Play n Trade

HI! MY NAME IS PLAY N TRADE STAFF WRITER, AND I’M A POKÉMON ADDICT

Posted by Play N Trade staff writer, 24th Mar 2009

I’m wrapping up my series of Retro Month Retrospectives this week.  I know you’re all disappointed.  Let me assure you that suicide is not the answer.  I’d like to set the Wayback Machine to 1998 and focus on a title for the original Game Boy system.  I was a college student.  Like any normal college student, I spent my afternoon watching cartoons while doing my homework.  I started seeing commercials for this show that seemed geared towards really young kids.  I said to myself “that looks stupid” and put it out of my mind.  Then one afternoon, I happened to catch the first episode as it was premiering.  I figured “why not” and watched it.  I was hooked from that moment.  The adventures of Ash and Pikachu were a part of my daily routine.  Then, I discovered that there was a video game coming out and it was the basis of the show.  I had a GameBoy Color, so I decided to pick up a copy of Pokémon Red.  I started the game and chose my first Pokémon.  (It was a Blubasaur.)  From that point onward, the game proceeded to dominate my free time.  I spent countless hours searching for and capturing the various creatures in the game and training them.  I felt pride after obtaining each badge from the Gym Leaders in each city of the Kanto region and eventually defeating the Elite Four.  I felt joy at spotting a particularly rare creature and adding it to my growing collection including all three legendary beasts.  I felt frustration at realizing there was no way for me to get all 150 creatures without finding someone that had the Blue version of the game to trade with.  After a while, I stopped playing, but I left it impressed at the depth of strategy in what at first glance seems to be a simple game for kids.  I have since purchased at least one game in each release.  I have played Red, Gold (Cyndaquil), Sapphire (Treecko), Leaf Green (Squirtle) and Diamond (Piplup).  This week, the updated companion to Diamond/Pearl hits store shelves, and I find myself sorely tempted to delve into Pokémon Platinum.  (I think Giratina looks really cool.) My social life is probably going to suffer.

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