Why I love Pokemon?

 

With Pokemon Legends Arceus around the corner, I thought I’ll share the reasons why I enjoy playing Pokemon as one of my top video game series.

 So many Pokemon to raise, collect and like

Over the years, Game Freak have come up with many different Pokemon with so many to choose from and catch yet I happen to like a lot of Pokemon from each generation whenever it’s using them in battles, raising them or using them in many different game modes including Pikachu, The Eeveelutions, Greninja, The Hitmons, Psuedo Legendaries, Ultra Beasts, Rotom forms, Mega Evolutions and more. Even the ones I’m not a huge fan are still part of Pokemon. As a result, I have many fond memories with them over the years.

Here's to the memories with the Pikachus

It’s easy to get into

I’ve been playing fighting, racing and platforms and while I do find them fun, I’m personally not good at them. For Pokemon however, it’s a turn based RPG which I find more straight forward. I can just come up with strategies including type matchups, combinations (including using Weather based teams or Baton Pass) and other strategies on how to sweep with that Pokemon without having to control the Pokemon. It also helped me to get into other turn based RPG series including Fire Emblem, Persona and Earthbound/Mother 3.

There are some more complex mechanics including EV training, IVs and breeding although they’re worth getting into to come up with the best Pokemon possible, helps with those mechanics have become more easily accessible since the sixth Gen days.

As a result, I can be good with Pokemon, winning in some battles and even if I don’t, it’s still fun (although I’m not the kind who take parts in many tournaments). I still remember the time when I was in a Pokemon tag tournament (for Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire) in Nintendo Liverpool, teaming up with my Brother with me using the Eeveelutions and both of us won.

It connects me with friends

Pokemon have helped me to socialise with other Pokemon, making friends with their multiplayer modes including battling, trading and for Pokemon Sword and Shield, Max Raid Battles and Adventure Raids (and other modes). It’s also one of the earliest games that I’ve played online starting with the 4^th Gen Pokemon games with my online friends, giving me the gateway to online gaming. Pokemon Go also earns a bonus mention as I sometimes go out with friends and family playing Pokemon Go including with Community Days and other events.

There are many Pokemon based on interesting origins and lores

There are many Pokemon that have many interesting origins, many of which are straight forward including Pikachu who is based on a mouse, others are based on mythology or lesser known animals along with objects and humans which are fascinating to learn and discover. Pokemon have become my top inspirational source whenever I come up with animals, mythical or cryptic creatures (along with elemental typing and powers) for my stories. I wouldn’t be aware of Tsuchinoko if it weren’t for Dunsparce for example. It helps that I like animals too.

Who would have thought that Dunsparce can fly like that?

Pokemon have a good soundtrack

Pokemon is among my gaming series that have a top tier sound track including for major battles, areas or events. Gen 4, 6 and 8 in particular has the best soundtrack for me.

There are some good side series too

I may not be into them as much as the main series but Pokemon do come up with some good spin off series that are just as enjoyable, showing that Pokemon can do just about any genres.

For the ones I have played, Detective Pikachu is a personal favourite with its story based mystery and having its own movie (playing Sam and Max beforehand have probably helped to make it enjoyable for me). Pokemon Go gives me motivation to go outdoors and as mentioned before, I have been using it with friends and family. Coliseum and XD are just like the main series but with a different take of rescuing and purifying Shadow Pokemon and Battle Revolution have a variety of battle modes that puts your team to the test.

Other side series and spin offs that I’ve played worth mentioning includes Pokemon Unite, New Pokemon Snap, Pokemon Masters and Pokken.

 It have an enjoyable Anime

The Anime series was my first stepping stone to Pokemon and I still watch and enjoy the series to this day from the original Kanto series to Journeys and its movies, watching Ash Ketchem to become the very best like no one ever was while rooting for many other likable cast too including Team Rocket (particularly whenever they have a focus episode which makes them sympathetic), Goh, Clemont, Cilan, Serena, Lillie, Dawn and others.

The story can be good

For both games and anime alike, some of their stories are simple, others are deep and complex but either way, they are enjoyable to get into with its likeable cast, idealstic toning and its empahsis on bonding with Pokemon, working towards your dream, getting along with others, apperciating nature and so forth. 

It have some inspiring quotes and aesops 

From both games and anime alike that we can inspire to like here's a quote from the first movie as said by Mewtwo: “I see now that the circumstances of one's birth are irrelevant. It is what you do with the gift of life that determines who you are.”

It have many fun features

Each of the series have fun features that widens your experience and each of them are memorable including Pokemon Amie and similar features starting from X and Y, Max Raid and Adventure Raids in Sword and Shield, Pokestar Studio in Black and White 2, Pokeathlon in Heart Gold and Soul Silver, Battle Royal in the Alola series, Sinnoh Underground in Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, Secret Base and Mirage Island in Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, Dream World in the Unova games and counting.

Have fun in Pokemon Camp (spritual sucessor to Pokemon Amie) with the Calyrex riders

Its something to focus on

Being autistic, I find that I can easily get hyper focus with Pokemon whenever it’s breeding, raising or using my Pokemon, spending a lot of my time on whichever Pokemon game I’m playing more than most other games, just like how Goh from Pokemon Journeys becomes hyper focus catching Pokemon (someone who I find that could be interpreted as autistic).

On that subject, Pokemon is a series that many people with autism can get into easily with its collecting aspect  as described with the video below:

It’s part of a Nintendo franchise

Pokemon is the first Nintendo franchise I’ve played and how I’ve got into them, getting to know many other awesome Nintendo franchises and consoles like how I’ve spotted Pikachu on the front cover of Super Smash Brothers. Without Pokemon, I probably wouldn’t be into Nintendo as much.

It have some cool merch

I still have a few toys that I have for my own to this day and have been reading some books too. 

It’s fun!

Whenever it’s catching, raising, battling, trading or just playing Pokemon along with watching the Anime, its fun, helping me to get into gaming, connecting with others and keeps me going with life. Pokemon doesn’t have to be perfect for me as I find them enjoyable and makes me happy. Whenever I’m journeying in Kanto, to Johto, to Hoenn, to Sinnoh, to Unova, to Kalos, to Alola, to Galar, to Hisui and beyond, I’m with Pokemon all the way.