I cannot believe the franchise that has embedded myself in my soul and given me so much in my life is 30 years old! ^_^ I have celebrated in so many ways over the years, but I am going to do it again. I thought I would share my timeline of the Pokemon games, what started it all in my life, starting with my first encounter from 1999. 🙂 I hope you guys enjoy this meaningful trip around memory lane and share your own. 🙂
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1999:
I remember this date vividly for numerous reasons! Fifth grade was when I had my favorite teacher and on my 11th birthday (November 1st,) we went on a field trip to the St. Louis science center. I recall one of my classmate, Aaron Kelso (rest in peace good sir,) was playing the newest game for the insane mania going around: “Pokemon.” I was only slowly finally giving the anime and cards a chance at this point (I was refusing to for awhile because I didn’t just want to give in to what was popular.)
On our trip up there, Aaron was playing “Pokemon Yellow” on the bus. And of course, everyone was crowding him, absorbed, asking him to play. I was on the opposite side of his row on the bus, sitting quietly with my momma (who was chaperoning.) As everyone is begging Aaron to chose them, he suddenly says, “Morgan.” I am sure I looked as stunned as the others! He came and sat right by me and showed me how to play (I recall my mom smiling a lot at this.)
I owe Aaron so much. 🙂
I had a great time in the field trip but on our ride back home, all I could think about was the game and I pleaded kindly for my mom to get it for me. After she asked me a hundred times if I was sure, we went to Grandpa’s (anyone recall that chain, lol,) and I got to not only get Yellow version, but my purple Gameboy Color (which in itself was a fairly new handheld technology for the USA.) Mom and I wrapped it and she made be promise to act surprised. I was SO dedicated to the craft I practiced my surprised face in the mirror until we had my birthday dinner!
What a birthday! This day opened the door to me, shaped me, changed my life, introduced to friends and adventures, and I am eternally grateful. 🥹 And thank you to Aaron, my momma, and my first Poke partner, Pikachu! ⚡️
And YES! I had a matching work light! Miss snd cherish this little guy!
Ahhhhh…link cables. The only way you could truly collect all 151 OG Pokemon through trading and connect and battle with your friends…if you were less than a few feet apart! 😂 My high schoolers had no idea when they saw this video in a recent commercial!
2000:
I adore these games! Day and night mechanics. New Pokemon (although to be honest, as an adult, I see that access to them and the stats of many are not good, lol,) and revisiting our beloved Kanto gym leaders…Plus, the epic Mt. Silver finale!
2001:
The enhanced version of “Pokemon Gold/Silver.” And the first time you can be a girl!!! Eeee! Just as awesome as the first generation two set. Also, the cartridge was sparkly! 🤩They need to do all of them like that. I do wish the enhanced version was maybe “Pokemon: Celebi.” It’s not my favorite Pokemon, but picking Suicune, one of a trio of legends, seems unfair to the other two. Plus, Entei is the best of them. 😉
2003:
So during my 7th grade year, no main series game came out, and that’s when it became lame to like Pokemon. I still collected cards and watched the anime, but had to hide it.
Then generation three came out with Ruby and Sapphire and it revived my unashamed love.
I wanted Sapphire, but Miles did too. He was younger so he got it. 😂 But I fell hard for these games. The bright colors and breathtaking cities and routes still capture me…Even if it has ‘too much water…’ 😝 I mean…a treehouse town! Sold! The characters are sublime and several of the new Pokemon amazing. This is the region that gave us Gardivoir and Altaria! Having two rival evil teams, the only storyline where we have a DAD, you chose your playable character out of two choices, tricks on our bikes, and adding the new mechanic of Pokemon contests, this game was familiar, fresh, and innovative.
And my favorite side activity ever; building my secret base! I recall it vividly to this day! Chef’s kiss! 😘
This was my first game I had a Pokemon hit level 100 and until recently, placed the longest of at 94 hours. I would truck it under my bed for years, all of high school and college, and would just randomly play it if I couldn’t sleep.
2004:
Pokémon’s first remake…eight years after the original, 😂 But seeing the joinery that stated it all in color and better graphics was worth it. These are a fantastic staple of what remakes should be. Very much liked these.
Fun facts: Miles’ favorite color is green…so it was easy to split who got Red and who got Green, ha!
We also got posters of all the Pokemon from this game and the previously mentioned Ruby and Sapphire, both from the backs of their respected strategy guides. They still are on the walls in his old rooms at my dad’s house. ☺️
The Game Boy Advance SP: To this day, this is my favorite handheld. It had the power and capability of the advanced, but it could be folded over in a sturdy, sleek, and compact way. For YEARS, I would slide this under my pillow to dive into worlds of bits and colors at light before sleep, it never losing its luster. All the Ruby, Yugioh, and pinball I played on this thing in high school, lol! It was a friend and even the first half dozen years of my marriage, when I needed a drink of nostalgia, I used this to fuel that fire and make it so. I owe this device so much. ^-^ I had this beautiful sapphire one. My bro-bro had a ruby one.
2005:
The third companion game to go with generation three, and you do expect it to be better since they have a year or two to clean up issues, dislikes of fans, enhance graphics, and add material. This one not only kept its promise, but had NO RIGHT to be beyond that good! When Raqueza dove down from the celestial heavens to basically stop the beings of water and land to stop throwing a giant tantrum was mesmerizing! Gen three will always be top-tier Pokémon for me, and this game is partly why.
2007:
This is the DS I had. I recall when this system came out my junior year of high school. A group of my friends and I were at a celebration at our local civic center for doing well on our state testing. We were sitting in a circle and my bud Mario had the newest handheld. He was playing Mario Party and I recall him having to blow on the bottom screen to inflate balloons for a game. It was the coolest to see in the game, how it interacted from a real world stimuli. But…watching Mario himself do it was so strange! LOL! I did have many games for this device. But, I didn’t like the chip format for the games; it felt like I could break them so easily.
Gen four and I were always ships passing in the night, forced to be enemies. Not by my choice…and here is why…START FLASHBACK SEQUENCE (with ‘Wayne’s World’ sound effects and hand motions!) My brother and I got the latest Pocket Monsters game. One, we both wanted Diamond version and since he was the youngest, I was strongly asked to let my little brother have the one he wanted…siblings. But, I did just graduate high school… So I was nice. 😉
When I tried to play my OG “Pearl,” I will admit I was not in love with the pacing in the first place, but still, it was a new game with new creatures to collect and befriend so I ventured out. But, then I had…the incident happen that turn halted my chances to experience this game. Literally! I had to go to this required cave after the first gym (may the second.) I went into the first hallway, trying to turn and it was blocked. Made sense. So I turned to the left…and literally walked through the wall.
And got stuck there!
My feet were trying to pump, but it was like I was on a treadmill, moving by not making headway. I was able to backtrack and get out from where I came, but alas, I was stuck because getting through the cave was the only way to progress the game. I tried EVERYTHING to get out! Trying different angles? Got stuck still. Tried to find different routes? No dice. Looking up help online? Nothing. I even took it to my local card shop and Gamestop and they were stunned when I showed them, not no clue how I could try to be the best like no one ever was.
To add the cherry on this sucky sundae? Several times, my game crashed when I would hit this cursed wall and my game would make me start FROM THE BEGINNING, my save file vanished into Giratina’s void. So, yeah, I had a bad taste from this game and never got to play this game when it was new, I losing my chance to sink into like it deserved.
2009:
I mentioned I never played Gen 4 because of my broken game? Well, two years later, its companion game, “Platinum,” released. We got it, my brother technically, but I wasn’t even interested, still soured by my past with the Sinnoh region.
With Black and Black 2, I was getting heavy into the Pokemon DS games and the spin-off titles (Conquest and three Ranger games!) I asked my brother if he wouldn’t mind if I borrowed his Platinum; he hasn’t even tried it! And he gave it to me.
So, in 2012 or early 2013, I settled down and dove into the world of Gen 4 nervously, after five years of failure. And what did I think…?
It was…
Eh.
The pacing is still annoying. The leaders too challenging, especially the elite four and queen champ Cynthia. Team Galactic irked me and I couldn’t stand their uniforms. Although, I do feel bad for their team leader; being 27 and having all those hard lined wrinkles. Ouch!
But I did like how they changed the ending. Giratina is now one of my favorite legendaries and their distortion world mechanics were killer! The game was worth it to complete, but to this day, it’s still my least favorite.
2010:
Another remake and look out because this one is ready for action. This game is breathtaking, so vibrant in color. It added fantastic storylines while still keeping the integrity of the original. And your Pokemon partner can WALK BEHIND YOU! Chef’s kiss. And the poke walker? Best pocket monster gadget ever! One of my favorites!
2011:
This generation was ambitious for Pokemon, reflecting a milestone in my life as well; this was the year I got my education degree and got married, I lucky my hubby is also a Poke Maniac. Generation 5 was meant to be a reboot of the series, starting with the Pokemon themselves. There were 150 new pocket monsters, the most ever other than the original. The catch? Only these new Unova Pokemon were in the game, period. I know some people didn’t like this, missing their favorite mons, and I’ll admit, I got tired of seeing the same foes over and over. However, I got their goal and was proud they stuck with, even if some of the designs are not grand… (Try making 500 creatures and they all be all-stars! 😆)
But this game had so much going for it. Gorgeous color grading. Fun graphics and unique angles that made it feel like a pop-up book. An incredible story with a sympathetic antihero. Still one of my favorite plots in all of Pokemon. Well-designed and fleshed-out characters and main battles. Likeable rivals with growth. I like it had a difficulty level and it was true to its name! Triple and rotation battles weren’t always my favorite, but again, they tried something new. And seasons! Awww! Seeing the same areas change depending on the seasons (AKA a month in real time) was epic! I deeply enjoyed this game and defend it often.
2012:
Another fantastic victory for generation five. This was the first time Pokemon did a direct sequel in its same line (because technically, Johto is a sequel to Kanto.) We have no protagists and they are designed just as well as their first counterparts (I have to admit; both girls are my favorites look-wise.) I also admired all the main trainers are holder, meant to be 15-16. More reasonable for them leaving home. Maybe because Unova is based on the United States?
The story here is the aftermath of our antihero breaking free of the clutches of our main villian and us helping to defeat and tie loose ends. And we have more Pokemon from other regions in this dex with the estrablished geneation five ones. Once more, the vividness, graphics, and extras from the first one I loved returned. It was neat also to see how some of the past characters developed and changing a few of the gym leaders, from adding Roxy, the posion rock star, and Elesa as a model changing her style. Roxy’s song with lyrics was so cool.
And my favorite part? I got to MAKE MY OWN MALL! =D Amazing game!
2013:
OUR FIRST 3D MODELS! THIS WAS A HUGE EVENT and they did not disappoint. Graphically still one of my favorite games, especially the models. AND I COULD CUSTOMIZE MY CLOTHES! I was in Heaven. Plus, we got a new type in fairy (still waiting for another Game Freak; it has been 13 years!) But, this game wasn’t perfect although good. I think from the experimentation of “Black and White,” we went back too far in some areas. Such as, the difficulties in “X and Y” were way too easy. Also, there were only 70+ Pokemon added to the dex with Kalos. This game was the shortest to beat, which made me sad for I did enjoy it. The rivals were not overly engaging either; four is too many. Definately a good game and I owe it for getting me back into playing the cards (Mega evolutions are rad.)
2014:
The remake for my most likely favorite generation. The 3D models worked well. Some of the redesigns were fun and new story elements were nice, but nothing was ridiculously changed. It was fun and I appreciated the new and classic. The added megas were cool too. I will say though I did not like the secret bases as much in this one and it was the best extra to me growing up. And they gave me custom clothes in the last game just to take it away! Grrr!
2016:
I appreciate that Pokemon is willing to experiment without losing its formula that put it in our hearts. Sun and Moon, based on Hawaii islands, did away with gyms and instead had trials and captions. Although I missed gym leaders, I did like trying something different. The graphics were nice, the world colorful and fun, and characters fun (Team Skull anyone? And a female villain leader? Nice!) Z Moves were…something. LOL. Although, the blank stares and running animation of the heroes were…odd. And I could not sit on benches anymore! Boo! But, this was a fun adventure. The Pelagico was my favorite extra. ^_^
2017:
This game was, I feel, not needed. It was 80% the exact same plot as “Sun” and “Moon,” which had been released only A YEAR before this one. Usually the third ‘upgraded’ installments come out 2-3 years later. The newness of the originals of generation seven was still fresh enough I did not miss it like in previous third installments. And I get it; most of these are basically the same plot. But the additions, like the people from the Ultra Worm Holes looking for the Zygarde stickers added NOTHING. They were just inserted into established scenes, literally I feel like. It was messy. And they changed the villains backstory to make you feel bad for her, which ruined for me what made her an evil queen in the first place. I finished it to become Champion, admittedly, it being decently challenging, but stopped right after beating the main story, not remotely interested in anything else.
PLUS, BOTH THESE GEN SEVEN GAMES HAVE LOOOOOONG UNSKIPPABLE CUT-SCENES! RIDICIOUSLY SO! MY HUBBY AND I STILL GET MAD THINKING ABOUT IT!
2018:
Back to Kanto for the third time (not counting Johto, lol!) This game was definitely a marking gimmick to connect to “Pokemon Go.” I did like this game, but the catching with the Switch remote like you would flick on a phone app was…irritating. The 3D models of the Pokemon were good, the people fairly good (not great) and how they interacted with you as the trainer was so creative and fun. I can RIDE an ARCANINE! Trent as a rival was unforgettable. I wish we just fought with Blue and Red since they are in the game, maybe another kid from Pallet. It is the same story. Not stale, but I was a little wistful for something different. I picked Pikachu to honor my original partner. But this version…man! I was disappointed in his move sets (even if he and his outfits were cute.) I really loved my hubby’s Eevee with his powerful moves and the most precious way he cried to flee from battle! HA!
2019:
I played this game between my house and a friend I was helping taking care of after surgery and that is how I feel about this game; split. The graphics were good and I liked the concept of a region in the UK, but I feel it was not executed, some of the pacing off. The characters were fair, but some were duds, and I mean flat, boring, not. Team Yell and the evil plot was so stupid and I did not care much for the lore of the legendaries. The true legendary was Leon, the Champion of Champion! What a fun and epic persona! I did enjoy this game and what it offered, but I feel it did not live up to its potential. This was also the first game with DLC you had to purchase instead of a third installment or downloadable side quest.
2021:
Finally! I got my chance to play a generation four game when it game out, see what all the hype was the Sinnoh region. And I will say…did not like it at all. My issues with “Platinum,” especially with difficulty levels and pacing, were still there. Nothing was added or fixed, Poketubbers explaining that it went BACK to the problems of generation four that “Platinum” fixed! And the chibi style was such a step backwards, not looking good at all. Yeah, my least favorite main series game.
2022:
I did not expect a game in my life to change my life in my 30s. But, this one did. I tried playing it right when it came out in 2022, but I was so lost at the school, not used to the open world that I got upset and put it away for about a year (life got majorly in the way too.)
Then in 2023, my grandmother, my best friend, the most beautiful soul ever made from sunshine, got sick and we lost her on Christmas Eve that year. Needless to say, it was hard, despite us being grateful she was not in pain anymore. And not a good way to spend my Christmas break.
So, I dug out my Pokemon Violet to sink into it, to help distract me from my sorrow.
And it worked. And I ended up falling madly in love with it. Everything about it (other than the EXTREME lag and some of the Pokemon designs) was perfect and warmed my heart, helping me get lost into an enchanting realm with my best Pokemon friend, a purple lizard bike from the future.
I go into full details in this review. But if my adjectives here are not enough, this is the first game I spent over 100 hours on (124 to be exact) and completed all three Pokedexs! I owe these games, my team, and this beloved group of friends a lot. <3 It was like falling in love with these staple of my childhood and life all over again.
Side Games:
PC:
This is how I learned the TCG as a kid. It came with my beginners box. I am very grateful this game, but man! The graphics! LOL! I love how hideous they are!
Nintendo 64:
Both stadiums and Puzzle League (the only fully made by the United States Pokemon game,) are games I get out often just to destress. I am good at Puzzle League and I love the mini games in Stadium! ^_^
GameCube:
I had this version of the Gamecube from my grandma; the silver millenium! I love it and still have it to this day. I get a lot of compliments for it. =)
I know this is on the worst Pokemon spin-offs ever because you are just watching TV, but I loved it. Shopping with squirtle, going on little adventures, seeing how Pokemon interaction with our world, I enjoyed checking it daily, it relaxing me after school. Plus, Pikachu is my buddy here, but without the annoyance of shouting like ‘Hey you, Pikachu!’ HA!
Pinball:
These were the games I played to help me fall asleep in high school and college and even my first few years of marriage. I need to dig them out again. 🙂 So much fun.
Gameboy Advance:
Nintendo DS:
I deeply enjoy any Bejeweled type games. I like the Ranger games too, but to be honest, they all blurred together to me. LOL! Pichu is adorable here!
Wii:
These games are so underrated! Adorable and fun! However, it made me forever hate Purrloin and it made me cuss outloud at my game because she stole 200 of my berries, which was my currency I needed! LOL!
Pokemon 3DS:
Switch:
I did a full review of this on GeekyKool! Check it out HERE!
I did a FULL review with this on GeekyKool. Check it out HERE!
Apps:
Games I Haven’t Finished/Stopped:
