Pokémon Blue Version
Description official descriptions
Pokémon Blue Version is the international version of Pocket Monsters Midori. Compared to the earlier version, Blue has updated graphics and audio, some changes to area layouts, and significantly overhauled code, all of which in fact originate from the Japanese release of Pocket Monsters Ao.
Blue and Midori share the same version-exclusive Pokémon; in order to complete the Pokédex, players must trade with owners of Red version.
Groups +
- Enhanced remakes
- Gameplay feature: Fishing
- Gameplay feature: Gambling
- Gameplay feature: Importable characters
- Gameplay feature: Monster capture / training
- Games compatible with Poké Transporter
- Games made into books
- Games made into comics
- Games made into movies
- Games made into TV series
- Games released as complementary versions
- Pokémon main RPG series
- Pokémon universe
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Credits (Game Boy version)
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[ full credits ] |
Reviews
Critics
Average score: 91% (based on 24 ratings)
Players
Average score: 4.0 out of 5 (based on 100 ratings with 4 reviews)
The Good
The ups about this game is you actually get to be a trainer! Catching the pokemon and using an assortment of poke balls. The plot was good and so was the story line too.
The Bad
The downs are you don't get to pick if you're a girl, also it got quite easy to beat everone at the end. The graphics also looked non-colored in my Game Boy Color.
The Bottom Line
I think this game overall is a good one to have.
Game Boy · by Mike Andrew (2) · 2001
The Good
It's really fun to play this unique RPG, it's so cool that you can train Pokemon, the puzzles are mostly to get things to give to people, the best part is defeating team rocket, you'll find them in different cities, and you'll have to defeat their leader twice (he has very strong Pokemon) in order to succeed in the game, I have now finished the Pokemon league 18 times,sounds easy huh?You're downright wrong, it's terribly tough the first 3 times, after that your Pokemon will become very strong. Currently my strongest Pokemon is Blastoise, level 100 (the last level). The puzzles are not very difficult, so it's not really a puzzle-solving game, although (thank god) does not have a lot of action like Zelda games, it's not really an up-down game either, it's mostly an adventurous RPG, with a touch of action.
The Bad
The animations of the attacks didn't match the magical animations of the animated series.
The Bottom Line
I give Nintendo a 5 out of 5 for this delightful mix of RPG/ Adventure/ Mild Action!
Game Boy · by Jim Fun (206) · 2001
A nearly broken game held together by bandages, chewing gum, and scotch tape
The Good
Great combat system. Using the right type of move and the Pokémon with the right type(s) is very rewarding. Nice variety of Pokémon. The three starter Pokémon have great designs, evolutions, and a clever way on making your difficulty level with the 8 Gym Leaders depending on its type. You can thankfully save anywhere. It's always funny to name your rival something like asshole or retard.
The Bad
Absolutely hideous front sprites for the Pokémon and even worse back sprites that were not changed from the Japanese Red and Green versions.
Some types are terribly unbalanced. Psychics have access to Amnesia which double their special stat and the move Psychic is a powerful move that has a 1/3 chance to lower the foe's special stat. Also, 33 Pokémon are Poison-Types which are weak to Psychic-Type moves. Due to a glitch, Psychic-Type Pokémon are immune to Ghost-Type moves since in the anime Ash had to find a Ghost-Type Pokémon to defeat Sabrina, the Psychic-Type Gym Leader. It wouldn't matter so much because there are only 3 Ghost-Type moves, 2 of which cause damage and Lick is a very weak move with the other move Night Shade only doing damage equal to the user's level like Dragon Rage which funnily enough is the only Dragon-Type move. Psychic-Type Pokémon are weak to Bug-Type moves, but Bug-Type Pokémon suck in Gen I and Bug-Type moves are very weak.
Some Pokémon have very few moves to learn which diminishes their usefulness and not very varied when it comes to different types. For example, most Rock-Type Pokémon know only 2 Rock-type moves because there are only 2 Rock-Type moves in the game! Also, some moves don't work as intended such as Focus Energy cuts the chance of critical hits instead of quadrupling it.
Limited inventory which sucks. You're forced to go to your PC to store items and you can only do that at a Pokémon Center. TMs can only be used once and only a few can be bought at stores (unless you use the MissingNo. glitch to duplicate your items). HMs suck because they take up valuable move slots and cannot be forgotten. You also have to pause the game and select what Pokémon to use and then use the specific move in the overworld.
Some Pokémon require trading to evolve which now seems impossible to do since nobody is going to use a link cable to trade with you which also means you won't be able to complete your Pokédex.
The Bottom Line
Even though I listed a lot of flaws and probably some that I've forgotten to add, I recommend playing this just to see how far later Pokémon games have changed for the better. You'll still have fun with it, especially if you're a fan of JRPGs. Look up a guide if you need to find out Pokémon's movesets, because you'll be surprised by which Pokémon are borderline useless during your playthrough.
Game Boy · by 45th&47th (2232) · 2024
Trivia
Levels
The maximum level your Pokémon can reach is level 100. After that, it will continue to get experience, but will not gain any more levels.
Pokémon Blue
The U.S. and European releases of Pokémon Blue Version are based not only on the Japanese release of Blue Version, but also on the Japan-only Pocket Monsters Midori. The Pokémon Blue known to western audiences uses the updated graphics and code from the Japanese Blue, but retains Midori's encounter lists and available in-game trades.
Virtual Console Alterations
Pokémon Blue and its counterpart versions were rereleased for the 3DS Virtual Console to celebrate the Pokémon franchise's 20th anniversary in 2016. Since the Nintendo 3DS isn't compatible with the long-obsolete Game Link Cable, these releases use the system's local wireless features for link trades and battles. Additionally, several attack animations have been toned down for the safety of players with photosensitive epilepsy or other sensory conditions.
Awards
- Game Informer
- August 2001 (Issue #100) - #39 in the "Top 100 Games of All Time" poll
- Retro Gamer
- October 2004 (Issue #9) – #9 Best Game Boy Game (together with Pokémon Yellow Version and Pokémon Red Version)
- Total! (Germany)
- Issue 01/2000 – Best Game Boy RPG in 1999
Information also contributed by Matt Neueboom and Satoshi Kunsai
Analytics
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Related Sites +
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Let's horribly break Pokemon Blue
Metroixer's showcase of the game's glitches on the Let's Play Archive -
Pokemon Hints
Hints to help you solve the game. -
Pokèmon Elite 2000
A Pokèmon fan site good at covering the latest news about coming and existing Pokèmon games. -
Psypokes
A comprehensive Pokémon site that pretty much covers everything there is to know about the games.
Identifiers +
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Contributors to this Entry
Game added by lechuck13.
Nintendo 3DS added by Harmony♡.
Additional contributors: PCGamer77, Jeanne, Xoleras, DarkDante, formercontrib, Wizo, Spag, Patrick Bregger, Kam1Kaz3NL77, Harmony♡, Chamemo, GenesisBR.
Game added June 27, 2001. Last modified September 11, 2024.