Pokémon Trading Card Game (video game)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
This article does not cite any references or sources. (December 2006) Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed. |
| Pokémon Trading Card Game | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Developer(s) | Hudson Soft |
| Publisher(s) | Nintendo |
| Platform(s) | Game Boy, Game Boy Color (hybrid cartridge) |
| Release date | JPN December 18, 1998 NA April 10, 2000 EUR December 8, 2000 |
| Genre(s) | Strategy |
| Mode(s) | Single player, Multiplayer |
| Rating(s) | ESRB: Everyone (E) |
| Media | Cartridge |
Pokémon Trading Card Game (ポケモンカードGB Pokemon Kādo Jī Bī?, Pokémon Card GB) is the video game incarnation of the popular Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG). There are currently two games in the series. Both the series and the card game are based on the famous Pokémon video game series.
Mimicking the style of the original Pokémon video games, this series featured the protagonist, Mark, that wanted to be the best at the Pokémon Trading Card Game. He would then travel between areas collecting cards and challenging Club Masters. Upon defeating all of the Club Masters, he would face the Grand Masters. Afterwards he would fight his rival Ronald for the title of Champion. Winning would win him the four Legendary Pokémon Cards: Moltres, Zapdos, Articuno, and Dragonite. Each of the Grand Masters built their decks around one of these cards. Ronald uses a deck containing all four.
The first game in the series was released in Japan for the Game Boy Color on December 18, 1998. It was then released in North America on March 31, 2000 and in Europe on December 8, 2000. When the game is played on a Super Game Boy, it features enhanced colors during battles, making it look almost identical to how it looks on a Game Boy Color.
A second Game Boy Color game, Pokémon Card GB2, was released in Japan on March 28, 2001. The game was not released in North America nor Europe. A feature introduced in this game was the ability to play as a girl similar to Mark, name Mint.
Contents |
[edit] Exclusive cards
Several game mechanics were introduced in game exclusive cards that simply could not be reproduced in real life. An example is the Legendary Moltres' Pokémon Power FireGiver, which randomly places from one to four Fire Energy cards in the player's hand. These game exclusive cards were given the symbol GB on their cards to show they do not have real life counterparts.
The game also came with a promotional Meowth collectible trading card. The card also appears in the game but the effect of the Cat Punch attack is different from the promotional card.
Among the game exclusive cards (besides the Legendary Cards) are a Ninetales, a Venusaur, Tangela, Meowth, and a Slowpoke. There were also new versions of each of the three Eevee evolutions, all with colorless energy requirements for their attacks.
[edit] Missing Cards
Some real cards are not present in the game. Electrode Lv.40 from the base set and Ditto Lv.20 from the Fossil set are not included because their Pokémon Powers (allowing Electrode to turn into energy cards and Ditto to duplicate any card played) were difficult to program. As a result, a GB exclusive card of each Pokémon was included in the game with somewhat comparable abilities.
[edit] Club Masters and Grand Masters
The game noticeably parallels the quests in the actual Pokémon games. Players must defeat the 8 Club Masters, similar to Gym Leaders. They are Mitch, Gene, Amy, Isaac, Nikki, Murray, Rick and Ken; each Club Master used a deck based of a single Type. Throughout the course of the game, the player's rival Ronald appears to challenge the player. His deck is notably stronger each match, but each victory earned the character a special card.
The four Grand Masters parallel the Elite Four. Most notable is the leader of the Grand Masters, Rod, who uses Gyarados, Charizard and Dragonite, making him a slight parallel of Lance (who uses all of the above three Pokémon throughout the course of the games). The other three Grand Masters are: Courtney, user of Moltres; Steve, user of Zapdos; and Jack, user of Articuno.
Once the Grand Masters are defeated, Ronald steps in, revealing he has already beaten them. The rules state that now he must duel the player for the right to remain champion. In this way, Ronald parallels the rival character in the first generation games, who is the Champion of the Kanto region, having defeated the Elite Four. Ronald uses a deck with all four Legendary Cards, as well as each of the game-exclusive Eevee evolutions.
[edit] The Hall of Honor
Upon defeating the Grand Masters and Ronald for the first time, the player enters the Hall of Honor and receives one of each of the above cards. After that, each subsequent rematch with the Grand Masters awards one of the cards, until the player has two of each, at which point no more can be won. Behind the altar where the cards float is a Deck Building Machine with each of the decks of the Grand Masters is stored, as well as a Grass/Psychic deck of various powerful and legendary Pokémon such as Mr. Mime, Mew, and Venusaur.
[edit] Imakuni?
Imakuni? (the question mark is part of his name) is an in-game character. Imakuni? appears from time to time in any of the eight clubs, dancing against the back wall while singing the PokeRap. Imakuni? is willing to duel the player, on the condition they dance if he wins.
Imakuni?'s deck uses Psyduck, Slowbro, Farfetch'd and Hypno. His Pokémon are not physically powerful, and instead use disabling powers like Headache, Dark Mind, and Strange Power. His deck also uses several cards that either involve shuffling his deck, or flipping coins. Quite often, he uses the Trainer card Imakuni?, which confuses his Pokémon, just so he can flip a coin.
Beating Imakuni? results in the player winning one of each of the four booster packs. The player's third and sixth win against Imakuni? results in the player being presented a Trainer card called Imakuni?, rather than the four booster packs.
Imakuni?, according to his Trainer card, is an unknown creature not listed in the Pokedex. He is not human, for he is called a strange lifeform when players challenge him to a duel. The Trainer card named after him claims that Imakuni? wants to be played as a Basic Pokémon, but cannot be. He travels the world, posing the question to children: "Who is cuter, Pikachu or me?"
Imakuni? is actually a Japanese singer/entertainer that sings a few Pocket Monsters songs and even has had a few cards inspired by him in the real TCG like Imakuni?'s Doduo, Shining Imakuni?, and Imakuni?'s Exploud ex.
[edit] Internal battery failure
A problem found with this cartridge is that the internal battery can fail after a number of years. The internal battery is located inside of the cartridge which allows the game to save the user's progress. It is possible to replace the battery, but the cartridge must be opened and a new battery must be soldered in. The battery model is similar to a model CR1616, and can generally be purchased at electronics stores. However, the internal battery has small conductive tabs spot-welded to its exterior, making the battery difficult to remove.
If the internal battery has failed or is missing the game starts with "New Game" as the only option.
[edit] Sequel
| Pokémon Card GB2: Team Great Rocket is Here! | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Developer(s) | Hudson Soft |
| Publisher(s) | Nintendo |
| Platform(s) | Game Boy Color |
| Release date | JPN March 28, 2001 [1] |
| Genre(s) | Strategy |
Pokémon Card GB2: Team Great Rocket is Here! (ポケモンカードGB2 GR団参上！ Pokemon Kādo Jī Bī Tsū Gurēto Roketto-dan Sanjō!?) was the second videogame based on the popular Pokémon Trading Card Game. It is a Game Boy Color game (although it can be played on a non-colored Game Boy system) and a sequel to the first game. It features characters from the first game, as well as a second island to travel to that expands on the first game, with a focus on the Team Rocket expansion. The game was the second in the Pokémon series to allow players to choose the gender of their character after Pokémon Crystal, which features the returning male protagonist name Mark and a new female character name Mint as an alternate protagonist. The game was reaveled to be released outside of Japan and there are plans of American release.
This game contains every Japanese card that had been released up to the Team Rocket set, including some Japan-only promotional cards. Including "GR's Mewtwo" promo card for the TCG.
[edit] References
- ^ Pokémon Card GB2 Release date. GameFAQs. Retrieved on 2008-02-12.
[edit] External links
- Pokémon Trading Card at GameFAQs
- On replacing the internal battery: http://www.pokemasters.net/forums/showthread.php?t=15464
|
||||||||||||||||||||
