Looking back at this game I had to work hard to go back to the 10 year old mindset, a child whose hand held experience was simple, but here is the problem, the game itself, not the concept or what it was, just isn't as playable.

Don't get me wrong, I believe at the time the game was great, the fact you could play as if you were Ash Ketchum was a great selling point, with the little pikachu sprite following you around, getting more and more attached to you and of course seeing Jesse and James and Meowth (that's right) in sprite form was also a treat. However.

The game mechanics are far outdated, and only hard core fans could slog through the outdated controls and concepts. No abilities, no defining natures, hell no separate bags to keep items in, maybe its just the fact I'm spoiled by the newer Gen (and excited for the newest upcoming game)

Graphics: Ok looking at the sprites and the areas, ok its simple and basic at times and pretty detailed spites when it comes to the Pokémon , which I must say, was a great improvement from Red and Blue, seriously compare the two sets of sprites and its like night and day, although I do miss the Gene Simmons Golbat, that was pretty cool. Pretty much for the time the graphics are good, it is a product of the time I can't argue with that one, and seeing the old Celadon City does bring back some good memories.

Sound: Now when it comes to the sound I got to say the music still holds up, from the classic battle theme to the gym leader fight, and that nice tune from Celadon City's game corner (although the one from Gold and Silver is far better I will admit) the Pokémon sound effects are decent as well and all and all its a good experience...also hearing the anime cry of "PIKACHU" when you send out Pikachu is always a nice treat.

Addictiveness: Ok why a 4, well the reasoning is the fact well....its outdated, no reason to replay this cept for pure nostalgia, yeah its fun to go around catching Pokémon, but I can do it with Leaf Green or Fire Red, or perhaps a fun rom hack, again product of the times and not a problem on the game itself. Its a good game and it can be fun. But now a days the addictiveness is kinda lost thanks to the fact there are new games to play.

Story: The Story is basic, pretty much the story is to get you from point A to Point B, it is there but there are no real subtle things, ok the twist that the Boss of Team Rocket is the final Gym Leader, yeah that blew my mind as a kid but really its a simple story easy to follow and not get lost in, neither good nor bad.

Depth: Ok as far as the limitations of the time, what it can offer for now, its pretty deep, at least 6 hours worth of gameplay if you are pretty quick, more if you are putting more effort to get what you want and grind, then to find and catch all the Pokémon even more time. For a handheld the depth is pretty high, then again pretty much all main Pokémon games share this trait, for a handheld game they have a lot of depth.

Difficulty: Ok this depends on the age, if you are a little kid, its sometimes a challenge, but if you watched the show you had the guide and knew the type advantages and what most Pokémon did with signature attacks. As an adult the rules are simple to understand and learn (heck me I'm more of a casual so I don't optimize as often as say the pro battlers. ) When it comes to this game, its really simple, if you can't beat a gym, get a better Pokémon or grind your current team, no troubles really.

Overall: I gave this an 8 because for the time it was a really good game, now a days its an old relic, but in my opinion I think its still a gem if you love old GBC games. Really I wish they would remake this game, its a real gem and I always hoped they would give this game the remake treatment, we can only hope .

BrenTenkage : I agree, this game deserves a remake, It's too important to Pokémon gaming history.

MysteryMan007 : Glad ya agree with me, I really did enjoy it for what it offered but its held back by the obsolete mechanics that I mentioned, a remake would be welcome, heck make it follow the anime more would be awesome like including some of the one shot characters as opponents and making them look like their counter part rather then a Bug Catcher sprite called "Samurai"

BrenTenkage : The review was good, it was well written and categorized so I could actually say I understood it, but you still could have included a bit more detail to probably stretch it to 1000 words while providing us with STILL important facts and opinions about the game. This is good too, it's featured review size and well written. Now to what I think about some of your opinions. Don't take any of this to offence because that's not what I'm trying to do but I'm gonna have to disagree "in my personal opinion" that this game is outdated. When I see this game or any other Pokémon game(NOT hacks) on vizzed I get pretty nostalgic, but it is your opinion and I respect that so once again great review.

LONG LIVE POKEMON ....