What It Is:

Adults have been trying to understand Pokemon ever since the craze swept across the planet in 1999. Following is a top-level breakdown of the Nintendo Game Boy game. The player inputs his or her name and becomes an animated human figure whose goal is to capture the Pokemon creatures. This is done by weakening them in any of a variety of ways, and catching them with a Pokemon ball. Once the player has collected his Pokemon critters, he has become a trainer and seeks other trainers to engage their Pokemon in fights. These fights pit two Pokemon’s individual strengths, as well as weaknesses, against each other. The bouts between Pokeman can take place against wild Pokeman (those not owned by a trainer) as you travel between towns, or at Pokemon gyms. The goal for all Pokemon trainers is to beat the top eight Pokemon gym leaders. After succeeding at this, the trainer earns the right to become a member of the Elite Four of the Pokemon League.

Why It’s Fun:

Wandering through the towns, searching for clues, finding Pokemon and engaging them against other Pokemon is challenging and fun. There are many enticing clues scattered throughout the various towns in this Pokemon game that are essential to the plot and make for fun hunting.

Who’s Going to Love It:

Most likely, your younger-to-teen children will find this game appealing. Certainly, any fan of the Pokemon Television series and/or movie will want to give this game a whirl.

What to Be Aware Of:

The Pokemon do fight and try to weaken each other, but it is in a graphic interface that is not visually violent. Parents should be aware of the strategies of capturing and weakening Pokemon, i.e, poisoning, burning and other damage. The loser of a Pokeman bout does not die, it merely faints.