This summary of the video was created by an AI. It might contain some inaccuracies.
00:00:00 – 00:25:15
The video discusses the late 1990s, a period when Nintendo faced significant competition from Sony's PlayStation, leading to their diminished market leadership. However, the launch of Pokémon by Game Freak and Satoshi Tajiri revitalized Nintendo, making Game Boy successful again and sparking a global phenomenon. This success inspired many companies like Konami, Square Enix, and Atlus to create their own Pokémon-style games, most of which failed to gain traction.
The video explores specific examples of Pokémon-inspired games. "Animorphs" for the Game Boy Color, developed by Ubisoft, mimicked Pokémon mechanics but suffered from simplistic gameplay and lack of strategic depth. Another game, "ketai denju telefang," involved monsters using mobile phones, but was marked by confusing mechanics and received limited success outside Japan through bootleg versions.
The video also covers other unusual clones like "Bistro Recipe," a food-themed RPG unique to Japan, and "Robopon," a blatant Pokémon copy featuring robot characters. Despite the multitude of clones, none achieved Pokémon's lasting popularity. The discussion concludes by acknowledging Pokémon's enduring success, with many clones forgotten over time, noting that even modern attempts by indie developers are driven more by admiration than commercial success.
00:00:00
In this part of the video, the speaker discusses the late 1990s when Nintendo lost its leadership in the video game console market to Sony and the PlayStation. Sony’s PlayStation outperformed Nintendo’s offerings in game selection and pricing, making it the new top contender. Concurrently, Nintendo’s Game Boy, although initially successful, was becoming outdated compared to newer, more advanced consoles. Despite these setbacks, the launch of Pokemon by Game Freak and Satoshi Tajiri revitalized Nintendo. Pokemon became a global phenomenon, significantly boosting Game Boy sales and embedding the franchise deeply into popular culture. Even though the N64 was not competing well against other consoles, Pokemon’s success brought substantial profits to Nintendo. Consequently, other major companies like Konami, Square Enix, and Atlus began attempting to replicate Pokemon’s success in the following years.
00:03:00
In this segment, the video discusses how several companies tried to create their own monster-capturing games during the boom sparked by Pokémon, leading to many that failed and faded into obscurity, with a few exceptions. Because many of these games were Japan-exclusive, the narrator sticks to English Game Boy and Game Boy Advance titles, emphasizing that more obscure ones are more intriguing.
The first game highlighted is “Animorphs” for the Game Boy Color, based on the popular late ’90s book series. Developed by Ubisoft, the game involves aliens invading Earth, with characters transforming into animals to combat them, mimicking Pokémon mechanics. Players gather animal transformations to complete various missions, but the game’s implementation is basic and half-hearted. The combat system is described as a simplistic copy of Pokémon’s, down to using phrases like “it’s super effective.”
00:06:00
In this segment, the speaker discusses the lack of strategy in the game’s combat system, highlighting that winning relies on repeatedly using the strongest move until either the player or the enemy is defeated. There are no battle animations, movements, or sound effects, and only the game’s music, which isn’t very good, provides auditory stimulation. The game lacks RPG elements, experience points, and the traditional rock-paper-scissors mechanics of Pokémon games. The gameplay loop involves defeating animals to gain their transformations, which are then used to fight progressively larger animals and eventually aliens. Transforming in public results in an immediate game over, reflecting a design choice possibly based on the original books. The game is unforgiving, mistakes lead to harsh penalties, and you cannot switch animal transformations mid-battle, which complicates combat. Health recovery options are scarce, limited to finding rare food or defeating aliens. The game feels monotonous with repetitive gameplay and occasional minigames. Additionally, it features unpolished elements, like randomly unlocking doors without visible mechanics, contributing to a perception of it being cheaply made and rushed.
00:09:00
In this segment, the video discusses the game “ketai denju telefang,” a unique monster-catching game where the creatures, called “denju,” are connected to mobile phones, specifically early 2000s flip phones. The game begins with the protagonist being transported to the Dengue World, where they embark on a quest to become the best trainer. Unlike traditional games, players do not capture monsters but receive their phone numbers after battles and call them for assistance. The game features three-on-three battles and integrates quirky elements like monsters communicating via flip phones, even informing you if they’re running late. The concept creates a nostalgic yet strange gaming experience reminiscent of early 2000s technology.
00:12:00
In this part of the video, the speaker discusses a game where a unique mechanic involves using a cell phone signal, which affects in-game actions based on signal strength. The game, which includes elements like training creatures and combat reminiscent of Pokémon, has some oddities and criticisms. The elemental system is confusing, with illogical weaknesses based on biomes rather than intuitive types. The designs of the creatures also lack clarity, making it hard to discern their elemental types. Despite its quirks, the game offers a fun experience, though it isn’t remarkable. The game achieved some success in Japan, leading to a sequel on the Game Boy Advance, and gained recognition outside Japan through poorly translated bootlegs named Pokémon Jade and Pokémon Diamond. The company behind it, Smilesoft, was known for creating Pokémon clones and had a short-lived existence.
00:15:00
In this part of the video, the speaker discusses various unconventional Pokémon clones, including one called Bistro Recipe, which is a food-themed RPG only released in Japan without a translation patch. Despite intriguing monster designs, the lack of accessibility limits gameplay for non-Japanese speakers. The speaker laments this but highlights that while the game wasn’t available internationally, its anime adaptation, renamed “Fighting Fudons” by 4Kids, made it to America. The segment contrasts the theme songs and plots of the first episodes of “Pokémon” (focused on Ash’s coming-of-age) and “Fighting Fudons” (featuring a bizarre plot of kids stopping a satanic food ritual).
00:18:00
In this part of the video, the speaker critiques a show that was heavily censored by 4Kids, known for their extensive localization edits. The show features bizarre content, like summoning a giant dragon named Beef Steak and other food-related jokes. Despite these unique elements, the speaker questions its viability in the Western market due to its highly Japanese concepts and lack of associated game release. The series premiered in the early 2000s but did not succeed, leaving behind few memories and no subsequent series. The speaker humorously comments on the low quality and confusing nature of the content, recognizing it as a forgotten relic of that era.
00:21:00
In this part of the video, the creator discusses “Robopon,” a game that closely mimics the elements of Pokémon Gold. The game, by Red and published by either Atlus or Hudson Soft depending on the region, features battles, exploration, and a plot almost identical to Pokémon. Players collect 150 robot characters with a protagonist nearly identical to Pokémon’s Red. The speaker argues that the game is a shameless copy, but still not poorly designed, likening it to “more Pokémon.” Remarkably, Robopon received multiple versions, including releases on the Game Boy Color, Nintendo 64, and Game Boy Advance, though mostly in Japan. Despite its blatant similarities to Pokémon, it faded into obscurity post-release.
00:24:00
In this segment, the speaker discusses how Pokémon has remained popular over time, despite numerous attempted copies fading into obscurity. They note that Pokémon games continue to sell well, even if they are sometimes buggy, due to the series’ widespread and enduring popularity. The speaker also mentions that while indie developers are still making Pokémon clones, these are usually created out of love for the original series rather than a commercial pursuit. They highlight that imitation can be seen as a form of flattery. The segment concludes with a reminder to like the video and subscribe.