Pokémon Red and Blue
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Pokémon Red and Blue | |
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| Developer(s) | Game Freak |
| Publisher(s) | Nintendo |
| Designer(s) | Satoshi Tajiri (director) Ken Sugimori (artist) |
| Series | Pokémon series |
| Platform(s) | Game Boy (with SGB support), Game Boy Advance (as Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen) |
| Release date | JP February 27, 1996 (original Red and Green versions) JP October 15, 1996 (Blue version) NA September 1, 1998[1][2] AUS November 1, 1998 EU October 1, 1999 |
| Genre(s) | Console role-playing game |
| Mode(s) | Single player, Multiplayer |
| Rating(s) | ESRB: E USK: Unrestricted OFLC: G |
| Media | 8 megabit cartridge |
Pokémon Red (ポケットモンスター 赤 Poketto Monsutā Aka?, "Pocket Monsters Red") and Pokémon Blue (ポケットモンスター 青 Poketto Monsutā Ao?, "Pocket Monsters Blue"), released in Japan as Pokémon Red and Pokémon Green (ポケットモンスター 緑 Poketto Monsutā Midori?, "Pocket Monsters Green"), are the first two installments of the Pokémon series of role-playing video games. They were first released for the Game Boy in Japan in 1996, and later released to the rest of the world in 1998 (North America) and 1999 (Europe and Australia.) Pokémon Yellow, a special edition version, was released one year later in each region. These three games (Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow,) along with Pokémon Stadium, form the first generation of Pokémon video games, also called the "primary generation". Pokémon Red and Blue have subsequently been remade for the Game Boy Advance into Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, released in 2004. These, being advanced generation games, allow the player to obtain all of 386 then-available Pokémon species created by the franchise.
The games are set in the fantasy world of Kanto and follow the progress of central character, Red, in his quest to master Pokémon battling. Both games are independent of each other but feature largely the same plot[1] and, while both can be played separately, it is necessary for the player to trade among the two in order to fully complete the games' Pokédexes. The anime is based on the games' plots.[3]
Pokémon Red and Blue's releases marked the beginning of what would become a multi-billion dollar franchise,[4] jointly selling millions of copies worldwide.
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[edit] Setting and plot
Pokémon Red and Blue takes place in Kanto, one distinct region of many later shown in other games. The region features a total of eight cities and two towns, along with different geographical locations (i.e. caves and forests), and Routes connecting most locations to one another. Some areas are only accessible once the player learns a special ability or gains a special item; for instance, the player must acquire the HM Surf, which allows the character to ride certain Pokémon across the sea,[5] in order to reach Cinnabar Island.
The silent protagonist of Pokémon Red and Blue (called Red in Pokémon Gold, Silver and Crystal) is a young boy who lives in Pallet Town.[6] At the beginning of the games, players may choose Bulbasaur, Charmander or Squirtle as their starter Pokémon from Professor Oak.[7] His grandson, the protagonist's rival, has the default name of the opposite color of the version owned (i.e., in Pokémon Red, his default name is Blue). He has also become a Pokémon Trainer and will battle the player at certain points in the game to test the player's Pokémon.
The basic goal of the game is to become the best trainer in all of Kanto; which is done by raising Pokémon, defeating the eight Gym Leaders for Gym Badges, and eventually challenging the Elite Four and the Champion, the player's rival. Also throughout the game, the player will have to battle against the forces of Team Rocket, a criminal organization that abuses Pokémon. The player will also eventually face off against their leader, Giovanni.
[edit] Gameplay
Like many console role-playing games, Pokémon Red and Blue are in third-person perspective, with players directly navigating the protagonist around the fictional universe, interacting with objects and people. As the player explores this world he or she encounters different terrains, such as grassy fields, forests, caves, and seas; in which different Pokémon species reside. As the player randomly encounters one of these creatures, the field switches to a turn-based "battle scene," where Pokémon take turns attacking.
A major aspect of the game is developing and raising the player's Pokémon by battling other Pokémon, which can be found in the wild or owned by other Trainers. This system of accumulating experience points and leveling up, characteristic and intergral of all Pokémon video games, controls the physical properties of the Pokémon, such as the battle statistics acquired, and the moves learned.
There are two main goals within the games: following through the main storyline and defeating the Elite Four, and completing the Pokédex by capturing, evolving, and trading to obtain all 151 creatures.
The game features various glitches, including 'M and MissingNo., two glitched Pokémon that, if captured, can cause the game to not function properly or scramble the graphics.[8]
[edit] Link-up capabilities
Pokémon Red and Blue allow players to trade Pokémon between two cartridges via a Game Link Cable.[9] This must to be done in order to complete the game without cheating or using glitches, since each of the two games has version-specific Pokémon which cannot be obtained in the other version. The Link Cable also makes it possible to battle another player's Pokémon team; however, no experience points are earned for link battles. When playing Red and Blue on a Gameboy Advance or SP, the standard GBA/SP link cable will not work; players must use the Nintendo Universal Game Link Cable.[10]
As well as trading with each other, Pokémon Red and Blue can trade Pokémon with the second generation of Pokémon games: Pokémon Gold and Silver and Pokémon Crystal. However, there are some limitations; players cannot link to the first generation games if their party contains Pokémon introduced in the second generation games, or Pokémon with moves introduced in the second generation games. Glitch Pokémon such as 'M and MissingNo. are unsupported as well; the games register them as abnormal and cancel any trade involving the glitches. Also, the English versions of the games are not compatible with their Japanese counterparts, and such trades resulted in corruption because the games were unable to translate the Pokémon that were traded automatically.[8] They are not compatible with the Pokémon games of the later "Advanced Generation" for the Game Boy Advance and GameCube either.
Using the Transfer Pak for the Nintendo 64, data such as Pokémon and items from Pokémon Red and Blue can be used in the Nintendo 64 games Pokémon Stadium and Pokémon Stadium 2.
[edit] Development
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Please help improve this article or section by expanding it. Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion. (February 2007) |
The concept of the Pokémon saga stems from the hobby of insect collecting, a popular pastime which game producer Satoshi Tajiri had enjoyed as a child. Tajiri thought the Game Boy was perfect for his concept, especially because of the link cable that allows players to trade or fight their Pokémon.[11] Tajiri never expected that the game would be so popular, especially because of the declining popularity of the handheld.
The main characters were named after Tajiri himself (Satoshi) and his friend and fellow Nintendo developer, Shigeru Miyamoto (Shigeru).
All the drawings were made by artist Ken Sugimori, and the music was made by Junichi Masuda (most tunes were later used in the anime in rearranged orchestral versions).
The Pokémon never bleed or die in battle, only faint – this was a very touchy subject to Tajiri, as he didn't want to further fill the gaming world with "pointless violence."[12]
In Japan, Pokémon Red and Pokémon Green were the first versions released. Several months later, Pokémon Blue was released with improved graphics and slight differences, such as Pokémon being encountered in different areas, and layout changes. Blue was initially only sold in Japan to CoroCoro subscribers. The Red and Blue versions were eventually released in the United States close to two years later.
[edit] Reception
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The games set the precedent for what has become a blockbuster, multi-billion dollar franchise. In Japan, Pokémon Red, Blue, and Green combined have sold 10.23 million copies.[16] In the United States, Pokémon Red has sold 4.83 million copies, while Pokémon Blue has sold 5.02 million copies.[17]
[edit] Versions
[edit] Pokémon Green
Pokémon Green (ポケットモンスター 緑 Poketto Monsutā Midori?, "Pocket Monsters Green") is the original game released with the Red version in Japan. It was never released in the United States because of the release of the improved Pokémon Blue taking its place. The remake Pokémon LeafGreen later represents it rather than the Blue version.
[edit] Pokémon Yellow
Pokémon Yellow: Special Pikachu Edition is the fourth game in the Pokémon video game series in Japan, and the third in North America and Europe. The game is a remake of the previous two versions, Pokémon Red and Blue, and was released in Japan on September 12, 1998 as Pocket Monsters Pikachu (ポケットモンスターピカチュウ Poketto Monsutā Pikachū?). It was released in North America on October 1, 1999 and in Europe on June 16, 2000 and was called Pokémon: Special Pikachu Edition by Nintendo. Along with the release of Pokémon Yellow, a special edition yellow Pokémon-themed Game Boy Color was also released. Pokémon Yellow was the last game released in the United States for the original Game Boy.
[edit] Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen
Pokémon FireRed and Pokémon LeafGreen were released for the Game Boy Advance in 2004 and they were first compatible with the Game Boy Advance Wireless Adapter (bundled with these games). They are enhanced remakes of the original Aka (Red) and Midori (Green) video games, featuring compatibility with Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald, and the Nintendo GameCube games Pokémon Colosseum, Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness, and Pokémon Box. While being remakes of Red and Green, the games include Pokémon initially obtainable in Gold and Silver as the Game Boy Advance games are incompatible with the original Game Boy and Game Boy Color games.
[edit] References
- ^ a b Games : Pokémon Red
- ^ Games : Pokémon Blue
- ^ The Anime. Retrieved on 2008-06-15.
- ^ Pokémon Franchise Approaches 150 Million Games Sold. PR Newswire. Retrieved on 2008-06-15.
- ^ Pokémon Red and Blue manual, p. 28.
- ^ Pokémon Red and Blue manual, p. 2.
- ^ Pokémon Red and Blue manual, p. 15.
- ^ a b Game Boy Game Pak Troubleshooting - Specific Games. Nintendo.com. Retrieved on 2008-05-09.
- ^ Pokémon Red and Blue manual, p. 36.
- ^ Nintendo Gameboy Connection Cord Conniptions
- ^ The Ultimate Game Freak: Interview with Satoshi Tajiri (part 1)," TimeAsia
- ^ The Ultimate Game Freak: Interview with Satoshi Tajiri (part 2)," TimeAsia
- ^ IGN review
- ^ GameSpot review
- ^ Pokémon Blue at Game Rankings
- ^ Japan Platinum Game Chart. The Magic Box. Retrieved on 2008-01-26.
- ^ US Platinum Videogame Chart. The Magic Box. Retrieved on 2008-01-26.
[edit] External links
- Pokémon Red at Nintendo.com (archives of the original at the Internet Archive)
- Pokémon Blue at Nintendo.com (archives of the original at the Internet Archive)
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