To celebrate the 25th anniversary of Pokémon, let’s take a look at some of the best gaming highlights from this landmark legacy, which has a special place in so many gamers’ hearts.
Pokémon Red and Blue
How can we not talk about the games which started it all? Pokémon Red and Blue were the original games, released on the Game Boy back in 1998. Almost every gamer has this game in the late 90’s, with everyone being ecstatic about this new upcoming action-role playing game. These games contain the original 151 Pokémon from the iconic Pikachu and Charizard to the legendary bird trio.
This game takes place in the nostalgic “Kanto region”, where you start off in Pallet Town on your quest to become the Pokémon champion, while filling up the Pokedéx and fighting off against the evil Team Rocket. These two games started a long legacy of Pokémon games, with us now being in the eighth generation of Pokémon and with a whole lot more to come…
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Games
Slightly differing from the typical Pokémon trainer games like Red and Blue and Ruby and Sapphire, the Pokémon mystery Dungeon Franchise is all about playing as a Pokémon in a quest-based game rather than defeating other gym leaders as a trainer.
Exploring dungeons, ravelling mysteries and a touching storyline shines throughout these games, especially Pokémon Explorers of Time and Darkness, which I will happily still play today just to be a part of Wigglytuff’s guild. Somewhat challenging at times, it’s bound to keep you playing for hours.
The Mystery Dungeon series has developed from the Gameboy Advance, to the Nintendo DS/3DS and now onto the Nintendo Switch. Putting the Pokémon at the forefront of a game is always a step in the right direction.
Pokémon Colosseum
(Credit: Nintendo)
Let’s just appreciate that the Nintendo GameCube bought us some of the best games to ever exist, and Colosseum is up there with the best to come from the GameCube.
Pokémon battling took tremendous steps forward in this 2004 game with fully animated fights similar to the anime which hooked Pokémon gamers.
Being able to fight your way up to the top and feat off against trainers with legendries, this game has you using your strategy knowledge to defeat your opponents with stunning graphics for the console of its time.
Shortly followed by Pokémon Battle Revolution and eventually Pokkén Tournament DX, this strand of the series proves to be ever so popular and will hopefully keep improving generation by generation with players always insisting some of the gameplay graphics are introduced in the core Pokémon series.
Pokémon Diamond and Pearl
Technically the first game released on the Nintendo DS was Pokémon Blue Rescue Team, but the first core release on the DS was the famous generation four games.
Diamond and Pearl introduced so much to the Pokémon series, from the physical/special split in gameplay mechanics to being the first games to introduce the Nintendo Wi-Fi system allowing you connect to Pokémon trainers from across the globe.
These iconic games were the first ever games I had chance to play and I’m sure my DS says I have over 400 hours’ worth of gameplay on these games, which means either I used to not have a life, or these are just some brilliant games.
A long list of evolutions, legendries and introducing the beautiful region of Sinnoh, but they were also followed by a great legacy of DS games from Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver to Pokémon Black and White and their sequels.
PokéPark
(Credit: Nintendo)
Humble and pure fun is the best way to describe the PokéPark games. Shifting onto the Nintendo Wii, these games focus purely on the Pokémon. Playing as the iconic Pikachu you will explore this wide region of different areas and full of fan favourite Pokémon.
The game features a variety of mini challenges from racing to battling, which help improve your skills in combat while receiving help from other Pokémon. This game features a dynamic story in both games which keeps you intrigued throughout.
‘PokéPark ‘does what Pokémon does best, which is to showcase the range of Pokémon from the generations and incorporate this into a world which is all about them. Every player’s dream is to be in a world full of Pokémon and this game does just that. I hope to see another sequel in the near future.
Pokémon GO
(Credit: Nintendo)
Who didn’t join in the 2016 craze of Pokémon GO? I know I surely did, going out on the weekend in Nottingham City Centre to try and find the very best Pokémon.
Pokémon GO revolutionised Pokémon and bought it back once again into the mainstream. A simple mechanic of exploring the real world and finding Pokémon is a genius idea. Pokémon struck gold with this game! Battling gym leaders from down the road, to battling against other trainers in your home city, this game bought everybody out of the house and got them to ‘catch them all!’
The series is still ongoing with Pokémon Let’s go Pikachu and Eeeve being released on the Nintendo Switch, spinning the core Pokémon series and leaving room for possibly more potential remakes of ‘Let’s go’ in the future.
Pokémon Sword and Shield
(Credit: Nintendo)
Finally, Pokémon on our TV screens! The most two recent core games – Pokémon Sword and Shield, followed the ‘Let’s go’ games onto the Nintendo Switch, meaning the days of handheld main series Pokémon games are now left behind.
The Galar region is based off the UK – which excited me even more than the conversion to the Switch – but not only that it also introduced so much more to the series. Gameplay is the biggest change, with the introduction of the wild areas which is where Pokémon are roaming around in one massive open world area, which allows for more range in catching and training, allowing playthroughs to be a lot more fun and dynamic.
Pokémon as a series is consistently developing, with these games and their DLC showing what they can now work with on the Nintendo Switch software.
What’s next for Pokémon?
(Credit: Nintendo)
I’m excited for what’s to come with Pokémon, with Diamond and Pearl remakes on the way, New Pokémon Snap as well as the mysterious Pokémon Legends Arceus series, there is a lot to choose from.
Pokémon has created an incredible legacy from the games, to the anime series to the card game collections, it has truly made itself an iconic household name. Everybody has heard of Pokémon; everybody will have been involved in Pokémon and hopefully everybody will keep celebrating all things Pokémon as the series progresses year upon year.
Happy 25th anniversary Pokémon!
By Jack Proverbs
Feature image: Daily Esports