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-   -   2nd Gen Still Worth Playing To A Newbie? (https://www.pokecommunity.com/showthread.php?t=317188)

Nikkolas January 12th, 2014 5:45 AM

Still Worth Playing To A Newbie?
 
Well I'm looking to get into the Pokemon games proper and I'm just seeking unbiased opinions on the quality of these games. It seems a lot of people, in retrospect, say they are buggy, unbalanced, ugly pieces of dung.

Do these games hold up or no? Would you recommend them to me as a way to get into the series?

Palmer-Granate January 15th, 2014 8:30 AM

Really? Do we have to go as far as to refer the classic duo that started the whole phenomenon in the first place? "buggy, unbalanced, ugly pieces of dung" would be far from what I and many others would refer to, they were classics.

Think about the 10-yo's who were born in the late 80's. We didn't have DS like the youngin's do now, so we NEEDED pokemon Red/Blue to keep us from boredom, back in the day.

I will 100% recommend it, starting or not. Every pokemon game is going to start and remain consistently confusing throughout a game you've never played before, so go for it!

JourneyCat January 19th, 2014 1:01 AM

I've been playing Pokemon X for 2 months now. And weeks ago I began playing Yellow again, and wow it still is fun as heck, as it was way back like 14 years ago. It's interesting how the basic gameplay never changed much... So really, to get a taste of say X and Y, getting started with the early generations definitely helps to understand what it is all about.

ZetaZaku January 19th, 2014 1:47 AM

I've been playing Pokemon since the release of Gen 1, and I have to agree that the first generation was buggy, unbalanced and ugly at times. Gen 2 pretty much fixed everything that was wrong with Gen 1. And then each new generation improved the basic gameplay.

I still replay Red and Blue because they are quick to play on an emulator, but they are highly flawed.

LusoTrainer January 19th, 2014 5:41 AM

Red/Blue were my first games of the series back in the '90s, but for someone that is getting into Pokémon nowadays, I see nothing wrong in advising to get the remakes FireRed/LeafGreen instead. Not only are they faithful remakes, but graphically may be more welcome to somone new to the series.

Puddle January 19th, 2014 5:49 AM

Really, they aren't that buggy unless you are looking to exploit the bugs for your advantage like many people do.

If you just play the game how it should be played, you should enjoy it.

AkameTheBulbasaur January 19th, 2014 6:24 AM

Well, the first games were incredibly broken with the number of glitches that it had, but they were still good games overall. They got that popular for a reason. FireRed and LeafGreen are pretty much identical to the originals with updated graphics. You could really go with either and get the same experience. Thing to note about FR/LG, is that they are what I call "overly newbie friendly." They throw a ridiculous number of hints and help at you within the first couple minutes of gameplay. They also have a whole entire help system with various entries designed so that there is no way that you could possibly get confused. (There's an option to turn it off though). R/B/Y just throws you in the game and lets you figure it out yourself.

Puddle January 19th, 2014 6:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AkameTheBulbasaur (Post 8047511)
Well, the first games were incredibly broken with the number of glitches that it had, but they were still good games overall. They got that popular for a reason. FireRed and LeafGreen are pretty much identical to the originals with updated graphics. You could really go with either and get the same experience. Thing to note about FR/LG, is that they are what I call "overly newbie friendly." They throw a ridiculous number of hints and help at you within the first couple minutes of gameplay. They also have a whole entire help system with various entries designed so that there is no way that you could possibly get confused. (There's an option to turn it off though). R/B/Y just throws you in the game and lets you figure it out yourself.

Both the story lines are still pretty much straight forward and you really don't need to much help regardless. And the help that you could possibly need, you wouldnt be able to find through that menu.

Evening January 20th, 2014 2:17 PM

It's worth playing to a newbie.
It's enjoyable, my life in Pokemon actually started there.

DearBigfoot January 20th, 2014 8:46 PM

I've still got two cartridges of Red and a bum cartridge of Blue that's fried. I still play them from time to time, when I have an extra couple of AA batteries of course.

They're pretty ugly, but I love them all the same.

Meganium January 20th, 2014 9:28 PM

It'd be nice to introduce the older games, mainly the GBC games to new Pokemon players because they could be much more familiarized with how Pokemon gaming had evolved and how it changed. For us older gamers, we play them because we want to feel nostalgic, we want to be young again. Trust me, playing Silver always gives me that nostalgic vibe.

Playing those games are entirely optional and it's up to you whether you want to obtain that experience or not. I would recommend it though!~

She_Delphox January 21st, 2014 3:43 AM

I have been playing these Pokemon games for over 12 years, so I'm quite a veteran by now rofl xD But, I would recommend these games to anyone new to the series anyway! I have played a lot of other different games too, for example on my Playstation 3 and XBOX (Prototype fan for example), but the games on these consoles NEVER were interested enough for me to play non-stop, that's why I stick with Nintendo from the beginning ^_^

I began playing when the Red/Blue series came out, and therfore have bought pretty much every Pokemon game after that, so I still have all the cartridges from Pokemon Red to Pokemon X now :3

I really grew fond of the games, collecting Pokemon, training them (takes a lot of time and effort, also very nice that even though you can catch more of the same Pokemon obviously, the stats and in modern games, and natures differ each time!), but also like the story. Sure, you may notice that the story barely changes throughout the games, but that's just what Pokemon is about!
I can't get enough of Pokemon, when I was a kid I liked the TV series a whole bunch too, and the great feeling of nostalgia and excitement, catching a rare Pokemon you have been looking for all day or finally encounter a shiny the first time! ^_^ Those days were awesome.

The gameplay can take you away for HOURS and even WEEKS on end, the story is large enough to continue to play as long as you like, and even after completing the main story, there is SO MUCH to do after that! My experience with other modern games like GTA or so, where nice games but I never could play those as long as Pokemon and still find new things to do that I haven't done before! I never experienced any game like the way Pokemon games are, there is so much to do in the story and even after that, there is plenty of stuff to do! Making these games totally worth buying! :)

So, if you are really serious in trying these games, I sure would recommend doing so! Sure, obviously the first games from Gen.1 are 8-bit/16-bit, not much colour variation, glitchy in a way because those where the very first games. Programming games is also a different matter and complicated so ofcourse there are glitches and stuff, but they are still worth playing! I'm FOND of my Pokemon X game, but I still like to play Pokemon Red now and then, for example!
The more variation came ofcourse when game development aged and became more sophisticated, so the more modern games have even better and longer stories, and ofcourse MORE Pokemon to collect and more playtime before beating the games! :) I already have played for over 300 hours in my Pokemon X game, and there is still so much to do (I never played for that long on any game in my life)!

But, it's up to you though ;) If you want to try, I welcome you and sure hope you will have great moments yourself with these games! And if you appear to dislike these games after trying out, that's fine too, but still, these games are definitely WORTH trying! Also, if you are really new to Pokemon I recommend to start playing the first Generation games to get to know the story and all the different Pokemon :) You dont have to start with Red/Blue/Yellow if you really don't like the older games, you can try FireRed and LeafGreen instead to start with, those are great remakes from the Red/Blue and Yellow series! :)

Good luck and have fun going to catch them all! ;)

fanri January 24th, 2014 10:28 PM

I've been playing Pokemon X for 3 months now. And weeks ago I began playing Yellow again, and wow it still is fun as heck, as it was way back like 14 years ago. It's interesting how the basic gameplay never changed much... So really, to get a taste of say X and Y, getting started with the early generations definitely helps to understand what it is all about.

Hiatus January 25th, 2014 1:11 AM

It depends, really. If you're planning to play only for the storyline and ignore everything else, then sure, go ahead! If you really care for graphics though, then maybe you shouldn't. If you do, chances of you actually enjoying these games would be pretty low. Instead, you should probably play either FireRed or LeafGreen. They have the same, basic story as Red, Green, and Blue, but are far superior in terms of graphics. :b

Banz January 25th, 2014 3:21 AM

I played my first game in 2008-09. There were 4 gens then but I started out with the first. I'd recommend anyone who starts to start with the first generation. My first game was Red. I don't regret the 70 odd hours I put in completing the game.

Sydian January 25th, 2014 10:39 AM

I don't think they aged well gameplay wise at all, to be honest. However, the music is still wonderful, and if you like playing old games in general, despite the bugs and graphics, I think it's worth a shot. Or if you just like being able to say you've played all the Pokemon games, that's a good enough reason too, I believe.

To be honest, if I knew someone that was starting Pokemon now and they wanted to play through Kanto, I'd advise them to play FireRed and LeafGreen, mainly because they would eventually be able to have the Pokemon they use in their latest game. But I'd still suggest to play Red and Blue at some point. I personally think, no matter the series, knowing the roots is a good idea. I like playing things from all generations and platforms, but that's just me.

Orogenes January 27th, 2014 12:35 AM

Before I "returned" to the series recently with X/Y - I played a bit of Silver last summer and thought it still held up pretty good. Of course things have developed and improved a lot in 10 years (otherwise it would be hard for the series to survive), but I think Nintendo (and in this case Game Freak) have always been good at keeping a functioning core intact and then improving on the "layers". Because of this, that great core can in my opinion still be found in the old games + being a retro nerd I am fine with a bit of pixelated graphics and 8-bit sounds :)

Treecko January 27th, 2014 1:03 AM

While I admit that the Gen 1 games are very flawed and buggy, they're still excellent games and overall very nostalgic since Red was my first Pokemon game and video game.

If you want to experience Pokemon's roots and what veterans like me experienced than I recommend them. I replay them when I get a chance despite the flaws it has.It can allow new users see how much the franchise has improved graphic-wise and gameplay-wise. If you just want the story of Red and Blue, then FireRed and LeafGreen are better cause the graphics are higher quality , it's not so buggy, and there's extra features that make the story and post-game more fun.Ultimately it's up to you though.

Varion Bluefire January 27th, 2014 5:52 AM

If you're playing for the first time ever!!!
Then, yes, play R/B/G/Y first, there's alot less to learn about how to be a good player, and makes it easier.
That's why people whom have playd since Gen I are alot better, come a new generation all there's to learn for long term players is a few type changes and new moves.
Where as if you jump straight to Gen VI, you'll have to learn the type charts, Every move that could advantage you, or disadvantage, it's an awful lot to learn for a small newbie.

tl:dr?
Play Gen I first, and make your way up each Gen, till you reach Gen VI

whatfield January 27th, 2014 7:50 AM

They're slower, and not as pretty. They're buggy. Red/Blue/Yellow have Psychic types immune to ghost damage through a glitch.

They're flawed, but they're also some of the greatest games of all time, so yeah. Play 'em.

ερhεmεяaℓ. January 27th, 2014 8:57 PM

Personally I think the first two generations of Pokemon were the most enjoyable ones! I definitely recommend giving RBY/GSC games a playthrough, you won't regret it!

Mesmerella February 11th, 2014 9:43 AM

As other people said, you don't really run into glitches that often unless you're looking for them. But, as far as being buggy goes, the only thing I can really say about that being true is if you're playing an actual cartridge copy. I have cartridge copies that I got secondhand years ago, and now, they are very difficult to play. I have to save every couple of minutes, just because the game likes to freeze at random. That's really the only "bug" that I've run into... If you're playing on an emulator, though, you should be fine, and I definitely recommend it! It's always cool seeing how the game started, and how different everything is, even if it's not the generation you started out with. C:

Gigabeat February 11th, 2014 11:23 AM

I bought an unboxed GB off EBay recently as well as a new cartridge, so the glitch issue is not really a problem for me. Besides, some of the glitches like the Mew Encounter one can be pretty fun. Though it's not really a big issue, the game didn't receive bad reviews because it had multiple glitches, quite the opposite. But keep in mind that it can be a slight challenge if you didn't start out with it because the newer Pokemon games while more feature packed tend to be much easier level wise. But definetly ,it's worth the play!

pallando February 15th, 2014 9:30 AM

I've played 1st Gen, 2nd Gen and 3 years ago I tried the remakes of Gold and Silver, and I absolutely don't like the remakes, graphic-wise, music-wise and of course, most of the new pokemon. I can't really tell why, I'm just so used to Gen 1 & 2 that I don't really like these changes. I can definitely recommend playing Gen 1 and 2, but as others pointed out, the newer ones might be more appealing for new players.

Saphyre February 15th, 2014 7:07 PM

I would recommend playing the games, though I would advice the player to look at the games in the context of the time they were made.

Yes, the graphics were not pretty, but for the late 90's, to me they seem alright. As a kid, I didn't care about the pixels, I was too excited about playing. The games may have been glitchy, but I would again say to look at the era they're from, because if I recall correctly, handhelds were still on the newer side.

Also, a lot of Pokemon fans refer to the previous generations a lot, and playing them will give you an understanding of their discussion.

Sopheria February 18th, 2014 3:12 PM

There's no doubt that these games are classics, and I've been playing Pokemon since they first came out. But I would personally recommend you give these a pass, and instead play the remakes: FireRed and LeafGreen. If you want to play for the novelty value, then have at it. But if you're looking for a quality game, then you'll probably be really disappointed.

The thing about these games is, they don't do anything that the later games don't do 10 times better. Plus, as your friend mentioned, they're horribly unbalanced in terms of moves and type matchups. They really haven't aged well, so you're better off going with the remakes. The remakes are identical, but with better graphics, less bugs, and better balance. Plus there's an entire extra area to explore with some new Pokemon that you can access after you defeat the Elite Four.

Virtual Chatot February 18th, 2014 4:54 PM

I play them for nostalgia's sake, because I've been a fan of Pokémon for sixteen years, and I still remember holding the Pokémon Blue box, wrapped in that annoying plastic, after my mom bought it for me for my birthday. They're great games. They're nearly flawless with regard to gameplay, even if they're somewhat unbalanced technically. I'm actually playing through Pokémon Blue on my phone when I get bored, and the nostalgic feeling is amazing.

That said, as zomgitscathy said, you might fair better playing through Firered and Leafgreen. The graphics are a lot better, and the gameplay is more or less the same. You get the edition of the Sevii islands, and the Vs. Seeker makes it a lot more fun to rebattle trainers later on (and extends playability a long way). If you want to see where Pokémon got its start however, please, play them! :)

PastelVulpix February 18th, 2014 5:06 PM

Of course these games are the original classics, and they will always hold a special place in my heart. However, the will probably not have the same effect on a new player. I can't expect you to feel the same feelings as I do when I look back at these games. To someone who has recently experienced the wonder of Pokemon X and Y, the originals will seem dark, slow and probably boring. If you become a die hard Pokemon fan - to the point where you have to have seen / done / played everything that is Pokemon, then of course. See where it all started. If you're looking for something else to play because there's little left to do in your present game, try maybe just a generation back the way. Good luck in your discovery ~

Legobricks March 17th, 2014 4:41 PM

Honestly, no; unless you're into old games anyway, they aren't really an ideal introduction to the series for the very reasons you provided. I would start you off with the third generation games, but it's ultimately a matter of knowing your own taste, as I said: if you're into old games and discovering all the strange glitches, go for it; if not, given that you won't be influenced by nostalgia (and assuming you're relatively young if you've never played Pokemon proper), it really isn't the best bet for a first impression. What does youth have to do with it? Different expectations for different eras of gaming, that's all.

Aeroblast March 18th, 2014 2:58 PM

If you're comparing a game from 17 years ago to X and Y today, of course it's flawed. But if you look at it from that time perspective, it was quite impressive.

At this moment though, RSE doesn't really have much going for it other than the retro/nostalgic value. Unless you want to exploit glitches, I'd recommend the remakes.

giradialkia March 18th, 2014 4:14 PM

The older games are definitely worth playing, even if only to say that you've played them. It might be interesting to see how Pokémon started, if you already know what it's become today in X and Y. I've recently played through Yellow again, and... well, some things (a lot of things, really) haven't aged all that well - but we're really spoilt rotten with X and Y and other games of the past few generations, so it's worth approaching with an open mind and just bear in mind that you can pretty much play through with just your starter to do it quickly. It was very much possible back in the day.

CelticsPhan March 18th, 2014 5:37 PM

When I play the originals, I think of the "humble beginnings" this series has had, and all of the good memories I had with Blue. While it is unquestionable that these games have aged, it doesn't matter to me. Sometimes I see the new games and get overwhelmed by the complexity.

Ask any random teenager off the street about Pokemon, and they'll talk about Red or Blue. When people think Pokemon, they still think Pikachu, Charmander, Squirtle (I have my own opinions on these people that I'd rather not share).

The point of my post is that we should cherish the classics, no matter how rough they look today. You can't form an opinion on a game that you haven't played. I think of the Zelda series where people still love Ocarina of Time, and Mario players who still love Super Mario 64. If you don't like it, then nothing is lost. At least you tried it.

If color is the issue, play Yellow or Gold, Silver and Crystal, or any of the more recent games.
I recommend you download the Gen 2 Graphic Patch so that the game doesn't look like a pile of junk

KidCarter93 March 18th, 2014 10:50 PM

I personally think that anyone who is just entering the world of Pokémon should play the originals first. Although that opinion isn't really valid because each to their own..

Having been playing since release there's a huge nostalgia factor involved when I decide to pull out my Gameboy Pocket and play a game. After the graphics great compared to today's standard? Of course not but, as others have said, they were decent at the time.
As I'm sure the other older players can agree with, back then we weren't bothered about graphics or glitches anyway. Glitches were cool because it was something extra for the game + we were so interested in actually playing through the games that even if the graphics weren't the best at that point or the storyline wasn't great, it really didn't matter considering we were kids anyway and those "issues" wouldn't get in the way of enjoying the games.

In response to whether you should start with these games, I can only emulate other people answers and say that it depends on your reasoning. If you want to see what all the fuss was about and want to experience the roots of Pokémon gaming play Gen1. If you want updated graphics/more features/better storylines etc. play the later games :)

- James

Zorogami March 19th, 2014 1:55 AM

The games were definitely fun as heck when they first came out, and we all played the crap out of them. But to be honest, if you look at how far we have come, they definitely look like old pieces of dung, sorry. Especially if you consider the fact that one can play FR/LG, which is basically the same but improved, i wouldt say playing any of the originals is a must. If one has played them before, sure, but for a newbie i dont think it would be too great of an experience.

SandslashFTW March 21st, 2014 6:38 AM

The games are fine.

You'll only come across bugs and glitches if you go out of your way to look for them. I have been playing RBY since release and not once have I come across a bug I didn't deliberately look for using the help of the internet. So it really baffles me when I hear people say there are so many glitches that the game is 'broken'.

Only Pokemon veterans who have a strong grasp of battling will notice how unbalanced the game is. A casual player who doesn't battle competitively won't notice a thing.

That being said, there isn't really anything RBY does that FireRed/LeafGreen doesn't do better, so I'd recommend starting there.

Eevee March 21st, 2014 7:03 AM

I think they've aged so badly that anyone wanting to play Pokemon for the first time is much better off playing the current game that's out. If anything, playing the remakes, Fire Red/Leaf Green is the better option. I believe that the original games are more for nostalgia or to see how far Pokemon has came along the way.

I don't recommend skipping it since we all should play all of the Pokemon games eventually but it's definitely not a game where if you skip it, you'll miss out. The remakes are just as fine, if not better.

Gulpin March 23rd, 2014 7:55 AM

If you can get past the graphics, they're really fun to play. They're so retro and they work great as long as you aren't trying to exploit any bugs. They're really fast to play through as well, which gives them high replay value in my point of view.

mangamusicfan March 24th, 2014 12:21 PM

Get them the classic's Are really good, I enjoyed them More than most of them now.
Yes they are Buggy and sometimes Broken, But they still have there charm.

Elaitenstile March 24th, 2014 8:49 PM

For technology's sake, it's almost redundant to consider these games into the Pokémon world after the remakes and the Gen III cut-off. However, the music is amazing in these (they give you so much nostalgia) games and the horrendous 8-bit graphics are actually something you could get used to. If you want to enjoy RGBY, you should play them first, and then the newer games because you'll still love them because of nostalgia. This is from personal experience, trust me. If you played a newer game first, chances are you'd ignore them half way and chuck them off for a more technologically advanced FireRed and LeafGreen.

orangeralts21 March 26th, 2014 3:29 PM

Wow, people actually say that?

Of course as it is early in the series, there are going to be some bugs and glitches, but these games are absolutely worth playing.

LusoTrainer March 27th, 2014 1:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by orangeralts21 (Post 8168286)
Wow, people actually say that?

Of course as it is early in the series, there are going to be some bugs and glitches, but these games are absolutely worth playing.

Every game has bugs and glitches, and I agree that it's not a very good excuse. But excluding nostalgia or mere curiosity, I really don't see the point in starting with these when FireRed/LeafGreen exist (I wouldn't say the same for Gold/Silver and their remakes though).

And I started with Pokémon Red back in the '90s.

MainstreamMew March 29th, 2014 8:47 AM

Very much worth playing in my opinion. You could do the originals or FireRed and LeafGreen. Yellow is a pretty cool and unique version in itself too although it's very over-powered with the Pokemon you can get ha.

Boured April 14th, 2014 10:25 AM

Yes I would because just because it was buggy crap now does not mean it was back then it is awesome to play the originals it's like looking at history of how far pokemon has come

Harmonious Fusion April 14th, 2014 10:55 AM

I think everyone who has an opportunity should play a Kanto game, just to get an appreciation of Pokemon's history and how far the series has come. I personally can't stand the true originals because they're so buggy and broken and slow, so I'd recommend FireRed and LeafGreen instead.

Gentleman Gengar April 16th, 2014 10:50 PM

I basically grew up with a GBA and Pokemon Red by my side, I prefer it over X or Y or Black 2 or whatever.

PauloPT90 April 17th, 2014 3:20 AM

i recently reset my Pokemon Yellow to start it over again.
I want to try the glitchs on it xD

PSNGhost April 17th, 2014 9:54 AM

I grew up with the 3rd and 4th generations of Pokemon (I'm fairly young) but i do think that to truly appreciate the series and it's progress you should have a chance to play the originals. Plus I just think they're fun.

Elswood April 17th, 2014 1:27 PM

Simple answer. Yes! Ofcourse they're buggy. Come on, the Missigno. glitch, even the Mew trick. But that doesn't mean that they suck. Sometimes I even pop Pokémon Stadium in the N64 and play with my team from way back. Love them, never stop loving them! :)

Xebelleon April 17th, 2014 10:41 PM

I would recommend to a newer fan to be *aware* Yellow is much like the early anime, play Red OR Blue because of that Cinnabar exploit and Missingno., Gold or Silver for cloning.

Altairis April 18th, 2014 9:06 PM

No. You don't have to play RBY. I never played Red or Blue and the farthest I ever got on Yellow was past Brock's gym because the game kept freezing :( Just play something never tbh. They are all made for newbies in a sense. You won't be lost if you start anywhere else.

Sonata April 18th, 2014 10:08 PM

I grew up with those games so of course I'm going to hold a bias towards saying yes you should play them. The sprites aren't that great and they are really buggy, but you should still play them. You should play all the games regardless. I still like playing my Red version when I go on road trips even though I have the remakes and everything. It just feels good.


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