The Question

It was rather simple for me, as I had Blue version so felt obliged to get Squirtle. And since that makes it the first Pokemon I ever had, it had a distinct advantage over the other two (although I still love Bulbasaur and Charmander!)

Well, the first I time was faced with the decision of picking a starter was in LeafGreen. I picked Charmander, because eh... Fire type seemed the coolest to me. Next time I play the game I will probably pick Bulbasaur, because I like rotating the types when I play. (playthrough 1 - Fire type, playthrough 2 - Water type, playthrough 3 - Grass type, etc.)

And yeah, I definitely agree with you on Squirtle. There's just so many other good Water-types (Slowbro and Starmie are my personal favourites) that I restrict myself from catching because I already have a Water type, even though both of the Pokémon I mentioned are part Psychic as well.

Bulbasaur would be a good choice because it can sweep the first two gyms well and because there arent many other good choices in the grass department. But most likely it will get the least votes because IMO its the least popular among the three. Venusaur is on the cover of Leaf Green, but I think people still bought Fire Red because I mean come on its a Charizard.

Charmander isn't bad at all. It and its evolutions ( Mainly Charizard) are iconic in the Pokemon franchize thanks to the Anime and because he was on the cover of two Pokemon games. But there are many good fire Pokemon, some even better.


Squirtle is the 2nd in popularity IMO. He is also famous because his last evolution is on the cover of Pokemon Blue and most people here probably grew up with the Red, Blue and Yellow games. His biggest drawback is that there are many good water Pokemons( Like Lapras and Dewgong and Gyarados).

I've played with all of them. My first playtrough IIRC was with Bulbasaur and I liked him a lot. My second was with Squirtle and I pretty much swept everything because he was overleveld, but I still felt a dent in my team and if I had a Lapras or at least a Dewgong it would have went easier/faster. But I still loved my Blastoise.
My playtrough at the moment is with Charmander. The first gym was a PAIN because I only had my Charmeleon and a Pikachu. At least I had Metal Claw. I finished the game, just trying to finish the Pokedex.

If I started a new playtrough I would go with Bulbasaur for old times sake.

I always had problems choosing my Hoenn and Kanto starters.

In the end my vote goes for Squirtle.

I decided to go with Squirtle simply for it to get past Brock, and because back then I had a love of water Pokémon.

Squritle because at the time, out of those three it was my favorite appearance wise.

I went with Squirtle the first time I played FireRed. It didn't disappoint me.

For me, playing Pokemon Blue, I picked Charmander. I nicknamed him Matches! I have no idea why I picked him, it was so long ago... I guess I thought he looked the coolest? Since then I've always liked Fire Pokemon as a type as well.

That is one nostalgic thing I will always hold on to... in every game, I obtain a Charmander and name it Matches. :)

When I got my Pokemon Blue Version, I picked Squirtle because I though that I had to because Blastiose was on the cover, haha. I didn't regret it though because he was amazing throughout the game. I believe I picked Charmander the second time and then Bulbasaur the third. All 3 were really fun to use!

I chose Charmander because it looked cool and was a fire type, in my young mind that meant it was tough! I played with Charmander in Yellow Version, then I chose it in FireRed. I like Squirtle as well, not too fond of Bulbasaur though.

When I first got Blue I picked Bulbasaur every time because I absolutely loved its official art. Hell, I still do. Looking at it makes me really nostalgic. I can almost feel myself thinking that the old man in Viridian City was a Pokemon.

Nowadays I pick Squirtle though.

I chose Charmander because I'm a huge fan of fire types, but even if you're not it's kind of hard to deny how awesome he/she is. Charizard, it's final evolve form, CAN FLY. I don't care what type it is, what its stats are, or what moves it can learn, the fact that it has wings and the power of flight automatically takes the WIN!

I chose Charmander in Red and FireRed the first time I played them (which I played them before their brother games, excluding Yellow since you don't choose anyway). In SoulSilver, I'm pretty sure I took Charmander, but I rarely play that far into HGSS to even get my Kanto starter.

It's safe to say I like playing with fire.

In Pokémon Blue, I chose Squirtle. I found it to be a very cute Pokémon, especially the way it made its noise and smiled at you. It just made want me want to give it a great, big hug and not let go of it, haha. In Pokémon FireRed, I ended up choosing Bulbasaur. Its sprite was just too adorable. I would've chosen Charmander, but since most of my friends chose this Pokémon, I decided to treat myself with something different~

In LeafGreen I choosed Bulbasaur. It wasn't even because Venusaur was the mascot, but I liked Bulbasaur when I first saw it.
I usually choose Squirtle other times.

When I played Red, I chose Bulbasaur. In fact, throughout playing Pokemon, I've always have chosen the Grass starters.

Who did you choose the first time? Bulbasaur.
Who would you choose next time you get this choice? Charmander.
In which generation did you first encounter this decision? Gen I,III or IV? Gen I.

I overslept and got an unruly pikachu.

The first time I played Kanto games (both Blue and Leaf Green) I had picked Bulbasaur. Sadly, I never got too far when I had Bulbasaur in those playthroughs but I do remember that in Blue I picked him because I loved his sprite. Ended up with Squirtle the next time I played though because water type I guess?? I don't know. I've never picked Charmander though. I mean ... I do like Charmander but I suppose it's just not for me?? And if I have picked Charmander then I don't really remember very much about it. Perhaps that is who I would choose if I played a Kanto game again (after my current playthrough in which I chose Bulbasaur because Red).

I only began playing Pokemon a couple of years ago, so that would be on Gen IV.
I chose Bulbasaur and went through several soft resets until I got a female that I liked. I still have her now, as a level 70-something Venusaur.