As any video gamer probably knows, this year marks the 20th anniversary of the popular Pokémon franchise. More than any other video game series, the Pokémon Co. has mastered the art of successfully reselling the exact same game in different settings. They have created a fandom that may never give up on these games, and I am a proud member of that gaming generation.
At the age of four or five, I started on my Pokémon journey in the Kanto region. I did not have Red or Blue; rather, I started on Yellow version, with the limited edition Game Boy Color to go with it. I had a freaky obsession with Pikachu at that age, as did many others at that time, so this was quite exciting for me. I don’t think I ever beat it; I was too young to get through an entire Pokémon game.
That changed, however, when I got Pokémon Gold version. With my Typhlosion at my side, this became the first video game I ever beat by myself. Thus, the Johto region will forever hold a special place in my heart.
It seems to me that Johto, being stuck between the original gen and the beloved Hoenn region, has become the forgotten generation. It played an important role, however, in expanding the Kanto gen’s Pokémon. With new evolutions, two new types (dark and steel), and the groundwork for which legendaries would eventually become less than amazing, Johto set the stage for creating the next few gens, which are so well-loved by Pokémon fans everywhere.
Next up: Hoenn. Versions Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald were arguably the giants of the Pokémon franchise. At least, they were where I grew up. These games could never beat the nostalgia of the first generation, but they gained rapid popularity.
Perhaps one reason for this was the change in graphics and style that came about in this gen. Pokémon moved on from the Game Boy Color to the Game Boy Advanced, and that may be part of why Emerald version is still heralded today as a favorite among my friend group.
Double battles were also introduced in this gen, creating a new battle style that forced players to think differently about battling and even, in some cases, how to raise their Pokémon. Oddly enough, I actually skipped over this gen, not playing it until after I had conquered Sinnoh.
I’ve drained more hours into gen four than any other gen. Another device shift (we’ve finally made it to the Nintendo DS) probably played a part in this. This gen also offered a range of extremely memorable new Pokémon and trainers. Versions Diamond and Pearl were the first to break the proverbial glass ceiling with the first ever female Champion, Cynthia (who is widely renowned among the fan base as the most powerful Champion of all time).
Platinum version, in particular, gained a lot of popularity in this gen. I have a friend who has put more hours of his life into his Platinum version than into any other video game, period!
With the next installments of the ever-popular franchise came a development that would forever alter the direction of the Pokémon universe: Pokémon Black and White (and Black/White 2) was the first gen to be based on a real-world region other than Japan.
Instead, it was based in the United States, specifically New York City. Along with this departure came an even riskier move: The games would contain absolutely no Pokémon from previous generations. Instead, trainers were given 150 brand new creatures to choose from on their journey.
Versions Black and White also introduced many other ground-breaking features that would continue to be staples in the franchise. With more character and creativity than any gen up to date, this gen is what gave players the chance to finally see just how wacky and unique the world’s gym leaders and elite four members can really be.
The introduction of triple and rotation battles is also a standout feature of these games, taking double battles and escalating them to the next level. I was never really a fan of these, but other people certainly enjoy them, I’m sure.
Finally, this gen boasts what is perhaps my favorite villain story to date: N, Ghetsis and Team Plasma. This story finally addresses a question that has been asked for years: Is the raising of Pokémon actually animal cruelty?
Finally, we come to the sixth generation. Pokémon moved to Europe for versions X and Y, with France being the model for the new Kalos region. Perhaps the easiest to beat Pokémon gen ever created, it, nevertheless offered several new features for Pokémon trainers. Character customization, a new type (fairy) and a vibrant world full of new and exciting features for players makes this game extremely enjoyable, even if I beat it in only a week.
Looking ahead, Pokémon Go and versions Sun and Moon are the new bait with which Pokémon Co. is taunting its fan base. Will I buy them? Heck yeah, I will. Pokémon is a part of me. It has been for most of my 21 years here on Earth. It’s not going away anytime soon, and I’m more than OK with that. I am a Pokémon master, and I will never be ashamed of it.
