The Adventure
You wake up one morning and know that this is it. This is the day you will befriend your Pokemon and start your adventure. It's about time.
Every Pokemon adventure starts off with a choice - which Pokemon will you befriend? You are usually given a choice of three different "starters" a grass type, a water type and a fire type. It's up to you to decide which one will become your new best friend.
Every Pokemon adventure starts off with a choice - which Pokemon will you befriend? You are usually given a choice of three different "starters" a grass type, a water type and a fire type. It's up to you to decide which one will become your new best friend.
When your choice has been made you are given a task - complete the Pokedex (a Pokemon Encyclopedia) and become a Pokemon Champion. You prepare for your journey, tell your mom where you are going and you are off to start the biggest adventure of your life.
Just What Are Pokemon?
Pokemon are Pocket Monsters. The name Pokemon is just a shorter version of saying it. They are similar to animals, but at the same time are not. Pokemon are amazing creatures. They think, they fight, they love. Each Pokemon is unique in nature and ability. No two Pokemon are the same even if they are of the same "species." Each Pokemon has a certain type, with it's own advantages and disadvantages.
Pokemon are also unique in their ability to "evolve." Pokemon "evolution" is not like regular evolution that takes place over thousands of years - Pokemon evolution is instantaneous and they change form to look radically different.
Most Pokemon go through this process naturally. Once they reach a certain experience level, age or friendship level with their trainer, they will naturally evolve into their next form. However, some Pokemon need help. This help usually comes in the form of evolutionary stones. A Pokemon who needs the aid of a stone to evolve simply needs to touch said stone in order for it to happen.
Some Pokemon have numerous possible evolutions. These Pokemon, or their trainers, need to choose which evolution they want. They then have to follow the requirements in order to enable the specific evolution to happen.
Others have even more restrictions to unlocking their evolution. Some need to be traded with another trainer to evolve. Even more need to be traded while holding onto a specific item. It is also possible to prevent a Pokemon's evolution by use of an "everstone." An "everstone" ensures that a Pokemon will be unable to evolve as long as the Pokemon is holding it.
Pokemon have a tendency to fight one another. This is because wild Pokemon are quite territorial. When someone - Pokemon or human - is walking around, they are often ambushed by wild Pokemon. These Pokemon may not be friendly and want to start a fight. This shows that Pokemon enjoy fighting one another. They do not battle to the death - never to the death. Instead they fight until one is worn out and cannot any longer. This asserts the winning Pokemon's dominance. This is very similar to large predators encountering each other in the African savannah.
Obviously, if a Pokemon attacks a human, they have no real way to defend themselves. Most Pokemon have elemental powers based on their types - some can electrocute you, some can drench you, some can breathe fire at you, etc. This can lead to serious injury if you can't defend yourself. This is where the mutually beneficial nature of Pokemon and human friendships come in. The Pokemon protect their trainers and in return the trainers take care of their Pokemon. Which bring us to the topic of Pokemon Centers.
Pokemon Centers are essentially hospitals where miracles happen. No matter how worn out your Pokemon is, Nurse Joy and her staff can help them out. In the anime (show) this works like a regular hospital where you go in and get treated. In the games however, the healing process is instantaneous. This is possible through the wonderful invention of the healing machine. Now, of course there is the problem of transport. The world of Pokemon is massive.
If one or more of your Pokemon partners faints in the field and you are not near a city or town with a Pokemon Center, how in the world do you get them to one? How do you go about lugging Pokemon, many of which are much bigger and heavier than any human, to a Pokemon Center that could be miles away? The answer is simple: with a Pokeball.
Pokeballs are amazing inventions. They instantaneously shrink Pokemon and "suck" them inside for easy transport. This is how you can get numerous heavy fainted Pokemon to a Pokemon Center that could be miles away.
There are many different types of Pokeballs, each designed with the comfort of the Pokemon in mind.
The mechanics of the Pokeball are quite mysterious - very few people know quite how they work. The only thing we really know about them is that they are comfortable for the Pokemon and that Pokemon do not have to remain inside them if they do not want too. Pokemon frequently pop out of their Pokeballs when they want to - even if their trainers are not expecting it. This implies that they must be comfortable - after all if the Pokemon can leave whenever they want but choose to stay, it must be pretty nice in there.
The Goal
The most common goal for trainers and their Pokemon partners is is to become a Pokemon Champion. The way to do this is through travel, training and defeating Gym Leaders. Each region (and there are many: Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, Sinnoh and Unova so far - has a total of eight Pokemon Gyms. These Gyms each have a Leader - or Leaders on occasion. In order to travel to the region's Pokemon League where you can battle the Elite Four and the current Champion (the best of the best), you first have to defeat all the Gym Leaders in the region you are in and collect Gym Badges.
These Badges are not only proof of your victory against their Gym Leader, but they also can raise Pokemon's potential and make them stronger.
However the real goal of Pokemon can be summed up in one word: friendship.
Throughout your adventure with your Pokemon friends you experience many trials, tribulations, victories and surprises. Each event brings you and your Pokemon together, making the bond between you incredibly strong.
And in the end, the important thing is not whether you become the Champion or not, it's how strong your bond with your Pokemon bond is. That bond is all the really matters.
Popularity
The Pokemon games are incredibly popular. They have spawned many pieces of merchandise -
A television show that started in 1997 and is still on the air today
Numerous book and manga (Japanese comic books) series'
A trading card game that is still played in tournaments around the world
And countless arrays of toys and collectibles.
Many people love the world of Pokemon. And if you asked them why, they would tell you they love the Pokemon and the friendships they can have with them.
That's why it is the cultural phenomenon it is today.