse for my disapproval of the path Pokemon has taken is the same as my excuse for not buying the newest Madden or NBA game that comes out every year: sure, they add a little bit of extras, change some things around, and offer a bit of a new experience, but I don't feel it's worth the $30, 40, or 50 I spend on the titles. On a different note, Pokemon manages to multiply this sum by offering two or three versions of each generation, though that isn't necessarily a fault of the company, but moreso a stupid decision by the gamer making the purchase. Buying a single copy of the game can give you nearly the exact same feeling as the other two.
Now, what of the first generation? Pokemon Red, Blue, and Yellow were released in 1998-1999 for the Game Boy after becoming an extreme success in Japan back in 1996. In the Pokemon games, you take on the role of a boy who lives in a world full of monsters called, well, Pokemon. One day, you're asked by a nearby Pokemon Professor to become a trainer in order to help him with his recent invention. The Pokedex, as it's called, records information about every Pokemon that a trainer catches. The Pokedex makes you want to catch all of the Pokemon, and becomes a very fun staple of any trainer's journey. Numerous hours will be spent searching around for a Pokemon you could've swore you had already caught...Kangaskhan...and the Pokedex offers the gamer a chance to continue playing long after the main storyline is beaten.
The battle system in Pokemon can be full of both enjoyment and anger. As you traverse one of the game's many maps, you'll become very familiar with it. Pokemon takes on a system much like other RPG's, in which walking around in grass can trigger a random battle. As always, when hunting for a Pokemon or trying to level up, you'll probably appreciate the feature. However, if you're almost out of health, way more powerful than the enemies in the area, or trying to get out of a dungeon before your battery dies, these will probably become nuisances. This way of thinking strikes again when battling other Pokemon trainers, which are scattered throughout maps. Sometimes, you'll have fun trying to overcome these trainers, but if you've got a Pokemon that can one-hit all of their monsters, it might get a bit stale.
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p105/Icy_X-Cel/Reviews/POKEMONYELLOW.jpg
Then, there's Gym Leaders. The trainer uses all this hard work, trudging through dungeons, battling trainers, and advancing their Pokemon in order to beat the Gym Leaders. Gym Leaders are, blatantly, the game's bosses. Within most cities, there is a Pokemon gym. Within these gyms, there is usually some elemental theme and a puzzle. There will be a couple of trainers in here, usually blocking paths to the solution of the puzzle. Once you solve the puzzle, you can battle the Gym Leader. If you play the game without overleveling your Pokemon, these fights can be very fun and strategic. You'll have to decide whether or not to switch a Pokemon who has low health. Or, maybe they're running out of skills and another Pokemon is more suitable. These boss battles usually contain some of the most exciting and frustrating parts of the game, and just make the game that much better.
If we compare screenshots from Pokemon Yellow (1999) and Pokemon Diamond (2007), you'll notice quite a few similarities. While the series is progressing and offering new experiences in the Pokemon universe, many core features have stayed the same. This is especially true for the graphics. With the latest installments on the DS, Pokemon has taken a more "2.5D" approach. However, after 8 years of technology, many of the sprites seem familiar. That's because the Pokemon games don't need outstanding graphics to be fun: they just need to be Pokemon. Despite an appearance very similar to an 8 year old Game Boy game, Diamond/Pearl/Platinum remain some of the best selling Nintendo DS games of all time.
I'm sure I'm not the only one who can say that Pokemon holds a very special place in my heart. Memories of the games, the cards, the shows, and the movies still make me happy; I don't feel at all that I wasted five years of my life with these games. I've changed, and I don't enjoy things as much as I used to, but the Pokemon series is by no means something to look down upon. Ignore the naysayers: Pokemon is a great pleasure for gamers of all ages.
It's a shame I was born on Earth. We now live in a world where everything we eat, drink, do, or think about causes cancer. We can't walk outside, because terroists may bomb us, and we can't find safety on the internet, because everyone is a rapist and/or a pedophile. And in this world, we're often told we're "uncool" or otherwise "failures to society" because we enjoy something that the vast majority of an unseen panel of judges deemed out of style. Why are we mannequins for their act? Perhaps I should refer to my appreciation of the Pokemon series by calling it a "Guilty Pleasure", but I don't think that's accurate, really, for if I did, I would be letting the new wave of hipsters determine who's way of thinking is a bigger asset to the world. No, the first generation of Pokemon is not deserving of such a title. It deserves every bit of its fame, despite being ridiculed for being too childish by some or out-of-style by others.
That said, I haven't enjoyed the series past the first generation of the Pokemon series: Red, Blue, and Yellow. Perhaps a slap of the wrist is deserving of a statement like that after my opening paragraph, but my excuse for my disapproval of the path Pokemon has taken is the same as my excuse for not buying the newest Madden or NBA game that comes out every year: sure, they add a little bit of extras, change some things around, and offer a bit of a new experience, but I don't feel it's worth the $30, 40, or 50 I spend on the titles. On a different note, Pokemon manages to multiply this sum by offering two or three versions of each generation, though that isn't necessarily a fault of the company, but moreso a stupid decision by the gamer making the purchase. Buying a single copy of the game can give you nearly the exact same feeling as the other two.
Now, what of the first generation? Pokemon Red, Blue, and Yellow were released in 1998-1999 for the Game Boy after becoming an extreme success in Japan back in 1996. In the Pokemon games, you take on the role of a boy who lives in a world full of monsters called, well, Pokemon. One day, you're asked by a nearby Pokemon Professor to become a trainer in order to help him with his recent invention. The Pokedex, as it's called, records information about every Pokemon that a trainer catches. The Pokedex makes you want to catch all of the Pokemon, and becomes a very fun staple of any trainer's journey. Numerous hours will be spent searching around for a Pokemon you could've swore you had already caught...Kangaskhan...and the Pokedex offers the gamer a chance to continue playing long after the main storyline is beaten.
The battle system in Pokemon can be full of both enjoyment and anger. As you traverse one of the game's many maps, you'll become very familiar with it. Pokemon takes on a system much like other RPG's, in which walking around in grass can trigger a random battle. As always, when hunting for a Pokemon or trying to level up, you'll probably appreciate the feature. However, if you're almost out of health, way more powerful than the enemies in the area, or trying to get out of a dungeon before your battery dies, these will probably become nuisances. This way of thinking strikes again when battling other Pokemon trainers, which are scattered throughout maps. Sometimes, you'll have fun trying to overcome these trainers, but if you've got a Pokemon that can one-hit all of their monsters, it might get a bit stale.
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p105/Icy_X-Cel/Reviews/POKEMONYELLOW.jpg
Then, there's Gym Leaders. The trainer uses all this hard work, trudging through dungeons, battling trainers, and advancing their Pokemon in order to beat the Gym Leaders. Gym Leaders are, blatantly, the game's bosses. Within most cities, there is a Pokemon gym. Within these gyms, there is usually some elemental theme and a puzzle. There will be a couple of trainers in here, usually blocking paths to the solution of the puzzle. Once you solve the puzzle, you can battle the Gym Leader. If you play the game without overleveling your Pokemon, these fights can be very fun and strategic. You'll have to decide whether or not to switch a Pokemon who has low health. Or, maybe they're running out of skills and another Pokemon is more suitable. These boss battles usually contain some of the most exciting and frustrating parts of the game, and just make the game that much better.
If we compare screenshots from Pokemon Yellow (1999) and Pokemon Diamond (2007), you'll notice quite a few similarities. While the series is progressing and offering new experiences in the Pokemon universe, many core features have stayed the same. This is especially true for the graphics. With the latest installments on the DS, Pokemon has taken a more "2.5D" approach. However, after 8 years of technology, many of the sprites seem familiar. That's because the Pokemon games don't need outstanding graphics to be fun: they just need to be Pokemon. Despite an appearance very similar to an 8 year old Game Boy game, Diamond/Pearl/Platinum remain some of the best selling Nintendo DS games of all time.
I'm sure I'm not the only one who can say that Pokemon holds a very special place in my heart. Memories of the games, the cards, the shows, and the movies still make me happy; I don't feel at all that I wasted five years of my life with these games. I've changed, and I don't enjoy things as much as I used to, but the Pokemon series is by no means something to look down upon. Ignore the naysayers: Pokemon is a great pleasure for gamers of all ages.
