ShareThis
Pokémon holds a very special place in my heart. It has made me friends and entertained me for countless hours. Truly, it is one of the best series Nintendo has created in the past 15 years, and it’s not hard to see why.
Oh sure, the formula may stay the same with a few tweaks every generation– not to mention a handful of new monsters to battle– but there’s something almost universally appealing about catching monsters and then battling your friends and rivals with them. It’s a truly social game and has been since the beginning. Indeed, the first generation released in two versions (a third came later), making it impossible to fill up the Pokédex without a friend’s help. More than the finely-tuned battle mechanics, this is what makes the series stand against the test of time.
Now we’re up to the fifth generation, nicknamed the monochrome generation since the versions are titled Black and White. It’s now possible, thanks to the Internet, to trade and battle with other players clear across the globe. Distance, which used to be the prime limiting factor of the games, is no longer an issue.
Maybe you’re a die-hard Pokémaniac who has EV trained every member of your team to bring out its full potential. Or maybe you picked up one of the games when Red or Blue released and haven’t played another game since. Either way, hopefully there will be something for you to enjoy in this week’s issue as we look at the series known as Pokémon.
Game On!
Tidman
Issue 40: Pokémania
Gotta Shuffle ’em All! by Matthew Tidman
Played by millions of players around the world, the Pokémon Trading Card Game is serious business.
Team Rocket’s Blasting Off Agaaaaaain! by Aaron Roberts
That dastardly trio share some postcards from where they ended up after losing to Ash countless times.
Poké-blitzed by Andy Hoover
Pokémon hit the states with an unprecedented level of marketing force, and one writer fell for it hard.
The Greatest Generation by James Stank
With five generations of Pokémon released, which one stands head and shoulders above the rest? That’s easy! It’s….
Nester64x: The Poké-King by Nester64x
Those six-year-olds can’t handle his TOTALLY RAD SKILLZ!
Pokémaniacs: The Breed Lives On by Adam Sorice
Pokémon fans aren’t just kids. Even university students can qualify as Pokémaniacs.
Hot Air: Fratted by Aaron Roberts
In college there was one person in his frat house who didn’t get sucked into the Pokémon craze. Can you guess who it was?
Diary of a Pokémon Trainer by Kevin Knezevic
Every trainer has their own story. Here is one from the perspective of the protagonist of Black and White.
What’s In A Name? by Andrew Hsieh
Often overlooked, it’s important to thank about what exactly you’re going to nickname the Pokémon you catch.
Additional features in this issue…
Monday
- Nightly News Roundup by Matthew Tidman
- Poll: What’s Your Favorite Pokémon Gen? by M. Noah Ward
Tuesday
- Nightly News Roundup by James Stank
Wednesday
- Dojo-Show-Go! Episode 133 by M. Noah Ward
- Nightly News Roundup by Kevin Knezevic
Thursday
- Nightly News Roundup by Andy Hoover
Friday
- Nightly News Roundup by M. Noah Ward
Coming Up Next Week…
Issue 41: Mythologies Unbound
Okami showed us how ancient legends could make for a great game. In honor of its sequel being released for DS, we look at what other mythologies would make for great games… or maybe the mythologies some of our favorite games created.
