…and I’m still thoroughly enjoying it. I’ve just beat the final Gym and am gearing up to the Victory Road/Indigo Plateau finale. I enjoyed the three little islands that weren’t in the original Red and Blue, although it was a pretty slight diversion. I’ve caught all three Legendary birds, defeated Team Rocket but probably still need to do a bit more grinding.
In terms of my team, well, Mankey turned out ok in the end! I saw an Abra and thought it’d be a perfect replacement for it, so I persevered and eventually caught one before it Teleported off, then I remembered I can’t trade it to evolve it into an Alakazam, so he’s sitting in my box, gathering dust. I stuck with Primape because he is quite fast, and his attack stat is lovely for all those physical moves he uses. I evolved that Eevee into a Jolteon and it continues to be awesome. He’s got those Dark Glasses on so Bite is boosted, and because his Sp.Attack is so high and he gets the same type advantage his electric attacks OHKO pretty much anything. I broke one of my own rules: Not to use any Pokémon I used on my original Pokémon Blue run – I’m using a Starmie. But it’s so fucking cool, and so strong. I love Starmie. It’s voice in the anime was superb. “HRRGH!”
I’m trying to bring a Nidoking up to 45 to see if his stats will be better than my level 45 Nidoqueen. I use it for Cut, Rock Smash, Strength and Surf. Damn you Pokémon and your stupid insistence on having HM’s. As far as I can see, being forced to use Hidden Machines to teach to your Pokémon decidedly average moves is a universally loathed system – it’d be much better if certain badges just enabled Pokémon to use their natural talents. For example, big burly Pokémon like Snorlax could naturally use Strength without it taking up a move space, any Flying Pokémon big enough for you to sit on could Fly you to other towns (same with Surfing, any Pokémon that’s big enough for you to sit on could Surf you around), and any Pokémon with electric or fire moves could light up dark tunnels.
The one thing my team was lacking was a fire Pokémon. I eventually found a Magmar but it was too high a level for my liking, I don’t know if you can breed in this one but even if you can I can’t be bothered to breed some Magmars so I can raise it earlier so it’s stats will be higher, so I thought fuck it, I’ll just use Moltres as my fire type. I don’t consider it cheating to use a Legendary against the Elite 4.
I’m going to play Pokémon Emerald after this. I would play one of the DS ones, but I shudder at the thought of emulating a DS on the PSP. I know it can be done, but my mind boggles at the concept.
Credit to Bulbapedia for the sprites.
