Brain Full of Games

Getting through the Elite Four still isn’t easy, but I was able to train up some of my new (and original party) Pokémon by beating the big 5 again. I still cannot survive a hit from the Alakazam’s killer Psychic and anything basically from the final lvl 50 Dragonite that Lance throws out there. But even with just a bit of switching in and out of battle, I was able to level up some of the Pokémon I traded from Gen 1. With Visenya the Bulbasaur now leveled up to nearly lvl 50, I have another two in my Pokédex from her evolutions. I should have Charmander and Squirtle’s evolved forms by later today…

But I am still a little far off being able to beat Gary, so training continues alongside the random leveling up of poor little dudes who have just been sitting in Bill’s PC. I really appreciate how in the anime Ash’s Pokémon are always depicted as just sort of chilling out with Professor Oak at his lab. It’s far less depressing than just sleeping in the digital world.

After spending the last few weeks since I arrived in Kanto just in that region, I finally went back to Johto to see to some errands and further training/evolving for Pokédex completion. Since I’ve given myself just another week to get this done before moving on to FireRed (I mentioned- I was heavily influenced by the release earlier this year and by all the Youtubers and Twitch streamers playing what was, for me, a great game and return to my beautiful Gen 1), I have to be quick. I had… well, I can’t say I forgot my Pokémon in the Day Care Center. I remembered they were there. I just didn’t bother to go back for them. I was busy! There were a handful of new Pokémon to catch in Kanto, plenty of great gym leaders to fight, and even some little quests to complete. It’s not my fault I left… oh.. oops.

Well, I quickly evolved these two bozos (Geodude and Swinub) for another cute 2 to the Pokédex, which brought us to 136. It’s slow going here at the top. As I mentioned in my last post, I started worrying a little about getting evolution stones (from renewable in-game resources!) and items that are required for evolution via holding. I think this was one of the more interesting new additions to Gen 2. I completely forgot about some of them, like the Up-Grade, until I came across a little in-game dialogue revealing why that dude handed me a completely ‘useless’ hold item called Up-Grade. I forgot! And I am light years (yes, it measures distance) from getting a Porygon from the Game Corner anyway.

I realized, at some point during training, that I forgot to get the Rail Pass for the shinkansen in Goldenrod, but just swimming to Tohjo Falls gives you Fly access to Kanto anyway. But there are a few things I still need to do. I’m not sure how I’m going to be ready for the battle with Red by next week and complete most of the Pokédex.

Closing out this week with 15 badges and 142 Pokémon. HOW are there still more than 100 to go???