Niki Aihara

English 308 – Section 01

Professor Jon R. Hegglund

4 May 2015

Pokémon Forever

I recently purchased Pokémon Alpha Sapphire by Nintendo from a local GameStop and

was immediately taken back to my childhood. Pokémon Alpha Sapphire is the re-mastered

edition of the old Pokémon Sapphire game that came out in America in 2003 (List of Pokémon

games). The Pokémon franchise has been around since 1996 when the first Pokémon games,

Pokémon Red, Pokémon Green and Pokémon Blue, came out in Japan (History of Pokémon; List

of Pokémon games). Their creator Satoshi Tajiri was fascinated by insects and tadpoles when he

was growing up and wanted to convey the same feelings he felt catching those creatures to others

and so created Pokémon (History of Pokémon).

The first generation of Pokémon that were released in 1998 in America consisted of 151

Pokémon ranging from Bulbasaur to Mew (List of Pokémon games; Pokédex). I owned the

yellow version that came out a year after the initial red, green and blue versions in 1999 (List of

Pokémon games). The 8-bit pixel art that Pokémon games started out with have greatly changed

over the years. The 8-bit format allowed the creators more room for creativity and they used

every pixel to their advantage. Creating a pixelated game with as much story and options as

Pokémon had, took a lot of programming and a lot of time. The only games out at the same time

were games such as Tetris, Super Mario and etc. (Gameboy). There weren’t many games out yet

that could come close to the Pokémon games. The closest games that could come close to the

Pokémon games around the same time would be Harvest Moon or Super Mario as both have

numerous options the player could go through and there was a heavy storyline in each of those

games (List of Harvest Moon Video Games). The pixelated artwork of the game really appealed

to me back then and even now. The interaction between the trainer and Pikachu was fantastic.

You could talk to Pikachu and gain its love and trust and could be monitored by the windows

that would pop up when talking to Pikachu. I really enjoyed the first couple minutes of walking

around and talking to Pikachu because it always gave me an angry face since I just received

Pikachu and like the story goes, it really did not like the trainer.

Even with all the angry faces and disobeying Pikachu became my strongest, most reliable

Pokémon. The feeling of catching a Pokémon and then raising it was very exciting and kept

children well occupied for hours. In the other versions, red, blue and green, the trainers could

pick their first Pokémon from the three basic types; grass was Bulbasaur, fire was Charmander,

and water was Squirtle and then electric was Pikachu. Pokémon yellow is the only version to

date that has Pikachu as your only option for the starter Pokémon (Starter Pokémon). I would say

that Satoshi Tajiri’s feelings have come across clear to the players in this first generation of

games. After the first generation the Pokémon franchise went on to produce five more

generations.

The second generation came out in America in 2000 which was only about one or two

years after the initial release of the first generation Pokémon (List of Pokémon Games). With the

second generation, brand new starters were introduced as well as 90 plus new Pokémon along

with them (Pokédex). The new Pokémon also brought a brand new map and a new region to

explore. The first region that the players explored was the Johto region and then the next region

was the Kanto region which is located right beside the Johto region. The Kanto region was

similar to the previous in that there were eight gym leaders in which you needed to defeat in

order to face the elite four (Badge). The play through was about the same as the first generation

just with different Pokémon. This game seemed redundant and the graphics were about the same

as the first with a bit more detail to the pixelated art. The second generation added color to the

game with more than the normal black, gray and white contrasts. Though the coloring was not all

that great as there was little to no shading or different color shades, the game was still a much

better experience after being colored.

The release of the third generation Pokémon in 2002 only furthered the trend of Pokémon

(List of Pokémon Games). About every two years or so, Nintendo would come out with another

Pokémon game set and a new batch of Pokémon. The third generation added yet another set of

starter Pokémon and 125 plus Pokémon to the Pokédex (Pokédex). It seemed that there would be

a trending effect of adding a new generation of Pokémon with new starters and a new region as

well. The games were also starting to become overly repetitious and less challenging. The

Pokémon games in the beginning were more difficult, the Pokémon needed to be higher in level

then what seems to be required now. The graphics were becoming more and more defined and

closer to a 3 dimensional character that the current Pokémon games show. The third generation

added in a wide color palate as to show different shades of colors being used to add depth to the

image. Also introduced in the third generation was an upgrade in the graphics of the Pokémon

images in the battle scenes as well. The trainers were also redefined and actually look

humanistic. The trainers can also be either male or female now, unlike the previous games where

the trainers had to be male.

The fourth generation was released as scheduled about two years after the third

generation. Also as predicted there was a new set of starters and 90 plus new Pokémon

(Pokémon). I say new but they are basically the same type of Pokémon just redrawn. There is

always a new bug Pokémon like the first generation Caterpie and then another bird Pokémon like

Pidgey or Spearow as well as other examples from the first generation (Pokédex). With the

upgrades in graphics for the release of the diamond, pearl and platinum versions there was a new

demand for the Pokémon games. The characters now stood out from the surroundings and now

had a 3D feel to them. They were no longer flat characters on a 3D looking board. Each of the

characters now even had their own shadows and definition by shading. Some of the Pokémon

could also be interacted with more than the yellow version. Chatot has a signature move called

“chatter” which allowed the reader to recorded their own voice and then use it as an attack

(Chatter). That interaction was greatly perceived but soon died out as that was the only real

interaction anyone could have and only with that one specific Pokémon.

Then in 2010, things took a turn for the worst and Pokémon released its largest

generation of Pokémon that exceeded all the generations before (List of Pokémon Games).

Generation five was the worst attempt to create another Pokémon game with brand new

characters. The new Pokémon that they created were unimaginative and disappointing. The fact

that there are now fairy type Pokémon that can beat dragon type Pokémon, which for the longest

time were the strongest Pokémon in the game, angered not only me but a majority of the

Pokémon Fan community. For example a Dragonite from the first generation was the Elite Four

Cynthia’s top Pokémon that was the most challenging to defeat could now be taken down by a

Jigglypuff…to many Pokémon fans this seemed like a joke taken way too far.

It did not stop there though, there are now coffin Pokémon, ice cream cones, chandeliers,

and the worst of all a garbage bag Pokémon. Though there were many fans that were against the

release of the new generation there were many that were for it as well. Some people enjoyed the

new class and the addition of Pokémon that could take the place of items that were in the

Pokémon world. There were many that bought the game just to see what the fifth generation

could do and somethings were amazing. The graphics that the fifth generation showed blew

away all the previous generations. The programmers at Nintendo out did themselves and showed

the trainers that they could almost go anywhere without restriction. They added in bigger cities

that had buildings and shops you could enter. There were not many dead ends that you could run

into like previous games and now there were people that walked the streets as you did. This

effect gave the game a more natural feel as if you were walking around a city, if you walked

around a city there would be people walking around, chatting, going in and out of shops and that

is what the programmers added to this game. This aspect was well received by most but some

thought it to be distracting at some points. Also in the fifth generation they decided to combine

the Pokémart and the Pokécenter which made the challenge of finding both easier and more

convenient when you really needed a Pokécenter or mart (Generation V). This generation of

games also introduced the idea of having seasons and Pokémon that evolve due to season and

weather (Generation V). Another aspect that players just loved about this game is that they

expanded the Pokémon storage system that increases the boxes from eighteen to twenty four

(Generation V). Another interesting idea that was introduced in Pokémon Black and White was

the introduction of a triple battle, where the trainer is faced by not just two trainers but three

(Pokémon Battle)! This would mean that there would be a lot more Pokémon on the field and

each had to be coordinated for each of the opposing Pokémon that went up from the maximum of

two to three. Many players enjoyed this aspect of the game as they could see how technology had

progressed to the point where it was possible to fit six Pokémon on one handheld screen with as

much detail and effects as if there were only two or four.

The sixth generation was, what many felt as Nintendo’s attempt to come out with a new

set of Pokémon that did not really fit in with the other generations by far. The sixth generation

graphics far out matched the previous generations by far. Allowing the player to now customize

their own character even down to the skin color and clothes. This added a whole new aspect that

appealed to both males and females. Even in this generation there were many new Pokémon that

left players scratching their head. There were now sword and shield shaped Pokémon with

uncreative names. There were also Pokémon that required the player to turn their handheld

device upside down to evolve the Pokémon. This was interesting and a good idea but it did not

appeal too many who have played most of the previous generations.

The sixth generation also introduced the concept of mega evolutions. The concept was

very interesting but the new artwork for the evolution were less exciting. Some of the mega

evolutions were drawn beautifully while others make me scratch my head at what they were

thinking. Some of the mega evolutions, I thought, were unnecessary for some and needed for

others. The idea of mega evolutions was that if the trainer and Pokémon had a strong enough

bond the Pokémon could go beyond its evolution into a non-permanent mega evolutionary state.

Though this idea was a great concept, there was really no need for the Pokémon to further

evolve. I believe that this idea was created to cover the fact that Nintendo is running out of ideas.

Below are some prime examples that came out in the first release…yes they released another set

with the most recent release Alpha Sapphire and Omega Ruby. On the left you can see the

Pokémon Absol that has appeared in Pokémon movies as well as in the animated series. Absol is

apparently the omen of danger but the artwork for Absol is still graceful and beautiful. On the

other hand Blastoise which is the last evolvement of Squirtle, was a total disaster. Many people

thought that there were sexual subliminal messages in the way that Blastoise was drawn. Plus,

the design for Blastoise lacks creativity if the only thing they did was move his water cannons to

his hands and make a ginormous one on his back…this is not a very pleasing design as it does

not add anything to the Pokémon except make him look ridiculous. Blastoise is only one of many

mega evolutions that have gone wrong, but I still have to say that Absol is the only acceptable

one at the moment (for me anyway).

Players that have played and seen the Pokémon Franchise evolve since it first debuted in

America, have slowly drifted away due to the uncreative and repetitive nature of some of the

games. Nintendo had a great thing going with the Pokémon games and television show, but took

it too far to produce a fifth and sixth generation that were merely additions to the previous. There

were no real need to add another generation nor was there any unique characteristics to the

Pokémon anymore. The fifth and sixth generation were the most disappointing to many as there

were Pokémon that now, players did not want or care for. The earlier games made players what

to catch all the Pokémon because they wanted to not because that was the main objective of the

game. The sixth generation should not be called a sixth generation as it only released about sixty

nine additional Pokémon (Pokédex). The current generation, I feel, lack the judgement of the

franchise as they had not gotten the chance to experience what the games were about. The newer

generation of children no longer play the Pokémon games just to catch and train all the Pokémon

but to have the best Pokémon and to defeat other players. I feel that this mind set is nothing of

what Satoshi wanted to accomplish when he first released his Pokémon games.

Though there were many things that should have stayed the same and some things that

deserved to change, the games graphics were the only thing that no player could really complain

about. The graphics improved every generation as the handheld console was also improved.

Through the different generations one could see how the game progressed from a very basic

pixel game to a 3D game with a 3D function that can allows players to see the characters in a 3

dimensional way. I have dreaded playing some of the games but cannot deny that the graphics

for some of the games were beautiful and made the game worth playing even thought it was

mainly for the scenery. The improved handling and control system was also great, going from a

four directional character to a character that could walk in almost all directions a normal human

being could. Finally being able to customize one’s own character was something that I,

personally was waiting for. This aspect allowed not only myself but many players to actually

immerse themselves into the games as if they were the trainers in the field and in battles. Overall

the Pokémon franchise would do well to get fresh ideas if they are going to release another

generation. There are many fan made Pokémon that people would actually like to see being

added to the game and even fan made Pokémon games that are just as enjoyable to play as the

real games. Maybe the next game that Nintendo comes out with will be with fan made ideas.

References:

1. Badge. Bulbapedia. 27 March 2005. Web. 17 April 2015.

<http://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Badge>

2. Chatter (move). Bulbapedia. 21 August 2006. Web. 17 April 2015.

<http://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Chatter_(move)>

3. Game Boy. Wikipedia. Web. 28 April 2015. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_Boy>

4. Generation V. Bulbapedia. 6 October 2007. Web. 17 April 2015.

<http://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Generation_V>

5. History of Pokémon. Bulbapedia. 29 December 2015. Web. 17 April 2015.

<http://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/History_of_Pok%C3%A9mon>

6. List of Harvest Moon video games. Wikipedia. Web. 28 April 2015.

<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Harvest_Moon_video_games>

7. List of Pokémon games. Wikia. Nintendo. Web. 17 April 2015.

<http://nintendo.wikia.com/wiki/List_of_Pok%C3%A9mon_games>

8. Pokédex: Pokémon Omega Ruby and Pokémon Alpha Sapphire. The Pokémon Company

International 2015.

9. Pokémon Battle. Bulbapedia. 18 April 2005. Web. 17 April 2015.

<http://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Pok%C3%A9mon_battle>

10. Pokémon Red and Blue. Wikipedia. Web. 28 April 2015.

<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pok%C3%A9mon_Red_and_Blue>

11. Starter Pokémon. The Pokémon Wiki. Wikia. Web. 17 April 2015.

< http://pokemon.wikia.com/wiki/Starter_Pok%C3%A9mon>