THE FIRST POKÉMON game launched 20 years ago, in 1996 – by 1999, there were trading cards and a massive TV show, and children all over the world were obsessed.
Were you one of those kids? Then you’ll be familiar with all these things.
1. The original 151 are the only ones you care to recognise
They kept adding on, but you know the only true list starts with Bulbasaur and ends with Mew.
2. And you desperately wanted this book so you could learn about them all
Which one of you lucky sods had it?
3. Ash was way too young to be out roaming the world as a Pokémon Trainer
He was 11! He should have been at home watching it on TV like you were!
4. And these guys were the WORST
5. Waiting through the ad break for the answer to the ‘Who’s That Pokémon?’ question was stressful as hell
https://vine.co/v/bQ7qlt6dTXB
6. This was the biggest treat ever
7. And this was the most beautiful sight of all
It’s a SHINY.
8. Spending your every waking moment blowing into these cartridges
Were you Red or Blue?
9. Stabbing the A button to get you through the Pokémon Centre faster
NOT NOW NURSE JOY.
10. And really sobbing at the end of the Pokémon Movie
Is Pikachu… crying? *bursts into tears*
11. This choice had to be taken incredibly seriously
But when you made it, you made it for life. (Squirtle 4Ever)
12. And you took care of your Pokémon like they were your children
13. That’s because you wanted to be “the very best, like no one ever was…”
To catch them is my real test, to train them is my cause… Oh go on, listen to it. You know you want to.
