Original Pokemon Blue and Red published in the US
Pokemon RPG/Games
The Pokemon gen 1 games, created by Satoshi Tajiri, was one of the most successful Pokemon franchise of all time. These games were first released on September 30, 1998 in the US, making more than 9.8 million dollars during only the first 2 years. While in Japan, which was released there first, made a whopping 10.5 million dollars.
The games received mostly positive reviews from critics, holding an aggregate score of 89% on Gamerankings. Special praise was given to its multiplayer features: the ability to trade and battle Pokémon with one another. Craig Harris of IGN gave the games a "masterful" 10 out of 10, noting that "Even if you finish the quest, you still might not have all the Pokémon in the game. The challenge to catch 'em all is truly the game's biggest draw." He also commented on the popularity of the game, especially among children, describing it as a "craze." Gamespot's Peter Bartholow, who gave the games a "great" 8.8 out of 10, cited the graphics and audio as somewhat primitive but stated that these were the games' only drawbacks. He praised the titles' replay value due to their customization and variety, and commented upon their universal appeal: "Under its cuddly exterior, Pokémon is a serious and unique RPG with lots of depth and excellent multiplayer extensions. As an RPG, the game is accessible enough for newcomers to the genre to enjoy, but it will entertain hard-core fans as well. It's easily one of the best Game Boy games to date."