A look back: Pokemon Gold and Silver

[tehweave]

I just beat pokemon gold (I know, I just posted the 'which pokemon series is the best' in the forums a few days ago, and already I beat pokemon gold) and wanted to discuss with you how fascinating and poetic it is to fight Red at the end of the game. I've gathered a list of reasons why it's the perfect ending:

1. He doesn't say anything. Being the silent protagonist of the first game, everyone pretty much says everything for him. All he does is show the RPG gaming ellipse (...) and then fights you. Even after the match, you get another ellipse. It's as if he's saying "I know why you're here. So let's get this over with."

2. He has all three starters. If you really want a test for how good your pokemon are, or if you have a fire/plant/water combo that kicks royal ass, these three are a fun challenge.

3. He has an evee evolution and a snorlax. For fans of the first game, you should know that there are only one of each of these (Okay, there are two snorlax, but my point is he has two pokemon in his arsenal that had a one-time or a two-time only get.) and the fact is that he picked rare pokemon to fight with, just to show that he is the master of all.

4. He does not have any of the following: Mewtwo, Mew, The Three Legendary Birds, The Three Legendary Dogs, Lugia, Hoh-oh, or Celebi. Why? Because he doesn't need legendaries to kick your butt, he just needs his starters and his pikachu. Which brings me to:

5. He has an un-evolved Pikachu. This and the fact that he has all three starters suggests that this is not in fact 'Red' but 'Ash' from Pokemon Yellow.

6. He does actually have one pokemon from generation 2: Esperon. (the Evee evolution) Meaning he actually visited Jhoto (or just got Evee to really like him) but decided to stay in Kanto.

7. When you beat him, the game is INSTANTLY over. His last one faints, he says nothing, gives you money, then credits roll. As if the game is saying "That's it! You beat yourself. Nothing left to do."

It's perfect and fascinating in a rather existential way... "To beat the game, you must beat yourself."

 

[pope_of_larry]

i only have one think to ask.
what is it you want us to say?

 

[Spiner909]

So you're saying fighting Red is fighting yourself? Eh. I thought they could have at least given him some personality.

 

[Asturiel]

Well written but you forgot to give us something to discuss in the wake of this good sir.

 

[pope_of_larry]

we do to the fact he left us nothing to talk about i say this should be a thread about ..... the wholesome activity that is caching monster things and forcing them to trow fire at them each other for are own fun.

 

[Angelcraft]

I loved that game. The battery died and I'm still trying to replace the battery.

 

[DeadlyYellow]

I'm going to raise the point that certain evolutions are not limited to region. It's more likely more case of current technological restraints, or do to the fact they were not panned out at the moment.

In the remakes of Generation I, the new evolutions from later generations are present.

 

[Enigmers]

I think you bring up an interesting point: beating yourself. Not in the "euphemism for masturbation" sense, but it'd be interesting if you could upload your team into a game so you'd have to fight it in the next game. It would give me a reason to own any pokémon game apart from the best one so far (SoulSilver)

 

[Helios_(DEL)]

I just beat pokemon gold (I know, I just posted the 'which pokemon series is the best' in the forums a few days ago, and already I beat pokemon gold) and wanted to discuss with you how fascinating and poetic it is to fight Red at the end of the game. I've gathered a list of reasons why it's the perfect ending:

1. He doesn't say anything. Being the silent protagonist of the first game, everyone pretty much says everything for him. All he does is show the RPG gaming ellipse (...) and then fights you. Even after the match, you get another ellipse. It's as if he's saying "I know why you're here. So let's get this over with."

2. He has all three starters. If you really want a test for how good your pokemon are, or if you have a fire/plant/water combo that kicks royal ass, these three are a fun challenge.

3. He has an evee evolution and a snorlax. For fans of the first game, you should know that there are only one of each of these (Okay, there are two snorlax, but my point is he has two pokemon in his arsenal that had a one-time or a two-time only get.) and the fact is that he picked rare pokemon to fight with, just to show that he is the master of all.

4. He does not have any of the following: Mewtwo, Mew, The Three Legendary Birds, The Three Legendary Dogs, Lugia, Hoh-oh, or Celebi. Why? Because he doesn't need legendaries to kick your butt, he just needs his starters and his pikachu. Which brings me to:

5. He has an un-evolved Pikachu. This and the fact that he has all three starters suggests that this is not in fact 'Red' but 'Ash' from Pokemon Yellow.

6. He does actually have one pokemon from generation 2: Esperon. (the Evee evolution) Meaning he actually visited Jhoto (or just got Evee to really like him) but decided to stay in Kanto.

7. When you beat him, the game is INSTANTLY over. His last one faints, he says nothing, gives you money, then credits roll. As if the game is saying "That's it! You beat yourself. Nothing left to do."

It's perfect and fascinating in a rather existential way... "To beat the game, you must beat yourself."

well said, it really was epic hey?

 

[Amnestic]

On the "Not Red, but Ash" point, I'm pretty sure the Red from the Pokémon Manga has a Pikachu.

 

[MattyJ]

The screen also whites out and Red disappears after you beat him. A callback to how the screen would white out after you were beaten in Red/Blue.