Mind-Blowingly Addictive (Pokemon Blue and Red Versions (GB))

Member Name: JackW24

Product:	Pokemon Blue and Red Versions (GB)
Date:	23/07/01 (121 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great Fun, Strategic., Addictive.

Disadvantages: Takes your life away for a few weeks., Difficult to get into., Pricey perhaps?

I hate this type of game. I can't stand RPG's (role-playing games). There's only a few colours, pretty much just different shades of red/blue depending on your version. It's not a looker. There's almost no animation. The gameboy is Old. The music is of "beep-beep-beep" quality.

Pokémon is the best game I have played for years.

Ever since that christmas morning when I ripped off the wrapping paper to find a shiny new Game Boy colour, along with a copy of Pokémon red, I have spent every spare minute staring at a 2-inch wide LCD screen desperately trying to get my Charizard past level 52.

I'm not sure exactly what it is about pokémon. It's a very addictive game, with a simple plot, simple style, and simple gameplay.

Brief Story: You are Ash (ten year old brat) and you live in Pallet Town, out in the stix. You are about to start your quest (original, eh?) to become a pokémon master. You're given a pokémon of your choice, and with no more said, off you go.

I know how irresponsible it would be to send a 10 year old boy out into the big wide world of criminals, robbers, and organised crime with little more security than his pet hamster, and the hope that he may acquire more hamsters, maybe a gerbil or parrot.

Basically, that is what happens in Pokémon. Out you go with your turtle, lizard, or pot-plant (god help me) and battle big mafia organisations, gym leaders, and biker gangs in physical fights. Strangely enticing.

Of course, one of the big pulls is that your pokémon grow, and evolve, a la Tamagotchi, but without having to press a "Feed" button every thirty seconds. I can't describe the sheer joy of watching a big fire breathing dragon grow into a bigger, flying, fire-breathing dragon due to your TLC, especially knowing that you've been pals since he was a lizard.

Combat was daunting at first, it's a drop-down menu affair, choosing whic
h attacks to use against your opponent from a maximum list of four per pokémon. Oh no! I thought, "how boring", how wrong I was.

Each pokémon has (up to) four attacks. They can either damage, disable, or weaken an opponent. On the other hand, they can also strengthen, protect, or heal the pokémon on your side. There is a lot of strategy involved.

Whilst fighting powerful pokémon, instead of sending out your most powerful beast, you could opt to send out a small pokémon, maybe one with the ability to send the other pokémon to sleep, then, you can whip out your big scary monster, and give him a swift kicking while he snoozes.

There is also a story behind it all, which vagueley follows your journey to pokémon league to become a pokémon master, it's a good story, but not one which caught my attention, which is probably why I can't remember it.

This is a highly addictive and incredibly fun game, which I would strongly recommend to anyone considering a purchase without a doubt. Even if, like me, you're not into this sort of thing.

Strangeley compelling and more addictive than heroin. Play it now.

Jack.

Summary: