Pokémon Yellow: Special Pikachu Edition
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Pokémon Yellow | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Developer(s) | Game Freak |
| Publisher(s) | Nintendo |
| Designer(s) | Satoshi Tajiri (director) Ken Sugimori (artist) |
| Engine | Modifed Pokémon Red/Green/Blue engine |
| Platform(s) | Game Boy (with SGB and GBC support) |
| Release date | JPN September 12, 1998 NA October 19, 1999 AUS 1999 EUR July 7, 2000 |
| Genre(s) | Console role-playing game |
| Mode(s) | Single player, Multiplayer |
| Rating(s) | OFLC: G ESRB: E |
Pokémon Yellow: Special Pikachu Edition is the fourth game in the Pokémon video game series in Japan, and the third in North America and Europe. The game was released in Japan on September 12, 1998 as Pocket Monsters Pikachu (ポケットモンスターピカチュウ Poketto Monsutā Pikachū?). It was released in North America on October 1, 1999 and was called Pokémon: Special Pikachu Edition by Nintendo. In both regions, the games are often referred to by fans as simply Pokémon Yellow, Yellow Version, or Pokémon Pikachu. Along with the release of Pokémon Yellow, a special edition yellow Pokémon-themed Game Boy Color was also released.
The game was essentially a remake of the previous two versions, Pokémon Red and Blue, though it featured changes to make the game more similar to the animated series. Like Ash Ketchum in the anime, trainers in the game received Pikachu as their starter Pokémon. The game was very successful and became the top selling handheld game for weeks after its release. The game entered the Guinness Book of Records in 2001 for selling one million copies within a span of one month.[1] Pokémon Yellow was the last game released in United States for the original Game Boy.
Contents |
[edit] Game features
As in previous Pokémon titles, in Pokémon Yellow the player assumes the role of a young boy who sets off to become a Pokémon trainer. Like many console role-playing games, Pokémon Yellow uses a third-person perspective; the player directly navigates the protagonist around different areas in the fictional universe of Kanto, interacting with objects, people, and Pokémon.
While the game's setting and its plot are nearly identical to those of Red and Blue, Yellow Version requires the player use a Pikachu instead of offering a choice between the three original starter Pokémon Charmander, Squirtle and Bulbasaur. Pokémon Yellow is the only game in the handheld Pokémon series that does not allow the trainer to choose between three different starter Pokémon. Because the player cannot choose a starter Pokémon, the line-up of the player's rival's team is determined in another way. In all the other games, the rival will always pick the Pokémon that has an advantage towards the player's starter Pokémon; in Pokémon Yellow, however, this is decided by the outcomes of early battles the player has with his rival. Like in the anime, the player's Pikachu is kept out of its Poké Ball and it cannot be evolved into Raichu as in other Pokémon games. There are no other Pikachu in the game, and trainers that had Pikachu in Red or Blue had their rosters modified to remove or replace Pikachu in Yellow.[2]
One of Pikachu's unique features is that, unlike other Pokémon the player encounters in the game, Pikachu will display emotion. Pikachu will react when the player enters certain buildings and rooms. If the player faces Pikachu and talks to it, a box will appear showing Pikachu’s face, and it will say a heavily digitized Pikachu! with various inflections. This, along with its facial expression, tells the player about Pikachu’s current mood. Pikachu’s mood ranges from morose to curious to bursting with love.
[edit] Reception
Despite the game being an upgraded variant of previous titles Pokémon Red and Blue, Yellow proved to be extremely popular. When it was released in North America in late 1999, it was available to consumers in a dual package containing a Game Boy Color, which debuted at #2 in sales and claimed the #1 spot a week later.[2] The standard cartridge sold over 600,000 units in its first week and more than one million copies in its first fortnight, becoming the fastest selling handheld game of all time when it was released.[1]
Overall, Yellow was well-received by critics. GameSpot gave it a "Great" rating, with an overall 8.9/10 score;[3] IGN gave it a "masterful" 10/10, noting "The game is super easy to pick up and play, yet it's challenging in its own right. And it's addictive."[4] It ranks among the top Game Boy games ever released.[5]
Pokémon Yellow was one of the most influential contributions to the franchise.[citation needed] Though Pokémon Yellow was similar to the other first-generation Pokémon games, its successors featured numerous gameplay, graphical, and technical improvements. Yellow directly influenced such aspects of later games as custom sprites and Loyalty indicators for Pokémon. These changes would be incorporated in Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, enhanced remakes of the original Red and Blue versions.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b Guinness Book of Records 2001 - Entertainment Section - p. 121
- ^ a b Pokémon Yellow: Special Pikachu Edition. ign.com. Retrieved on Feb 8, 2007.
- ^ Davis, Cameron (2000-01-28). Pokémon Yellow for Game Boy. gamespot.com. Retrieved on Feb 2, 2007.
- ^ Harris, Craig (1999-10-19). Pokémon Yellow Review. ign.com. Retrieved on Feb 10, 2007.
- ^ GameRankings.com - Pokémon Yellow. gamerankings.com. Retrieved on Feb 3, 2007.
[edit] External links
- Pokémon Yellow Version: Special Pikachu Edition at Nintendo.com (archives of the original at the Internet Archive)
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
