I love Pokemon...

There, I said it.

But, wait, before you start mocking me, let me elaborate!

I love the game, but I hate the marketing techniques. The whole TV show and card battle game thing is just a way to make more money and push the brand name, the whole "gotta catch 'em all" tag line is just annoying, and the fact that about 10 pokemon games have been released total is just rediculous, especailly since there haven't been a lot of gameplay changes. True, the more recent games are better than the originals, with more balanced combat, 2v2 action, and significantly better graphics, but there's been no need to push out so damn many of them.

The thing about pokemon is that its an excellent game! You see, its not just a kids game. The setting and plot (what little plot exists, anyway) scream kiddie, but the combat, oh the sweet sweet combat.

You see, its something of a role playing game with some strategic elements. You collect the little monsters, each with different attributes, stats, and abilities, and you fight other little monsters with them, simple, right? Except that each attack has a defining element, and each pokemon type has its own little defining element as well. Fire attacks, for example, work better on grass types than water, grass beats water, and water beats fire. Simple rock paper sisscors, except not so much, because in the original there were 15 such elemental types, and pokemon can have two different elemental types, making things even harrier.

So you needed to have one pokemon in your set that had an advantage against each element, and since you can only have six pokemon at a time, and each pokemon can know only four abilities, you've really got to plan ahead when choosing them. Lower level monsters with an elemental advantage against bigger, more powerful monsters will hold their own.

And, in the latest version, there are 17 types now, and the types are very well balenced now.

And, oh yes, this is a kids game. A surprisingly deep role playing game.

Its kinda like Katamari Damacy, only with less illegal drugs involved: Marketed for kids, but perfectly enjoyable for anyone.

Also, its a turn based game, so pretty much anyone looking for a good time can play it.

If you want to pick up one, I'd suggust the newest version, Pokemon Emerald, since that's the most balenced one that also acts as the two pervious one, Ruby and Sapphire, combined. If you don't have a Gameboy advance or a Nintendo DS, you could always look for a ROM of it, not that I would know of any sites to start looking *cough*, but you should at least understand why there are so many spin-off products: The original Pokemon is a damn good game in a genre that doesn't get as much love as it should.