Pokémon: Red, Green and Blue Versions

Pokémon: Red/Green/Blue Versions
Developer	Game Freak
Publisher	Nintendo
System	Gameboy
Release Date	Red Version JP: February 27, 1996 US: September 30, 1998 EU: October 7, 1999 Green Version JP: February 27, 1996 Blue Version JP: October 16, 1996 US September 30, 1998 EU October 7, 1999
Rating	ESRB: E

Pokémon: Red Version, Pokémon: Green Version and Pokémon: Blue Version are the initial three games of the Pokémon series. The different versions were made to increase interactivity between gamers (as gamers would have to trade Pokémon with each other in order to collect all of the game's monsters).

Story

The game follows the story of Red (or whatever name the player chooses) to become a Pokémon master. To do so Red must defeat eight Pokémon gym leaders and collect their badges in order to reach the Pokémon League Headquarters in Indigo Plateau, where he could face the Elite Four. Along the way Red had to compete with his rival Blue Oak, foil the nefarious plans of Team Rocket and catch as many of the 151 Pokémon hidden througout the land.

Gameplay

The game was an RPG in which the player had to collect and raise various Pokémon creatures, which were primarily used in battles. There were two different types of battles. In field battles (similar to the random battles usually found in RPGs), the player could either defeat the wild Pokémon for experience or capture it to add it to his or her collection. The other type of battles was with another Pokémon trainer, in which the goal was to defeat all of the trainer's Pokémon. Pokémon could also be taught special abilities that could be used outside of battle to reach new places (for example the Surf technique, which was the only way to travel over water).

Connectivity

Using the Gameboy Link Cable, games could be connected so that the Pokémon could be traded or used in battle. Some Pokémon could only be obtained through trade- not only Pokémon that were exclusive to one version but also Pokémon that could only evolve after being traded. There were also several points in the game were the player had to choose one out of two or more Pokémon to own (such as in the beginning, where the trainer must choose between a Bulbasaur, Squirtle or Charmander), and the Pokémon not chosen could then only be obtained by trading with another player. Pokémon could also be transferred into the games through Nintendo representatives; this was the only method of acquiring Mew, the hidden 151st Pokémon, without use of glitches or cheating devices.

The original Pokémon games could also be linked with Pokémon: Gold and Silver Versions for trade; however, the Gold and Silver players could not trade any of the new Pokémon introduced in those games, nor could they trade Pokémon that knew one of the new moves introduced in Gold and Silver. Finally, these games could be linked to the Pokémon Stadium games on the Nintendo 64, where the Pokémon could be used in 3-D battles, and several unique Pokémon with special moves could be unlocked.

Version Differences

In Japan, the Red and Green Versions were the first two to be released. The main difference between both versions was that certain Pokémon could only be found in one of the versions. Pokemon: Blue Version was later released, its main difference being a graphical update.

In America, the Red and Blue Versions were released simultaneously. Both games featured the graphical update of the Japanese Blue Version. The American Blue Version also had the same Pokémon as the Japanese Green Version, making it some strange combination of the two.

Legacy

These games helped to fuel the Pokémon phenomena which gripped America in the later 1990's. It also inspired various spin-off games such as Pokémon Stadium and Pokémon Snap.

Sequels

These games were followed up by the second generation games, Pokémon: Gold and Silver Versions. This game expanded the world of Pokémon and added one hundred new creatures while also revisiting the characters and locations from the Red/Green/Blue/Yellow games (including Red himself).

Remakes/Rereleases

In 1999 a fourth version, Pokémon: Yellow Version was released. This version contained more alterations to the game, most of which incorporated elements of the popular Pokémon anime series.

The original two games were remade for the Gameboy Advance in 2004 as Pokémon: FireRed and LeafGreen Versions.