Which starting Pokemon is best on the GOLD version. . .

[DarkRyter]

Typhlosion.

He's the type most supereffective against the most gyms. He's second gen's equivalent to Bulbasaur.

Good fire types also tend to be rather rare compared the the plentitude of grass and waters, unless you go for a growlithe or a magmar, so getting typhlosion is the most efficient solution.

 

[TilMorrow]

Water is always the way to go. Put enough time in and they become super powered. I always choose water and I always beat the games. If nothing else works choose water, the rival will always pick grass and you can whip that grass pokemon's ass everytime.

Oh and I hear you like Mudkips.

 

[Scout Tactical]

Cyndaquil is a good choice, but a blind run is almost always more fun than "oh, route 17, that means I have to spin around to look for a hoothoot."

Route 17 is cycling road, and only has grimer/farrow (morning) in its small grass patch.

 

[Vesuvius Hetlan]

Totodile. Because Feraligatr can curbstomp Typhlosion any day.

But here's the thing
Meganium is tough as nails but is limited by a lack of movesets.
Typhlosion is very strong but its defenses are lacking. But it is typically fast enough to compensate.
Feraligatr is more balanced than the rest of them but doesn't have the higher stats of the others.

 

[NuclearPenguin]

Cyndaquil is second
Chikorita is third (By far)

 

[Feralcentaur]

Start with Fire since the first Pokemon you fight are going to be Grass and Normal, but then you want to make sure to catch one or two of the Fire and Normal types since next you're going to have to fight the Water Gym, and then...

 

[MalevolentJim]

I always choose Totodile. Teach it Ice Punch and you'll have absolutely no problem against the Elite Four. Cyndaquil is good too. It has a really good Sp.Attack stat and is pretty reliable in general. In short, don't pick Chikorita.

 

[OneOfTheMichael's]

Cyndaqil is without a doubt the most bad-ass starter especially his later evolutions.

 

[Slash12]

The answer is always to pick the fire type, no matter what

 

[p3t3r]

just pick the coolest looking one.

 

[Death God]

I personally loved all of the starters from that game but since you catch Suicune I suggest you get a Cyndaquil to even out your team.

 

[joshthor]

pick whatever one you like the best. if your like me you are not going to stick with them past gym boss 5.

 

[Vault Girl]

Cyndoquil hands down. i stop playing pokemon after Gold but to me pokemon was at its best back then, cant stand anything after.

 

[brick]

UPDATE: I went with Cyndaquil which seemed to be the majority's choice. It is freakin' awesome! May not look as cool as the original fire type starter charmander but coupled with a level 13 Pidgey, my level 14 evolved Cyndaquil (can't remember evolved name) has blitzed through the first gym and "bellsprout tower". Now I just need a pokemon capable of flash to get through the cave; HELP!

 

[jacx]

if your looking at stats Totidile and cyndaquil are your best bet. if you just want some cute little useless companion then take chikorita.

 

[chaos order]

ooo nostalgia. i didnt have gold but i do have crystal version. my first pokemon was totodile and to be honest i beat the game WITH ONLY HIM. no joke i didnt catch anything else cept for suicine and red gyrados since they were rare and i essentially had to confront them.

 

[DaMullet]

I actually found Chicorita good to have. Maybe not at the beginning but later on it was a freakin tank with shields and the ability to heal. The only attack I needed was petal dance and I plowed through just about anything that wasn't super effective against grass.

But yeah, its personal taste and how you build the rest of your team (if you even have one)

 

[brick]

Cyndoquil hands down. i stop playing pokemon after Gold but to me pokemon was at its best back then, cant stand anything after.

Couldn't agree more! A friend recently showed me his copy of the new BLACK on DS and though the adventure part of the game looked outstanding, from what i could see the character design of the actual pokemon (in particular the first three) looked and to be lacking, and as if Nintendo have been struggling with coming up with yet ANOTHER 150 pokemon. I'm not sure if it's just naustalgia but i remember the original 151 so fondly. Aesthetically at least i think the original 151 were the most impressive/memorable.

 

[brick]

Totodile. Because Feraligatr can curbstomp Typhlosion any day.

But here's the thing
Meganium is tough as nails but is limited by a lack of movesets.
Typhlosion is very strong but its defenses are lacking. But it is typically fast enough to compensate.
Feraligatr is more balanced than the rest of them but doesn't have the higher stats of the others.

Correct me if i'm wrong but were the original three (Charizard, Venasaur and Blastoise) not all equally badass? I can't remember ever playing through with squirtle, but i'm sure he was pretty good still.