Pokémon Red and Pokémon Blue Version Review

Genre: Role-Playing Game | Developer: GameFreak | Release Date: 1996

Publishing by Nintendo for the GameBoy Pokémon Red Version and Pokémon Blue Version and is the first installment of the Pokémon series and follows players who controls the protagonist and navigates him throughout the fictional region of Kanto in a quest to master Pokémon battling.

Campaign:

Pokémon Red and Blue take players on a journey through Kanto, where they catch, train, and battle Pokémon to become the Champion. While the premise is engaging, the game lacks a structured narrative. The rivalry with Gary and encounters with Team Rocket add some conflict but never develop into a deeper story. However, the vast selection of Pokémon offers strong replayability, as different teams and strategies can change each playthrough. Despite this, core gameplay remains largely the same, with little deviation beyond training, battling, and exploration. The Kanto region is expansive, allowing players to hunt for rare Pokémon and uncover hidden items. Trading adds an interactive element, though it becomes fully accessible only after beating the Elite Four.

Grinding is a major part of the experience, requiring players to invest time in leveling up Pokémon. The inability to rebattle trainers or gym leaders limits long-term engagement, making post-game content feel repetitive. Despite its shortcomings, Pokémon Red and Blue remain a rewarding adventure, with turn-based combat and progression keeping players invested.

Rating: 3 out of 5

Gameplay:

Pokémon Red and Blue feature a top-down perspective, allowing players to explore Kanto while interacting with NPCs, objects, and various terrains. As players travel through grassy fields, forests, caves, and seas, they encounter different Pokémon species, each tied to specific habitats. The core gameplay revolves around randomly encountering wild Pokémon, triggering turn-based battles where players can either fight or attempt to capture them. Combat strategy is essential, as each Pokémon type has strengths and weaknesses that affect battle outcomes.

Capturing Pokémon requires Poké Balls, with success rates influenced by the target’s remaining HP and the type of Poké Ball used. Once captured, Pokémon can be trained through battles, earning experience points to level up and improve stats. Some Pokémon learn new moves at specific levels, while others evolve into stronger forms, adding depth to team-building. The difficulty is largely dependent on player choices, as grinding levels can make the game easier, while strategic planning can enhance the challenge. The combination of exploration, battle mechanics, and progression offers strong replayability, encouraging players to experiment with different teams and strategies.

Rating: 3 out of 5

Production:

For its time, Pokémon Red and Blue were visually acceptable, but by modern standards, the graphics are crude and outdated. The pixelated sprites and limited animations lack depth, making battles feel static. Backgrounds are minimal, and Pokémon designs, while iconic, appear simplistic compared to later entries. However, the game’s visual shortcomings are somewhat forgivable, considering the hardware limitations of the original GameBoy.

Where the game truly shine is in their soundtrack. Junichi Masuda’s compositions bring energy to battles and atmosphere to different locations, making each area feel distinct. Whether it's the tension of Gym Leader battles or the mystery of Lavender Town, the music remains memorable. Unfortunately, the game lacks voice acting, and Pokémon cries sound harsh and mechanical rather than resembling their actual names. Pikachu doesn’t say "pika pika"—instead, most Pokémon emit high-pitched screeches. However, attack sound effects are well-designed, adding weight to moves and making battles more engaging.

Rating: 2 out of 5

The Verdict:

In the end, Pokémon Red and Pokémon Blue Version are pretty sweet games.  Traveling across Kanto, collecting Pokémon, training them to become stronger, and battling other trainers is pretty fun it doesn't stop the fact that the game does lack the intimacy of a story, no standout characters, and a limited world. However, the gameplay is fun, and addictive and the music is actually pretty fun and upbeat and the replayability pretty good. Pokémon Red and Pokémon Blue Version gets 3 out of 5.