The world of Pokémon has been expanding for the past 25 years, and recently fans were able to celebrate this milestone together as the Pokémon Channel released its Pokémon Presents Livestream. The stream began with a video covering the evolution of the series from the first games to the newest entries, even encompassing the Pokémon animated series. Technology has improved since Red, Green, Blue, and Yellow was released in the mid-1990s, and the evolution of technology has impacted the growth of the Pokémon series at every step.
Pokémon Red and Green released in Japan for the first time in 1996. While Pokémon Green would be replaced by Blue in the North American release a few years later, the games set the stage for 8 generations of Pokémon titles. Currently, there are eight different regions covering eight sets of games including spin-offs and remakes. What started as Kanto's original 150 Pokémon is now 893, including Legendary and Mythical Pokémon, and these Pokémon now have special region forms and most have the rare chance to appear shiny when encountered in various games.
The development of technology has always been an important part of each Pokémon game. From the Game Boy in 1996 to the Nintendo Switch in 2021, players have watched the series transform from colorless pixel sprites to full 3D-rendered models and nearly-realistic landscapes. However, handheld platforms aren't the only thing that has changed throughout the series. Pokémon Snap was originally released on the Nintendo 64 in 1999, and just over twenty years later New Pokémon Snap will become available on April 30th for the Nintendo Switch, reimagining the original concept of exploring Pokémon in their natural habitats on a modern console. The Nintendo Switch has the capabilities to present a high-definition experience thanks to updated graphics, as well as better mechanical capabilities, and decades of new Pokémon species to improve on the variety of the first game.
Pokémon's 25th Anniversary Video Shows The Evolution Of The Series
Certain mechanics have also changed throughout the decades the Pokémon games have been released. Originally, the series held a linear RPG style format, limited by the technology of the time. Currently, players are looking forward to the first open world game, Pokémon Legends: Arceus, which could change how the 9th generation of games may be presented for fans. Players have been hopeful for an open world game for years, and Pokémon Sword and Shield tested the waters for these mechanics with the introduction of Wild Areas that grew steadily bigger with each DLC pack for the base game. When Pokémon Legends: Arceus is showcased later in the stream, it is an incredible jump from the footage of the 1996 games that players likely started their journey with.
The 25th Anniversary video also showcased the evolution of the Pokémon animated series. The first episode of the Pokémon anime was released in the spring of 1997 in Japan, and would later be translated into English. The anime, much like the technology of the game series, documents 25 years of changing art styles, popular trends, and new regions as Ash Ketchum goes from one adventure to the next. Ash and his partner Pikachu meet many different friends and take on different leagues as he works towards becoming a Pokémon Master. The evolution of the anime showcases the changes made in the games, with the most recent episodes of Pokémon Journeys incorporating elements not just from recent console games, but elements from mobile games like Pokémon GO as well. The Pokémon anime is like a time capsule for the series, using the most popular content of the time in each different region's seasons.
Pokémon fans were able to see the evolution of the Pokémon TCG throughout the anniversary video as well. From the original card packs in 1996 to the super-sized collectible cards of today, Pokémon trading cards have remained popular for decades. Some of the original cards, like the 1st edition holographic Charizard cards, can sell for hundreds of thousands of dollars on secondary sites. The cards have changed design, art, and gameplay since their release. Modern playing cards have been modified to have higher HP and more powerful moves. Mega Evolution, Dynamax, and Gigantamax have been worked into the rules of the game, as well as the inclusion of Shiny Pokémon cards in recent years, as Shiny Pokémon have become increasingly popular for fans of the series.
The Pokémon series is no longer limited to console systems thanks to mobile gaming on iOS and Android devices. While there have always been multiplayer options for the Pokémon games, 2016 helped evolve a player's Pokémon journey from a single-player adventure, to a real-life experience with friends and family, thanks to the release of Pokémon GO. The game changed how people experienced the Pokémon series, and allowed players to band together outside of their gaming systems to make friends and take on challenges in the real world.
Since its release, Pokémon GO has soared in popularity and has even managed to stay afloat during the Covid-19 pandemic by making adjustments to the gameplay. The mechanics for Pokémon GO inspired the Kanto remakes Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! which released for the Nintendo Switch in 2018. While other mobile games like Pokémon Masters EX and Pokémon Cafe Mix haven't been quite as popular, they still allow players to experience the world of Pokémon from their handheld devices anywhere they go.
The Pokémon series has adapted and changed over the years, and these innovations have helped keep fans excited to see what new ideas may come next. The evolution of the series portrayed in the 25th-anniversary video was followed by exciting game announcements for the coming year, including more gameplay for New Pokémon Snap and the official unveiling of the upcoming Diamond and Pearl remakes Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, both set to release late this year. The unveiling of the open-world game Pokémon Legends: Arceus announced the game should be available in the spring of 2022, giving fans of the Pokémon series plenty to look forward to as creators continue to invent new ways for fans to enjoy the amazing world of Pokémon.