Twenty-One Years: A Reflection #PokemonDay

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One of the earliest memories in my life I can recall is about Pokemon. I must’ve been about four or five in my family’s old green minivan driving along and up a dirt trail of a mountain of some sorts – I had my GameBoy with Pokemon Blue in the cartridge slot and all I can remember is picking Bulbasaur as my starter and watching it evolve into Ivysaur over and over and over again because I couldn’t figure out how to save the game.

Since then a lot has changed: I’ve figured out the save function of the Pokémon games, and several spin off and main games have added another six generations, 801 Pokémon total, to the mix. The world around me has changed but even with all the amazing additions, the leaps and bounds, the metamorphosis that the Pokémon franchise has undergone, I take solace in the fact that throwing a Pokéball and getting your opponents HP down to zero hasn’t. When so many things refuse to stay the same in life these small, precious memories become exponentially more dear to me.

Pokémon has taught me more than I ever could have imagined. Through the tough training of a Magikarp to evolve to a Gyrados I learned to never underestimate and count someone out; everyone has potential to do incredible things. Through having the option to either run away from a wild battle, or grind through it for experience points I learned that putting in the time and the hard work is the only way to become a champion in your field. Through the ever-growing world-wide connectivity of the games, and the inability to catch version exclusives and complete the Pokédex without trading with a friend, I’ve learned that you can never truly succeed by doing things all by yourself. Above all I’ve learned the value and power of teamwork, friendship and hard work to reach your goals and dreams.

Socially, Pokémon has connected me to hundreds, if not thousands of people throughout my life. In my younger years it helped me make my first few friends – using the link cable to battle and trade whenever I got the chance to have a play date. More recently, through the power of the Internet, Pokémon has allowed me to interact, befriend, trade and battle people on the other side of the world instantly! First hand, I’ve seen these creatures and the amazing world that they live in break the language barrier, close the age gap and forge unbreakable friendships with people that I would never have the opportunity to normally interact with. And that’s without all the amazing people I’ve got to meet as Pokémon GO as taken over the world.

I didn’t realize it then, but when I took those first steps into the tall grass outside of Pallet Town in Pokémon Blue almost twenty years ago I wasn’t starting a mere video game – Those first steps were the beginning to the adventure of a lifetime. An adventure that spans multiple regions, thousands of interactions with people around the globe and creates infinite precious memories. It’s been a journey like no other so far, and I hope it never ends.

Thank you Pokémon for the past twenty-one years. Thank you for staying by my side; no matter where life has led me, no matter how tall the grass got.

 

Want to be featured in tomorrow’s #PokemonDay post? Comment below with your favorite Pokémon-related memories, what the franchise means to you, or a time that Pokémon made you happy! Be sure to also send us your story on our Facebook and Twitter pages!

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891 thoughts on “Twenty-One Years: A Reflection #PokemonDay”

    • i still wish they gave him some kinda pants, also i really hope they don’t cop out on good bosses

      Banjo Tooie had SPECTACULAR Bosses

      Reply

    • I don’t need nobody else’s opinion cept’ mah own
      My philosophy for game reviews usually range to people who like it, nitpick it or downright criticize it for no amiable reason

      I think that truly matters is the player’s own enjoyment and experience

      And me i’ve never complained about how much FPS or whatevers are not going on, i still use my Wii U and it runs perfectly (literally just finished Splatooning)

      Point is i need a Nintendo Switch to ensure that my crusty enlarged black heart continues to work

      Reply

  11. Man I know it’ll probably be fine, but the lack of change at all on my order is nerve racking lol Still saying processing……..It’ll likely change tomorrow or even Friday morning as my order is an in store pick up, but still. I imagine for in store pick ups they’re in less of a hurry to update stiff as no matter what I’ll need to be there in order to actually get my order. lol

    Reply

  13. I haven’t made a fakemon in forever
    I’ve struggled with the aspect of a Poison/Electric type, and the only thing I can see is a slimy electrical mollusk that oozes out a sticky poisonous mucus from its feet and once someone steps in it they are glued down as it sends a powerful electrical pulse from its eyes and it travels through the slime frying whatever is stuck

    Reply

  17. Nintendo has confirmed Switch cartridges are made to taste bad so kids won’t eat them. Don’t try it yourself I suppose.

    Reply

  21. Earthen, does BB do midnight releases? Then you might your Switch even sooner than I do since the store here only opens at 10 am. Will probaby have to wait till 7 pm for the delivery guy to bring Zelda.

    Reply

  23. So they are doing a Midnight Release for Best Buy, so i must be rested and prepared

    I have work till Four and that only gives me 6 Hours of rest before i try to be there at 10PM and blindly stand around for 2 Hours while the clock ticks, that means i gotta be rested focused and have my bowels and bladder absolutely emptied

    it’s not gonna be easy i am not a Night Person, but i do plan on playing for a tiny bit then going to bed, i rather not blow out my sleep schedule on this stunt but i’ve been waiting for this ever since the initial teaser

    I have all my snacks and drinks sitting in my closet and i yern to consume them

    Reply

  24. @armaggedon16:disqus
    @irvinap:disqus
    @green1289:disqus
    @the_pinsir
    Perform your battles!!! If you do not, I will just decides who moves on my own!

    Reply

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