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The Pokémon series is a group of games that revolve around special types of creatures known as Pocket Monsters (in the original Japanese) or Pokémon for short. Most of the games revolve around catching and training Pokemon. The games initially became a cultural phenomena akin to Mario's years ago following the games' worldwide release for the end of the 90s. The series has expanded with various spin-offs that play off of the mainstream games and allow the player to assume different roles within the world such as that of a photographer, researcher or Pokémon ranger, in addition to games where players can directly control Pokémon. There are currently five generations of mainstream games, with the current count of Pokémon being 649.

Premise

Pokemon
Developer	Game Freak
Games	List of all games
Debut	Pokémon: Red, Green and Blue Versions (1996)

The Pokémon games are primarily a handheld series. The mainstream games follow a silent protagonist on a quest to capture all of the different types of Pokémon found in the world. The player must also train these Pokémon to face various challenges such as the eight gym leaders and the Elite Four, who must be conquered to become the Pokémon Champion. Each generation also traditionally has its own unique evil corporation that the player can battle and defeat. The games utilize RPG-like gameplay for battles.

The term "generation" has been coined to describe different sets of Pokémon games that have arise over the years. A generation usually begins with two different versions of the same game. The versions usually have primarily minor differences, although later games have been making more significant differences between original versions. The primary change is in the availability of certain Pokémon, which causes the emphasis on trading Pokémon between players in order to collect all of the Pokémon of a certain region, and later generations also have functions to trade with previous generations. There is also typically a third version in a generation which will feature more significant alterations to the plot or setting, such as the addition of new characters and plotlines, as well as continuing to switch around the availability of certain species. The first generation is the only one so far to feature four versions instead of the original three. Each generation is typically set at a different region, with a fresh set of characters and a new plotline as well as a new set of around 100 Pokémon. These generations of different color versions make up the mainstream Pokémon series.

The other games are various spin-offs which have arisen over the years and place the Pokémon in various different settings. Some explore the Pokémon universe from other points of view, while others simply utilize other genres in a Pokémon setting such as pinball or puzzles. Other games also have ways of linking up to the mainstream games to unlock more Pokémon. Two of the more prominent subseries to arise have started with the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon and Pokémon Ranger. The Gamecube also notably featured two games which were closest to the mainstream series, Pokémon Colosseum and Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness, which had their own RPG-oriented story mode and could even trade Pokémon with the Game Boy Advance color versions.

History

The Pokémon series was actually conceived back in 1990, just a year after the release of the Game Boy and the formation of Game Freak. Satoshi Tajiri started with the idea of trading insects between Game Boys, and the original title was Capsule Monsters until it was changed to Pocket Monsters due to trademark issues. The initial game spent six years in development before it was released in 1996 as two different versions: the Red Version and Green Version. This served Tajiri's original goal, as players would have to trade between their games to get all of the Pokémon, as one could only obtain a certain amount of the 150 Pokémon using just one game. There was also a hidden 151st Pokémon, Mew, which was inserted at the last minute and could be obtained primarily through Nintendo events.

The games initially had lukewarm sales, but the popularity began building up with the revelation of Mew and the release of the tie-in trading card game as well as the beginning of the popular anime and manga series. The next version to be released within the same year was the Blue Version, which was merely a graphically updated version of the previous two games. The series was brought to America in 1998 with Red and Blue Versions. These Versions were a mix of the previous Japanese versions: they were the original Red and Green, modified with the graphics from Blue. 1998 also marked the beginning of the Pokémon Stadium subseries, which was a console tie-in series on the Nintendo 64 where players could link up their individual versions, and the game focused on the battling part of the games. Several other spin-offs also began to arise for both handhelds and consoles in the late 90s such as Pokémon Snap and Pokémon Pinball, and the first generation was eventually concluded with Pokémon: Yellow Version, another variation on the original game which added elements from the anime series.

The second generation of games launched in 1999 with the release of Pokémon: Gold and Silver Versions on the Game Boy Color. These games expanded upon the first generation with new mechanics such as Pokémon gender and a breeding system as well as a built-in clock with a day/night system. Although the game was set in a new region called Johto, it was established to be connected to the first generation's setting, Kanto, Various characters and locations from the first generation could be revisited, and the last opponent was even the previous player protagonist, something which so far has only been unique to the second generation. Although the second generation was designed as the "ultimate" Pokémon, the popularity of the series propelled them to continue the series. The second generation was rounded out by Pokémon: Crystal Version, which added a new plotline and some gameplay features such as the choice of the player character's gender, which would recur in later games.

The series eventually arrived on the Game Boy Advance with the third generation in 2002. Pokémon: Ruby and Sapphire Versions were set in an entirely new continent and featured various alternations to the gameplay, and they were also incompatible with the preceding Game Boy games. Ruby and Sapphire notably both featured different stories, and each story had a different set of antagonists. The Emerald Version would later combine both storylines while adding a new area called the Battle Frontier. The Battle Frontier became an optional battle-based challenge within the games. The first generation games were also remade for the Game Boy Advance as Pokémon: FireRed and LeafGreen Versions and were capable of trading with the third generation games.

The fourth generation was launched in 2006 with Pokémon: Diamond and Pearl Versions for the Nintendo DS. These versions added some new features while reprising others from the second generation such as the day and night system. The version differences also were less drastic than the third generation. Pokémon: Platinum Version was the last game in the generation and featured alterations to the storyline as well as a new Battle Frontier. They were soon followed by DS remakes of the second generation, Pokémon: HeartGold and SoulSilver Versions, which like FireRed/LeafGreen, added features from later generations combined with graphical updates.

The series was then revamped for the fifth generation in 2010 with the development of Pokémon: Black and White Versions. This game featured a fresh setting, an emphasis on new Pokémon and a darker storyline as well as variations on the formulas of previous games. This game could also connect to the internet, with a feature known as the Pokémon Dream World. It received a pair of sequel games in 2012. The sixth generation games, Pokémon: X and Y, were released in 2013 for the Nintendo 3DS, introducing the Fairy type to the series and featuring a gameplay element known as Mega Evolution. This was later accompanied by 3DS remakes of the third generation games, Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire in 2014.

The seventh generation games Sun and Moon were released in 2016. These games retooled the Pokémon formula and were no longer based around the standard Pokémon League model. It was also set in a region known as Alola, which features alternate versions of Pokémon from previous games in addition to new species. It was followed up by Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon in 2017. Afterwards, a pair of games were made for the Nintendo Switch that were based on Pokémon: Yellow Version combined with gameplay from the mobile Pokémon GO, known as Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!.

Side Games

In addition to the main series games, there are also many side games that have been released over the years, many of which have formed their own subseries.

Some early Pokémon spin-offs included Pokémon Trading Card Game for the Game Boy, which based on the popular trading card game and had a sequel that was only released in Japan. Pokémon Snap was released for the Nintendo 64 in 1998 and was based around taking pictures of various Pokémon on an island. There have also been two different pinball games, one for the first generation in 1999 and one for the third generation in 2003.

Pokémon Stadium was released during the first generation as a way to play with Pokémon on consoles like the Nintendo 64. Pokémon could be transferred to and from the Game Boy games, with opportunities to collect special Pokémon through these games. Several Stadium games were made for the Nintendo 64, followed by Pokémon Colosseum and Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness for the Gamecube, which featured their own original RPG story modes. The last game of this vein was Pokémon Battle Revolution for the Nintendo Wii in 2006. The Nintendo 64 also saw the release of Hey You, Pikachu!, a game where the player could use a microphone to interact with Pikachu in a variety of environments.

Several puzzle games have been made based on the series, starting with Pokémon Puzzle Challenge and Pokémon Puzzle League, both of which were released in 2000 and based on the Panel De Pon gameplay. Puzzle Challenge was released for the Game Boy Color and featured Pokémon from the second generation games, while Puzzle Challenge was made for the Nintendo 64 and featured characters from the anime series. In 2005, a new puzzle game called Pokémon Trozei! was released for the DS, and it was later followed by Pokémon Battle Trozei for the 3DS in 2014. Two free Pokémon puzzle games were released for the 3DS in 2015: Pokémon Shuffle (which was based on the Trozei! games) and Pokémon Picross.

In 2003, Pokémon Channel was released for the Gamecube, which featured elements from a number of genres and allowed for interactions with a number of Pokémon. Several games were later made for the primary purpose of storing Pokémon from the handheld games and possibly unlocking new ones, such as Pokémon Box: Ruby and Sapphire for the Gamecube and My Pokémon Ranch for the Wii. There was also Pokémon Dash, a racing game released for the DS in 2004. Pikachu was later featured in a pair of adventure games for the Wii released in 2009 and 2011, respectively: PokéPark Wii: Pikachu's Adventure and PokéPark 2: Wonders Beyond. There was also an educational typing game released in 2011, called Learn with Pokémon: Typing Adventure.

In 2005, the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon subseries started with Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red and Blue Rescue Teams for the Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS. These were based on the Japanese RPG series Mystery Dungeon, featuring a player character who is turned into a Pokémon and ends up in a world inhabited solely by Pokémon. This has spawned a series that is still ongoing, with many of the installments being released with multiple versions. In 2006, Pokémon Ranger was released for the DS. This game followed the adventures of a Pokémon Ranger, who temporarily catches Pokémon with something called a capture styler. This game inspired two sequels.

Pokémon Rumble started off as WiiWare released in 2009. This game features the player controlling a Pokémon fighting other Pokémon in different environments, with melee-based gameplay. It inspired a series of sequels across different systems. In 2016, Pokkén Tournament was released for the Wii U. This is a fighting game by Bandai Namco featuring several different Pokémon and based on the gameplay of their Tekken series.

A game called Detective Pikachu was released for the 3DS in 2018 (after a limited Japanese release in 2016). This game features a player working with a talking Pikachu to solve mysteries. In 2018, a new type of Pokémon RPG for the Switch was released, known as Pokémon Quest.

Spin-Offs/Crossovers

The Pokémon series has been represented in Nintendo's crossover fighting series, Super Smash Bros., since the first game. Pikachu and Jigglypuff have been present as playable characters since the first game, and later games have added Pichu, Mewtwo, Lucario, a Pokémon Trainer (based on Red and alternating between using Ivysaur, Squirtle and Charizard), Charizard and Greninja as playable characters. The series has also been represented in the form of stages, items, enemies and musical tracks based on the series, as well as trophies of different characters and other elements from throughout the game. The Smash Bros. series has also prominently featured the Pokéball as an item; when thrown, the Pokémon unleashes one of many Pokémon at random, which goes on to temporarily attack the other players or have some effect on the environment, although some of the summoned Pokémon do nothing at all.

In 2012, Pokémon Conquest was released. Developed by Tecmo Koei, this game acts as a crossover with the Nobunaga's Ambition series, featuring warriors and warlords who fight with Pokémon.

Other Media

Anime

The Pokémon anime began airing in 1997 and has been airing to this day. The anime follows the adventures of Ash Ketchum, a character based on the first generation protagonist Red, and his loyal Pikachu. The anime has followed the games in terms of regions and Pokémon, with a corresponding series for each generation. When the Kanto series was finished prior to the release of the second generation games, an original arc set in the Orange Islands was created to buy time. There was also a Battle Frontier series which acknowledged FireRed/LeafGreen as well as Emerald by being set in Kanto. There have also been annual anime movies starring the cast, which usually focuses on a legendary Pokémon and/or introduces new Pokémon from a coming generation. The anime's localization was successful and continues to this day, although most of the voice actors were changed once the rights changed hands from 4Kids Entertainment to The Pokémon Company.

The supporting characters have been shuffled throughout the series. At first, the gym leaders Brock and Misty appeared as Ash's supporting companions. Brock was briefly replaced by an original character named Tracy Sketchit during the Orange Islands arc, and Misty left permanently after the Johto region. In later series, Ash's new female companion would be the female player character from the corresponding game: May during the Hoenn/Battle Frontier series (who was joined by her brother Max for the Hoenn portion) and Dawn during the Sinnoh series. For the Unova series, Brock departed permanently from the main cast, with Cilan and Iris, gym leaders (and a potential champion) from that generation, acting as Ash's new companions. The Kalos series features Serena, Clemont and Bonnie (the female protagonist, a gym leader and his sister) as companions, while the Alola series features was a revamped animation style with five companions accompanying Ash (Lillie, Kiawe, Mallow, Lana and Sophocles).

The anime has deviated from the game series in several key ways. Agents of Team Rocket have appeared as recurring antagonists for nearly ever episode throughout every series. Unlike in the games, Giovanni has never been challenged and beaten, so Team Rocket continues to be active. The agents appearing in every episode are Jessie and James, who are always accompanied by their talking Meowth.

Manga

The Pokémon Adventures manga started in 1997. Written by Hidenori Kusaka and featuring art by Mato (for the first nine volumes) followed by Satoshi Yamamoto, this manga more closely follows the game's events while taking on a darker tone. There are multiples arcs featuring trainers whose names are adapted directly from the different color versions, with the earliest trainers being Red, Blue and Green. There has been a Red/Green/Blue arc (with Green being a female trainer based on an used female starting trainer) followed by Yellow (which featured an original character named Yellow), Gold/Silver/Crystal, Ruby/Sapphire, FireRed/LeafGreen (which reprises the characters from the first three arcs), Emerald (which winds up concluding FireRed/LeafGreen and introducing a new trainer named Emerald), Diamond/Pearl, Platinum, HeartGold/SoulSilver, Black/White, Black 2/White 2, X/Y, Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire and Sun/Moon. The manga still takes some liberties with the plot, such as the Yellow arc introducing the Elite Four as villains. Later arcs have had characters who are closer to their game portrayals.

There have also been a variety of other manga adaptations, many of which are short-term mangas that are only based on individual games. One of the more well-known mangas, due to its localization as The Electric Tale of Pikachu, was a manga based on the anime that lasted for four volumes. There has also been a long-running gag manga exclusive to Japan.

Film

A live-action film is being developed based on Detective Pikachu for release in 2019. It stars Ryan Reynolds as Detective Pikachu.

Portal: Pokémon

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