Hi, I'm Palipilino!
Gameboy Color
4/19/2026
For those who were around during the Pokemania of the new millennium, it is probably a feeling they will never quite forget and encompassed their love for the franchise in a way that could never quite be replicated. For those who weren't, there's something about it that is just difficult to explain. Pokémon is the greatest-selling media franchise in the world at the moment and doesn't show any signs of stopping, but back in 1999? The fervor that existed back then is more or less indescribable. You don't really see "concerned" parents calling Pokemon the work of the devil anymore, do you?
It was a hit that most everyone probably thought was nothing more than a flash in the pan, a frenzy to be capitalized on while the money was still there. Out of this came—among a handful of spin-offs, movies, television shows, and more merchandise than you could ever imagine—Pokémon's first official sequel, Pokémon Gold & Silver, which reached western shores in late 2000. And even after 7 more generations of Pokémon, they are considered by many to be some of the series's finest offerings and retain a status as perhaps the most nostalgic Pokémon games to this day.
A lot of that goes into this being the last Pokémon game in 8-bit, and after playing through this one, it's unfortunate we didn't get another in this style. It's a very homey game, giving the full-color improvement of the GBC while also retaining a charming simplicity. Doesn't hurt to have a truly outstanding soundtrack, either. But of course, if you wander into any Pokémon GS fan meetup, the first thing you are likely to be bombarded by is appreciation for the game's inclusion of Kanto, 16 gyms in total, and of course, the not-so-secret final boss fight against Pkmn Trainer Red. For many years after its release, Pokémon's 2nd generation retained the claim of offering the most "Pokémon" a Pokémon game could. Is it any wonder that it was a childhood favorite of so many?
| Played For | 34h 14m |
|---|---|
| Completion Type | Defeated Red! Level 51-52 |
| My Party | Furret, Ampharos, Jumpluff, Umbreon, Xatu, & Azumarill |
| Party MVP | Azumarill |
| Favorite Town | Ecruteak City |
| Fun Theory | I don't think female Marills can spawn in this game! |
Can the feeling of "you can go to Kanto???" ever quite be described to someone who already knew it was part of the game for years prior to playing it? That was an instant core memory for millions of players who played it on release. The circumstances behind Kanto's inclusion are still pretty incredible to think about. And give a childhood GS fan a chance to talk about how they stayed up until the early dawn to finally, finally defeat Red, and you'll be listening to them all night long.
These kinds of memories, the memories that Pokémon's 2nd generation has created for so many people, are the definition of a successful game, in spite of everything else. Sure, Johto has issues. We all know what they are by now. The regional dex is Kanto 1.5, gym leader teams are disappointing, the game's pacing falls off a giant cliff after you defeat the 4th gym, and it generally remains pretty boring until you reach Clair at Blackthorn. Team Rocket is largely uninspiring in their second appearance, this time without even the charisma of Giovanni.
Kanto's inclusion is, on the surface level, very cool! But it's also a completely neutered region that takes only a few hours to blast through. There will be hours and hours of this game in a row where your Pokémon will not get hit once. Generation 2, in general, feels like an expansion of RBY rather than a proper sequel. It's almost enough to recommend this game in place of the originals...if it didn't rely so much on nostalgia and attachment to them.
Of course, the much-maligned level curve is an oft-discussed criticism of Johto. So frequently is it discussed that you might be surprised to find out that it's...not that big of a deal, actually? Sure, your Pokémon will be under-leveled for both the Elite 4 and especially Red upon your arrival to them, but it's nothing that some strategy and observation of enemy AI patterns can't solve. Was every kid back in the day sweeping Red with a level 52 Furret? No, probably not, but they seemed to enjoy grinding some more, so what's the problem? There are more hours to play Pokémon if you like that sort of thing and a keen eye for exploitable game mechanics if not.
There are some games that, in spite of their good or bad qualities, will be nigh-on impossible to be viewed "objectively" by folks who have played them before. To many, Pokémon Gold & Silver will be one of them. It's a lot of Pokemon, and that is usually a good thing. Pokémon is innately fun, especially so close to its origin. The first 15 or so hours of this game are representative of the series at its very best, and it caps off with a remarkably memorable final boss. If games are supposed to be fun, Pokemon GS is fun. If games are supposed to be make us feel things, well, yeah, it's that too. Memorable? Iconic? It's got all those in spades.
It has a whole host of design flaws. It's got weird bugs and poorly balanced movesets. Sure, the more you know about Pokémon, the less there is to like. Just, try not to envy those who played this one before they knew too much.