It's hard to believe that it's already been 20 years since Pokemon made its grand debut. Who would have thought that a game based on capturing animals would have gone on to become one of the biggest franchises the world has ever seen? Even back in the late '90s, many people dismissed Nintendo's new RPG as nothing but a fad - and yet, here we are, still talking about Pokemon two decades later.
One of the reasons why Pokemon has endured for so long is because of how intriguing the series is. True, the games aren't all that challenging, and the anime is about as simplistic as you can get, but that's just scratching the surface. Whether you're diving into the lore of the world, or reading up on the history of how the series got started, Pokemon can grab hold of fans like few other franchises can.
So, to celebrate the series' 20th anniversary, let's take a look back at the strange history - and even stranger world - of Nintendo's biggest franchise to date!
The Series' Humble Origins
Throughout the years, a number of different moves have been somewhat lost in translation. For instance, Magikarp's only attack, 'Splash', is actually a mistranslation of 'Hop' - and it's far from the only example. Others include Chansey's 'Soft-Boiled', which was originally 'Egg Lay', and the Electric-Type move 'Thunder', which should actually be named 'Lightning'.
I like shorts! They're comfy and easy to wear!
Alright, that's not exactly trivia, but it's important info nonetheless.
Pokemon has been on a strange, wild ride for the past two decades - here's to another twenty years!
For more on Nintendo's plans for the future of the franchise, check out the official Pokemon Sun & Moon announcement.
