Today’s Nerd Joga is feeling a bit nostalgic, after all, the end of February was marked by the incredible milestone of 25 years since the release of the first game in the Pokémon franchise, and what a game it was! In this text, we will talk about the game that revolutionized everything we know, helping Nintendo to build a fanbase with indescribable loyalty.
First of all, I clearly remember my first game in the franchise. I must confess that it wasn’t Pokémon Red & Green from 1996. I had a computer that could run pinball and a very slow dial-up internet. Even though my mother asked me not to use it on weekdays to save on the phone bill, I avoided it so it wouldn’t be too expensive. Thus, I was left to enjoy the pre-installed Windows games.
After spending a lot of time achieving absurd scores in pinball and understanding how Minesweeper worked, a friend introduced me to a GBA and SNES emulator for PC, and my gaming life changed forever! Before my PlayStation 1 (check out our blog post on that brief story), my leisure time was spent playing the Game Boy Advance emulator, specifically the game Pokémon Fire Red, capturing the first generation of Pokémon.
Firstly, my collection of 150 pocket monster cards was far from complete at that time, but today they are still kept safe! The second thing that encouraged me to become a Pokémon trainer was the thrill of conquering all the gyms, which the game provided, making me very excited. My carefully selected Pokémon squad was only possible thanks to this sensational game franchise that deserves our attention in today’s text.
1996, the origin of Pokémon…
I am sure that when we talk about Pokémon, that iconic opening with a tune that gets stuck in your head comes to mind, right?! Well, the anime was part of many childhoods, and the most impressive thing is that it was created thanks to the success of the game. Surely, this is a case where everything went right. The game, released in February 1996, achieved spectacular numbers, opening the door for market expansion and attracting more fans.
Indeed, the success began with the Pokémon Red and Pokémon Blue games. The story of this game is engaging and incredibly immersive. All of this on a portable console, the Game Boy (link)! A simplistic objective, with unprecedented battles and a completely new world, continues as the game’s premise! At the time, they delivered something so relevant that, over the years, generation after generation, the game continued with new additions and is still being released today!
Thus, the game’s campaign ends when the player conquers all the gyms. These achievements occur after victories in battles against opponents in these locations. The game’s development includes a series of attractions, and its first few minutes indicate the kind of trainer you want to be! We will talk more about this throughout the text.
Pokémon Red & Blue
Previously, I mentioned the most successful games—Red and Blue— which simply reached a staggering 31 million cartridges sold. Both games have a few differences, mainly in some Pokémon that are exclusive to each version. In this sense, the idea of having differences aimed to encourage Pokémon trading between friends who had different versions. In other words, it was a way for Pokémon trainers from the Red and Blue versions to complete their Pokédex.
The game features 8 gym leaders who form the Indigo League in a map called Kanto. The first step assigns a great responsibility that will accompany you for the rest of your Pokémon journey in the game.
Choosing your first Pokémon:
Charmander, Bulbasaur, and Squirtle. Personally, my favorite is Bulbasaur, with its incredibly powerful abilities! While you develop your character with guaranteed protagonism, a rival does the same with their Pokémon. You constantly encounter your rival in various parts of the map, making the game much more dynamic.
You can name your rival, who happens to be the grandson of Professor Oak, the scientist who studies these creatures. Besides the significant rivalry in the game, you also encounter several villains from Team Rocket along the way.
The Japanese cartoon that marked a generation…
I want to start by saying that the first generations of the anime had a great impact on me, and I have a huge fondness for them. Especially the first generation of Pokémon—the 151 pocket monsters have a special value. It is impossible to talk about this game franchise without referring to the anime. Following the games, the anime tells Ash’s story. Alongside his partner and Pokémon friend, Pikachu, Ash begins his journey in Kanto, experiencing incredible adventures.
On the other hand, while we get to choose between three starter Pokémon, Ash faces an unexpected situation. This moment in the anime happens within the first few minutes, where his starter Pokémon becomes his journey companion, Pikachu. With initial difficulties in understanding each other, over time, they develop a great bond, which makes all the difference in the long run.
“I choose you!”
The premise of the game remains in the development of this production, but the anime’s expansion goes even further. The creation of friendships and all the relationships formed are fascinating. The Japanese cartoon has a unique presentation concept, achieving sensational success, being reproduced in several countries, and proving its popularity. Additionally, today we can follow Ash and Pikachu’s adventures on Netflix, with over 1000 episodes available.
Considering that its target audience consists of children and young people, the anime has a diverse fanbase. Similarly to the games, the illustrations have evolved over time, keeping up with graphic advancements and undergoing changes to attract today’s children. Do you remember the first Pokémon movie? In 1998, the anime movie was released, bringing many tears… An emotional and dramatic film—you will love it! To give you an idea, the film had a very high revenue, approximately $172 million in box office earnings.
More Successful Games
The franchise of this wonderful title follows the line of handheld consoles, opening up enormous opportunities for immersion. In other words, it means an opportunity to enhance the immersion in games and make even more money. And that’s exactly what happened— as Nintendo’s handheld consoles evolved, the game’s development progressed as well. For the Game Boy Advance, remakes of the first versions of the games quickly appeared, further boosting the franchise’s success.
The enhancement of Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen showcased vibrant colors, making the gameplay fluid. I can confidently say that FireRed holds a special place on my shelf of favorite games. With each new release, the graphics and 2D perspective gradually gave way to improved visual quality and 3D elements.
The Three Best-Selling Games
Pokémon Red, Blue & Green
Previously, we saw that success originated with these games. As a result, they achieved a staggering 31.38 million copies sold, setting records that still stand in the franchise’s history. A true classic in the world of video games!
Pokémon Gold & Silver
Here, we have a high-level sequel, released in 1999, with an impressive 23.1 million copies sold. The game introduced significant changes, featuring 100 new Pokémon and new mechanics. The campaign even included Pokémon habits, where the time of day (day or night) influenced when you could catch them. Incredible, right? I thought it was genius.
Pokémon Diamond & Pearl
Every new title introduced new Pokémon, with different styles and abilities, along with new maps— and this game executed that brilliantly, just like its successors. Additionally, being on a console with technology that supported various features, its graphics were outstanding. The Nintendo DS, the console that ran the game, had Wi-Fi capabilities, allowing trainers to interact in real life. In total, 17.67 million copies were sold, generating even more revenue for the developers.
Pokémon for Everyone!
Finally, it’s an immense pleasure to write about a game that was part of my childhood, and following its evolution up close is even more exciting. Besides keeping my Bulbasaur stickers from Nerd Stickers, reminiscing about Pokémon battles is incredibly nostalgic. Watching Ash’s first victory in the Pokémon League in 2019 was an indescribable feeling, all thanks to the RPG that made it possible.
Pokémon is still being released today, with the most recent title being Pokémon Sword & Shield, which launched alongside the Nintendo Switch.
Pokémon is for everyone! Whether you’re a child or an adult, this is a story filled with adventures that continues to this day. Oh, and if you remember any memorable moments from the games or the anime, feel free to share them in the comments!
🎵 “It’s going to be an exciting adventure…” 🎵
A big hug, and I’ll see you in the next post!
