What if Generations 2 onward had their own "Pokemon Yellow?"

[Dogasu]

Back in 1998 Game Freak released Pocket Monsters Pikachu Version to help tide fans over while they waited for the release of Gold & Silver. The game took the original Red, Green, and Blue games and added elements from the TV series to reflect what was going on in the animated series at that time. Pikachu is your starter and follows you around in the overworld, you're able to capture all three Kanto starters, the Rocket trio make an appearance, various pokemon capture rates were tweaked, etc.

However, Game Freak only ever did this with the first Generation. There was no fourth version of the Generation 2 games, or Generation 3, Generation 4, etc. based on the animated series. But what if there was? What do you think they could have taken from the TV series and added to each generation's games? Here's my list to give you an idea of the kinds of things I'm talking about

Generation 2
The ability to capture all three Jouto starters
Battles with the new Rocket members introduced in the TV series
A Whirl Cup competition
An extra dungeon toward the end where you have to rescue the baby Lugia from the Rocket-Dan
A battle with Hazuki at the end of the game where you fight his Burshamo

Generation 3
Overhauled Pokemon Contest system to make it more like the TV series
Battle rivals such as Shuu, Harley, Masamune, and Tetsuya.
A side quest based on the skipped Dojocchi episode
A Grand Festival event

Generation 4
Overhauled Pokemon Contest system to make it more like the TV series
Battle trainers such as Shinji, Hunter J, Takuto, Urara, etc.
A Mikuri Cup mid-region
An evil Togepi adventure (just because that episode was so amazing)

Generation 5
The ability to capture all three Isshu starters
Don George Battle Clubs scattered throughout the region
A side quest based on the skipped Rocket vs. Plasma two-parter
A section of the game where the Rocket-Dan's Nyasu joins your party

Generation 6
The addition of Pokemon Showcase competitions
A ninja village where you can obtain Satoshi-Gekkouga
A portion of the game where you're accompanied by Corni

Would you like to have seen a fourth version in each generation? And if so, what kinds of things from the TV series would you have liked to see brought over?

 

[Arceus the Dragon]

Blue and Green are basically the same game with minor changes. Blue was the US version of Green which was Japan only. Red, Blue and Yellow were the international games for gen 1. Third versions are enough and we have no need of a fourth version.

 

[Moe]

Would you like to have seen a fourth version in each generation?

I think the basic problem would be the timing of such a release. Far enough away that there's enough time for the anime to develop enough of a distinction, but early enough that they aren't right at the end of the generation and done as an afterthought. Perhaps they could just patch in anime reflecting side quests into the regular games as the show gets to those points?

Indeed I think to some extent, following more of the events of the anime would push the games further down what I think is one of the biggest problems with them - lots of storyline, but none of it branching based on your actions. You can have Pokemon that all hate you and the game will still have dialogue about how much you respect your Pokemon. If they tried to follow the anime storyline closer, there would be more scenarios where they would need to predetermine your character's path to fit with Ash's journey.

The one case where that would work though, would be if there was a fourth Gen IV game that let you have a split path between an Ash style playthrough, or a Paul one - and have those two distinct paths of developing a strong Pokemon team. Finding a way to take the Friendship stat and make it have a significant impact on the outcome of your play - and have both styles treated as valid by the game.

I'd want all Pokemon games to pull over the anime style Pokemon league, and walking Pokemon should just be default by now - but those should be in all versions, rather than a fourth edition.

 

[ii kanji]

When I played G/S/C (God only knows which one) I used to tell myself that these two were Butch & Cassidy (look at her hair!!)

I'd totally be in with a version of every game which allowed you to have Pikachu as your starter and (regardless of the villainous team) battle the TRio at intervals. How swag would it be if from Houen onwards the TRio then swapped sides and helped you defeat the big bad?!

 

[Daren]

Battle trainers such as Shinji, Hunter J, Takuto, Urara, etc.

The part I find interesting here is how J would lose her menace if you whip her everytime she appears. Paul/Shijni wouldn't fare much better.

It would be interesting to see how this would have turned out, especially when the games started putting the story into focus a little more with cutscenes become more common around Gen 3 and on.
Of course there's still a decent faction of the game's fanbase that gets enraged at the mere mention of the Anime, which would make the forums highly unpleasant once per generation.

Might be worth noting Pikachu would be more usable in in later generations thanks to the light ball.

I think the basic problem would be the timing of such a release. Far enough away that there's enough time for the anime to develop enough of a distinction, but early enough that they aren't right at the end of the generation and done as an afterthought. Perhaps they could just patch in anime reflecting side quests into the regular games as the show gets to those points?

I have to agree that timing would be tricky. It's also notable that changes from later in the Anime weren't in Yellow (like Blaine having a Magmar); the later you get, the less Yellow diverges from Red/Blue. I could picture similar things happening until they delayed the theoretical fourth game per gen until the next gen was already released.

When I played G/S/C (God only knows which one) I used to tell myself that these two were Butch & Cassidy (look at her hair!!)

The Gen 2 female rocket looks so much like Miyamoto I have trouble imaging it's a coincidence.

 

[Almonds]

For Gen6 I definitely want to see Alain as a major NPC or rival character as we unfold Lysandre's plot to abuse the Zygardes. Alain would be like N in a sense.

 

[Gengarzilla]

This all sounds like a decent idea, but I'd probably skip them all.

 

[ii kanji]

The Gen 2 female rocket looks so much like Miyamoto I have trouble imaging it's a coincidence.

Spoiler

:-/

WOAH!!!!

Mate, come on. I'm clearly right here.

 

[MizuTaipu]

Probably not, as I prefer the anime and games to not mesh together, and I think creating those games would be a production nightmare unless they were produced and released after the anime series it corresponded to finished airing. In Pikachu Edition, direct references to the anime pretty much stopped after the player defeats Silph Co. (for example, Katsura doesn't have a Boober in the game), after all.

 

[Nicolas721]

Nice thread. Aside of what you've said I've thought of the following:

Overall
-The male PC is always replaced with Ash, but the female remains the same, even Hilda and Kris.
-The starter is always Pikachu, but the starters Ash catches are available easily in the wild in the routes they were caught in the anime.

Gen II
-After Silver is defeated the first time, the PC sees Ho-Oh flying in the sky.
-Misty and Brock get multiple cameos throughout the story, some of them are battles.
-Liza appears as a Cool Trainer in the Victory Road, she uses 2 Charizard.
-The GS ball is given to you early in the game, and after Kurt unlocks it you are given a Shiny Noctowl.
-With that in mind, you need the Oak's notebook item to unlock the Celebi event.
-Casey appears in National Park, and if you show her a Chikorita you will unlock a baseball minigame.
-Gary's team is similiar to the one he used in the league.
-In order to get Lugia, you have to convince Melody to play the song, and then take her to the Whirl Islands. After she plays the song, Lugia appears and "The Legend comes to life" plays in the background, both in the cutscene and in the battle. I DIED OF EPICNESS WHILE THINKING IN THIS, JUST IMAGINE

Spoiler: Videos

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZmemp8PndU

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAhna3Q9FjY

I'll post the other generations later.

 

[sc190191]

Don't forget Orange Islands. I would love to play these games, but I think they don't exist because of inconsistent popularity of the Anime and that at some point more games about a similar topic will have diminishing returns and there just isn't enough time to make each of these games as well as the regular games we have seen. If I had to decide between a Yellow and an Emerald type game per se, I would probably stick with the Emerald style game, because then we have two different stories between the games and anime and that leads to more creativity and variety. In a perfect world without economics though, it would be cool to have.

 

[Nicolas721]

Gen II's name is Pokemon Yellow Bronze.

Gen III-Pokemon Yellow Advanced
-More similar to Emerald than anything else, except that there are Contest Halls instead of Battle Tents.
-Proffesor Birch and Norman don't have a relationship to any PC, and you live with a generic mom.
-Norman's house is in Petalburg City, and there you can find Max wchich gives you some adventure tips. After the league he is training with his father.
-Brody and his antics are included.
-Steven's postgame battle is in Granite Cave, and he wears his AG clothes.
-Drew is Wally's idol.
-Is a lot easier to reach the Battle Brains, and they have their anime teams. Brandon is unlocked after obtaining the other 6 symbols. The NPCs make many references to it taking place in Kanto some time ago.
-The aristan cave now is full of Pokemon who recieved some focus during the Battle Frontier arc: Jigglypuff, Psyduck, Onix, Sudowoodo...


Gen IV-Pokemon Yellow Topaz
-Gary takes Dawn/Lucas 's role as Rowan's assistant, and thus you battle him many times. The PC you didn't choose show up many times to give you support, but you never battle him/she.
-Brock and...Autumn (?) run the day care.
-The lake spirits get cameos during the game, and you bond with all 3 of them.
-Lyra and Khoury appear late in the game as a lass and a Pokemaniac, with a full team of Johto Pokemon.
-A NPC offers to trade an Aipom for a Buizel.


Gen V-Pokemon AshGray Yellow: Best Wishes
-Like the anime, the story is timeless, with young Bianca but new Cheren and new Team Plasma.
-All 11 gyms are available to be challenged in any order, but if you choose to battle Lenora Cheren is unlocked until post-league and viceversa.
-Iris appears early in the game and helps you, but also insults you sometimes. You don't battle her until the league, where she is revelated to be the champion.
-Cilan can be called in the Xtransciever to do tastings between you and your Pokemon.
-Team Rocket is the villain in the pre-league section, some of their antics are different and some are gone. You battle much more grunts than in the anime, but much less than the gen 1&2 games. Their climax is similar to BW098-BW099.
-Team Plasma gets many cameos during the pre-league section, and then become the main objetive in the postgame.
-Porter is the capitain of the royal Unova, and many of the passengers there make multiple references to the Decolore Islands.
-Luke appears in the Pokewood.
-Black City/White Forest is replaced by the Village of Dragons, where we learn things about Iris's past.


Gen VI-Pokemon Yellow W/Pokemon Yellow A/Pokemon Yellow S/Pokemon Yellow P
(No, I'm not suggesting 4 versions, I just coudln't settle on a name. W because is close to X&Y in the alphabet, A & S for Ash and Satoshi and P for Pikachu.)
-Clemont & Bonnie give you a tour in your first visit in Lumiose City, and threat you as a very close friend. Clemont has his gym leader anime team when you battle him.
-Sycamore's team includes Mega Garchomp.
-Your rival Calem/Serena is replaced by Sawyer, who instead of being a rookie has a similar battle level to you.
-There's a feature called "Episode Alain" which works the same way the Special Episodes of MM:Explorers of Sky, you get a new story after certain points in the game and you can transfer items to the main game.
-Serena's default outfit is her second outfit from the anime, but you can unlock her first outfit and her Showcase dresses via Character customization.
-Gastly and Haunter are available in the spooky house from route 14. In that same route there's a sign that reads that one day a great battle between a Florges and a Goodra happened.
-If you do certain things you will unlock a battle with Bonnie as an easter egg, she will own a level 80 Zygarde 50%.

Gen VII-Pokemon Yellow Star?

 

[ii kanji]

-Lyra and Khoury appear late in the game as a lass and a Pokemaniac, with a full team of Johto Pokemon.

You know who'd make a great Pokemaniac?...

Spoiler

 

[Muur]

I'd rather some DLC or something added in, or a few references in a 'third' version. Ie, some of that in say - Emerald.

 

[JacobYBM]

Shinji would make for a fun rival, especially if the artificial intelligence running the game made him a real threat. The battles in Pokemon games are so easy. I want some real difficulty and story-driven defeats.

 

[Galactic_V]

To be fair I just don't it happening. When Pikachu version came out the anime was still in its first saga and we had no idea how it'd go on afterwards. I mean it's pretty clear this version's protagonist's still Red, not Satoshi per say.

Even if they swapped the male PCs for him in latter games, wouldn't it be weird he'd be treated like a rookie? Even if GF changed that, wouldn't it have to change the whole story as well? Also something tells me the anime-version Contests'd be a hell lot of work to be made, and it'd be probably skipped.

I'd like to see it, but don't see how this'd be made at all

 

[Garren]

Great idea for a thread, have a lot of ideas I need to think over but here are a few central ideas each game would share...

* I haven't thought of how the localized name would work, but each version would be named after the corresponding anime series + " Pikachu", like how in Japan it's known officially as Pocket Monsters: Pikachu. Johto though would be "Pocket Monsters 2: Pikachu", but then you'd have "Pokemon Advanced Generation: Pikachu", "Pokemon Diamond and Pearl: Pikachu", "Pokemon Best Wishes: Pikachu", and then "Pokemon XY: Pikachu". There would also be a remake of Pokemon Yellow released after FR/LG, known as "Thunder Yellow: Pikachu" across the regions perhaps.

* Though this is hypothetical, I was thinking the Pikachu Version would be released shortly after the release of the initial two games, and have a few upgrades, but wouldn't be as big of an upgrade as Crystal, Emerald, and Platinum which would come later and serve as the "canon" Version. Had these games happened of course I imagine those games would've had bigger differences. Of course since the release of those games themselves influenced the anime, when discussing my ideas a bit of suspension of disbelief is required---I'll act as if the anime proceeded in the exact same way and use that to influence my ideas, though the release of a Yellow version each Generation would've probably resulted in various changes.

* Each game would star a character designed to resemble Ash as the protagonist, though you'd be able to select his name and he'd more or less have the same story as the canon protagonist with a few changes here and there. In each game it's a completely new character who happens to resemble Ash (and by extension Red), though occasionally characters would reference previous Yellow versions by comparing you to a kid with Pikachu they knew.

* Pikachu would always be your Starter, how you obtain it differing depending on the game, and like Yellow you couldn't evolve it nor breed it---starting with Generation III you'd automatically obtain the Light Ball around the halfway point to keep him up to standards, and this Pikachu would naturally learn Volt Tackle. He'd follow you around, and the Generations would introduce new things that he could do---like Generation II would have him find various items, basically proto-Pikachu Up, Generation III you could interact with him to increase his Contest stats, etc. He'd always be voiced, likewise the Pikachu clone introduced each game (plus Pichu) would also be voiced, but only in the debut Region perhaps.

* Team Rocket, Jessie, James, and Meowth, would appear in each game---in Generation II Yellow they're specifically the same ones from the original Yellow, but in the other games they'd exist in sort of a "meta" sense where they're not necessarily the same Team Rocket as before, but drop references to previous interactions with kids with Pikachu. Gen II would see their biggest role, but in the other games they would be more minor, usually interfering with the main villain team's plot. Unlike Yellow Meowth wouldn't be battleble, but now have his own overworld sprite seen alongside Jessie and James and appear in their battle portrait---each game would have them use Pokemon they used in the show more or less, though some they didn't evolve in the show would be evolved for challenge reasons.

* Officer Jenny and Nurse Joy would replace the generic police (except for the police trainer class) and nurses, and would be accompanied by Pokemon they're seen with in the show based on the region. They're the only reoccurring anime characters outside Team Rocket, but each game would feature new characters based on ones from the show or change NPCs to reflect various COTD. Sometimes it'd be a mix, where a game character takes on attributes of a different character from the show without necessarily becoming them.

* In every game as one of the main draws you'd be able to obtain all the Starters, even in the DP and XY games where that didn't happen through scenarios that usually reference the way Ash, or another character, caught said Pokemon. Pokemon would also be moved around, Pokemon Ash caught made more accessible, and likewise the unobtainable Pokemon would usually be ones who were shown in a negative light in the show.

For Gen6 I definitely want to see Alain as a major NPC or rival character as we unfold Lysandre's plot to abuse the Zygardes. Alain would be like N in a sense.

You know with the reference to Alain in ORAS I actually wouldn't be surprised if he (or rather a character based on him) makes an appearance in the future, if Z happened I was definitely expecting him to appear.

 

[Silktree]

Would you like to have seen a fourth version in each generation?

To be honest, no. Yellow was my first game and I consider it the best Generation I version due to the sprites and Pikachu's happiness system, but I wouldn't have liked playing as Red or Ash in other regions.

 

[Garren]

Here's my (pretty in-depth) ideas for Gold and Silver's Yellow...

Pocket Monsters 2: Pikachu

The second Yellow version released shortly after Gold and Silver, it would actually be a shorter game, technically, as it'd completely drop the majority of Kanto from the post-game excluding the Mt. Silver-Indigo Plateau area. Controversial idea, perhaps, but in exchange Johto would see a few expansions in various areas as well as the levels being better balanced and the Pokemon distribution changed, now all the poor Johto Pokemon who ended up stuck in Kanto would be relocated and given more prominence---so, you'd be able to get Murkrow and Misdreavus now in Johto like they were probably intended to be judging by their place in the PokeDex.

The game would still be compatible for the Game Boy, lacking the mandatory Color features of Crystal, and would see slight graphical upgrades---no moving sprites yet, but everyone would get new sprites like Yellow did having them appear closer to their anime look including the coloration. Certain Pokemon---Pikachu, Meowth, the starters, Togepi, and Wobbuffet---would have unique party sprites. All the Baby Pokemon would receive unique Egg designs too, especially Togepi when you obtain its egg at the beginning of the game. Furthermore whenever you have a Togepi Egg, or a Togepi, in your party it would follow behind Pikachu.

Plot Changes

* Your PC, "Ash", in the past found a Pokemon Egg which hatched into Pichu---now a Pikachu, your Starter. This is why Mr. Pokemon enlists your help at the beginning of the game.

* The main character of Yellow, still called Red, receives a bit more mentions this time around and is constantly referred to as "the boy with Pikachu"---your character would be repeatedly compared to him throughout the game. After beating the Elite Four you'd be able to face Red at Mt. Silver, and like HG/SS Espeon would be replaced with Lapras to better fit the show.

* Jessie and James have taken over Team Rocket following Giovanni's abandonment and are legitimate threats here, appearing to battle the player throughout the game at points where in the original a nameless admin was faced. For balance reasons, though they ended up with fully evolved Pokemon in Yellow, when you first fight them they'll be using Ekans, Koffing, and Bellsprout but will eventually end up with Arbok, Weezing, Victreebel, and Lickitung by the time the game's finished. No Wobbuffet, though I love him I don't think it'd work to give the main antagonist such a gimmicky Pokemon. Professor Namba would also appear as a character you don't fight, but would be behind various schemes such as the Red Gyrados incident.

* Silver is basically the same character, but instead of a Starter he steals a Tyrouge from Professor Elm's laboratory who had recently hatched from an egg---depending on the results of your first two fights with him it'll either evolve into Hitmonchan, Hitmonlee, or Hitmontop. His team would also be changed a bit such as getting a Scizor instead of Magnemite.

* Though Lance would still appear in the same role, there'd be a huge swerve at the end where once you beat the Elite Four it's revealed that Blue re-challenged them and won---you'd once more fight Blue as the Champion, this time using a team of Eevee and all five of its evolutions. He'd still mention having become the Viridian City Gym Leader, though since Kanto would be gone you couldn't fight him as such.

* There'd be a secret event inspired by Mewtwo Returns after beating Red, where one would find Giovanni attempting to capture Mewtwo in Tohjo Falls. You'd fight Giovanni and then would have a chance of capturing Mewtwo, the game hinting at him having calmed down through a text box reading "...it seems to be hesitant to fight" before it cries and a battle begins.

* You could catch Lugia at Level 40 w/Aeroblast when passing through Whirl Islands without the Silver Wing after the Goldenrod Tower incident, where Professor Namba has fled. You don't fight him instead fighting a bunch of nameless grunts (I don't really like the idea of Butch and Cassidy appearing in the game for some reason) and then a Lugia under his control, which you can defeat or catch to free it. After Lugia is caught the Legendary Birds, referencing the second movie, would then appear at Whirl Islands---Articuno on Sunday, Zapdos on Tuesday, and Moltres on Thursday.

* Ho-Oh could only be caught after defeating Red who gives you the Rainbow Wing, it's Level 70 but unlike the one at Level 70 in Silver has Sacred Fire. Since this is before Crystal the Legendary Beasts would still be caught in the exact same way and wouldn't receive addition story presence.

* Though Crystal ended up doing it through the cell phone service, a special event G/S ball would be distributed via stores which has Professor Oak giving you a G/S Ball which you can take to Kurt and then to the Illex Forest shrine, resulting in Celebi appearing---there'd then be a brief scene showing a young Professor Oak visiting the shrine as a kid, referencing Movie 4---and then you'd be transported back to the present and could fight Celebi and catch it.

* Casey would be made into a unique NPC with an Electabuzz, she wouldn't have a big role though you'd fight her early on and then she'd add you as a phone buddy---she'd also appear as a competitor in the Bug Catching Contest. The Electabuzz Baseball team would also be referenced throughout the game.

* Since you can't go to Pewter Gym, Brock appears as the head of the Daycare Center and mentions how he's working part-time as a Pokemon Breeder.

Pokemon and Gameplay Changes

* On the way back through Route 29 after the first Rival event a female Chikorita will pop out of the grass and attack you---you can catch it, or faint it. If fainted it will respawn the next day, the game mentioning it doesn't seem to want to give up. Once caught the game will mention it seems to have a strong interest in you. Chikorita will know Return.

* After healing at the Azalea Pokemon Center and leaving you'll bump into a trainer who mentions spotting a rare male Cyndaquil in Union Cave. If you go there you can battle Koji's Sandslash, afterwards he'll leave the Cyndaquil for you which will join you of its own will. This Cyndaquil will know Rest.

* When approaching Johto's Day Care you'll see Misty talking with Brock---she had caught a Totodile around there recently and had left it at the Day Care, an Egg appearing that hatched into a rather mischievous one that loves to dance. She gives you a male Totodile for free that knows Swords Dance.

* Heracross isn't limited to Headbutt trees, now it'll appear rarely in certain grassy areas around the beginning of the game. Likewise Phanpy and Larvitar also appear far earlier than they did in G/S. Like that one filler episode with Dunsparce swarms of them would appear on Route 29 each week on a random day, a nearby NPC alerting you to such a fact. Marill and Snubbull, formerly pretty rare swarm Pokemon, would now be far more common referencing their role in the show as popular pre-release Pokemon.

* In Illex Forest on Thursday nights, limited to an hour (eight through nine perhaps) a Shiny Noctowl can be found on the overworld and caught, though you only get once chance.

* Benny and Wobbuffet appear in Goldenrod, where you can trade him any Pokemon for it.

* Among the Johto Pokemon Teddiursa and Ursaring, Delibird---referencing their antagonist roles---and Tyrouge, because Silver owns one, could not be caught. Likewise the Ekans, Koffing, Meowth, Weedle, and now Bellsprout, Pinsir, and Lickitung lines wouldn't be catchable due to being associated with Team Rocket and/or antagonistic in the show.

* Falkner now uses Hoothoot, Doduo, and an underlevelled Pidgeot since you'll have the advantage over him with Pikachu so he's made harder to accommodate that fact.

* Bugsy still uses Scyther as his main, but has Spinarak like in the show and his cocoon Pokemon is replaced by a Pinsir.

* Whitney would now use Nidorina in addition to Clefairy and Miltank, though it'd only use Normal-type moves. You could encounter her occasionally at Moo Moo ranch where you could re-challenge her, now using Miltank and Tauros.

* Morty's second Haunter is replaced by Misdreavus. He has a slightly larger role where he'll tell you about the Legendary Beasts and Ho-Oh as you'll find him around the Burner Tower before you can fight him.

* Chuck brings back Primeape and Poliwrath, plus a Machoke.

* One of Jasmine's Magnemite is now a Magneton.

* Pryce's Seel is replaced by a Cloyster.

* Clair's team now has one Dragonair replaced by Gyrados. After defeating her in the Dragon's Den you now have to prove your worth by defeating a high-leveled rampaging Dragonite though you can't catch it.

* Various Routes would be slightly re-designed, one of the biggest additions though would be Nature Park being expanded and now having a lake in the center where there'd be the occasional Fishing Contest held where you could win Water Stones and King Stones. Misty would appear to compete in the fishing contest. Whirl Islands in addition to the dungeon would have a few island-buildings added around it, with NPCs you could talk to and one who sells you coral sculptures you can use to decorate the player's room.