Return to Kanto
February 14, 2016 8:35 PM Subscribe
After more than a decade away, I want to start playing Pokemon again. Help me figure out where to start!
I recently learned that my mother gave away my beloved GameBoy, along with all the Pokemon (among others) cartridges that went with it. With the 20th anniversary edition coming out this year, I figure I might as well get a replacement, except I don't know where to start.
- I know Red and Blue come with the special edition, so is it worth buying Yellow to complete the set? (these are the games I had on my Gameboy, I think.)
- I have the budget for two, maybe three more games. Which ones should I pick?
- Can anyone recommend a game that isn't Pokemon, but is about the same level of difficulty, for when I get bored? (For reference, the only games I play with any regularity are Temple Run and Plants vs Zombies, and Mario on my old Gamboy, but I'm open to other suggestions.)
Thanks in advance!
I recently learned that my mother gave away my beloved GameBoy, along with all the Pokemon (among others) cartridges that went with it. With the 20th anniversary edition coming out this year, I figure I might as well get a replacement, except I don't know where to start.
- I know Red and Blue come with the special edition, so is it worth buying Yellow to complete the set? (these are the games I had on my Gameboy, I think.)
- I have the budget for two, maybe three more games. Which ones should I pick?
- Can anyone recommend a game that isn't Pokemon, but is about the same level of difficulty, for when I get bored? (For reference, the only games I play with any regularity are Temple Run and Plants vs Zombies, and Mario on my old Gamboy, but I'm open to other suggestions.)
Thanks in advance!
+1 to Link Between Worlds and Mario.
I also really enjoyed Bravely Default for 3DS; scratched some of that same leveling up/customization/optimization itch that Pokemon does.
posted by Zephyrial at 9:55 PM on February 14, 2016
I also really enjoyed Bravely Default for 3DS; scratched some of that same leveling up/customization/optimization itch that Pokemon does.
posted by Zephyrial at 9:55 PM on February 14, 2016
Another vote for a Link Between Worlds if you want a really well done action/exploration game.
For something wayyyyyy more casual, but still delightful, check out Animal Crossing: New Leaf. You get to be mayor of an adorable town full of animal people... it's great.
posted by davejh at 10:23 PM on February 14, 2016
For something wayyyyyy more casual, but still delightful, check out Animal Crossing: New Leaf. You get to be mayor of an adorable town full of animal people... it's great.
posted by davejh at 10:23 PM on February 14, 2016
Have you considered using a ROM? You would then not need to buy or worry about a handheld system, and could also take advantage of things like backlighting of the screen and save states, if you choose. I turned up my nose at first at the notion, feeling it lacked the romance (heh, ROMance) of doing it properly on the game boy color, but faced with no game boy color, I tried it and was quite pleased after the initial adjustment.
VisualBoy Advance Emulator is the Emulator I downloaded (for free) to play pokemon ruby and sapphire, as well as fire red and leaf green (the red and blue remakes that came out in the third generation.) I can recommend it, it runs smoothly on my several year old laptop.
posted by gloriouslyincandescent at 10:35 PM on February 14, 2016
VisualBoy Advance Emulator is the Emulator I downloaded (for free) to play pokemon ruby and sapphire, as well as fire red and leaf green (the red and blue remakes that came out in the third generation.) I can recommend it, it runs smoothly on my several year old laptop.
posted by gloriouslyincandescent at 10:35 PM on February 14, 2016
Response by poster: gloriouslyincandescent, I'm not a big fan of ROMs - I've used them before and they don't work for me the same way handhelds do, plus they're much less portable. Plus I have a Mac.
posted by Tamanna at 10:57 PM on February 14, 2016
posted by Tamanna at 10:57 PM on February 14, 2016
I recommend skipping straight to the latest generation by getting either X or Y, as well as either Alpha Sapphire or Omega Red (remakes of the third-generation Game Boy Advance games). They'll work on the special-edition 3DS and will have all of the refinements that have been introduced throughout the years (the in-battle touchscreen menu is a UI treat).
posted by clorox at 11:51 PM on February 14, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by clorox at 11:51 PM on February 14, 2016 [1 favorite]
I stopped playing Pokemon for a couple of years when my old Silver Version died (apparently, there is a well-known save error in those Editions) and got back into the game with Diamond and Pearl. Since then, I have bought games from every generation. Same with my boyfriend.
First of all, if you play competitively at all, you will have to relearn everything. type effectiveness, physical and Special attacks, IV breeding... (although that got a LOT easier since X/Y.)
I don't think Yellow is necessary - if you like Pokemon following you around, get HeartGold or SoulSilver, where any Pokemon you have can follow you around, even a freaking Mewtu. You can visit Kanto and Johto in the games and Play mini games with your Pokemon.
I'm not a fan of Black/White, although the story is interesting and some people really like the characters. The graphics are neither here nor there for me, but if you want to get them, get Black/White 2 or wait a bit because there are rumours about Z and I guess you may be busy with previous generations for a while anyway.
X/Y are pretty great and introduce a new type (Fairy) and mega evolutions, which I'm still not a fan of, but I personally prefer Alpha Sapphire/Omega Ruby because I love the 3SS graphics of regions with lots of water.
All 3DS games (games that came out specifically for the 3DS, not games that can be played on the 3DS) have great connectivity, so you can easily play with your buddy in Japan or trade Pokemon on the Global Trade Station.
If I had to recommend my favourites, that would be HeartGold/SoulSilver, AlphaSapphire/OmegaRuby and maybe X/Y and Platinum if your budget allows them.
Also keep in mind that for the anniversary year 2016, there will be lots of download Pokemon available for the new games. (Serebii.net has extensive lists and will be a valuable resource to you if you get into competitive play.) Not sure about the English versions of the Red/Blue re-releases, but the Japanese come with a Mew download for your X/Y/AS/OR games if you buy on the first day, I think.
posted by LoonyLovegood at 5:20 AM on February 15, 2016
First of all, if you play competitively at all, you will have to relearn everything. type effectiveness, physical and Special attacks, IV breeding... (although that got a LOT easier since X/Y.)
I don't think Yellow is necessary - if you like Pokemon following you around, get HeartGold or SoulSilver, where any Pokemon you have can follow you around, even a freaking Mewtu. You can visit Kanto and Johto in the games and Play mini games with your Pokemon.
I'm not a fan of Black/White, although the story is interesting and some people really like the characters. The graphics are neither here nor there for me, but if you want to get them, get Black/White 2 or wait a bit because there are rumours about Z and I guess you may be busy with previous generations for a while anyway.
X/Y are pretty great and introduce a new type (Fairy) and mega evolutions, which I'm still not a fan of, but I personally prefer Alpha Sapphire/Omega Ruby because I love the 3SS graphics of regions with lots of water.
All 3DS games (games that came out specifically for the 3DS, not games that can be played on the 3DS) have great connectivity, so you can easily play with your buddy in Japan or trade Pokemon on the Global Trade Station.
If I had to recommend my favourites, that would be HeartGold/SoulSilver, AlphaSapphire/OmegaRuby and maybe X/Y and Platinum if your budget allows them.
Also keep in mind that for the anniversary year 2016, there will be lots of download Pokemon available for the new games. (Serebii.net has extensive lists and will be a valuable resource to you if you get into competitive play.) Not sure about the English versions of the Red/Blue re-releases, but the Japanese come with a Mew download for your X/Y/AS/OR games if you buy on the first day, I think.
posted by LoonyLovegood at 5:20 AM on February 15, 2016
I fell off the Pokémon wagon a couple years ago and don't have a 3DS, so my thoughts are a little outdated. But you might really enjoy the Dragon Quest series; they're old-school turn-based JRPGs, so the gameplay is pretty easy to pick up, and they have a similar lighthearted feel. Dragon Quest games also often have a whole lot to explore in the same way Pokémon games do. There's a 3DS remake of Dragon Quest VIII (which I loved) on the way, but it won't be around until December, so this might be one you'll have to keep on your radar.
I also played the hell out of the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series. Mystery Dungeon can get a little repetitive, but if you like games that are familiar and not too taxing, it's great for you.
On preview: seconding LoonyLovegood about the special downloadable Pokémon this year. I believe there's a different legendary Pokémon available every month in 2016.
posted by Metroid Baby at 5:31 AM on February 15, 2016
I also played the hell out of the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series. Mystery Dungeon can get a little repetitive, but if you like games that are familiar and not too taxing, it's great for you.
On preview: seconding LoonyLovegood about the special downloadable Pokémon this year. I believe there's a different legendary Pokémon available every month in 2016.
posted by Metroid Baby at 5:31 AM on February 15, 2016
The 3DS has tons of great options for people who aren't into the typical hardcore games available on other consoles.
I'll second the recommendations so far and just want to add that if you like visual novels, you should check out the Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy on the eShop. This is a series of story-oriented mystery games where you play a defense attorney who has to collect evidence and uncover lies in witness testimony to help your clients who are falsely accused of murder.
Keep in mind these are visual novel games, so most of the time you will be reading dialog with occasional moments of interaction. I think this works really well for the mystery genre because half the fun of reading a mystery novel is trying to solve the case yourself before the culprit is revealed. In these games you have to pay attention and discover the crucial clues yourself in order to progress, which makes them all the more immersive.
Other good visual novels for the 3DS are the Zero Escape series, which is more horror and suspense oriented (the games are called 999 and Virtue's Last Reward), and Ghost Trick, which is a lighthearted supernatural mystery written by the creator of the Ace Attorney series. 999 and Ghost Trick are DS games, but they will work in a 3DS because the system is backwards compatible.
posted by zixyer at 1:19 PM on February 15, 2016
I'll second the recommendations so far and just want to add that if you like visual novels, you should check out the Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy on the eShop. This is a series of story-oriented mystery games where you play a defense attorney who has to collect evidence and uncover lies in witness testimony to help your clients who are falsely accused of murder.
Keep in mind these are visual novel games, so most of the time you will be reading dialog with occasional moments of interaction. I think this works really well for the mystery genre because half the fun of reading a mystery novel is trying to solve the case yourself before the culprit is revealed. In these games you have to pay attention and discover the crucial clues yourself in order to progress, which makes them all the more immersive.
Other good visual novels for the 3DS are the Zero Escape series, which is more horror and suspense oriented (the games are called 999 and Virtue's Last Reward), and Ghost Trick, which is a lighthearted supernatural mystery written by the creator of the Ace Attorney series. 999 and Ghost Trick are DS games, but they will work in a 3DS because the system is backwards compatible.
posted by zixyer at 1:19 PM on February 15, 2016
I've got a couple more things to add. Before you buy a new game, you should search for it on YouTube and watch someone play it for a little bit. This should give you a pretty good idea if it would be something that you would enjoy.
Also, the 3DS eShop has lots of free game demos. The eShop is kind of disorganized so not everyone takes advantage of them, but you should make sure to check and download the demos that look interesting to you.
posted by zixyer at 1:27 PM on February 15, 2016
Also, the 3DS eShop has lots of free game demos. The eShop is kind of disorganized so not everyone takes advantage of them, but you should make sure to check and download the demos that look interesting to you.
posted by zixyer at 1:27 PM on February 15, 2016
This thread is closed to new comments.
- If you decide you need Pokemon Yellow, you can always download it separately. It isn't sold in a cartridge form for the 3DS.
- I'm not sure what genres you're interested in, but the best 3DS games so far include The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds and Super Mario 3D Land. They're both not too difficult and very fun. You might also consider one of the Pokemon games native to the 3DS system - Pokemon X/Y are the most recent entries into the main series, I think.
posted by LSK at 9:00 PM on February 14, 2016