[edit] Thank you everyone for the comments & favourites. Sadly I don't have the time to reply anymore, but I appreciate and try to read through your comments whenever I get them. It makes me incredibly happy to see that so many people still love Pokemon~
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Damn DA and their short titles.
Oh lord, where to start with this?
I've been a Pokemon fan for almost ten years now. I remember the very first Pokemon thing I saw, a promotional poster in one of my magazines shortly before the games arrived here in Europe, this poster had every one of the original 150 cast in a double spread page, and it completely captivated me, although I weren't to play the game for a few more months, I immediately put this poster up in my bedroom. All the different creatures completely fascinated me, they were all so interesting and unique, and I couldn't get over just how many there were.
It wasn't till much later when one day when I came home from school, turned on the TV, looked around for something to watch, and ended up watching a Pokemon episode for the first time. I remember the episode vividly; it was episode 4, the Butterfree one. And the creatures were as beautiful as my poster had shown.
But it wasn't just that, the connection and friendship that Ash and Metapod/Butterfree had struck something deep inside. Maybe it was just the fact that I myself was a lonely child, but I fell in love with the idea of traveling with companions that you catch, train, and battle together to reach your goal.
I got Pokemon Blue not long after and started playing immediately. The game was even better then the show, and the more I played, the more I got attached to my little team of Pokes.
As with many Pokemon fans, I got teased for liking it, but I was never ashamed. They may have just been game data, just pixels, but to me they were much more. I thought up personalities for them, and back-stories. I put all the work into training my little squad up until finally we faced the Elite Four. And eventually won.
That first feeling when you've beaten the Elite Four, and become Champion, thanks to all your training and hard work, not just yours, but your Pokemon too.. there's nothing quite like it.
Late last year, I was playing through my Japanese copy of Pokemon Pearl, and finally after what seemed like forever we reached the Elite Four. It was a long grueling challenge - my team were barely level 50 while all the Elite Four, and especially Shirona, were way stronger.
But I had faith and trust in my little team, we'd come through so much together; beaten the Gym Leaders, taken down Ginga Dan, even faced legendaries, and my faith in them came through. We pulled through regardless of everything the E4 threw at me. And when we finally defeated Shirona's last Pokemon, Milotic, as soppy and mushy as it is, I was so happy I cried.
I've loved Pokemon almost a decade now, and I'll continue loving it for a decade more, and even when I'll old and wrinkly if its still going by then XD; The magic of Pokemon is still there even after ten years, and it'll keep bringing us back for more, that's just what it does.
So to finish off, no. Pokemon isn't just a game. It isn't just a show either, and it most definitely is not "just a fad". It inspires us, it brings us together, and most important of all, it makes us, the fans, happy.
I envy people like you. I never grew up with Pokemon, that was always my brother's thing. Considering I got into it last year, I can't say I have any nostalgic feelings for it. I just wish I could've grown up with it.
most of them /possibly/ have hidden meanings
like black/white
having ideas is ok
but having ideas that hurt others isnt
I envy people like you.
I never grew up with Pokemon, that was always my brother's thing.
Considering I got into it last year, I can't say I have any nostalgic feelings for it. I just wish I could've grown up with it.
A way of life.
Pokenerd forever.