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Moments: Vs. Pkmn Trainer Red
When asked what some of our favorite moments in gaming are, most of us probably wouldn't think of Pokemon.
The series, one of Nintendo's flagship franchises, is known for its cute, bubbly, collectible characters and bright environments. However, there is one moment in Pokemon history that really stands out as being impressive, awe-inspiring, and momentous: The final battle in Pokemon Gold, Silver, and Crystal.
Unlike most Pokemon games, the second generation titles allowed players to backtrack through their old haunting grounds (the Kanto region). On top of that, players could battle the first generation protagonist, Red, in one, final, all-or-nothing fight.
Red, being our previous character from the past (figuratively, of course), packs quite a punch. The player in the video below makes the battle look easy, but in reality, leveling up in the second generation games took a long time, and it was very unlikely that someone would go into Mt. Silver, where Red was hiding, with a team of Pokemon all at level 70 or above. One of the commenters on this video said it best: "Red let you win."
What made this moment particularly impressive was the fact that players were battling against an incredibly strong version of themselves. Red, uttering no words and disappearing instantly and mysteriously after the match, left us with the impression that we had literally conquered our former avatars and that our ties to the first, nostalgic generation had been permanently cut. Few games – especially games that are otherwise known for their superficial treatment of metaphysical issues – allow for such a reflective and otherworldly experience.
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