In 1996, the world was introduced to what has become of the world's largest phenomenons, Pokemon. The creator, Satoshi Tajiri released a pair of Gameboy Color games which were titled Pokemon Red and Pokemon Blue. This RPG practically redefined the handheld gaming industry and introduced strategy in the form of cutesy yet powerful characters. Thanks to the franchises creativity, it has now become the second most successful franchise behind Nintendo's classic mascot, Mario.

     In Pokemon Red & Blue, players wil take control of the character Red as they wander through the vast Kanto region gathering 150 creative looking creatures called Pokemon and gathering all eight gym badges so they can chalenge the Elite Four. The Elite Four are the top four trainers in the game which lead up to the Kanto region champion, which ends up being the biggest surprise.

     Years passed and the formula has not really changed much. Gamefreak and Hal Labratories still follows the same formula and yet, they are still able to keep it refreshing and fun all the way up to the year 2011. The amazing thing about this franchise is how different every game feels no matter what pokemon creatures are repeated or regions are revisited. Pokemon always has something new to offer its players as long as they are willing to put in the effort to be a true pokemon master. Every game features colorful backgrounds, catchy music, and a plethora of memorable characters.

     With the introduction of the latest game, Pokemon Black and White, players are offered and even greater journey into the monumental world that is pokemon. For the first time since its release, Gamefreak has decided to give their franchise a revive and teach it a few new moves. Players will now enter the region of Unova which introduces only brand new pokemon and no way to visit previous regions. Some would believe that this is an attempt to appeal to a new generation of gamers and if that is the case, Gamefreak was very successful. Not only were they successful with introducing new gamers to what is now a video game staple, but Gamefreak has also found a way to keep it appealing to their veteran gamers as well.

     The Pokemon franchise is undoubtedly a legacy. With a massively successful video game, anime, manga, and trading card game, Pokemon has proven to be a series that simply cannot die. It is the kind of game that will have something for everybody regardless of what year it is released, what age group it is catered for, or what kind of remake it is. So for all you Pokemon fans out there, get ready to tighten your caps, choose your pokemon, and prepare for another battle because, the quest to be the Pokemon Master is far from over.