Pokemon Red, Blue and Yellow Announced For 3DS Re-Release

[Steven Bogos]

Pokemon Red, Blue and Yellow Announced For 3DS Re-Release

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of Pokemon Red and Blue, the original 3 games will be re-released on the 3DS eShop.

February 27, 2016 is an important milestone in Pokemon history, as it marks 20 years since the original two games, Red and Blue hit store shelves and kicked off the franchise. Nintendo aren't just going to let this day go by without any fanfare, and have announced a 3DS eShop re-release of the original games (plus the Pikachu-centric Yellow version) for February 27.

Keep in mind that this is simply a re-release and not a remake: the games will be presented in all of their original black and white glory, but one staple of the game will be notably absent. The dreaded link cable, which made trading possible between the original GameBoy systems, has been instead released with the 3DS's wi-fi capabilities, so you'll still be able to trade Pokemon with your friends.

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Nintendo didn't offer word on the pricing of the games, but we're assuming that they will be around the $5 range of current eShop GameBoy virtual console titles.

Source: Nintendo [http://www.nintendo.com/nintendo-direct/11-12-2015/]

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[EndlessSporadic]

FINALLY! TAKE ALL OF MY MONEY!

 

[Xan Krieger]

Haven't gotten a Nintendo handheld since the Gameboy Advance, this just might be the thing to change that.

 

[Dominic Crossman]

Includes: Overpowered Psychics and 1 dragon move that deal 40hp damage

Also, "Pokémon, Pokémon never changes"

 

[Something Amyss]

February 27, 2016 is an important milestone in Pokemon history, as it is the day that the original two games, Red and Blue hit store shelves and kicked off the entire gigantic franchise.

This is a really confusing opening line. If not for the 2016 date, I would assume it was written about their original release.

Haven't gotten a Nintendo handheld since the Gameboy Advance, this just might be the thing to change that.

Why? Seems really odd to get a new system for one old game.

 

[JoJo]

Huh, I'm torn on this. As re-releases go this is pretty neat and I'll almost definitely get it, even though I still have working copies of Blue and Yellow somewhere. I'll be a little disappointed though if we don't get something more major for the 20th anniversary of Pokemon, I was hoping they'd do a full-fledged remake of RB/FRLG, perhaps on the Wii-U. I can still hope for something later in 2016 I guess.

 

[Hero of Lime]

Not really interested personally, despite being the huge Poke-person that I am. I feel those games have aged way too badly to play the original versions. I am content with replaying FireRed whenever I want to go back to Kanto.

Now if they connected these games to Pokemon Bank, and made retro sprites of every Pokemon? That would be pretty amazing. But, I realize that would be a lot to ask for, and I understand people will want the pure experience.

 

[Dr.Awkward]

I think one recommended option on the re-release is the choice to replace all the Pokemon graphics with Ken Sugimori's concept art in digitized form, be it in full color or grayscale. Sure, that might mean everything else will also need the same treatment, but a "Gameboy in HD" look would be quite interesting and faithful to the original games.

Besides, Red/Blue's "representations" of the first 150 Pokemon are well-known to be the worst in the series anyways...

 

[Andy Shandy]

Fuck it, too many memories with Blue and subsequently Yellow that I can't not pick this up.

 

[CaitSeith]

So, back to Gen 1 rules? Only 151 Pokemons? OP Psychic type? No Dark, Steel or Fairy type? No separate stats for special attack and special defense? The attack type determining if it's physical or special? No abilities? No nature? No shinnies? No breeding?

 

[gigastar]

Haven't gotten a Nintendo handheld since the Gameboy Advance, this just might be the thing to change that.

I cant see why it would. Im willing to bet a bootleg emulated version is still out there on the internet if you really wanted to use modern hardware to gaze into the howling abyss of retro gaming that was the Game Boy.

 

[Samtemdo8_v1legacy]

So, back to Gen 1 rules? Only 151 Pokemons? OP Psychic type? No Dark, Steel or Fairy type? No separate stats for special attack and special defense? The attack type determining if it's physical or special? No abilities? No nature? No shinnies? No breeding?

And no EVs and IVs and Double Battles.

Nope its all back to the good old simple days.

Oh and Bite is no longer a Dark Type attack.

 

[CaitSeith]

So, back to Gen 1 rules? Only 151 Pokemons? OP Psychic type? No Dark, Steel or Fairy type? No separate stats for special attack and special defense? The attack type determining if it's physical or special? No abilities? No nature? No shinnies? No breeding?

And no EVs and IVs and Double Battles.

Nope its all back to the good old simple days.

Oh and Bite is no longer a Dark Type attack.

EVs and IVs still are there. IVs are called DVs, and EVs are more complex. But at least I won't have to worry about getting hit by Pursuit while grinding low-level Pokemons.

 

[Zacharious-khan]

This was my favorite announcement in this Nintendo Direct. I might actually catch them all!

 

[Shoggoth2588]

I don't know if I'll download these...I liked Silver and Gold more and I still have my original Red and Yellow carts...and a Green cart. I've never owned Blue...and I've always really liked Vulpix...I dunno, I'll flip for it. Or maybe I'll just stick to Pokemon Picross and more current Pokemon RPGs.

 

[Xan Krieger]

Haven't gotten a Nintendo handheld since the Gameboy Advance, this just might be the thing to change that.

I cant see why it would. Im willing to bet a bootleg emulated version is still out there on the internet if you really wanted to use modern hardware to gaze into the howling abyss of retro gaming that was the Game Boy.

There are emulators for the PC and for smartphones but since I don't have a smartphone I'm left to handhelds for my gaming.

 

[weirdee]

would have hoped that they could have fixed some of the type match-up bugs/errors, but i'm guessing by this point that they don't remember how to do that

 

[Splunge]

I'm kinda surprised that the screenshots and article implies that the games will be greyscale only. The original games were compatible with the Gameboy Color, which means there is some color data in there for them to use to make the game prettier. It's not much, but better than greyscale.

 

[F-I-D-O]

I distinctly remember Pokemon Blue having a blue tint to everything on my GBC. I'd be surprised if color options don't make it into the rerelease.
That said, my trend of only using the 3DS for monster collection will continue. I skipped out on ORAS, but I can't avoid new copies of R/B/Y.

 

[Draconalis]

God damn Nintendo... you keep milking that cow....

It doesn't matter if it's dead and you're just pulling puss.

This is a new level though... at least the last time they re-released red and blue, they made it 3d, or something.