Pokémon Red Version (Japanese: ポケットモンスター　赤 Pocket Monsters: Red) and Pokémon Green Version (Japanese: ポケットモンスター　緑 Pocket Monsters: Green) are the first video games in the Pokémon series of games. They are the first primary paired versions of Generation I, developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo for the handheld Game Boy. They were first released in Japan on February 27, 1996, and were later followed by the updated Pokémon Blue and the supplementary Pokémon Yellow.

Developed over the course of several years, Red and Green established several standards for later Pokémon games and sequels. They take place in the Kanto region, with the player having to collect eight Gym Badges to become the Pokémon Champion while also completing the Pokédex by collecting all 151 Pokémon. The game was a commercial success in Japan, which prompted the localization of Red and Green for an international release; the games were then released as Pokémon Red and Pokémon Blue.

Plot

Red and Green begin the Pokémon series in the region of Kanto, where players play the role of Red, an eleven-year-old boy who has just started his journey as a Pokémon Trainer from Pallet Town, on the same day as his Blue, who is Red's rival and the grandson of the local authority on Pokémon, Professor Oak. Oak lets the two boys choose a starter Pokémon, a choice of the Grass-type Bulbasaur, the Fire-type Charmander, or the Water-type Squirtle (and with the player's rival choosing the Pokémon that has a type advantage over the player's Pokémon). Oak also gives them a Pokédex and asks them to catch all the Pokémon in the region.

During their travels, the player will encounter the villainous Team Rocket and their boss Giovanni, a criminal gang that treats Pokémon as tools, rather than train them as friends and partners. The player must defeat them to put a stop to their crimes, which include killing a Marowak while keeping Mr. Fuji hostage, and taking control of Silph Co. to obtain plans for the Master Ball. The rival will also continuously challenge the player to a battle, with an increasingly powerful team. As the player's own Pokémon become more powerful, they draw closer to the Indigo Plateau.

Between the battles with Team Rocket, their rival, and other trainers, the player journeys across the region, defeating all the Gym Leaders: Brock, Misty, Lt. Surge, Erika, Koga, Sabrina and Blaine. The eighth and final Gym Leader is Team Rocket's boss, Giovanni, who disbands the team after his final defeat within his Gym. After defeating all eight Gym Leaders, the player goes on to challenge the Elite Four: Lorelei, Bruno, Agatha, and Lance, and finally, in the last battle, the current Champion, the player's rival.

Legacy

Pocket Monsters Red and Green set the precedent for what has become a blockbuster, multibillion-dollar franchise. In Japan, Red, Green, and the third version Blue combined have sold 10.23 million copies. In the United States, Pokémon Red has sold 4.83 million copies, while Pokémon Blue has sold 5.02 million copies. These numbers combine to make a total of 9.85 million copies sold in the US.

Pocket Monsters Red and Green were the namesake of the Generation III remakes of FireRed and LeafGreen released in 2004, even in regions where Blue was paired with Red.

Trivia

According to Pokémon Story, Shigeru Miyamoto suggested to turn the game into multiple versions separated by colors. The idea was to make seven versions in all rainbow colors, but they ended up with just two (based on the colors red and green from Mario and Luigi). Tsunekazu Ishihara integrated different encounter rates and version-exclusive Pokémon to motivate "exchange"

Development of Red and Green started during 1990, making their development the longest of all Pokémon games by far.

Pokémon Red and Green are the only core series games in which HP Ups are not obtainable by repeatable means.

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