Pokemon - its a love or hate thing! (Pokemon)

Member Name: kyrgyzvodka

Product:	Pokemon
Date:	23/08/01 (145 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Logic Stimulating, Fun to play, Social

Disadvantages: Expensive, Total social segregation..lol

Well...here i am. Praying desperately that none of my friends will ever visit this site ever to read my opinion! lmao. Anyways, here we go.
We all know by now that pokemon is a fad. On of those passing things that everyone loves to spend their money on, its essential to know about (at least a little for passing conversation!), is worshipped, scorned and makes millions for the lucky person who started it all. Gradually, it will die a languishing death, be the subject of several documentary and news articles when the news is dull, and be mentioned on a 'that was the 21st century' program in about 30 years time.This seems inevitably to be Pokemon's fate : a cute Japanese idea that made sparks in the imaginations (and wallets) of kids and parents the world over. However, fads are generally not just an overmarketed product, (although some of them can be in the end, and generally are innovative and good ideas. And that (sadly some might say) is how i feel about Pokemon in general, and the card game scene, which is after all what i'm here to write about. *reality check!*

The Pokemon trading card game, indeed and trading card game will always have two sides to any argument. The biggest spending power will always be with the first group : the kids. The playground collectors who will be the envy of their class with a certain holographic card, and the poor parents, driven to open their wallets on something that seems pointless at the time, and probably is seeing as the kids chuck away the worthless cards, dont play the game and all will end up as a drawliner someday. Which, at the price of 2.50 for a booster is pretty expensive tat in a few years time. Apart from the hardcore collectors, the ones who put their mint completed collections away to sell in years to come after spending a mint, who will profit at all? It's true : many adults are set against trading card games in general for the sheer expense. However, well kept collections, mispreint
d cards and rare cards can fetch staggering prices on the internet so its well worth a look as a long term investment. The second group are the thriftier ones, the players. These people get fun out of the game, and with a few careful trades can get what they need for a good deck. However (and this is definately true in the US), there is a lot more recognition of the potential for parent/child bonding though these games of cards, as its something simple that everyone can enjoy. I myself, as a 16 year old have had a lot of flak at school for being associated with the game (I originally got playing as a result of selling the cards to raise money for a World Challenge project), where in America adults can play with no recrimination. Collecting is fun : the act of haggling for a good trade of cards and the satisfaction when you succeed, opening packs with the excitement of what you might find, winning a match : these fun, if a bit childish thing are difficult to explain to the cynical! Anyway, my original point of starting was to rate the card game, so I'm going to stop digressing :)

Pokemon is a simple game to play in theory, but has many different levels of difficulty and strategy. Anyone can play, with a deck of 60 cards that has no more than four of any card type. Cards are divided into three rough categorys : Pokemon (which are fought with), trainers (one shot cards that effect health, powers etc) and energy (necessary to attack).They vary in power, with differing attacks, a type (some types are stronger/weak against/to others) and occasionally a 'Pokemon Power' - a special ability that is often very useful, and does not require energy. In a rough summary, the object of the game is to win all 6 prize cards placed at the start of the game, to force your opponent into a position where he has no pokemon to send into battle, or to force your opponent not to be able to draw a card at the start of his turn (decking out).
The rules are many and
varied : the game can be played easily upon a simple level, but as your proficency and skill increase many other rules become necessary to understand. Basic rules are that you draw a card a turn, can have a maximum of 5 'benched' pokemon and only one in play, only one energy card can be added a turn and only one evolution can be made a turn (some cards have stronger evolved forms - you lay the stronger card on top of the basic card). Damage is marked by counters, and when a pokemon's hit points are matched/exceeded with damage it 'faints' (how quaint, no death!) and the player who caused it to do so can draw a prize card. A basic summary can be found in the rule book of a 2 player starter set - now available in shops quite cheaply, as the craze has died down somewhat. The Wizards of the coast website also has rules advice and guidance : a great place to learn is your local Pokemon League - a place to trade and play, usually in a bookstore, collectors shop or electronics store like EB. Ask in store for details.
Its hard to explain really how fun and tactical the game can get - a good match can be like chess, with players thinking for ages as to how they can manipulate their opponent and their cards to pull off a quick win, a final kill or a suprising move - the longest game i've layeed lasted 1 and a half hours! The ability also to have a great flexibilty in designing decks due to the rules means that many different kinds of strategy can be seen, and you must adapt to beat each of them. Speed beatdown - a quick powerful win, evolution - stalling to build up powerful types then quashing your opponent, stalling, frustration : many kinds of tactics abound, giving a variety and degree of intrest to each match. However, as in any game like this archetype decks spring up, powerful and easy decks that although relying on rare cards are easy to master and very reliable. An example of such at the moment is the 'Haymaker', a fast strike and
quick running deck that beats down the opponent with little chance to reply. With rule restrictions and new cards come new strategys, and the new release of the Neo set looks to change the balance of play a little. So go on - what are you waiting for ? Remember, its not sad contrary to what people say, quite mind taxing on occasion and great fun for the whole family :)

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