Pokémon Red/Blue

Score - 44

Release: 1998

Platform Played: Game Boy

Developer: Game Freak

Overview

Pokémon Red/Blue are the first American entries in the fabled series. This is a refined version of the blue and green releases in Japan. This is a nostalgia dump of epic proportions, and you can easily get lost in enjoying a very free composition of your childhood favorites. It features rock/paper/scissors battle mechanics lovable characters, and a walk down memory lane.

The Good

The core concept of Pokémon will always be amazing. Catching, Training, Battling, and building a team with infinite combinations. The game is very linear and overall, a very relaxed experience. The progression of your team building is very rewarding, and each player’s experience is very unique. The checkpoints of gym battles provide a very straightforward progress tracker as well as the functioning of the map. This game implements the DNA that every Pokémon game who will ever follow possesses.

The Bad

Overall, Gen 1 is very simple. There are rare story lines. No player agency. No equipment. A linear leveling system with a few move set choices to make along the way. In the 90s this may have been enough to itch a strategic mind but through the test of time the game holds little interest outside of player-imposed challenges/ speed runs/ or just nostalgia. Every aspect of the game is overlookable by simply breaking the game. Spam swords dance and sweep or throw a few sand attacks at an opponent and they will almost never hit you.

Final Verdict

Pokémon Red/Blue are absolutely legendary. They show you the basis to a franchise that generations have and will love. Any true fan of the series will at some point have to experience these games to truly appreciate how far we’ve come. However, Pokémon loyalists are the only audience that will enjoy this game. If at this point you’ve never played it the odds are you’re not a huge Pokémon fan. If that’s the case, then keep on scrolling there’s better fits below this review.