Gotta Catch ‘em All! But first, are you a boy or a girl?

For those of you that don't know Pokémon, you have obviously been living under a rock since 1998 and immediately need to educate yourself on one of the best adventure RPG games of all time.

Pokémon, created by Satoshi Tajiri, is a 2D, top-down perspective, role-playing game. The games Red, Blue and Yellow are the first in the series and were released on to Gameboy and Gameboy Colour. They are all variations of the same game with the only major difference being certain Pokémon you can and can't catch. They are all set in the Kanto Region which has the original 151 Pokémon. The Pokémon series is one of the few games out there that started using a grid layout to walk on, and continues to use this in the current games. The games are full of content and you will seriously have endless hours of gameplay, I don't know a single person who has managed to catch all 151 Pokémon and defeat the Elite Four.

Gameplay in Pokémon games is very simple. You walk on a grid and combat is turn based. To find wild Pokémon to catch, you simply walk around in grass, surf in water, or look in caves (but all you'll find there are endless Zubats). You can carry up to six Pokémon with you at one time and they can each learn up to four moves. With each battle you have, your Pokémon gain experience and level up and eventually evolve into their second and third forms and evidently become stronger.

The story in these games is also straight forward. You play as a young boy who is about to leave home on his Pokémon adventure, you get to name him but that is all the customisation there is in these games and if you like the Manga or the TV show i can guarantee you will name him Red or Ash - I always did. Your goal is to go from town to town, strengthening your Pokémon and defeating the Gym Leader in each town along the way. If you do this, you will receive a badge and once you collect all eight you are able to compete against the Elite Four and become the Pokémon Master, the ultimate goal of the game. Along your adventure, you will also stumble upon Team Rocket, an organisation that abuses Pokémon, and you will have to thwart their plans to continue further in the game. There are no side quests or missions that you can take on in these games, but attempting to catch all 151 Pokémon and defeat the Elite Four will keep you occupied for countless hours so there is really no need for extra quests.

You are introduced to the world of Pokémon by none other than Professor Oak, the leading researcher in Pokémon who is the only character who appears the same in both the show and the game. Whilst Oak begins to tell you about the adventure you will soon be departing on, the iconic 8-bit music that will accompany you throughout your journey is playing, and if you're anything like me it will send chills down your spine. After you are told everything you need to know, you are shrunk down and sent into a world of dreams and adventure with Pokémon and you're very own Pokémon legend begins to unfold.

Along your way, you will find and be given TMs and HMs which are used to teach Pokémon new moves. TMs can only be used once and then they break whereas HMs, which are required to progress in the game, can be used as many times as you like but cannot be removed from the Pokémon without the use of a special trainer. HMs will also allow you to use special moves out in the world, such as surf, cut and strength.

The one similarity that all the Pokémon games have, with the exception of Pokémon Yellow, is the choice from three Pokémon at the start of your journey, known as 'starter' Pokémon. You always have the choice of a fire-type, a water-type or a grass-type. In Red and Blue, you can choose from Charmander, Bulbasaur or Squirtle. Yellow is different as it more closely follows the TV show story line and therefore you are given Pikachu as your starter, and will eventually obtain the three other starters.

Pokémon Yellow, released two years after Red and Blue, was a standout favourite amongst fans of the rapidly advancing series. Not only could you catch all three starter Pokémon, a dream had been realised with Pikachu now following right behind you, with every step you take. This game was also quite different in the sense that Pokémon Yellow followed the story line of the popular Pokémon television series while Red and Blue did not.

Since Pokémon Red, Blue and Yellow there has been countless other Pokémon games, spanning different consoles and game types, but the originals will always be the favourites of the true fans. To me, Pokémon is the ultimate game and will always be my favourite. I have had Pokémon Red since I can remember, and it is one of those games that you will constantly find yourself going back to and enjoying it just as much as you did the first time you played. The simple music and graphics are a favourite of mine and will stick with me forever. If you haven't played any Pokémon game I suggest you start because they are seriously one of the best games out there. And even though there are so many new Pokémon games out such as Black and White 2, I think Red, Blue and Yellow will always be the best.