Pokémon Blue Version

aka: Pokémon: Blaue Edition, Pokémon: Blaue Edition - Schnapp' sie Dir alle!, Pokémon: Blue Version - Gotta catch 'em all!, Pokémon: Edición Azul, Pokémon: Edición Azul - ¡Atrápalos ya!, Pokémon: Version Bleu, Pokémon: Versione Blu, Pokémon: Versione Blu - Acchiappali tutti!, Pokémon: Versão Azul - Agarre todos... se puder!
Moby ID: 4397
Game Boy Specs
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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.

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Credits (Game Boy version)

60 People (50 developers, 10 thanks) · View all

Reviews

Critics

Average score: 90% (based on 22 ratings)

Players

Average score: 4.0 out of 5 (based on 90 ratings with 3 reviews)

The best RPG around!

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 (207) · 2001

Truly a landmark game of its generation, even if it just lacks focus

The Good
What Pokemon ultimately was back in 1996 was a game completely unlike anything the medium had seen up to that point. Here was a game that used its multiplayer component not solely as a way for people to prove how much better they were than each other, but designed so that players could work together for that 100% completion goal that's been hanging over games since the invention of saving. Truly it was a moment of genius deciding to release two versions of the game, with no single copy allowing access to the complete package.

And the game is certainly constructed well enough to hold up that significance. This was the point when Sugimori and co had just enough ideas to give us a variety of colourful creatures to catalogue but not so many that it unbalances the game. An admirable feature is the restriction of each pokemon to 4 attacks which (in theory, anyway) should give the player plenty to consider when putting their team together. Of course, the limited resolution of the Game Boy screen meant that Tajiri-san needed to design an interface for the battle screen that was straight-forward and had no real learning curve, freeing up the player's time to mull over their attack plan while Junichi Masuda underscored the tension.

The Bad
The ultimate problem with this game, and the series as a whole, is that it just doesn't know what to focus on. There's this plot about an organised criminal gang running around abducting other people's pokemon, but the team of four writers considered that to be a diversion. The end credits only roll when you win a tournament up on a mountain. Throughout the game, it feels like actually interesting events are happening when you're not around. It is entirely possible for a game like this to have a clear and present narrative and still be a good time sink, so it feels like a missed opportunity.

The Bottom Line
You can't help but admire what this first set of games ultimately were. A uniquely socially-oriented phenomenon that, while somewhat lacking in overall direction, is spot-on in terms of design and complex enough to make for an engaging experience.

Game Boy · by CrankyStorming (2927) · 2011

A new role playing game

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

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
  • Total! (Germany)
    • Issue 01/2000 – Best Game Boy RPG in 1999

Information also contributed by Matt Neueboom and Satoshi Kunsai

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Related Games

Pokémon Red Version
Released 1998 on Game Boy, 2016 on Nintendo 3DS
Pokémon Ruby Version
Released 2002 on Game Boy Advance
Pokémon Crystal Version
Released 2000 on Game Boy Color, 2018 on Nintendo 3DS
Pokémon Emerald Version
Released 2004 on Game Boy Advance
Pokémon Silver Version
Released 1999 on Game Boy Color, 2017 on Nintendo 3DS
Pokémon White Version
Released 2010 on Nintendo DS
Pokémon Black Version
Released 2010 on Nintendo DS
Pokémon HeartGold Version
Released 2009 on Nintendo DS
Pokémon SoulSilver Version
Released 2009 on Nintendo DS

Related Sites +

  • 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 +

  • MobyGames ID: 4397
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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 March 4, 2024.