About a month ago, on a whim, I decided to dig through all the old Pokemon games, play them one by one, and see what I could find.
Spreading a handful of GBA, DS and 3DS games on the table, I was filled with exhilarating nostalgia as I plugged in one after another and reunited with my old pals. They were like miniature time capsules filled with artifacts that transported me to a specific time and place in my life.
Pokemon Emerald, 2005, when I was fresh out of college and fully invested in the competitive scene. Pokemon Platinum, 2008, one of the first games I covered as a member of the media. 2017’s Pokémon Ultra Sun felt like a disappointment at the time, but as the last game to feature all Pokémon, it now feels like the last vestige of the classic experience.
I’ve noticed that fans are looking back once again on the fun morning after this week’s Pokémon Direct that hoped to include the original Game Boy game, but remained primarily focused on Scarlett and Violet’s anticipated expansion. . First announcement in 2019). If there’s anything that can take away the bad taste left by Scarlet and Violet’s technical problems, it’s a link to the original game that holds a strong hold on the popular imagination.
A link to the past of Pokémon
This was especially evident when Game Freak released Pokemon Red and Blue on the Nintendo 3DS, the revival of the last original that was a turning point for the series. Not only did it make originals that had been locked on older platforms for years available to a wider audience, but it also connected them to a new generation through Pokémon Home. This was a big deal as the original Gameboy game was decoupled from the mainline release starting with Ruby and Sapphire.
Before it was re-released on the Nintendo 3DS in 2016, I saw the original Game Boy games as nostalgic but not in the chain that spanned each generation, a vestige of the original’s continuity. One of Pokémon’s many quirks is that it’s been covertly like a live-service game from the start, resembling a Destiny or World of Warcraft expansion in each successive generation. My sword and shield team included Hydragon, which I caught in Pokemon Black, and Septile, which I bred from Pokemon Emerald. Instill a unique sense of continuity that goes beyond individual entriesOne of the reasons “Dexit” was such a disruptive moment for the community was that it shattered a cherished continuity that has long defined the series.
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With the restored link to the mainline series, we were able to experience the original generation of Pokémon with fresh eyes. The old-fashioned graphics have suddenly become stylish thanks to Ken Sugimori’s unique art. After so many wholesome but insipid rivalries, Blue’s blistering taunts were charming (although I always stun Sword and Shields hop. And when it’s all over, I’m Caught monsters could stay alive in other games.
Over time, the original game began to feel more like the anchor for an otherwise unsettling series. We’re turning classic games like Heart Gold into Twitch flagships. Randomizers and other alternative methods are more popular than ever. Yet it also feels like a larger ecosystem where longtime fans express their love for the series in unique ways.
However, in just a few weeks, the game will no longer be available for purchase from the Nintendo 3DS eShop. When you go offline Two-thirds of all Pokémon games released in the US It becomes commercially unavailable, making it difficult, if not impossible, to access much of the Pokémon ecosystem.
protect a rich heritage
Therefore, the various developers of Pokémon have an obligation to preserve the franchise’s rich history on Nintendo Switch Online, ideally with continued support for Pokémon Home. NSO’s newly added support for Game Boy Advance games is particularly compelling, as several of the Pokemon games have been released for that platform. On the Game Boy and his GBA games, the Nintendo Switch will be home to his sixth of his nine generations of Pokémon.
Does this include support for Game Boy connectivity in Pokemon Stadium 1? It seems unlikely, but the recent removal of the disclaimer stating that players cannot transfer Pokemon to the stadium has meant that Speculation is rife among fans. Girls can dream, right?
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Somehow, Pokémon continues to maintain a strong connection to its history – perhaps stronger than any other series going on today. This is due to the continuity Game Freak has cultivated since the Game Boy era.
With the looming closure of the eShop, the healthy ecosystem that underpins much of Pokémon’s success is in danger of becoming nearly inaccessible. is that each has its own unique experience. Now is the perfect time for a whole new generation to discover for themselves why these games are classics.
Kat Bailey is IGN’s Director of News and co-host of Nintendo Voice Chat. Any tips? Send a DM to @the_katbot.
