Pokédex Completion: A Personal Journey Through Classic Pokémon Games

Have you ever completed your Pokédex? Many players have, and Pokemon games, from the original Red/Blue to the modern Sword/Shield, offer unique challenges and expansions. In this article, we explore the experience of a dedicated player who managed to fill their Pokédex from the classics, but faced challenges along the way.

Popular Pokédex Completion Games

The original Pokémon games like Red/Blue/Green serve as the foundation for any Pokédex completion journey. The aim was to catch all 151 Pokémon, a feat that appealed to many due to the simplicity and accessibility of these classic releases. As time passed, new games like Pokémon Gold/Silver/Crystal expanded the Pokédex to include 251 Pokémon, introducing 100 new entries from the Johto region. The release of Pokémon Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald brought even more Pokémon, expanding the Pokédex to 386 entries.

Pokémon Diamond/Pearl took the Pokédex to 493 entries by adding the National Dex and 107 new Pokémon. Finally, Pokémon Sword/Shield with the addition of DLCs allowed players to catch many Pokémon from previous generations, reaching a total of 807 Pokémon in the latest National Dex. Completing the Pokédex remains a common goal for fans, often involving trading with others to obtain version-exclusive Pokémon.

A Personal Journey through Pokédex Completion

Remembering back to my childhood, I would get lost in secret Pokémon sessions with my friend Adam on our Gameboys. We avoided sharing this hobby with other friends who might see it as a ldquo;poshrdquo; or ldquo;fakerdquo; interest. Secretly, we played at our homes, competing intensely. For years, I worked diligently to fill my Pokédex from the original Red and Blue, endlessly trading and upgrading my Pokémon.

Later, due to constraints, I had to trade in my early versions for newer ones but continued trading through other games. I remember the days of Gameboy cables; I had them all. My closets were filled with these cartridges, a testament to my dedication. As I entered my teens, I hit a wall. I had no way to trade my Pokémon up; they were stuck. Holding onto the original cartridges as keepsakes, I moved on to the DS versions.

Looking back, I had kept the original cartridges, particularly the glittery Gold and the original Blue with Blastoise. These were invaluable to me, not just as Pokémon, but as memories. The thrill of completing my Pokédex and showing it to my kids, who also grew to love Pokémon games, was almost fruits of my labor. Tragically, my kids were ganked one day, taking away the joy of showing them my collection. However, I found some solace in selling these cartridges, completing a sizable portion of the National Pokédex on the ones I still had.

Though I miss the original sets, I have no regrets. Mew was always just balanced, and in the game, it made sense. Continuing with the DS versions, I now have a good number of the National Dex completed, but a part of me still aches for those first sets. They were a part of my childhood, a precious reminder of my journey through the world of Pokémon games.