25 Years of a Phenomenon
This week, February 27, it was 25 years ago when the world of gaming changed. The first ever Pokémon game (Red and Green) came to life on the Nintendo Gameboy. The start of one of the best selling video game franchises of all time. And due to the accompanying meant it became a significant staple in the diet of most people. Even my mom of 87 years old knows Pokémon!
There’s a lot of media attention of course for this celebration with a special Pokémon Presents Youtube show where we looked back but also to the future. With a brand-new game coming in 2022 called Pokémon Legends: Arceus. An open world adventure that might just draw me back in!
And a remake coming this year of the Diamond and Pearl game. It made me think back, as these were from the time when I entered the Pokémon Universe with the third game in that sequel, Pokémon Platinum.
Time for Something New
Gaming friends from over the world had told me time and again that I should try a Pokémon game, and every time I said that wouldn’t be my cup of tea. After all, I knew the kids’ series from television, and no way I would be into that too. This was the time when I was still, 1,5 years after starting Animal Crossing Wild World, working every day on my little town.
But then Pokémon Platinum was released, and I read in one of the gaming mags that this would be the super de luxe version, including everything from diamond and pearl plus some extra’s. And as I was looking for a new challenge in games, I thought “oh well, let’s give it a try. If I don’t like it, I can at least make one of my nieces or nephews happy with it”. We are talking about 2009 here.
Most of you will have known Pokémon since youth, maybe you have grown up looking at the TV show and checking out the games on your GameBoy. I only knew the tv show from my daughter watching it while I was just going about my business. So everything was new to me and I wasn’t disappointed!
Sharing the Game: the Best Experience
So my first adventures took place in the region of Sinnoh in Platinum, the follow up game for Diamond and Pearl, and it’s one of the games I played to the bittersweet end. Loved it, mostly because I got to share it with my gaming friends. We had a shared excel spread sheet of Pokémon we had caught, breeded them in the Daycare centers using a Ditto so we could exchange and we even made sure we had all the special berries from sharing. Good times! I’ve said many times that the best way to play a game is to share it with someone else!
At the time my daughter was 10 years old, and I still remember fondly that she was mortified when she brought some classmates over after school, and I asked one of the boys which starter Pokémon he had chosen. I guess kids don’t like it when their mothers play Pokémon, though the boys thought I was a very cool mum!
It’s been some time since I fanatically played Pokémon. I think Pokémon Go was my most recent experience, or was it Pokémon Sun and Moon? The thing is, I really have to be in the thrall of the Pokémon bug to play so feverishly. Otherwise, battle after battle can start to feel like wading trough mud. No matter, I’m pretty sure eventually I will catch the Pokévirus again.
Have you ever played a Pokémon game, and what were your first experiences? I’m curious to hear, as you know you can find us in Discord!
You must log in to post a comment.