Pokemon Trading Card Game

"The developers of this game should be shot..."

The Pokemon series started several years ago, originating in Japan. It finally came to the US a couple of years ago and has been a smash hit ever since. Nintendo has cashed in on the craze, producing merchandise, a card game, and several video games, including this one, the Pokemon Trading Card Game. This is basically a Game Boy Color version of the once extremely popular Pokemon Card Game, but it suffers from many faults. For example, it’s obviously more fun to actually collect real cards, not virtual ones. Also, the RPG elements in this game are very weak, and the quest itself is especially short. It’s been nearly a year since this game came out, and it was fairly popular among those who enjoy Pokemon and the card game, but these, and many other factors, prevent it from being a respectable game. This is a way below average game for GBC because it isn’t any fun, which is one of the worst things a game can possibly be.

Graphics: 50/100
The graphics are just about average for a GBC game. Nothing especially good, but everything is clear and easy to see, even the text, which is always good. During card game battles, the animation of the attacks is worse than in the original Pokemon game, which is really pathetic. Interest in the game may have been juiced up if the graphics were cooler, especially battle animation. The cards look fine, the people are mediocre looking, and the tiny world is okay graphically. The overall look of the game is passable, but there is definitely plenty of room for improvement.

Play Control: 48/100
Like the graphics, the play control of this simple card game are average. Moving your character is easy, and picking attacks during battle and fighting overall is simple and easy to execute. The problem here is building and editing a deck. While this is not too hard to figure out for someone that’s a teen or older, for the intended audience, the controls are difficult. It takes some time to figure out how to build a deck and edit it. Using auto-decks with the machines in the laboratory can also be baffling. Otherwise, controls are easy and basic. For instance, press A to select menu commands, and B to cancel or go back. Start will bring up a menu from where you can save, go to your deck, or do some other stuff. So, to sum it up, the controls in this game are solid for battling and moving around, but difficult for figuring out how to build/edit a deck, most notably for younger players.

Sound/Music: 45/100
Okay, the sounds of this game are okay, considering this is GBC. Nothing stunning will come out of the little speaker. The sounds get the job done, but don’t add anything to the game. The music can be annoying at times, but pretty good at others. It too is average. You probably will at least lower the sound often as it can be tiresome and painful to your ears, especially when you play for a while. There isn’t much variety in music, so get used to hearing the same tunes over and over.

Gameplay: 23/100
If this game had to be classified in one of the main genres, it would be an RPG. However, the RPG elements of this card game are fairly weak. Your characters…er…cards don’t get any kind of experience or gain levels. They can only get stronger in two ways, by using an item card on them or by evolving them. By evolving a card, you place its evolution on top of it. For example, the card Charmander can evolve into Charmeleon, by placing the Charmeleon card over it. You can do this any time during the match. Basically, a match consists of sending out a Pokemon to battle and placing backups on your “bench.” Then, when it is your turn, you draw a card from your deck. You can use “Trainer cards” to do certain kinds of effects such as using one that says “Draw two cards.” Obviously, you’ll draw the cards.

After this, you must place an Energy card on one of your Pokemon. They need energy to perform attacks, and the amount of energy needed is stated next to the attack. Certain kinds of Pokemon need certain kinds of energy cards. Finally, you attack your opponent and cause damage. When damage equals or exceeds your HP number, that Pokemon is knocked out and cannot be used. The winner draws a prize card. To win a match you much either knock out all your opponent’s active Pokemon (in play or on the bench), or by taking all of your prizes. You win more cards by defeating your opponents.

The quest itself is very short. There aren’t all that many trainers to challenge you to fights. There are eight gyms you can go to, and one or two more other special places like the Challenge Cup. Luckily, unlike the original Pokemon game, you can fight trainers as many times as you want. Unfortunately, battles quickly become repetitive and boring because they suffer from a lack of variety. It becomes a chore to play, not fun. The quest ends abruptly too, and there isn’t much to do after you finish it. You can try to collect all of the cards, but there is no reward or special event that occurs when you do. Battling a friend can be fun, however. You can also use the Card Pop feature to try and get special cards by using the scanner on the top of your GBC to randomly generate a card. You can only do this once with each friend, unfortunately. Since the RPG elements are weak to non-existent, the quest is extremely short, and the battles are tedious and boring, the gameplay and enjoyment of the Pokemon Trading Card game is lacking. What this game needs is something that’s actually fun to do in the game, other than playing with your friend. The game is very easy overall, and the fun in beating it is very low.

Replay Value: Below Average
There isn’t much difference if you play the quest again from the first time. You can choose a different starting deck, but that’s about it. The lack of places to go, the shortness of the quest, and the lack of variety in this game hurt the replay value badly. There doesn’t seem like there’s any point in playing the game again once you beat it.

Challenge: Below Average
Most of the trainers are easy to beat, and you have unlimited tries to beat them. The final five battles can be somewhat challenging, but overall, this game is a lot of luck. You need to get the right cards at the right times often if you want to win. With few trainers to fight, and with them being fairly easy, this game is not difficult at all to beat.

Good Points:
Easy to learn how to battle.
Fairly good graphics.

Bad Points:
Few, if any, RPG elements.
The quest is way too short.
Battles become repetitive.
A lot of the game depends on luck.

Overall: 28/100
This is not a great game to pick up. It is hurt by the lack of RPG elements, a short quest, and repetitive battles, among many other things. The lack of variety and the repetition of this game will hit you on the head and hopefully knock some sense into you if you decided to try it out anyway. It’s one of the worst games of the series and is not fun. Hopefully, card games for GBC and AGB will be better in the future.

Rounded to Fit GameFaqs score: 3/10

Reviewer's Score: 3/10, Originally Posted: 02/27/01, Updated 02/27/01