It’s easy to dismiss Professor Oak as a doofy academic who can’t even remember his grandson’s name. But, originally, Pokémon Red & Blue designed Professor Oak as a powerful trainer the player could face off sometime near the end of the game.
This battle, as some hardcore Pokémon fans know, was cut. But according to website The Cutting Room Floor, which chronicles cut content from video games, players can use a Game Shark or glitches to trigger the battle. The game contains most of the data for the battle, Game Freak just decided not to include it for whatever reason.
It seems as if Oak’s team would have been determined by what Pokémon you chose at the start of the game. He always has a level 66 Tauros, a level 67 Exeggutor, a level 68 Arcanine, and a level 70 Gyarados. The last Pokémon in the roster is the final evolution of either Charmander, Squirtle or Bulbasaur. Your rival’s final team — which did end up in the actual game — is somewhat similar. Still, Oak’s Pokémon are, on the whole, a slightly higher level than your rival’s final team — meaning, he would have been one of the toughest battles you had to face in the game (and why it’s assumed that Oak would have been one of the final ‘bosses’ in the game).
Here’s what the battle would have looked like, as filmed by DarkJumpslash:
Remember, this is a battle triggered by Game Shark or glitches. That’s why the player talks to a random trainer, only to have the actual battle end up being Oak. The battle is using the data from the Oak fight that’s hidden in the game, it just needs to actually use a trainer that’s present in the game to do it.
Obviously, Oak is no match for a team full of level 100 Pokémon, but still. I wish this battle would have stayed in the game, since I can’t think of a better way to end Red and Blue. Fighting against your rival is definitely cathartic, but defeating Oak — the man who sent you on the adventure to begin with — is a whole other level of cool.
The Pokémon franchise did go on to let players battle against the Professor — Pokémon X & Y lets you face off against Professor Sycamore — but it’s just not the same. Oak is the original professor, and it would have been amazing to battle him. Maybe then I wouldn’t think Professor Oak is so goofy.
Comments
9 responses to “The Pokémon Battle That Shouldn’t Have Been Cut From Red And Blue”
Nah, it would have been better if there was a final final trainer after him. The prerequisites is to defeat Oak and capture/defeat all Legendary Pokemon including Mewtwo. Then you’re free to move on to the final battle with a roster of 6 level 100 Pokemon.
That opponent being, your MOTHER!
Or dad, whichever has a bigger impact.
With all poke games you seam to only have a mum.
But your father returning would be so so epic and it would raise more questions than it would answer.
This battle should have taken place before the Elite Four and the actual Elite Four should have been WAY tougher.
I think I’d rather battle him earlier in the game than at the end. I’m not a huge fan of Professor Oak having the sort of Pokemon that would take down the Elite Four (even if the level is more about their stage in the plot than their actual strength as a trainer). Now I think about it I’m not a huge fan of battling him period.
I think in an ideal world we would have travelled with him during certain parts of the game, maybe in a 2v2 area thing they did in later games. Having him show up in certain early areas to accompany you and provide some moderate Pokemon who were type effectve in that could have been cool. Maybe have him lead you to a rare-but-not-unique Pokemon or two that would be useful in the early gyms that could only be found in your version of the game.
Even then I think it’d be a little too tutorial.
Really, Oak should have been the League champion. That explains why, for your rival, the League Challenge is so much more than a rite of passage. It’s about proving himself to his family; that’s why he pushes himself to the very limit.
You can leave in everything that hints at your rival being the Champion, but have Oak step in and make the reveal that he is, infact, Kanto’s “strongest” trainer. That also brings the ending more in line with subsequent games, where the League Champion appears throughout your journey to support and encourage you.
It would certainly make beating Blue that little bit sweeter. Smell that later.
I don’t feel like Oak as a character should’ve been stronger than the Elite 4, I reckon just before the Viridian City gym near the end of the game would’ve been good. Touch base back at home before heading off to the final phase of your journey.
Also if he popped up periodically to check your progress with a different team of interesting pokemon would’ve been nice.
I like your theory; like he challenges you to prove you’re ready for The Elite 4 by beating him in a battle.