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Why Pokemon is Still Precious to Gamers

Why Pokemon is Still Precious to Gamers

Nintendo is celebrating 20 years of Pokemon next month, and some of the products it’s releasing are causing me to feel some serious feels. Have you seen those old-school 2DS handhelds? The sight of that translucent, colored plastic immediately took me back to the days of the Game Boy and Game Boy Color. Nintendo’s also giving us the chance to re-play the original Pokemon Blue and Red, which are coming to the eShop next month. My goodness, has it really been 20 years? I remember my first experience with Pokemon, do you?

I came into the game a little late. I actually got hooked on the anime first, which sparked a huge, second obsession with the Gameboy games. For weeks I wouldn’t shut up about Pokemon for the Gameboy. I wanted it so badly. My dad was acutely aware of how much I loved the show because he had to show me how to set the timer on the VCR to record it every morning (some of you older readers will remember the struggle of deciding which VHS tapes to use, and what could be taped over).

Well, I always had good birthdays and Christmas mornings, but I wasn’t spoiled. If there was no special occasion I didn’t expect a new game or gift; money was a little tight and I just knew better. But one, normal, totally mundane weekday I was out with my dad after school running some errands. We ended up right by a Toys R Us so I asked him if I could go in, just to look at the game. I really meant that. I just wanted to stare at the box because to me, it was a thing of legend. I had spent weeks pouring over an old magazine preview, staring at the pictures, and I wanted to see the box art for myself. He nonchalantly agreed, pulled into the parking lot, and I practically sprinted out of his truck and inside to the games counter.

My dad caught up to me after a bit. I had spent a few minutes peering through a thin pane of glass, behind which the Gameboy games hung in waiting. I had to ask the clerk where the game was; I couldn’t find it anywhere. “We’ve been sold out of that one,” he said dryly. Well, my little heart sank, and my dad saw it. As I turned to leave I heard my dad’s voice this time. “Can you tell us which store might have the pokey-man game he wants?”

Driving to that second store my mind was racing. I had no idea what was going on. Being young and optimistic I couldn’t help but entertain a possibly-false hope, but at the same time I dared not ask my dad if I could get the game because I didn’t want him to say no and confirm that there was no chance. I sat quietly.

I arrived at the second games counter a little slower this time, and when I asked if they had the game the clerk said, “We have a few left, did you want red or blue?” He was all business, and he wanted to know so he could ring it up. I wasn’t sure if I had already overstepped my boundaries and I didn’t want to get in trouble so I hesitated, looking at my dad. He looked back with a twinkle in his eye, saying nothing; just waiting for me to give an answer. “Blue.” A quick turn of a magic key and he had that legendary box on the counter. I didn’t understand how my dad was letting this happen.

Why Pokemon is Still Precious to Gamers

The clerk asked if I needed a Gameboy to play it. I looked at my dad and said, “I can use Megan’s!” My sister had a bulky, first-gen Gameboy that she rescued from a garage sale for five dollars. There were dead lines all over the screen but I didn’t care, I didn’t want the threat of an additional expense to ruin this dream I was in. My dad was sure to wake me up at any moment by reminding me that we just came to look. Instead he furrowed his brow and asked, confused, “Don’t you want your own?” Lots of things were happening inside my body. Butterflies shot up from my stomach and I had a lump in my throat big enough to cough up and use as a weapon. I left that store with a brand new, silver Gameboy Pocket and Pokemon Blue . My dad even got me extra batteries. I’ll never forget that day.

This is why Pokemon is so precious to me, and millions of others. Other than the time we’ve spent playing Pokemon Blue, Pokemon Snap , and collecting Pokemon cards, the franchise is wrapped up in some of our fondest childhood memories as well. Are you old enough to remember your first experience with Pokemon Red or Blue? Y ou younger gamers: what are your favorite Pokemon memories? Let’s reminisce in the comments section together in anticipation of a very special anniversary.

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