Level Up: Pokemon Blue (Part 1)

I’ve already talked about Pokemon on at least 3 different occasions on this show. By now, you should get that when it first came out in the late 90’s, it was huge. Everyone had to watch the show, play the card game and get the toys. But of course, it all started with the video game. The first Pokemon games showed up in Japan in the year 1996, as Pokemon Red and Green, however when they were exported, they became Red and Blue (according to my research, Blue was the special edition in its native land, while the rest of world got Pokemon Yellow, which was really a tie-in for the Anime). So, to restate myself, the whole fad, craze and series really originates from these games. But what is it about them that make them so enjoyable that the series is still going strong (with now 5 generations) to this day? The more I thought about that and the more I thought about writing a review on Pokemon, the more I realized that it wouldn’t be possible, or fair, to present it all in my normal time frame. So, in this 2 part Level Up special, we are taking an in-depth look at the first generation of Pokemon for the Game Boy.

The first thing I should mention is that I’ll be reviewing this game mostly using my copy of Pokemon Blue. At this point, some of you less familiar with the series might be asking what I’m talking about, constantly mentioning colors and generations. Main series Pokemon games come out two at time, with a 3^rd game following normally within a year. The games would normally be named after colors that coincide with each other, like Gold and Silver or Back and White. A generation, for the Pokemon games, would be the group of games that go with each other, the first one being Red, Blue and Yellow, the second one being Gold, Silver and Crystal and so on. While the games in the same generation have their slight differences, such as different Pokemon, the game is basically the same: same total number of Pokemon, same map, same Gym leaders, etc… (I’ll get to all of these eventually).

You’re probably asking “Well what’s the point of releasing the same game at the same time?” Truth be told, it’s because of the Pokemon. No one Pokemon game ever allowed you to catch all of the Pokemon available in that generation; every game has some purposefully missing. This is because you’re meant to find other people who have the other versions of the game to collect the total (which in the first generation was 150, 151 if you count Mew). With the use of the Game Boy Link Cable, you could connect the two games and trade (or fight) Pokemon. As a matter of fact, not only where some Pokemon only available in the other versions of the game, but some could only evolve if you traded them. This idea of having to trade to be able to really complete the game was actually inspired and is one of the things that really helped the Pokemon series cement itself.

The plot of the game is pretty basic: you’re a 10 year old kid (the original target audience obviously) who starts off his Pokemon journey and desires to become the very best trainer. You’re told you need to beat 8 gym leaders and the Elite 4 to accomplish this goal. You’re then given your first Pokemon and off you go. Simple, yes, but this probably one of the best examples of “it’s not the destination, it’s the journey” that I have seen. Sure, you’re always fixed on your goal to drive you forward, but along the way you’ll develop a sub-plot with your rival, travel through numerous caves, climb up a haunted house and even take down Team Rocket, an organization that uses Pokemon for evil (among other events). Even after you defeat the Elite 4, you get the quest for the world most powerful Pokemon. And along the way you have fun with the catching and training Pokemon, so there is no lack of things to do in this game.

The story calls out to the adventurist in you to set off and discover the land in a very nomadic fashion (truly what kids think of when they picture an adventure). But what really holds it all together is the world. The game creates this reality where kids can play with monsters and become famous for it, twisting the familiar into a fantasy, so we can easily slip into the main characters skin. What can I say except “we bought into it”; you become a Pokemon trainer, you have to beat the Elite 4 and you gotta catch’em all. Pokemon is a great example of a world you can get lost in that you want to get lost in.