Pokemon, Yellow Version: Special Pikachu Edition

Pokémon Yellow follows the TV cartoon series more closely than the other versions. Your first Pokémon in Yellow is Pikachu, and he travels alongside you as opposed to inside a Pokéball (like most Pokémon). Pikachu's mood can be displayed virtual pet style: keeping him happy is important, as his mood affects certain events in the game. In addition to the inclusion of other TV show elements like Team Rocket, new battle modes between players are available as well as a secret game called Pikachu's Beach.

If you haven't played any of the Pokémon games before, Pokémon Yellow is the best place to start. But while Pokémaniacs will go gaga over Yellow's new features, less enthusiastic veterans of Red and Blue may not find the extras to be quite so special. --Joe Hon

Pros:

• Best version yet of the highly addictive Pokémon game
• Pikachu's moods raise the game's cuteness bar to an all-new level
• Features new battle modes between players
• Includes Pikachu's Beach secret game

• Pokémon battles can be repetitive at times
• New features may not be enough for some Pokémon veterans

The foremost of these is the fact that Pikachu just won't stay in his Pokeball! He follows you around in the game, and you have to keep him happy or you lose points and various opportunities. I also like the addition of Jesse and James (characters from the cartoon), and the additional battles they provide. If I had to pick just one of the three, this is the one I'd pick.

I like the way the Pokemon game challenges kids. I suggest also buying one of the books which shows the various routes and places. This allows kids to work at the tasks without getting frustrated.

The idea is to start at Prof. Oak's house, get your first Pokemon from him, and then journey all around the land of Pokemon, collecting various wild pokemon (which you catch by battling them until they faint), and doing battle with other trainers along the way.

In the process, kids learn to manuever through mazes of increasing complexity (which is why the manuals are a help), to gather and use items, and to develop strategies for fighting various types of Pokemon. My five year-old even started to read while using her Gameboy, from needing to know which items she had with her (in her Item List)!

All in all these are great games which can be played over and over (although only one game at a time can be saved), and which will provide your kids with hundreds of hours of fun.


PoKéMoN YeLLoW   April 1, 2000
19 out of 19 found this review helpful

Pokémon Yellow is a great game! It has BETTER pics, BETTER Pokédex data, and DIFFERENT attacks for Pokémon(including a new psychic attack called KINESIS)! You can get Squirtle, Bulbasaur, and Charmander(a.k.a. the starters). You start off with a Pikachu and Gary begins with an Eevee. I don't care if you already have any other version, THIS IS A BEST BUY!


Thoroughly enjoyable video game!   February 7, 2000
20 out of 21 found this review helpful

I am a middle-aged mother who bought this game for my 5 year old son for Christmas. However, upon plugging it in, I found that unless a child is a pretty good reader already, this game would be difficult for them to play. I was going to put it aside for him, but thought I'd give it a whirl myself first. It hooked me completely! I love it. It's given me a great education into the Pokemon phenomenum, which is good since my son likes Pokemon. It's non-violent. And, although challenging, not too difficult or frustrating - a plus for both kids and adults alike. This is the first video game that I have played to the end. I highly recommend it for anyone with children who are already competent readers. For those with younger children, buy it but wait until they can read to let them play it. I'll be waiting impatiently for Nintendo to release the Gold and Silver gameboy cartridges here in the states.


Pikachu is the best!   October 15, 2000
15 out of 16 found this review helpful

When I got this game I was so exited! I couldn't wait to play it! I'll do a quick story of the game. You start off from your house just like the red and blue. When you get out of your house and try to leave town, Profesor Oak stops you and he runs into Pikachu and catches it. He takes you to his lab. This time there is one pokeball on the table. Gary snaches it. That pokemon was supposed to be for you! Then Oak gives you the Pikachu he caught earlier. After you battle your rival, Pikachu comes out of it's pokeball and he follows you on the screen and he will do very cute things in the game if you talk to him. Then you do that whole thing to get to Pewter. After you defeat Brock you go to Mt.Moon. After you deafeat Super Nerd Jessie and James are there to try to stop you. You can find Jessie and James throughout the game. That was just a little taste of what else you can do in this game. Pokemon can be found in different places like Farfetched can now be found in the wild! I recomend to get this if you have never played the game before or if you love pokemon!


pokemon Yellow....   March 1, 2000
11 out of 11 found this review helpful

The game itself is basically the same as Red and Blue but with extras and the pokemon in different areas .The graphics are definately better than on R&B Plus you begin your journey with Pikachu who follows you about and smiles and hops when you look at him! If you haven't got Pokemon and are thinking about it I would reccommend you get Yellow instead of Red or Blue.It's great 4 Pikachu Lovers.