The original Pokémon games came out on the 3DS eShop this weekend for $13, and while they largely offer the same experience, there are some differences between them, too.
Each version has exclusive Pokémon which you can only capture within that game. The whole idea is to get players trading monsters with each other, which should be easier this time around, given that you can use Wi-Fi to connect with other people. Bye, cable links!
Here’s a breakdown of what critters you can find in each version.
Pictured above for Pokémon Red: Ekans, Arbok, Oddish, Gloom, Vileplume, Mankey, Primeape, Growlithe, Arcanine, Scyther, Electabuzz.
Pictured above for Pokémon Blue: Sandshrew, Sandslash, Vulpix, Ninetails, Meowth, Persian, Bellsprout, Weepinbell, Victreebel, Magmar, Pinsir.
Which designs do you like better?
Pokémon Yellow is a bit different. Instead of choosing an initial starter, you get Pikachu to join you on your adventure, just like in the anime. Pikachu can follow you around, and it’s real cute:
Actually, you can check in with Pikachu every once in a while, to see how it’s feeling. This is a special little quirk you can’t experience in Red or Blue:
Over the course of the game, you can however obtain all three original starters in Yellow, Charmander, Squirtle and Bulbasaur. Additionally, In Yellow, your rival will also train an Eeevee into either a Jolteon, Flareon or Vaporeon, depending on how well you do in-game. Also, Yellow’s sprite set is slightly better than those in Red and Blue. Finally, Pokémon Yellow does have a slightly different roster of Pokémon you can encounter. According to Serebii, Pokémon Yellow does not have Weedle, Kakuna, Beedrill, Ekans, Arbok, Raichu, Meowth, Persian, Koffing, Weezing, Jynx, Electabuzz, or Magmar. Naturally, you can still trade and get these Pokémon via other people.
Personally, I think Pokémon Red has the better selection of version-exclusive Pokémon, but I also recognise that neither Red or Blue feels quite as special as Pokémon Yellow. If you’re looking for a closer connection with Pikachu specifically, or if you can’t decide between the three starters, Yellow might be the way to go. Anecdotally, I’ve found Red to be more popular than either of the other versions, so if you want to be a contrarian, Blue is a good pick.
And there you have it! Which game(s) will you be picking up, and why?
Comments
23 responses to “Pokémon Red Vs Blue Vs Yellow: Which To Buy”
Blue, My partner bought me one of those limited Pokemon 2DS. She bought blue cause that was the game I had as a kid… and I have a Squirtle Tattoo
I have a squirtle wallet! 😀
I wish they ouls do a remake of these withupdated graphics
Pokemon Leaf Green on GBA?
They should release firered and leafgreen on WiiU
BLUE!!!
I purchased yellow over the weekend. Haven’t regretted that!
Still have Red, Blue and Yellow for my Gameboy Colour that I got when I was around 11yrs old…
Red and Yellow were the two I played the most. Won’t be buying any of them again though 😛
Blue is my favourite but yellow has more content and you can get all 3 starters and it’s in colour
WHAT!? All three starters! thank fuck. how did i not know this. admittedly, i only owned red as a kid, and didnt know anyone else who played pokemon games.
At $13 a pop on the AU 3DS shop, I can’t afford any version unfortunately.
Blue, always Blue for me!
My parents bought me yellow back in the day, I’d still go yellow again even today
I never knew Bellsprout was exclusive to Blue. My original team had a Victreebel in it, I have no idea why I would have traded for a Bellsprout with my sister playing on her copy of Blue. I don’t think either of us knew about any of the version exclusives. Weird.
Exactly what I was thinking! I had Blue and had a Arcanine in my team…I have absolutely no idea how he got in there…
All three!
Still a shame that there is no gameboy colour option.
Pikachu for life. Yellow!
Red, that was my first cartridge.
On a related note, I now have the sudden urge to plunk my original cartridges in and see if they still work.
[Goes looking for said cartridges and old yellow brick GB to play them on.]
Was tempted to get yellow, but Red still has Missingno. Couldn’t pass up infinite items
Millions of Rare Candies, Rare Candies for me. Millions of Rare Candies, Rare Candies for free!
Red, or Blue, clearly. I remember my parents getting me Yellow when I was in 6th grade, and had just finished playing Red… ugh. Cemented my hate for that annoying yellow rat. Which is weird, because Raichu is one of my favourites of the original 151.
Definitely Yellow, it’s the most complete version of the the 3 and feels like the show. Little pikachu following you and the ability to pickup all the starters along the way is a massive plus
Also the inclusion of Jessie and James from Team Rocket. It’s an absolute must for lovers of the Anime.
As someone who bypassed Pokemon all together and has never played through a single game, Is this a good place to start?
There are 3 games with different Pokemon to collect, but is the story the same in all 3 games? If you get one, do you need to get the other 2 later on?
I know it sounds like dumb questions, but I was a snotty 16 year old when this came out and I passed it off as being strictly for kids.
The story with Red and Blue is exactly the same. Yellow, however, was released a little bit later and adapted to be more like the anime, what with having a Pikachu starter that followed you around, Jesse and James from Team Rocket, etc. You absolutely do not need to grab the other versions later on, as you can trade with others for the version exclusive Pokemon.
The thing to keep in mind though is that this is a 20 year old game. What was special to people back then may not give you the same feeling now. The newer games are generally a lot kinder to you (which can be seen as both a good and a bad thing, depending on your preference) and have grown in depth quite a bit, and you’ve got a LOT more Pokemon available to you if that’s something that interests you. Getting 150 Pokemon in the Gen 1 games is a lot more achievable than the 720-ish Pokemon in the current Gen games though.