POCKET
MONSTER HISTORY
In
1996, Nintendo released Pocket Monsters Red and Green for the
portable GAMEBOY in Japan. Quietly gaining popularity
with its addictive, constantly rewarding single-player gameplay
and its excellent use of the Game Boy's link cable, Pokémon caught
on quickly with elementary school students. Sales dwindled after
a while but were rekindled with the release of the cartoon series
in 1997.
Following
the cartoon's release, every company has worked to get a bid on
the action, releasing toys and comics at a fever pitch.
Nintendo then decided to release two new Pokémon carts, as well
as a Nintendo 64 game, single-handedly reviving the N64's sagging
business. While currently not as fevered in the US, Pokémon's
popularity is building steam. The cartoon series was rated number
one in New York and enjoys similar success all over the nation.
For
those that haven't played it, Pokémon is a unique mixture of Final
Fantasy, Tamagotchi, and rock-paper-scissors gameplay with a collectible
edge akin to that of Magic: The Gathering. You lead a lone
adventurer out on his Pokémon journey, a quest to become the champion
of the Pokémon League. Before our hero can even enter the Pokémon
League, he must win eight badges from the Pokémon gyms
scattered around the world. It's never that easy, though, as you
will have to fight the evil Team Rocket along the way and complete
a number of other side quests just to get to the gyms.
You scour the globe for Pokémon, capturing them with Pokeballs.
Once caught, Pokémon can then be added to your party and trained.
You can carry up to six Pokémon with you at a time. In battle,
only one may be deployed at a time but can be quickly swapped
for another. Every Pokémon is classified as one of 15 different
types of Pokémon, adding the rock-paper-scissors aspect: Fire
Pokémon are weak against water attacks, flying Pokémon are strong
against bug Pokémon, etc. This adds an element of strategy to
"party" formation. Each of the Pokémon are like standard RPG characters
- as they gain experience levels, they gain new abilities and
grow stronger. Many Pokémon will evolve into completely different
Pokémon once they reach a certain level or you use a special item
on them.
Additionally, four Pokémon will only evolve when traded, increasing
the incentive to play with friends even more. (Of course, one
could buy both carts and be antisocial, too.) One of Pokémon's
most unique and endearing aspects is its multiplayer nature. You
can trade Pokémon with friends and battle them, adding lots of
long-term play incentive. Additionally, those that buy only the
Red or Blue versions of the game can't capture all 150 Pokémon
without trading - each cart contains 139 Pokémon. As extra
incentives, some Pokémon don't evolve unless traded, and traded
Pokémon gain experience 50 percent faster than normal. Under the
cuddly exterior, Pokémon is a serious and unique RPG with lots
of depth and excellent multiplayer extensions.
Continue reading the history of Pokemon
>>
Pokemon
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