Top 10 List #3: Pokemon Games.

Continuing this blog series at my usual irregular posting intervals, my top 10 Pokemon games!

Note: A * indicates my preferred version out of a pair of games, usually because of better version exclusives

1 (tie) : Platinum
Platinum represents the "complete package" IMO - updates over the already good Diamond/Pearl, an expanded look into the character of Cyrus, engaging side features, and you get to explore a whole other freakin' dimension!

1 (tie) Fire Red/Leaf Green*
Home to my favorite protagonist (Leaf), my favorite main series crime boss (Giovanni), my favorite rival (Blue/Gary/Whatshisname), and my favorite Elite Four member (Lorelei). Storyline is simplistic, but I am a fan of the whole concept of "Keep it Simple"

3: Pokemon X/Y*
As I stated in a recent thread, X/Y came so close to displacing the games ahead of it as my favorite. The main thing holding them back? The idiot rivals. Having to hear a certain yellow rodent squeal its own name didn't help matters either. A shame, because so much of the rest of the game was executed very well, especially the character customizations and PSS wi-fi interface

4: Pokemon XD Gale of Darkness
Excellent selection of Pokemon, improved mechanics (i.e., more Shadow moves) and a longer main campaign help XD slightly (and I mean SLIGHTLY) edge out its predecessor in the rankings.

5: Pokemon Colosseum
Colosseum has the edge when it comes to the protagonist (face it, Wes is a badass like Michael only dreams he could be), quality of Cipher's admins (you had Ein and Miror B., plus Evice > Greevil), and in general, a more engaging storyline.

6: Pokemon Diamond/Pearl*
Though Platinum does nearly everything better (I do prefer Dawn's design in these games, though, and Pearl is the only game of the three that has Glameow available for capture), the 4th gen originals still hold their own.

7: Pokemon Stadium 2
8: Pokemon Stadium
Both the Stadium games offer a wide variety of gameplay modes, including Gym Leader Castle, that the newer and prettier Battle Revolution does not, and the original Stadium gave us our first taste in 3-D Pokemon battling. Stadium 2 is an expanded and updated version; hence its higher ranking.

9: Pokemon Black 2/White 2*
Okay, the storyline in the original Black/White was better (and those games weren't saddled with the maligned world tournament), but nearly everything else was better in the sequels, from protagonist design to level curve to selection of Pokemon.

10: Pokemon Battle Revolution
That this game comes in at number 10 is more a statement on the games that rank below it rather than a statement to PBR's quality. Still, it did provide our first taste of trainer customization and did feature trainers standing behind their Pokemon during battle, so points for that. And as I said, it was pretty to look at.

And now a quick update: I will be attending an anime convention called Kantaicon this weekend. It's in Charleston/Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, and is actually taking place on the Yorktown aircraft carrier. Yes, you read that right. An. Anime. Con. On. An. Aircraft. Carrier. I'm bring my Sailor Mercury cosplay in keeping with the aquatic theme.

To top the level of awesome off, I'll be staying at the Quality Inn & Suites Patriots Point for this convention, and you know I embrace any chance to stay at a Quality Inn :P

Interesting list, there. I loved the Stadium games, too; they're probably the closest I'll ever come to the "metagame."

Just one question, though--Why Platinum over FRLG? It seems like more of your favorites are in the latter. Just curious.

BettyNewbie;bt100882 said:

Interesting list, there. I loved the Stadium games, too; they're probably the closest I'll ever come to the "metagame."

Just one question, though--Why Platinum over FRLG? It seems like more of your favorites are in the latter. Just curious.

Click to expand...

Well, both are actually tied for first. FR/LG had more of my favorite characters, but Platinum had a more fully-fleshed out story, the Distortion World, and the Villa in the Resort Area - one of those minor things that I'm strangely a big fan of (its #1 placement in my Favorite Pokemon Locations list explains why.)

So basically, both games are appealing, but for their own different reasons.