Pokemon Trading Card Game

"Wow... Everything You'd Want!"

Pokemon mania has spread through North America. It can't be avoided. It started with the two original Game Boy Games. Then it spawned... it Spawned I say! Now, you can buy Pikachu gigapet things! You can get any number of stuffed Pokemon dolls! They're key chains, they're flippers, they're mugs and bumpers and even Volkswagon Beetles! But perhaps most memorably, they're a card game.

The Pokemon Card Game has really taken off. Published by Wizards of the Coast and coreleased with Nintendo, this game has already surpassed the standard in collectible card games, Magic the Gathering, in popularity in the United States. The card call up for ungodly sums of money, and the cards are sold out almost everywhere you go! And so far, the game only includes a scant one hundred and sixty some cards.

In Japan, however, the series has reached its fifth expansion. And in Japan, they have this clever little Game Boy Game out. And let me tell you what -- if Nintendo doesn't release this certain money maker in the United States.. it's insane.

The premise is simple yet incredible -- this Game Boy game replicated the Pokemon Card Game to a T. All the cards from 4 Japanese expansions are in here, and all the rules are faithfully applied. The Game Boy game has a few distinct advantages, however.

1. You get ALL the cards for a scant price of one Game Boy Game
2. You don't need someone around to play against you!
3. You get all this in a formatted adventure game any Pokemon fan will INSTANTLY recognize.. and fall in love with.

When the game starts off, you meet Professor Oak, and he teaches you how to play, then gives you your first deck. From then on, you progress in true Pokemon fashion, going from Gym to Gym to collect badges for defeating the leaders. And what's real nice is, you win more cards for each victory you take, whether it be a gym leader or otherwise! You can also buy more energy cards at the convenient convenience store. You are supplied with a full set of tools to make your own decks and, while it's slow, it works slick. Of course, as expected, there are a limit to the number of cards you can have saved on one game, but you can make up to four decks on one game without any problems... and THAT'S pretty good.

Of course, the real fun goes into the one on one aspect. Link up, and you've got what Pokemon was REALLY made for -- trading and battling. You can trade cards with friends or battle them one on one, your decks against theres. While you're doing this, remember that you can easily stuff your decks with four MewTwo's if you want to.. a card that is going for $90 a piece here in America!

This full color Game Boy game is great, a delicious addition to the growing Pokemon library. One can only hope they translate it into American-ese and release it here in the States, so I can play it against all my friends. I know I'd save a lot of money on cards if they did!!!

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 11/01/99, Updated 11/01/99