From Kanto to Alola: My Pokémon Story
Hello everyone. Seeing as today is Pokémon Day, I thought it would only be fitting to share my Pokémon story with you all; and how that will reflect my content that I have planned for this blog in the near future.
Let's turn the clocks back to 1998: I was living in California at the time, and Red and Blue were among the first games my stepfather taught me how to play after installing them on my computer when I was six. I also found the anime being broadcast on the former UPN affiliate where I was living at the time, and I will get into my experience with the first episode I saw that way in the near future. I definitely got into things more from there, especially as Kids WB later picked up the series from syndication. I later got a Game Boy Color and a copy of Pokémon Yellow for my seventh birthday in 1999. This was further compounded when I saw the first movie later that year, and every time I finish a season of the show; I will recap a movie before moving onto the next one. With Mewtwo Strikes Back Evolution on track later this year for release in Japan, I will start with the original Mewtwo Strikes Back and go from there.
I definitely got more into the series from there, and after moving to Nevada in late 2000; I enjoyed seeing what was going with the Orange Islands and Johto in my new place. When I turned 9 in 2001, I got Gold and Silver for my Game Boy Color; then Crystal when I turned 10 a year later in 2002. Personally, while Kanto started the series with some great games; Johto arguably perfected the concepts on the original Game Boy installments and became the standard for all future ones.
The year 2003 was an interesting time for my fandom of it. While I still liked what I experienced, when I turned 11; I took a break from playing the games after playing Ruby and Sapphire. Moreover, I also took a much longer break from the anime as Johto made way for Hoenn. I will get into detail as to why when the time comes, but overall; I submit it's more due to how kids are than any genuine fault with the show.
Fast-forward to 2009, when I picked up Platinum for my DS during a school trip. It was the first main series game I had played in six years, and between the graphics, gameplay and story; is the one that I can credit with reigniting my fandom as a teenager.
As I started college and began looking into Generation V, I also took the opportunity to check out what I had missed in the series in the time I took a break from it. What I found during this time offered plenty of potential to analyze and examine, and I had done so on my previous blog; but I still had lots to do to determine my style of writing.
I got my first 3DS in 2013, and the first time I played Generation VI, I was totally blown away. Much like the first times I played Super Mario 64, Metroid Prime and Zelda: Ocarina of Time; the series had easily passed its transition to 3D games in ways I could have only imagined. The year not only saw the excellent Pokémon Origins miniseries, but also the XY series; both of which are among some of my favorite incarnations in recent years.
Though 2016 was a turbulent year, to put it mildly; the 20th anniversary of the series gave me plenty to enjoy. Generation VII has been an excellent experience with not only the games and anime incarnation, but the Pokémon Go mobile game has not only proven to be a great experience for lifelong fans like me; but appeal to a whole new generation of fans.
So, that's my Pokémon story. Whatever happens with Sword and Shield on the Switch, the Detective Pikachu movie, Mewtwo Strikes Back Evolution or anything else planned for the future; I hope to share my thoughts with you all as time goes on. See you all soon, Alola!
Let's turn the clocks back to 1998: I was living in California at the time, and Red and Blue were among the first games my stepfather taught me how to play after installing them on my computer when I was six. I also found the anime being broadcast on the former UPN affiliate where I was living at the time, and I will get into my experience with the first episode I saw that way in the near future. I definitely got into things more from there, especially as Kids WB later picked up the series from syndication. I later got a Game Boy Color and a copy of Pokémon Yellow for my seventh birthday in 1999. This was further compounded when I saw the first movie later that year, and every time I finish a season of the show; I will recap a movie before moving onto the next one. With Mewtwo Strikes Back Evolution on track later this year for release in Japan, I will start with the original Mewtwo Strikes Back and go from there.
I definitely got more into the series from there, and after moving to Nevada in late 2000; I enjoyed seeing what was going with the Orange Islands and Johto in my new place. When I turned 9 in 2001, I got Gold and Silver for my Game Boy Color; then Crystal when I turned 10 a year later in 2002. Personally, while Kanto started the series with some great games; Johto arguably perfected the concepts on the original Game Boy installments and became the standard for all future ones.
The year 2003 was an interesting time for my fandom of it. While I still liked what I experienced, when I turned 11; I took a break from playing the games after playing Ruby and Sapphire. Moreover, I also took a much longer break from the anime as Johto made way for Hoenn. I will get into detail as to why when the time comes, but overall; I submit it's more due to how kids are than any genuine fault with the show.
Fast-forward to 2009, when I picked up Platinum for my DS during a school trip. It was the first main series game I had played in six years, and between the graphics, gameplay and story; is the one that I can credit with reigniting my fandom as a teenager.
As I started college and began looking into Generation V, I also took the opportunity to check out what I had missed in the series in the time I took a break from it. What I found during this time offered plenty of potential to analyze and examine, and I had done so on my previous blog; but I still had lots to do to determine my style of writing.
I got my first 3DS in 2013, and the first time I played Generation VI, I was totally blown away. Much like the first times I played Super Mario 64, Metroid Prime and Zelda: Ocarina of Time; the series had easily passed its transition to 3D games in ways I could have only imagined. The year not only saw the excellent Pokémon Origins miniseries, but also the XY series; both of which are among some of my favorite incarnations in recent years.
Though 2016 was a turbulent year, to put it mildly; the 20th anniversary of the series gave me plenty to enjoy. Generation VII has been an excellent experience with not only the games and anime incarnation, but the Pokémon Go mobile game has not only proven to be a great experience for lifelong fans like me; but appeal to a whole new generation of fans.
So, that's my Pokémon story. Whatever happens with Sword and Shield on the Switch, the Detective Pikachu movie, Mewtwo Strikes Back Evolution or anything else planned for the future; I hope to share my thoughts with you all as time goes on. See you all soon, Alola!
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