Pokémon Red and Green Versions

Pocket Monsters Red and Pocket Monsters Green (Japanese: ポケットモンスター 赤・緑) were the first Pokémon games to be released in Japan, on February 27, 1996. Pocket Monsters Red and Green were followed several months later by a minor revision, titled Pocket Monsters Blue, and by a sister game with minor gameplay changes, titled Pocket Monsters Pikachu, over two years later. The English version equivalents, Pokémon Red Version and Blue Version were later released in North America on September 30, 1998. They take place in the region of Kanto (although the region's actual title was never given during this generation) and the player's starting area is Pallet Town.

Despite Pocket Monsters Green never being physically released outside of Japan, its English version equivalent, Pokémon Blue, utilizes the original Blue Version's engine and graphics, as well as Green's wild and version exclusive Pokémon. Similarly, the English version of Pokémon Red utilizes the original Blue engine and graphics, as well as Red's wild and version exclusive Pokémon.

Plot

At the beginning of the games, players can choose Bulbasaur, Charmander, or Squirtle as their starter Pokémon from Professor Oak. They cannot catch any of the starters or their evolutions in the wild or by trading with in-game non-player characters; therefore, to complete the Pokédex with all 151 featured Pokémon, the player must link games and trade with other players, as well as attending Nintendo Events. The basic idea of each game is to become the best trainer in all of Kanto; this is done by raising Pokémon, defeating the eight Gym Leaders for Gym Badges, and eventually challenging the Elite Four and the Champion, the player's rival. Also, throughout the game, the player will have to battle against the forces of Team Rocket, a criminal organization that uses Pokémon for evil, and will eventually face off against their leader, Giovanni.

The player has a childhood rival, who happens to be the grandson of Professor Oak. This character's default name is the opposite color of the particular version in use (i.e. in Red, the character's default name is Green). He will battle the player at certain points in the game to test the player's Pokémon; being defeated is an indication for the player to level up his or her team. He will always choose for his starter a Pokémon that has a type advantage over the player's chosen one. For example, if the player chooses Charmander, a Template:Type2 Pokémon, he will choose Squirtle, a Template:Type2 Pokémon, giving it an advantage over the Fire-type Charmander.

Legacy

Red and Green set the precedent for what has become a blockbuster, multi-billion dollar franchise. In Japan, Red, Green, and the third version Blue combined have sold 10.23 million copies.^[1] In the United States, Pokémon Red has sold 4.83 million copies, while Pokémon Blue has sold 5.02 million copies.^[2]

Pocket Monsters Red and Green were the namesake of the Generation I remakes Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen released in 2004, even in regions where Blue was paired with Red.

Trivia

• Development of Red and Green started during 1990.
• While Red and Green are the first Pokémon games released, they were not necessarily the first Pokémon trademark ever registered. Mew is the first Pokémon trademark ever applied for; the application for the Pokémon was submitted on May 9, 1990, while the application for Pocket Monsters Red and Green was submitted on September 11, 1995. Before Pocket Monsters Red and Green were granted registered trademarks on December 26, 1997, Mew (then spelled ミュー, not ミュウ) had already become the first Pokémon trademark registered, granted on March 31, 1994; ミュウ was later granted on August 6, 1999.

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