I remember back in 1996 when this
strange new craze began sweeping the world. This new game breathed
new life into Nintendo's hand-held system, allowing it to dominate
the portable gaming market for years to come. It also started the
trend of raising and sharing creatures. This game was an important
brick in my childhood gaming. I am of course talking about the
Pokemon series. I will be talking about the core series this week,
not the Pokemon Ranger series or the remakes.
~~~~
I remember the first Pokemon
commercial. It involved a sadistic bus driver taking his bus and
compressing all the 'Mon's in a car crusher while he gleefully
cackles. When I first saw that commercial I was equal parts amused
and horrified. After I got the game for my 11th birthday
my love for the series was born as did my appreciation of that small
grey brick.
Going through the original game
was a musical treat. Before on the system we had some minor successes
with tracks from the Mana series and Super Mario Land 2 and 3, but
for the most part, none of the songs on the Gameboy really stood out.
There were no real good examples of tracks that stuck with me as a
small player. Even the Tetris theme, one of the iconic pieces of
music of the hand-held generation, was overshadowed by it's home
console brother. So when Pokemon came around I wasn't expecting much
in terms of the music. Oh how I was wrong.
To begin, the game's intro gave a
small sample of what was to come. It was dynamic and drew me into the
game. It made me feel like I could conquer the world. I was going to
be a great hero. Of course every hero needs a home town, something
small and out of the way from the main story, and Pallet Town is such
a town. It's melody is simple and conveys a feeling of childhood
innocence. This feeling carries over to your first outing, leaving
your hometown behind and heading to the big city. The music still
enforces that feeling of childhood, but adds the sense of adventure.
Each time you would go onto a new
route heading towards your next destination, the music would change,
gaining more of the adventure feel and losing the childlike feeling
to the song. It culminates with entering the Pokemon league and
travelling Victory Road. You are ready to take on the Elite Four and
become the champion. It is time to say goodbye to your childhood as
you make your way through Victory Road, battling other Trainers who
wish to become champions themselves.
What set this game apart from the
other RPG's on the system was the variety of the music. Save for a
few places, each area had it's own song. Lavender Town and the
Pokemon Tower, where Pokemon were laid to rest obviously had a sad
and mournful theme, while the Viridian Forest theme is full of
mystery and wonder.
For a hand-held system, the
original G1 Pokemon games had a fantastic soundtrack. The music is
highly memorable and someone could easily listen to the soundtrack
for a long time. It has a a whole range of songs from the happy,
adventurous tune when you first start off on your adventure, to sad
and depressing as you enter the Pokemon Cemetery, to the climactic
battle between you and your Pokemon vs your childhood friend turned
rival and his legion of Pokemon. It has that special quality to it
that sticks with you for years to come.
There is nothing more satisfying
then duelling your rival, be it your digitized nemesis or your kid
brother, while that awesome 8-bit music comes out of those tiny
speakers while driving home from a family vacation. Tune in on
Wednesday where I take a look at the Generation 2 games.
This is Daimo Mac and I am lost in
the music.
~~~~
Also: The fine people over at BronyCan, Canada's premier Brony Conventia has an Indiegogo Campaign going on right now. Click here for more information.
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