Sunday, September 8, 2013

Yellow.

I have come into possession of a worn, neon-green Game Boy Color and a crisp little copy of Pokemon Yellow, the confused step-sibling of those classic first-gen games we know and love. Pokemon Yellow, the game where your choice of starter neither matters nor exists; where the cloying Pikachu-philia makes you at least a little bit uncomfortable every time his (sort of cute? I guess?) chubby little jog starts the opening cutscene, because you know that this game wants you to love the little rat a good deal more than you actually do; the game where everything is familiar, but twisted, just slightly enough make it all seem just the slightest bit wrong.


I have begun a Nuzlocke in Pokemon Yellow, on this battered old green Game Boy. It feels rugged, traditionalist, to have to tilt my dim, non-backlit screen towards the lamplight, to have to keep an eye on the battery light, to have to (get to) power down and blow on the cartridge every time the Nintendo startup screen comes up a little pixelly and glitchy. I'm taking this one seriously. I don't really know this version, and I'm taking no shortcuts. I already missed the free Charmander because I darted for the patch of grass (Pidgey) on Rt. 24 instead of just talking to the damn guy. No shortcuts.


My Pikachu is tough and fast, but I'm afraid for it. It's not becoming a Raichu anytime soon, and it's defense is feeble. My first catch was a plucky little Nidoran (male) named Buzz, who's become the backbone of my little party. Barnaby the Pidgey followed, but was lost to my bout with Gary on Nugget Bridge. I didn't name him Gary. It's a surprise. My third catch was a Spearow (Elsie) on the way up to Mt. Moon. I have a boxed Zubat named Mike, and I just nabbed a Venonat by Bill's house (Agnes). Right. A Venonat. Yellow Version is crazy.

There's really not much to report yet. I survived Brock with a pounding heart and pounds of adrelaline - no losses - due to some conveniently-barely-learned Double Kick on Buzz and some clutch use of Growl all around, but I don't know how long this luck is going to hold out. Even with the type advantage, I just don't have enough faith in my Pikachu's chops to not be afraid. I've lost too many Nuzlockes, suffered too many unexpected upsets, to hope easily. I'm going to give it all, but not with naivete. This Nuzlocke challenge will be born with a grim determination. I've already apologized in advance to my Pokemon. It's not going to be easy. It's not going to be pretty. They might not make it past the next gym. But you know what they say, friends:

A heart so true
Our courage will pull us through
You teach me and I'll teach you
PO!
KE!
MONNNNN!

I have no interest in catching them all. I just want to keep them alive. This is the real test, dear friends. Keep your ear to the ground, and stay out of the wild grass.

-Paul

EDIT: I FORGOT TO MENTION THAT MY PIKACHU'S NAME...
is Petekachu.