What can I play first-gen Pokémon games on?
I want to play through the original Pokémon games (Blue and Red) and was wondering what I would need in order to get going with it.
Can I play it on the original Game Boy? The Game Boy Advanced? Game Boy Color? Game Boy Pocket? Are there any additional features offered by — or limitations of — the different devices?
Solution 1:
To play old pokemon game you just need a Gameboy, any product labeled "Gameboy" that isn't the Gameboy Micro will suit your purposes. If you need a new one, your best options are the following:
Game Boy Color (not recommended)
There's no reason to get a gameboy pocket (or, barf, an original gameboy) since the GBC can easily emulate the monochrome display if you MUST not have color. Otherwise, the GBC allows gen 2 to be played in proper color as well as lending a less-impressive splash of color to the original games.
Also the GBC can easily trade via link cable to other gen 1 games, assuming you have friends to trade with (pretty unlikely these days).
Game Boy Advance SP (recommended)
Might be a bit more expensive, but the first built-in backlit and has rechargable batteries. Most people forget that old gameboys had disposable batteries and non-backlit screens. Only potential negatives are a possible cost increase compared to older models, and the GBA SP isn't quite as comfortable for extended use--I've only found this to be a problem with "twitch" games like Mega Man, shouldn't be an issue for Pokemon.
There are apparently "universal" link cables that let you attach a GBA to a GBC for trading like gen 1&2 require but I haven't used such hardware.
I know this isn't the question, but take heed that old gen pokemon games really don't hold up as well as you might hope. The PC box system was AWFUL in gen 1 and still poor in gen 2. I highly recommend going for the gen 1 and gen 2 remakes personally, they're available on GBA and DS respectively (FireRed and LeafGreen for gen 1), so a single DS system would be enough to play both of them, and all following generations up to 5.
Solution 2:
You can play the original Pokemon games on any of:
- Gameboy / Gameboy Pocket
- Gameboy Color (English Pokemon Yellow will appear in full color, Red/Blue/Green will have simulated coloring based on the pallete settings on boot up.)
- Super Gameboy (An accessory for the Super Nintendo. Colorizes the games nicely. My preferred way to play.)
- Gameboy Advanced / SP
- Gameboy Player (an accessory for the Nintendo Gamecube.)
- Nintendo 3DS (via Virtual Console download)
Solution 3:
Don't forget that now with the release of these games on the 3DS's Virtual Console, it is now possible (and highly recommended) that you play these games on the 3DS (due to backlit screen, wireless communications, and eventually Pokemon Bank support).