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.

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Pokemon copyright Nintendo Ltd.
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