Butterfree up yo schedule.

June 19, 2011 7:59 AM

Getting back into Pokemon?

Necessary backstory: I was interested in Pokemon when I was a kid in the 90's during the time it was popular. I had the cards, the games, watched the shows, etc. However, I haven't touched any of that stuff in recent time. I am aware that they've added a ridiculous number of new creatures to the mix since then, and don't even know where to start. I'm not interested in cards or anything, but mostly just getting involved with the games and lore as a casual time-killer. So - could any of you provide me with a starting point? Much appreciated.

posted by Evernix to Grab Bag (9 answers total)

A lot of the lore is contained on Bulbapedia, and it covers the card game, the manga, most of everything you'd want to see.
posted by deezil at 8:17 AM on June 19, 2011

I got back into Pokemon with Heartgold and the Pokewalker. It let me do something somewhat healthy and helped me enjoy the game.
posted by drezdn at 8:29 AM on June 19, 2011 [1 favorite]

I think the best starting point for anyone new to Pokemon would be HeartGold or SoulSilver. It's a remake of the second generation of games and introduces wild legendary Pokemon and great newer graphics. Plus, since it's a remake of the second generation, there's only 250 Pokemon, not the 500 or whatever was in Black and White (which are both awesome in their own right.)
posted by InsanePenguin at 8:32 AM on June 19, 2011

If you're looking for a video game to jump back in with, I'd recommend Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, which came out last year for the Nintendo DS. If you left the series in the 90s, it should have some new Pokémon for you without being overwhelming, and the remakes look fresh and provide some new mechanics.

The Pokéwalker is a neat tie-in, but unfortunately it will let everyone around you know you're a nerd. YMMV.
posted by Hot Like Your 12V Wire at 8:32 AM on June 19, 2011 [1 favorite]

The Pokéwalker is a neat tie-in, but unfortunately it will let everyone around you know you're a nerd. YMMV.

That's what pockets are for!
posted by InsanePenguin at 8:33 AM on June 19, 2011 [1 favorite]

I'm a late Pokemon convert. All of the games are essentially the same in terms of gameplay and plot, so you can start with any of them. Start with one, because they are a timesink, and you might eventually get bored with five games that are more or less the same.

There are five Pokemon generations. Each introduces some new monsters. The first two generations have been remade in recent years, and the fifth generation is brand new and all the Pokemon are new, so if you really hate bumping into wild Geodudes, go with that. If you have a DS with a slot for Game Boy Advance games, you can start with any generation. If you don't have a GBA slot, generations I and III are out for now.

The games, by generation and starter Pokemon, are as follows:
Generation I (GBA): FireRed, LeafGreen (remakes of Pokémon Red/Blue/Yellow) (starters: Bulbasaur, Charmander, Squirtle)
Generation II (DS): HeartGold, SoulSilver (remakes of Pokémon Gold/Silver) (starters: Chikorita, Cyndaquil, Totodile)
Generation III (GBA): Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald (starters: Treecko, Torchic, Mudkip)
Generation IV (DS): Diamond, Pearl, Platinum (starters: Turtwig, Chimchar, Piplup)
Generation V (DS): Black, White (starters: Snivy, Tepig, Oshawott)

I mention the available starters because they're as good a deciding factor as any, and they're hard to get outside of their designated generations. Maybe you've always had a special place in your heart for Charmander's evolutionary line, or u really liek mudkipz.

If you're all like whatever on the starters, HeartGold/SoulSilver is a good choice, because it's the newest game that will probably still be familiar to you. After you become the champion of your region, you get to travel to the region where the Generation I games take place.

Bulbapedia is your new best friend!

For extra credit, there's some interesting reading on glitches in the old Game Boy Pokemon games. Check out Missingno.
posted by Metroid Baby at 8:39 AM on June 19, 2011 [2 favorites]

I recommend black or white. They sort of "rebooted" the series by setting the game in a place inspired by NYC. Also, for the main game it's all new pokemon. GameFreak says they wanted to make black and white like a new experience for people like you. They wanted to emulate the experience that people had when they played red and blue. I'm in the middle of White version. It's a much more robust playing experience compared to the previous installments. But any of the games are fun. And playing older versions makes it easier to "catch 'em all."
If you pick up the latest game, there's a lot of people playing. I makes it easier to trade and battle.
And, Pokemon, can be way more than a casual time-killer. It can suck you down the rabbit hole. Good luck, have fun!
posted by hot_monster at 8:56 AM on June 19, 2011 [1 favorite]

Once you're familiar with the new Pokemon and have beaten a game or two, you might be interested in postgame stuff like the Battle Frontier and competitive battling. For this, the aforementioned Bulbapedia is good but Smogon.com is even better. It's a fantastically in-depth resource on what pretty much every Pokemon can do, and gives plenty of example movesets and general strategy.

If you want to get into it, Pokemon is far, far more complex than most people realize.
posted by Earl the Polliwog at 4:37 PM on June 19, 2011

Just to add onto what Metroid Baby posted.. the order of oldest game released to newest is as follows:

Ruby/Sapphire (and Emerald)
FireRed/LeafGreen
Diamond/Pearl (and Platinum)
HeartGold/SoulSilver
Black/White

I mention it because some mechanics of the games have changed over times and they sometimes include that into the games that came after them.

I think it might be likely we will see a remake of Ruby/Sapphire sometime in the next year or so. (totally baseless guess on my part) If not, we'll see Gray (or whatever they plan on calling the upgraded version of Black/White)

I'm sure you probably remember Pokemon Yellow. It was Pokemon Red/Blue with a modified story and a pikachu that followed you around. They continued that trend with every new generation. Gold and Silver had a upgrade called Crystal; Emerald is Ruby and Sapphire's upgrade; same with Platinum for Diamond and Pearl. We have yet to hear/see about Black and White's upgrade.

If you don't want to start with HeartGold/SoulSilver, then I suggest Diamond or Pearl. I'm not entirely sure I would suggest black/white as your first game back into the fandom. While great games in their own right - they are very different then the other games on the list.

Whichever game you decide on, don't worry too much about being overwhelmed with the sheer number of pokemon there are. Each game limits the number of pokemon available to you as you play through the story (usually called the Regional Dex).. once you beat the story most of the games either open up areas where you can catch other pokemon.. or the pokemon that are available in the areas through out the game change depending on times of day and special events. (called the National Dex)

most of the trading of pokemon that happens now-a-days is done over the internet. The DS can connect through a wireless router and access the Nintendo Wifi Connection.. which will let you trade pokemon with friends you have made (via recording their id number into the pokemon game) or through Nintendo's world wide depository of pokemon.

If you have any other questions, feel free to send me a mefi mail. I know far more pokemon information then I have any business knowing.
posted by royalsong at 8:18 PM on June 19, 2011 [1 favorite]