The Origins of an Addiction: Pokémon Blue

Welcome to the penultimate installation to your nostalgia of yore. This is the game that most people claim is the beginning of their love of video games and has surely started an addiction or a few thousand. There needs to be something that grabs you and takes you by the horns and leads you to countless gyms to train your non-existing 8-bit creatures. Endless level grinding ahoy.

Opening:

The opener to this game throws you right back to the good ol’ days where these pixilated monsters and choppy humanoid figures represented something more than just some computer code, they represented the essence of life itself. Endless hours are spent and dedicated to the game that has forever shaped and changed the way that you think about games. During this oh-so-distinct song, you can hear the buildup of excitement, gearing the player up for an experience they are sure to never forget. The track has a steady base rhythm that matches a heartbeat and is a constant force throughout, never leaving during the duration of the song. Palms sweaty and ready for a new adventure, you press the start button and begin a new chapter of your child(adult)hood.

Professor Oak:

Getting your first Pokémon is a very serious commitment. It is something that people will judge you on for the rest of your life. “Who was your starter?” I fondly remember asking people and I still do ask people whenever I hear they have played these games. There is no choice more important in the games as getting your first Pokémon, you must pick one of the three options available to you, one that you do not pick becomes your worst nightmare in the form of your rival, and the other disappears forever. The peppy track that is played during this ultimate situation encourages you to pick with your heart’s desire. While it is a shorter track, it is one that carries a lot of emotion in the form of delight enjoy in making a new friend that’ll last as long as you keep the save file.