Pokémon (video game series)
Overview
Pokémon is a media franchise managed by The Pokémon Company, which was founded by Nintendo, Game Freak, and Creatures. The franchise was created by Satoshi Tajiri and Ken Sugimori, and is centered on fictional creatures called "Pokémon". In the Pokémon world, Pokémon Trainers are people who catch, train, care for, and battle with Pokémon. The English slogan for the franchise is "Gotta Catch 'Em All!".
Video Game Series
The main Pokémon video games and their spin-offs, the anime, manga, and trading card game, are all updated with the new Pokémon properties each time a new generation begins. Some Pokémon from the newer games appear in anime episodes or films long before the game comes out, causing some to be of a different color, change form, or even use moves that no other Pokémon can use.
Main Series
The main series of role-playing games (RPGs) focus on the capturing and training of a variety of fictional creatures called "Pokémon" and using them to battle. The English instruction booklet for Pokémon Red and Green refers to RPGs as "a type of game in which the player assumes the role of a character who must make his or her way through a world, interacting with other characters and improving his or her abilities and characteristics through experience".
The player is referred to as a Pokémon Trainer and has two general goals: to complete the Pokédex by collecting all of the available Pokémon species found in the fictional region where that game takes place; and to train a team of powerful Pokémon from those they have caught to compete against teams owned by other Trainers, and eventually win the fictional Pokémon League. These themes of collecting, training, and battling are present in almost every version of the Pokémon franchise, including the video games, the anime and manga series, and the Pokémon Trading Card Game.
Spin-off Games
In addition to the main series, the Pokémon company has released several spin-off games. These include Pokémon Mystery Dungeon, Pokémon Ranger, Pokémon Rumble, and Pokémon Go. Each of these games offers a different gameplay experience from the main series, often focusing on different aspects of the Pokémon universe.
Gameplay
The gameplay of the Pokémon series of role-playing games involves the capturing and training of a variety of fictional creatures called "Pokémon" and using them to battle. Players, referred to as Pokémon Trainers, are given three general goals: to complete the regional Pokédex by collecting all of the available Pokémon species found in the fictional region where a game takes place, to complete the national Pokédex by transferring Pokémon from other regions, and to train a team of powerful Pokémon from those they have caught to compete against teams owned by other Trainers so they may eventually win the Pokémon League and become the regional Champion.
Development
The Pokémon series started with a pair of video games for the original Game Boy that were developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo. It spans over 30 seasons of television, movies, manga, trading card games, and multiple massively multiplayer online spin-off games on both Nintendo's handhelds and mobile phones. Most of the franchise's video games were developed by Game Freak and published and distributed by Nintendo.
Reception
The Pokémon series has received generally positive reviews from critics. It has been praised for its unique gameplay mechanics and innovative concepts, and has garnered a large and dedicated fanbase. The series has also been criticized for its repetitive nature and the perceived lack of difficulty in the main series games.