Although the games came first, there's a strong chance that 90s Pokémon fans were initially introduced to the franchise via the anime. Some never went further, choosing to simply stick to the beloved TV series, however, with Ash's tenure now coming to an end, the anime-only fans' attention may turn to the games for the first time. But with a vast array of titles across multiple devices, it can be difficult to know the best entry point into the games.
Since the original Pokémon Red and Green games were released in Japan in 1996 (known as Pokémon Red and Blue in the West), the franchise has grown to include nearly 40 titles in the core series alone. Each Generation has unique characteristics that have slowly built up the Pokémon world into what it is today. Most Pokémon Generations have also added battle gimmicks to keep the franchise feeling fresh. However, this can create an intimidating barrier for those wishing to get into playing the games; with so many titles to choose from, it can be difficult to decide where to start.
Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! Is Perfect For Anime Fans
The Pokémon: Let's Go! games are excellent titles for fans of the anime, especially Let’s Go, Pikachu!. The Switch games are simplified remakes of the classic Pokémon Yellow, which was itself created to capitalize on the popularity of the early anime by adjusting the original Pokémon games to match. As such, Let’s Go, Eevee! and Let’s Go, Pikachu! present players with their titular Pokémon as a starter instead of the choice of the Pokémon Red and Blue starter trio, which follows the player instead of staying in its Poké Ball. This means that players can essentially take Ash’s place in Let’s Go, Pikachu!, a perfect set-up for anime fans.
Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! Is Pure Nostalgia Fuel
Let’s Go, Pikachu! allows anime fans to relive several key aspects of Ash’s journey. With a Pikachu by the player’s side, as well as version exclusives like Mankey and Grimer (and so Primeape and Muk), the player is able to recreate Ash’s own team. Additionally, like in Pokémon Yellow, Let’s Go, Pikachu! replaces Team Rocket Grunts encountered throughout Red and Blue with the iconic team of Jessie and James. Just as they did in the original anime, the Team Rocket who appear in these Pokémon games use Ekans and Koffing in battle, alongside Meowth of course. This makes the game perfect for those looking for a nostalgic experience.
Although both Pokémon: Let’s Go! games are perfect choices for people looking for a way to ease into playing the games, Let’s Go, Pikachu! will clearly be the more appealing choice of the two for many anime fans. The fact that it offers so many experiences like Ash’s own undoubtedly gives it the edge in terms of nostalgia. Of course, it should be noted that Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! also presents its own unique story, regardless of the potential parallels. This means the player can have their own adventure as a Pokémon protagonist separate from Ash, making the experience much more personal than simply watching the anime play out.
Source: Nintendo of America/YouTube