When I was 5-years-old, there were only two things that I worried about: when snack time was and training my Pokémon.
My love for the game started when I saw two boys at my daycare playing Pokémon Yellow version in the corner of the playroom. I was curious what these boys were up to, so I snuck up to them and peaked over their shoulder. They were just starting the game, fighting small Caterpie in the Viridian Forest. I was intrigued and soon enough I was watching them for the next hour. That night I went home and talked for hours about how cool Pokémon was and how all the kids were playing it (which was not true, but at the time it seemed like the case to me!)
I eventually talked my mom into buying me a Gameboy Color and a copy of Pokémon Yellow. Much to her dismay, I started playing more with my Gameboy and less with my little Barbie collection. From that day on, I was hooked on the popular franchise. I collected all of the cards, bought every game that came out, and even had a plushie collection that would make any kid jealous.
Pokémon has been with me for most of my life and it was a very important part of it to. Pokémon gave me a medium in which I could make new friends. It gave me a world to explore in my dreams and imagination. It gave me the confidence to know that I could be good at something and be able to show off my skills to others.
More importantly, Pokémon comforted me through hard times. Whether it was when my parents fought or when I felt like no one wanted me, I knew that I had a team of virtual Pokémon that depended on me. I would imagine that these little pixel creatures were real, making it feel like I wasn’t really alone.
When "Pokémon Go" was announced, I was ecstatic. I showed everyone I knew the commercial and talked about it nonstop with my Pokémon friends. Being able to catch Pokémon in real life? Well that, for me, was a dream come true.
After now spending a few days with the app, I can wholeheartedly say that it was everything I wanted and more. No, it’s not a full-fledged Pokémon game. It’s more casual than any of the mainstream games. Even so, it’s still a blast.
In "Pokémon Go," your objective is to explore your town and catch Pokémon along the way. There are Pokéstops to hit that give you extra items and there are gyms to fight at landmark locations. This is a perfect set up to get players out into the world to explore their local areas. In the last two days, my friend Andrea and I have walked around our campus, a few malls, and around my little neighborhood. Along with the great exercise, we get to spend time with each other chatting about life and where the next Pokémon might be.
Even though we are technically glued to our phones, we are still interacting with the world. You know when there’s another fellow "Pokémon Go" player nearby because they are walking down the street with their eyes glued to their phone. A couple of times already we have stopped to ask what Pokémon they have caught and where they caught it.
"Pokémon Go" has created a wonderland of Pokémon fun for the fans and have allowed us to get outside and connect with the world around us. It merges fantasy and reality in the most beautiful of ways.
With new updates on the horizon, we can only wait in anticipation for what Pokémon has to offer next.
