I received Pokemon Red when I turned eight, and it feels like I’ve been a part of that world ever since. There’s something special about discovering a series at just the right age, and for me, that was with the original Pokemon Red and Blue. I remember popping that red cartridge in and starting my adventure in Kanto – from picking my first Pokemon to actually believing the myth about Mew being hidden under the truck! I had no idea then that Pokemon wouldn’t just be a favorite game for a little while, but would become a huge part of my life, shaping my childhood and continuing to be my absolute favorite franchise to this day.
As a huge Pokémon fan, one thing that always struck me is how the series never faded away. It was always there, with a new game or update just when you were ready for it – every couple of years a brand new region to explore! It felt perfectly timed, especially as a kid. I’d finally master one game, and boom, another one was coming out. It wasn’t like other RPGs, like Final Fantasy or Dragon Quest, where you played one as a kid and then moved on. Pokémon grew with me, and I think that’s a big reason why so many of us are still fans today.
How Pokemon Became The Biggest Franchise in Gaming
The original Pokémon games set a trend that continued for years. Following Red and Blue, Gold and Silver greatly expanded the game world, making it feel much larger. Pokémon Crystal then perfected this generation, introducing the first time players could choose to play as a female character. Later, Ruby and Sapphire for the Game Boy Advance pushed the series’ technology even further and gave fans a new and cherished region to explore.
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How I Grew Up With Pokemon Games, TCG, Movies, and Anime
Looking back, every time Nintendo released a new generation of Pokemon games, it felt like it matched up with a big change in my own life. I remember moving from elementary to middle school right as I was getting into Gen 3, and it felt like the Game Boy Advance was growing up with me. But what really made Pokemon special wasn’t just the main games themselves, it was everything around them – the whole world they built.
- A weekly anime broadcast that kept the world alive year-round
- A massively popular trading card game that dominated playground culture
- Spin-off Pokemon games like Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team and Pokemon Ranger
- Movies, guidebooks, toys, and constant promotional tie-ins
It’s actually not my first language, but I taught myself English! I was really into the Pokemon Trading Card Game, and since the cards were first released in English in my country, I was motivated to learn the language so I could play.
Despite what some might say, Pokémon never really faded away. Even in less hyped years, there was always something new happening, which helped turn it from a game series into a major part of pop culture and a constant presence for many children growing up. I personally remember when the first Pokémon movie came out – it was near my birthday, and my mom threw a party where my whole class went to see it with me. I was disappointed I didn’t get the limited-edition Mew trading card, but it was still an incredible experience, and everyone loved the movie.
Why Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest Felt Different in The 90s and 2000s
Compared to many modern games, classic Japanese role-playing games (JRPGs) like Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest took a very long time to develop. A single game could be a major part of someone’s childhood or teenage years. For example, Final Fantasy 10 kept me engaged throughout middle school, and remains my favorite in the series – I replayed it multiple times during my freshman year of high school. Similarly, Dragon Quest 8 was incredibly influential for a whole generation of gamers. However, because of these lengthy development periods, by the time the next game in the series arrived, the gaming hardware landscape had often changed dramatically.
The issue isn’t that the old game development model was bad; it actually led to some creative breakthroughs. However, it meant kids often played the same game for years – sometimes their entire childhood. This made it harder to keep their long-term interest, and it might explain why Pokemon became so massively popular. Pokemon didn’t rely on a single game to stay relevant; it kept things fresh with regular new releases and expanded into movies, TV shows, and more. It would have been amazing to see Final Fantasy or Dragon Quest achieve that same broad reach. Just think what could have been if they had!
- Consistent anime adaptations tied directly to mainline launches
- A trading card game like Pokemon and an ensuing phenomenon of comparable scale
- Frequent handheld spin-offs between flagship releases
How Pokemon’s Cultural Phenomenon Couldn’t be Replicated by FF and Dragon Quest
However, most developers in the late 1990s and early 2000s didn’t have the resources to work like that. The close partnership between Game Freak, Nintendo, and Creatures Inc. – forming The Pokémon Company – built a smooth production process that was difficult for other studios to copy. Pokémon’s initial success wasn’t just luck; it came from a well-organized system that would have been hard for anyone else to establish and manage.
Why Pokemon’s 3-Year Release Schedule Has Become a Huge Problem After Gen 9
The success of Pokemon hasn’t come without issues. Recently, people have been increasingly critical of the quick turnaround between Pokemon game releases. The launch of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet sparked a lot of discussion about the games’ technical quality and whether the series would benefit from longer development times. Even now, the poor water textures in Pokemon Legends: Arceus are still noticeable, and rumors of an upgraded version for the upcoming Switch 2 console are particularly exciting because of it.
Okay, yeah, those criticisms of Scarlet and Violet are fair. It’s clear rushing the game really showed, especially with how complicated open-world RPGs are to make these days – performance definitely suffered. But honestly, as someone who grew up with Pokemon Red and was completely hooked from day one, I really appreciate that Game Freak still tries to release a new game pretty regularly. That consistent stream of Pokemon adventures always felt special to me.
I Wouldn’t Trade Pokemon’s Early Release Schedule For Anything in the World
Growing up with Pokemon felt special because there was always something new – a new region to explore, fresh Pokemon to catch, and ongoing mysteries to uncover. I followed it all through magazines, learning lore and tips. It wasn’t like the games stayed frozen in time; the franchise grew with me. I didn’t just experience individual games, but a connected world that kept moving forward. That consistent presence, even with its flaws, is something I really appreciate, and I’m excited to see what Gen 10 brings in just a few days.
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2026-02-25 00:09