Welcome to my first blog post! This will basically just be me (VERY OBJECTIVELY AND TOTALLY NOT OPINIONATED OR BIASED AT ALL) reviewing every Pokemon Generation. I’m counting a Pokemon Generation on a new region and whatever lore, characters, and Pokemon come with that region. So to start, let’s take a look at the first region introduced; the Kanto region.
The Region Itself
Being originally introduced on the Game Boy back in 1996, the map isn’t super detailed. Even with the remakes’ graphic upgrades, the geography is pretty basic compared to later entries. There’s a lot of angular turns in paths, square rock formations, and oddly uniform tree borders. I think the worst addition is the jarring path going right up through the middle of the region. It doesn’t look natural at all, and just makes the whole map look blocky and awkward.
Sure, this could just be a limitation of the hardware that limited how they could design the region. However, no changes were made in any way for future updates. The most recent time we’ve seen the Kanto region is in Let’s Go! Pikachu and Let’s Go! Eevee on the Nintendo Switch. For how much of a graphical leap almost every aspect of the region they made in 20 years, they missed the opportunity to alter it and make it more realistic and liveable like the later titles.
The towns also don’t feel very lived in, but I’ll give them some slack because, again, it’s a limitation of hardware at the time. They did make an effort to add more people to the world; those you can battle and those who just add to the world building. That being said, let’s take a look at some of my favourite characters.
The People of Kanto
This section of the review is, in essence, going to be a photo of the character followed by a short bio and then my opinion on them. I’ll also be giving them a rank out of ten. So let’s just get into it.
Professor Oak is a staple in the Kanto region. He’s the first face you ever see, even before your own. He is the one who gives you your starter Pokemon; Bulbasaur, Squirtle, or Charmander (Or Pikachu/Eevee depending on what game you’re playing). He also gives you the Pokédex, and asks you to log every Pokemon you find along your journey. His design is a classic look, with his iconic whitened hair and massive eyebrows.
Score: 8/10
Brock is the Rock type Gym Leader of Pewter City. He is the first Gym Leader you fight, and his Ace Pokemon is an Onix. Brock is also a classic character. In the anime, he’s Ash’s longest companion, following him through four regions. His eternally closed eyes, his green and orange palette, his stern exterior with a soft and loving interior. These traits make him one of the most memorable characters in Kanto.
Score: 6/10
Misty is a confusing character for me. Her original depiction always felt lacking to me. Personality wise she was fine with her tomboy attitude. It was her design I wasn’t a fan of. She just didn’t look like she fit the Water type Gym Leader role. Her new design in the Let’s Go! games is a lot more appealing to me and it makes her look more aquatic. Her top reminds me of a whale, with the lighter belly and the way it splits to look like a tail fin. She makes Cerulean City proud now!
Score: 5/10
Erika is the Grass type Gym Leader of the Celadon City. She is a kind and caring soul through and through. She’s often found dozing off, even when she’s in her gym. Her design is simple, being in a green and red kimono and green slippers. It’s very aesthetically pleasing and she gives off a calm aura and she’s in my top three favourite Kanto residents
Score: 9/10
Janine is a strange case. She’s the Poison type Gym Leader of the Fuchsia City Gym. However, she’s only there in Heart Gold/Soul Silver. Before that (and even after in Let’s Go) the Gym Leader is Koga, Janine’s father. Personally, I prefer Janine because Koga is kind of dull personality wise. Janine is energetic and motivated to be a good ninja.
Score: 7/10
Sabrina is a Psychic type trainer. She lives in Saffron City, and is the Gym Leader there. She’s a mysterious character, acting very serious and almost stiff. In the anime, she’s possessed by a doll that controls her like a puppet. I really like her design. The dull red and dark sea foam green work really well together, and it’s broken up by patches of black so nothing’s too dominant. She’s probably my favourite character from Kanto.
Score: 9/10
Giovanni is the Gym Leader of Viridian City, and he specialises in Ground type Pokemon (although the Persian with him in the photo is a little deceiving). He’s also the mob boss of Team Rocket, an evil organisation motivated by money and theft. He’s sly and dark, but knows when to concede.
Score: 7/10
Lorelei is part of the Elite Four, the strongest trainers in the region and your final test before becoming champion. She trains Ice type Pokemon, and her Ace is a Lapras she uses as transportation. Her redesign for Let’s Go isn’t super different, but her hair tie is ice related, which obviously makes it better in my eyes. She’s my second favourite character.
Kaine Officially Rates All Pokemon Generations 