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Pokemon Blue and Red Versions (GB)
by WayneKWilkins
I have so many memories playing both Pokemon Red and Blue. When I was growing up, I was the only one out of my friends group that had Pokemon Yellow, so when we had finished the main game, we all traded to make sure we had played all three games. Then, of course, when tat was done, we wanted to ensure that we all had all 151 Pokemon in ... the game, which resulted in us investing in a link cable which then allowed us to collect all of the Pokemon.
These memories are very dear to me and allow me to recount joyful, happy memories of one lazy summer holiday when we left school behind for six weeks. These are especially joyful memories now because sadly, one of the friends in question passed away when we were younger - And what is extra nostalgic is that I still have his copy of Pokemon Red. Nostalgia aside, let's review these two brilliant games.
These games were released for the Gameboy Colour in the 1990's. The games are pretty much the same except for two key differences. If you play Red, you'll notice more of a red tint to your game and you start the game with Charmander. If you play Blue, you'll notice more of a blue tint and you will start with Squirtle. It is just a case of deciding which Pokemon you like more.
The gameplay itself is very vintage RPG style. You are on a large, Zelda-Like map, but the gameplay is turn based like Final Fantasy. You can keep up to 6 Pokemon in your active roster at one time, but all battles are one on one. If your Pokemon falls in battle, you summon another, so it is important to level all of your active Pokemon to take advantage of their usefulness. You can explore the map, interact with NPC's and even find hidden areas for secret Pokemon and secret items such as "The Master Ball" which allows you to capture even the most difficult Pokemon such as MewTwo.
The multiplayer aspect of this game is phenomenal. As kids, we would all just sit on the field playing these games and the excitement when we found a new Pokemon was beyond amazing. Then, of course, it was a case of deciding who out of the rest of us wanted this Pokemon first to add to their Pokedex to contribute to 151/151, and then who gets it to keep as an active Pokemon. You need to play these games with friends and have a link cable to enjoy them as much as humanly possible; I will never forget my memories with these games.
Price wise, they are still quite cheap considering their immense popularity and their age. You may be looking at no more than 30 pounds to get them in perfect condition, which isn't bad considering this was around their price when they were first released. Of course, if you bid for them you may get them cheaper and if you buy just the cartridge, you can get them cheaper too.
Overall, these games are a must-play for both Pokemon fans and casual gamers that are looking for a very unique gaming experience or some retro fun with their friends. These games are timeless.
Gamers can expect:
Some great single player gameplay
Vintage RPG style combat
Lots of secrets to find and hidden areas to explore
The thrill of having to catch all 151 Pokemon starting with only 1
Some challenging bosses and enemies
Some flawless multiplayer with friends
A masterful, vintage gaming adventure
Give Pokemon Blue and Red a try and you will not regret it.
5/5
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Pokémon Yellow: Special Pikachu Edition (GB)
by WayneKWilkins
Pokemon Yellow is by far the greatest Pokemon game of all time in my personal opinion. I remember first falling in love with Pokemon Blue and Red, and then when this was bought for me for my birthday in the 1990's, this immediately became my all time favourite. I still consider thiis title one of the bets games in my collection and these ... days, you can find yourself paying top price for it in perfect condition in Amazon or eBay, but sadly, mine will never be for sale - sorry folks- now onto the review of this brilliant game!
The game starts off in a small town where your main character dreams of setting out on an adventure. Then, Professor Oak calls him to his lab where he gives him a Pokemon. This is none other than the iconic Pikachu! You will then face your rival, Gary, before setting out on an errand for Oak. Of course, when things go wrong, you end up setting out on an adventure of your own: TO dominate the world and become the greatest Pokemon Trainer that ever lived.
The gameplay element of this game is just phenomenal. The game uses a vintage RPG style map in which you control a small character and are free to wander from town to town engaging in battles, finding secrets or progressing from A to B in order to progress on with the storyline. However, if you purchase Pokeballs, you can actually catch and keep the Pokemon that you find thus aiding you on your way to collecting all 151 Pokemon. The battles can be very difficult, and you can have up to six Pokemon with you at one time, but Pikachu must be with you at all times.
The graphics of this game are the best out of all the other early Pokemon games as they are in full colour. The music is iconic these days and anyone playing this game will fall in love with both the graphics and the music. In battle, the Pokemon are well drawn and only get better and better as you level up and allow them to evolve.
Overall, while this game is aimed at kids, the game itself is full of depth and it is a legitimate challenge that is therefore suitable for any gamer of any age group really, but particularly fans of Pokemon today or people that grew up with Pokemon years ago. Even if you have never watched Pokemon or played the card game, this is a brilliant title nonetheless and even traditional turn based RPG fans and game fans in general could quite easily fall in love with this true masterpiece of a game. Crazy to think that this came out in the 1990's on the Gameboy Colour - Give it a go, because it truly is a timeless classic!
In this game, you can expect:
An epic adventure that spans hours and hours
Lots of secrets to find including abilities that can take you to new places
The ability to collect up to 151 Pokemon
A great multiplayer experience if you trade Pokemon with your friends
Lots of replayability and a lifetime of fun and entertainment
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Pokemon Blue and Red Versions (GB)
by xisorosix
NB*I own the red version of the game.
This game was responsible for so many good memories when I was growing up - sad, I know! The game starts off with you picking a character name and listening to Professor Oak as he takes you through the very basics of the Pokemon world. (You can choose to speed up the text if you read ... quickly/get annoyed quickly!) You also get to meet your ready-made rival, Gary. He's basically this annoying boy with a trendy haircut who will get in the way of pretty much all the tasks that you're meant to do and the major Pokemon battles! You actually get to choose a name for him if you don't like the default options (e.g. Gary)...here your imagination can run wild...
With the keys, you control the player whilst viewing the whole game from an overhead perspective, that is until you meet a trainer and begin battling. The gameplay then switches to a face-to-face perspective where different Pokemon are sent out as you defeat them one by one, failing that if you get defeated and run out of healthy Pokemon (i.e. ones that haven't fainted yet...), you get blacked out. This bit I hate because you end up in a Pokemon Centre with you friends all healed, but (a) this could be quite far away from where you were before, and be (b) you have less money then before :( There are Pokemon Centres and Poke mart located in every town, here you take your Pokemon to be healed or buy things like potions and Pokemon balls to catch new Pokemon with.
The game is based in the region of Kanto. You start off in your bedroom in Pallet town from where you walk downstairs to greet your mother who is waiting at the table. From there on you visit different houses where pretty quickly you'll find Professor Oaks house. (You can approach any character and talk to them - most of the time they are quite boring, but sometimes you'll get a freebie or some advice.) Your Pokemon journey begins here in his lab where he allows you to pick one Pokemon of your choice. Note that Gary will pick a Pokemon immediately afterwards that will be stronger in type than your Pokemon e.g. a grass Pokemon will be weak against a fire Pokemon. The aim afterwards is to defeat all the gym leaders and thwart the plans of Team Rocket to finally reach the Elite Four. There is also a very powerful and rare Pokemon that you have an opportunity to try catching at the end!
The game is really intuitive - it becomes apparent very quickly what the buttons do, and where you must go. The map is clearly laid out so you know where the next town should be. There are also a limited number of paths you can take, so it's pretty hard to be at a lost with this game. The Pokemon battles do get repetitive and tedious, but unfortunately are necessary in order for your Pokemon to gain experience points and to progress to evolving into different Pokemon. Having said that, if you encounter a wild Pokemon, there is always the option to "Run away!" if you can't be bothered...NB* Rattata and other mousey Pokemon are really nasty and won't let you run away...they're also kind of ugly...(just a side note...)
I would definitely recommend this game if you're looking for something fun and simple to do to pass time. Maybe you've seen the TV series, but never were really sure about the game...which actually has been out in the UK since 1998...Then I'd definitely recommend it to you if you're in this category, as chances are you'll find it very enjoyable. This game is aimed at people from a young age, so I didn't really find the game that challenging. I really wish there were harder problems to solve! Unlike some games, this game will take at least a few days to complete despite it being a very straight-forward game. I'm reviewing the Red version of the game, but the Blue version is exactly the same. The Blue version just features different Pokemon to the Red version. For instance, in certain areas of grass, say, you're used to finding certain types of Pokemon, but in the Blue version these Pokemon are just different to the Red version. Nothing more to it! You can trade Pokemon if you and your friend have different versions and the necessary cable.
I hope you enjoy the game - if you do get stuck or want any hints or tips, there are a LOT of walkthroughs/cheats online. You'll find these on Youtube or dedicated websites!
I would award this game 4* out of 5 since I do find that the game isn't that challenging, enjoyable though it is!
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