Pokémon Yellow Version: Special Pikachu Edition ポケットモンスター　ピカチュウ
American box art of Pokémon Yellow Version,featuringPikachu.
Basic info
Platform:	Game Boy(enhanced for theSuper Game Boy in all releases and for theGame Boy Color outside of Japan) Nintendo 3DS (Virtual Console)
Category:	RPG
Players:	2 players simultaneous
Connectivity:	Game Link Cable(Game Boy) 3DS Wireless(3DSVirtual Console)
Developer:	Game Freak
Publisher:	Nintendo
Part of:	Generation Icore series
Ratings
CERO:	A(3DS VC)
ESRB:	E
ACB:	G(Game Boy) PG(3DS VC)
OFLC:	G8+
PEGI:	12
GRAC:	N/A
GSRR:	6+(3DS VC)
Release dates
Japan:	September 12, 1998(Game Boy)[1][2] February 27, 2016(3DS VC)
North America:	October 18, 1999(Game Boy)[3][4] February 27, 2016(3DS VC)
Australia:	September 3, 1999(Game Boy)[5] February 27, 2016(3DS VC)
Europe:	June 16, 2000(Game Boy)[6][7] February 27, 2016(3DS VC)
South Korea:	N/A
Hong Kong:	February 27, 2016(3DS VC)
Taiwan:	February 27, 2016(3DS VC)
Websites
Japanese:	The Pokémon Company(Game Boy) The Pokémon Company(Virtual Console) Nintendo(Game Boy) Nintendo(Virtual Console)
English:	The Pokémon Company International(Game Boy & Virtual Console) Nintendo(Game Boy, needsFlash Player) Nintendo(Virtual Console)
Japanese boxart Japanese box art of Pocket Monsters: Pikachu

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Pokémon Yellow

Pokémon Yellow Version: Special Pikachu Edition (Japanese:ポケットモンスター　ピカチュウPocket Monsters Pikachu), often known asPokémon Yellow Version, is the third Pokémon game forGame Boy released worldwide, as asolitary version ofPokémon Red and Blue Versions. In Japan, the game was the fourth Pokémon game released, as a second solitary version ofPokémon Red and Green. Unlike other games, Pokémon Yellow was inspired byPokémon the Series.

Similar to Red and Blue, Yellow arrived towards the end of the Game Boy's lifespan. It managed, though, to receive the title of second best-selling non-bundled game for its console, losing only to its predecessors.

The game was available on theNintendo 3DSVirtual Console between thePokémon 20th Anniversary onFebruary 27, 2016 and the discontinuation of the 3DS Nintendo eShop on March 27, 2023.

Generation VIIremakes, titledPokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!, were released worldwide for theNintendo Switch in November 2018, in celebration of Yellow's 20th anniversary in Japan.

Plot

Spoiler warning: this article may contain major plot or ending details.

The plot of Yellow is very similar to that of the JapaneseRed and Green andJapanese Blue as well as of theWestern Red and Blue: theplayer (canonically known asRed) begins his game inPallet Town, a small town in theKanto region, on the same day as his former best friend and nowrival.

While looking forProfessor Oak who had called both of them to his laboratory, the player tries to leave town, only for Oak to catch up to him two steps intoRoute 1's grassy path. Warning the player about the dangers of walking intall grass without a Pokémon, Oak himself encounters a wildPikachu and manages to catch it, before leading the player to his laboratory, where he allows the player to take the singlePoké Ball containing anEevee from the desk near him. Therival quickly gets jealous, shoves the player out of his way and takes the Pokémon for himself. With no other options, Oak gives player the freshly caught Pikachu, after which the rival challenges the player to abattle.

After the battle, Oak allows the two new Trainers to leave for theirjourney acrossKanto. Right after the rival leaves, the player's Pikachu breaks out of his Poké Ball andstarts following the player on foot. Stopping inViridian City'sPoké Mart, the player will find that apackage has come in for the professor, and the clerk asks that it be delivered to him. After this has been completed the professor gives onePokédex to the player and one to the rival, and sends them on their way. Viridian City has a Gym; however, it is locked.

From here, the player has his first encounter with other Trainers, onRoute 2 and inViridian Forest, and his first encounter with aGym Leader:Brock theRock-type Gym Leader ofPewter City. After his defeat, journeying alongRoute 3 and throughMt. Moon brings the player face to face with the regionalvillainous team,Team Rocket, who are attempting to extract rareFossils from the cave. Their defeat allows the player to continue through the cave and obtain theDome Fossil orHelix Fossil which can be regenerated intoKabuto andOmanyte. Before the player leaves the cave, he is ambushed by two Team Rocket grunts (unnamed in this game but known asJessie andJames inPokémon the Series), who try to take the fossil back. Continuing ontoRoute 4, the player finds himself inCerulean City, where anotherGym is. This one, however, is run byMisty, and specializes inWater-type Pokémon. To the north, as well, there are tworoutes leading up toBill's cottage. On the way, the player is confronted with a trainer who tries to persuade him to joinTeam Rocket. When the player reachesBill's cottage and frees him of his transformation into a Pokémon, he will give the player a ticket for theS.S. Anne, a luxury ship moored inVermilion Harbor and filled with Trainers. Taking a shortcut through a house burglarized by Team Rocket, the player finally arrives atRoute 5.

After traveling down Routes 5 and6, using theUnderground Path to bypassSaffron City, the player finally arrives inVermilion. This city is home to another Pokémon Gym; however, the way to it is blocked by a small tree. The only thing to do is to show the ticket to theSailor guarding the harbor, allowing entry into the S.S. Anne. It is here, after assisting the captain with his seasickness, that the player will obtain the first of the fiveHidden Machines available in the game, containingCut. With this, and theCascade Badge, the tree blocking the way to Vermilion Gym can be easily cut through, andLt. Surge, a Gym Leader specializing inElectric-types, can be challenged. From here,Route 11 beckons, as doesDiglett's Cave, through which is the only way to get back toRoute 2, and a second HM, containingFlash held by one ofProfessor Oak's aides onRoute 2. The player takes a brief detour to Pewter City's museum's back entrance which was previously blocked due to a Cut-able tree, which can now easily be bypassed. The player obtains theOld Amber in the museum. Heading back to Diglett's Cave, and to Vermilion, the player must go to Cerulean and to the east, ontoRoute 9 and towards theRock Tunnel.

Rock Tunnel, a still undeveloped natural tunnel between the sections ofRoute 10, is pitch black inside; for this reason,Flash is recommended, but not required, for navigation of it. Finally reachingLavender Town, the only town in Kanto without a Pokémon Gym besides Pallet, there is not much to do; the localPokémon Tower is haunted. From here,Route 8 leads to Saffron City, but it again must be bypassed by way of anotherUnderground Path, which has its other entrance onRoute 7, on the west side of Saffron.Celadon City, the home of the fourth Gym which specializes inGrass-type Pokémon, is just a short walk further. Like the Vermilion Gym, the Celadon Gym also has a small tree blocking the way to its entrance, and an old man outside.

TheRocket Game Corner in Celadon is not what it appears to be. In fact, the Game Corner itself is merely the above-ground portion of a sprawling underground complex: theRocket Hideout. The player runs into Jessie and James for a second time and then meets the Team Rocket boss, Giovanni, who after his defeat flees, leaving behind a Silph Scope. A Silph Scope is required to fully navigate the Pokémon Tower inside of Lavender Town that the player encountered earlier.

After this, the Pokémon Tower can be navigated, and the ghosts haunting it are revealed to beGastly andHaunter. In front of the stairs to the final floor, blocking the way, is also a final spirit, that of a deceasedMarowak that was killed by Team Rocket when they captured her child. Making it all the way to the top revealsMr. Fuji held hostage by Jessie and James, who will leave when they are defeated. Fuji gives away thePoké Flute, and with that, theSnorlax blockingRoute 11 andRoute 16 can finally be moved away. Another HM, containingFly, can be obtained easily by cutting away a tree blocking the northern section of Route 16.

Now the player is presented with a choice of how to get toFuchsia City. Traveling down either way the Snorlax are blocking, a faster way via Routes 16,17, and18 onCycling Road, or down theSilence Bridge of Routes12,13,14, and15, inevitably brings one to the southernmost city in continental Kanto,Fuchsia City, home ofKoga of thePoisonous Fuchsia Gym and theKanto Safari Zone. The Safari Zone is currently running a contest: the person to reach a specific rest house first will win yet another HM, containingSurf. Finding theSafari Zone Warden'sGold Teeth also will have him reward the player with the final of Kanto's HMs, containingStrength.

The player then goes back to eitherCeladon City orLavender Town, encountering the otherSnorlax on the way back. After stopping off at theCeladon Department Store and buying a drink at avending machine, Saffron City can finally be entered. However, Team Rocket is guarding almost every door in the city, including that of the local Pokémon Gym! One of the open buildings, however, is the unofficial Fighting-type Pokémon Gym. After the player defeats the Fighting Dojo, he is entitled to either aHitmonchan or aHitmonlee. The city's centerpiece building,Silph Co.'s headquarters, has also been infiltrated by the organization, and at the top, waiting in the boardroom guarded by Jessie and James, is the Team Rocket Boss,Giovanni, appearing for a second time, demanding that the president give him theMaster Ball that the company had developed. After his defeat, he flees.

After Team Rocket clears out ofSaffron City, all buildings previously blocked are now open, as well as the Gym. The Gym Leader,Sabrina, specializes inPsychic-types. The floor, as well, is covered in warp tiles that make it difficult to navigate. After Sabrina's defeat, the player makes his way back to Fuchsia City again and heads out to obtain the rest of the Badges.

With six Badges in hand, and five HMs in the bag, finally the player can adventure onto the open sea of Routes19 and20. A short way across them, of course, is a minor obstacle: theSeafoam Islands. After they have been navigated through, the player can continue on Route 20 toCinnabar Island, home ofBlaine'sFire-type Gym. There are also several more facilities on the island, including one that actually revives PokémonFossils. After Blaine's defeat, only the final Gym, that of Viridian City, remains.

Finally unlocked, the Gym, whose leader specializes inGround-types, is revealed to be none other than the boss of Team Rocket himself,Giovanni! After his defeat, he vows to disband Team Rocket and disappears. Now with eight Badges, all that lies ahead is thePokémon League atIndigo Plateau, conveniently at the end ofRoute 23.

TheElite Four await challengers, those who have proven themselves worthy by getting all eight Badges and making it throughVictory Road will face them, in order.Lorelei, whotrainsIce-type Pokémon is first, followed byBruno, whose specialty isFighting,Agatha, whose specialty isGhost, and finallyLance, who specializes inDragon-types. After defeating these four, the reigningPokémon Champion challenges the player to a final battle, and the Champion is none other than the player's own rival! After his defeat, Oak arrives and tells the player that he won because he cares better for his Pokémon, and the player's currentparty are added to theHall of Fame.

After the credits roll, the player is back in Pallet Town. The previously closedCerulean Cave is now open, and the powerfulMewtwo can be found inside.

Blurb

You've finally been granted yourPokémon Trainer's license, and now you're on your way to becoming the world's greatest Pokémon Trainer! The shockingly-cutePikachutags along behindyou as you search the enormous world for monsters to train and evolve. Face off againstBlastoise's torrential water cannons. Stand strong when facingPidgeot's stormyGust. Develop the ultimate Pokémon strategy to defeat the eightGym Leaders and become the greatestPokémon Master of all time!

Changes from Red, Green, and Blue

Aesthetic changes

• The Japanese release has one set of in-gamecolor palettes while the international releases of Pokémon Yellow have two separate sets for different game systems.
  • See details in "Localization changes" below.
• The front Pokémon sprites have all been updated to resemble how they appear in their then-currentKen Sugimori artwork usually used in promotional images and strategy guides for the JapaneseRed and Green,Japanese Blue, and theWestern Red and Blue, as well as some of them resembling how they appear inPokémon the Series. However, the back sprites are the same as the previous games.
• SomeTrainer sprites were also redone.Red andBlue now better resemble their stock artwork forGeneration I, as the Pokémon sprites do.Brock wears an outfit like hisanimated counterpart's andMisty's bikini was changed to a shirt and shorts similar to those worn byher counterpart.
• Blaine has a different overworld sprite, this time clearly showing him wearing glasses.
• Giovanni uses aPersian in the battle at theViridian Gym, referencingGiovanni owning a Persian inPokémon the Series.
• All policemen were recast asOfficer Jennys and allPokémon Center ladies were recast asNurse Joys (attended by aChansey).
• Jessie andJames have their own individual overworld sprites () and share a group battle sprite.
• The newly introducedPikachu sprite is used in the overworld forthe player's Pikachu. This sprite is also used as theicon for any Pikachu orRaichu in theparty, instead of using theClefairy-like icon from earlier games.
  • If a Pikachu owned by the player usesSurf outside of battle, this Pikachu appears as the sprite instead of the generic aquatic sprite.
  • Some Pokémon received new sprites that show their individual appearance more clearly instead of using generic icons shared by multiple Pokémon:Bulbasaur,Sandshrew,Clefairy,Jigglypuff,Oddish, andChansey (). However, much like Snorlax since the previous games, those new sprites only appear in the overworld; they still use their old generic sprites in the party.
• Kanto is slightly redesigned a second time, featuring different designs for doors, signposts, windows, and other minor elements.
• In the Japanese version of Pokémon Yellow, the player characterRed has a Super Famicon inhis bedroom (as opposed to a Famicon in the Japanese versions ofPokémon Red, Green, andBlue). However, in the international versions of allGeneration I games, the player has anSNES instead.
• Thecredits of Pokémon Yellow now includeGengar as the 16th Pokémon silhouette, as opposed to the previous games with only 15 Pokémon silhouettes in the credits.

Location changes

• In some locations, Trainers who reference characters fromPokémon the Series replace previous Trainers.
  • OnRoute 6, aJr. Trainer♂ andJr. Trainer♀ are changed to referenceJoe andGiselle.
  • OnRoute 9, aJr. Trainer♂ was replaced with aYoungster to referenceA.J.
• Two extra trainers (aLass and anotherBug Catcher) were added inViridian Forest.
• The Summer Beach House, wherePikachu's Beach can be played, was added toRoute 19.
• In theCinnabar Gym, the player must now take the quiz machines' quiz before they can battle the Trainer stationed nearby.
• TheBicycle theme does not play onRoute 23 and inVictory Road.
• Cerulean Cave has a completely different layout.
• Changes were made to the locations and availability of Pokémon.
  • Some changes may have been made to reinforce the animation-based setting.
    • Pikachu andRaichu are removed from all availability in the wild, leaving only the player's partner Pikachu (who cannot evolve).
    • Inan episode,Ashcatches aCaterpie and aPidgeotto inViridian Forest. In the game,Pidgey andPidgeotto have been added to Viridian Forest. Additionally, although bothCaterpie andWeedle were available in previous games, only Caterpie is available now.
    • The player can now also obtain all three of the originalKanto first partner Pokémon (atCerulean City,Route 24, andVermilion City), referencing thethree-episodearc where Ash recruits them.
    • The Pokémon thatTeam Rocket uses (Koffing,Ekans,Meowth, and their Evolutions) are no longer available to be caught in the wild.
  • In-game trades are changed to different Pokémon, and two trades are removed from the game.
  • Farfetch'd andLickitung, previously available only through in-game trades, now appear aswild Pokémon.
  • Abra, previously available on the routes north ofCerulean City, has now been relocated to the four routes surroundingSaffron City.
• A trash can was added between the table and the wall inProfessor Oak's Laboratory.
  • This forces the player to be located south of the table (instead of going around it) when trying to interact with theEevee Poké Ball at the start of the game, which triggers the cutscene wherethe rival pushes the player to the side and obtains his first partner instead.

Gameplay changes

• Pikachu is the onlyfirst partner Pokémon theplayer can receive, referencing thefirst episode. This Pikachutravels alongside the player on-screen, outside of thePoké Ball—just likeAsh’s Pikachu, who dislikes being inside one. It will alsocry like Ash's Pikachu inPokémon the Series, with its cries nowvoiced byIkue Otani.
  • This Pikachu cannot beevolved orreleased, referencing twocertainepisodes.
• Therival starts withEevee. He will eventually have a different team based around one of Eevee's Evolutions depending on how the player fares in the first two battles with the rival (the second being optional), atProfessor Oak's Laboratory andRoute 22.
  • If the player wins both, Eevee evolves intoJolteon.
  • If the player wins at the lab and loses or skips at Route 22, Eevee evolves intoFlareon.
  • If the player loses at the lab, Eevee evolves intoVaporeon.
• A minimalfriendship system is implemented to track how Pikachu feels about the player.
• Gym Leaders have different teams and movesets, some based on those that appear inPokémon the Series.
• Level-up learnsets andTM compatibility are altered slightly for certain Pokémon.Charizard, for example, can now learnFly viaHM02.
• Support is added for theGame Boy Printer.
• If the player does not have$500, they can still enter theSafari Zone. The player will have to pay any money they do have and will receive a number ofSafari Balls proportional to the amount paid (but at least one). It can also be entered for free should the player keep trying.
• Kinesis is given toKadabra as itssignature move. In the previous games,Kinesis was never used and the only way it might appear would be if randomly called byMetronome.
• A new mode, "Colosseum 2", was added to theCable Club.
• TheViridian CityPoké Mart now sellsPotions. The NPC complaining about Potions not being sold in Pokémon Red and Blue now states that the Mart finally sells Potions again.
• In-game opponents have altered movesets where their Pokémon may use moves that aren’t exclusively learned by level-up unlike the opponent movesets encountered in Pokémon, Red, Blue and Green.

Storyline changes

• The chain of events leading to the player obtaining their first partner Pokémon is slightly different:
  • The player now takes one step further into thetall grass beforeProfessor Oak comes along. Now himself standing in the tall grass, Oak encounters a wild Pikachu and immediately catches it before leading the player back to his laboratory.
  • Instead of giving the player andBlue the choice betweenBulbasaur,Charmander, andSquirtle, Professor Oak tells the player to take the singlePoké Ball on his desk, containingEevee, but Blue shoves the player out of the way and takes the Poké Ball instead. Oak then gives the player the only Pokémon he has on hand: the Pikachu he has caught before, which, after the first battle against Blue, immediately breaks free from its Poké Ball and follows the player on foot from this point onward.
• Theold man inViridian City now must be spoken to before going toViridian Forest. He attempts to demonstrate how to catch a Pokémon, fails and leaves to get more Poké Balls from the ViridianPoké Mart. The player can visit the Poké Mart to ask him to repeat the tutorial.
• Jessie andJames appear throughout the game, replacing Grunts from the previous games in four different places. They are involved inTeam Rocket's scheme and are typically found before a battle withGiovanni. Though they are named "Rocket" like anyTeam Rocket Grunt, they have distinct overworld and in-battle sprites.

Missing Pokémon

The following Pokémon are not obtainable in Yellow. In order to obtain any of the below Pokémon, they must be traded from one of the previousGeneration I games or from theGeneration II games. Which of these games each Pokémon is available in is indicated below.

Note that "G" indicates a Pokémon that can be caught in theJapanese Green, and thus in theWestern Blue as well. "B" indicates a Pokémon obtainable in theJapanese Blue.

Yellow
0013 Weedle Bug Poison RGB 0014 Kakuna Bug Poison RGB 0015 Beedrill Bug Poison RGB 0023 Ekans Poison R 0024 Arbok Poison R 0026 Raichu Electric RGB 0052 Meowth Normal GB 0053 Persian Normal GB 0109 Koffing Poison RGB 0110 Weezing Poison RGB 0124 Jynx Ice Psychic RGB 0125 Electabuzz Electric R 0126 Magmar Fire G

Connectivity

Players maytrade Pokémon between two cartridges or battle with another cartridge using aGame BoyGame Link Cable. To take full advantage of this feature, several Pokémon are exclusive to other Generation I games and others require trading to evolve, making trading necessary to complete thePokédex. The Japanese version can trade and battle with Japanese versions ofPokémon Red, Green,Blue, and Yellow; the Western versions can trade and battle with Western versions ofPokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow. It can also trade withPokémon Gold, Silver, andCrystal via theTime Capsule. Pokémon Yellow is completely incompatible with games fromGeneration III onward.

Trades between Pokémon games in different languages are possible; however, a Japanese game cannot connect with a non-Japanese game without causing corruption. This is due to the fact that the games cannot automatically translate the Pokémon data from Japanese to a different language or vice versa, since neither game fullyencodes bothkana and theLatin alphabet (only encoding one fully and the other partially). If a battle between a Japanese game and a non-Japanese game is attempted, the battle simply does not work, with the save files left unharmed.

Pokémon Yellow is compatible with the Japan-exclusivePokémon Stadium, WesternStadium, andStadium 2. While link battles are not possible directly between Pokémon Yellow and the Generation II games, a player may challenge a Generation II game using Pokémon Stadium 2.

Pokémon Yellow is also compatible with theGame Boy Printer. It is possible to print Pokédex entries, theDiploma,Pokémon Storage System Boxes,Party Pokémon, and thePikachu's Beach high score.

Colosseum 2

Yellow debuted a new link battle mode, Colosseum 2. In Colosseum 2, players can select from several battle modes:

• Pika Cup (for Pokémon betweenlevels 15 to 20 only; their combined level limit is 50)
• Petit Cup (for Pokémon between levels 25 to 30, with a height no more than 6'07" (2 m), and weight no more than 44.1 lbs. (20 kg) only)
• Poké Cup (for Pokémon between levels 50 to 55 only, and the sum of all entered Pokémon's Levels cannot exceed 155;Mew is not allowed).

These three cups would later become standard cups inPokémon Stadium (known as Pokémon Stadium 2 in Japan).

In addition, in the Japanese versions,Blizzard's chance tofreeze in Colosseum 2 is changed to 10% rather than the usual 30%. Blizzard's chance to freeze is always 10% in thePokémon Stadium series and the Western releases of the Generation I games.

Virtual Console

TheNintendo 3DSVirtual Console release uses 3DS wireless communication as a substitute for the Game Link Cable. The Virtual Console release disablesGame Boy Printer compatibility. Japanese and non-Japanese Generation I core series games do not recognize each other when attempting to link them via 3DS wireless communication.

UsingPoké Transporter, all Pokémon in Box 1 can be sent from the Generation I core series games toPokémon Bank (regardless of language), and from Pokémon Bank, they can then be moved toGeneration VII core series games.

Localization changes

• In theplayer's bedroom, the video game console is a Super Famicom in the Japanese Yellow (unlike the Famicom in earlier Japanese games). This video game is aSNES in the localizations of all Generation I games.
• In theCeladon Department Store 4F, there is a maleNPC planning to give aPoké Doll toCopycat. In the Japanese, French, and Italian versions, he correctly mentions that Copycat lives inSaffron City. However, due to a localization error in the English and Spanish versions, he incorrectly says that she lives inCerulean City. In the German version, he does not mention where she lives.

Color palettes

• Much like the earlier gamesPokémon Red and Blue (in all languages), the Japanese version of Pokémon Yellow has a single set ofcolor palettes which is compatible withSuper Nintendo'sSuper Game Boy andSuper Game Boy 2, as well as theGame Boy Tower from thePokémon Stadium series. There are a number of external color options when played on theGame Boy Color. The Japanese Yellow is monochromatic when played on other systems such as theGame Boy Advance,Nintendo Game Cube'sGame Boy Player, orNintendo 3DS'sVirtual Console.
  • The international versions of Pokémon Yellow have two separate sets of color palettes: the previously mentioned one from the Japanese version, as well as another set of brighter color palettes which is compatible with theGame Boy Color,Game Boy Tower from thePokémon Stadium series (which does not use the SNES palette for the international Yellow),Game Boy Advance,Nintendo GameCube withGame Boy Player, andNintendo 3DS'sVirtual Console.
• InGame Boy Color mode, the Japanese and Western versions of Pokémon Yellow use different yellow palettes. The Japanese version applies a predefined yellow palette, similar to how Pokémon Red, Green, and Blue use their respective predefined red, green, and blue palettes. Meanwhile, the Western versions instead apply theSuper Game Boy palettes but with more saturated colors. However, the yellow palette from the Japanese version is still present in the Western release, though only in certain situations, such as thePikachu's Beach high-score screen.
• The change to the color ofJynx's sprites mentioned below only affects the localized version of Pokémon Yellow, since this game is monochromatic in the Japanese version of the Virtual Console.

Localization changes shared by Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow

Main article:Pokémon Red and Blue Versions → Localization changes shared by Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow

Differences in the Virtual Console release

The Nintendo 3DSVirtual Console releases canlink with other Virtual Console Generation I and II core series games via Nintendo 3DS wireless communication, simulating theGame Link Cable. When initiating a link, the Virtual Console menu on the touch screen replaces the Cable Club attendant's dialogue. Additionally, all of theGame Boy Printer features are disabled, although the option still appears in the PC menu: when selected, the game acts as if the printing is in progress, even though, in reality, nothing is happening.

UsingPoké Transporter, Pokémon can be sent from the Generation I core series games toPokémon Bank, and from Pokémon Bank, they can then be moved toGeneration VII core series games.

The movesBlizzard,BubbleBeam,Confusion,Dream Eater,Explosion,Guillotine,Hyper Beam,Mega Kick,Mega Punch,Psychic,Reflect,Rock Slide,Selfdestruct,Spore, andThunderbolt had their animations changed slightly to tone down the flashing.

In the Western language releases, which are emulated inGame Boy Color mode,Jynx's battle sprites have been recolored to align with its modern design, recoloring Jynx's black skin to purple. Jynx's original design had previously been subject tocontroversies due to its resemblance to racial stereotypes of African-Americans. The Japanese release is emulated inGame Boy mode—which is monochromatic—so no change was made.

The requirement for thePikachu's Beach minigame is now thePikachu received at the beginning of the game instead ofSurfing Pikachu.

Differences fromPokémon the Series

The game is loosely based onPokémon the Series: The Beginning ofPokémon the Series, but has several differences:

• Brock does not surrender during thePewter Gym battle and does not accompany theplayer thereafter.
• Misty is first encountered in theCerulean Gym. InPokémon the Series, she had left the Gym whenAsh met her (the Gym was run by theSensational Sisters). She also does not accompany the player on their journey in the game.
• Bulbasaur,Charmander, andSquirtle are acquired from tasks. InPokémon the Series,Bulbasaur was caught in a formal battle,Charmander was rescued from heavy rain, andSquirtle simply followed Ash.
• Meowth can usePay Day and does not speak in the game.

English title

While the game's title has become widely accepted as simplyPokémon Yellow, its officially recognized name outside of Japan is not entirely certain. On the boxart for most English versions, the expressionSpecial Pikachu Edition replaces the series' then-current sloganGotta Catch 'em All! below the Pokémon logo, whileYellow Version is at the bottom, near where Red and Blue had theirs. However, the expressionSpecial Pikachu Edition is repeated on the box's opening and spine.

Contemporaneous materials refer to the game asPokémon Yellow Version: Special Pikachu Edition,^{[8][9][10][11]} orPokémon Yellow for brevity. The instruction manual refers to the game as "the Yellow version of Pokémon", "Yellow" is one of the selectable preset names for theplayer character, andYellow Version can be seen on the game's title screen.

ESRB classified the game under the titlePokémon yellow.^[12] The Australian Classification Board classified the game under the titlePOKEMON YELLOW.^[13] TheCanadian Intellectual Property Office records the copyrightPOKEMON YELLOW VERSION: SPECIAL PIKACHU EDITION.^[14]

Pokémon.com refers to the game asPokémon Yellow Special Pikachu Edition in full, butPokémon Yellow Version andPokémon Yellow in general usage.^[15]Pokémon Yellow Special Pikachu Edition is also the title used in theNintendo World Pokémon Series Showcase.Super Smash Bros. for Wii U refers to the game asPokémon Yellow: Special Pikachu Edition in Pikachu's trophy description.

In the Virtual Console release, the game is referred to asPokémon Yellow Version: Special Pikachu Edition on the Nintendo eShop and in the manual. Like many games, it is abbreviated on the Nintendo 3DS HOME Menu, being referred to asPokémon Yellow Version.

Version history

Japan

International

Only one known version of each international language version was released.

Development

Main article:Pokémon Yellow beta

Reception

LikeRed and Blue, Yellow was also well received by the press. Like its predecessors, it received a perfect 10/10 "Masterful" rating from IGN.^[16] However, it was criticized as being "just a stopgap to help us wait for thereal sequels".^[17] Yellow received a slightly lower average score than Red and Blue of about 85% on GameRankings. Despite this, it was the site's top ratedGame Boy game in the year of its release, 1999.^[18]

Soundtrack

Main article:Game Boy: Entire Pokémon Sounds Collection CD

The soundtrack forPokémon Red, Green, andBlue andPokémon Red and Blue also applies to Pokémon Yellow. However, Yellow added three tracks that are absent from the official soundtrack, which precedes the release of Yellow by ten months. These additional tracks were also composed byJunichi Masuda.

Staff

Main article:Staff of Pokémon Yellow

Gallery

Logos

• 
  Japanese Yellow logo

Title screens

When played on theSuper Game Boy,Super Game Boy 2,Game Boy Tower,Game Boy Color,Game Boy Advance, andGame Boy Player, the game usespredefined color palettes instead of displaying in monochrome.

• 
  English Title screen (Game Boy)
• 
  Japanese Title screen (Game Boy)
• 
  English title screen (Super Game Boy,Super Game Boy 2)
• 
  Japanese title screen (Super Game Boy, Super Game Boy 2,Game Boy Tower)
• 
  English title screen (Game Boy Tower)

• 
  English Title screen (Game Boy Color,Game Boy Advance,Game Boy Player)
• 
  Japanese title screen (Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, Game Boy Player)
• 
  English title screen (Virtual Console)
• 
  English Secret title screen (Virtual Console)

Flyers

• 
  Front of Japanese flyer
• 
  Back of Japanese flyer

Virtual Console icons

• 
  Japanese Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console icon
• 
  English Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console icon

Trivia

• The game's Japanese release date of September 12, 1998, was intentionally timed to coincide with the release of a movie, being released two months afterPokémon: The First Movie - Mewtwo Strikes Back.^[19][20]
  • As such, it came out in Japan before theGame Boy Color, which was not released until October 21, 1998.^[21] This explains the lack of Game Boy Color support in the Japanese versions, with the game using a yellow palette by default when played on a Game Boy Color,Game Boy Advance,Game Boy Advance SP, orGame Boy Player, much like the red, green, and blue palettes respectively used byPokémon Red, Green, andBlue.
  • Pokémon Yellow was also announced and released afterGame Freak postponedPokémon Gold and Silver, which were originally set to come out in March 1998.^[22] Instead,Pokémon Pikachu came out that year.
  • The special Pikachu Yellow model of theGame Boy Printer was also exclusively released in Japan on September 12, 1998.^[23][24]
• Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, which re-implemented thewalking Pokémon mechanic that was introduced in Yellow, were released in Japan exactly 11 years after Yellow was released in Japan.
• The two available first partner Pokémon of this game,Pikachu (player) andEevee (rival), are the only Pokémon introduced prior toGeneration V to evolve with aThunder Stone.
• Junichi Masuda details the modification ofIkue Otani'svoice to a sound capable of being made by the low-techGame Boy in hisDirector's Column. However, this change is exclusive to this one specimen and not the entire species, as other Pikachu (i.e. those that don't have the player'sOriginal Trainer ID and name) use the original cry.
• Prior to the Virtual Console release announcement,Pokémon.com listed Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow with a PEGI rating of 3.^[25]
• The box arts forPokémon Red, Yellow, andSilver are the only three instances where the EnglishPokémon logo is shown partially covered by some element (in this case, Pikachu's ears).
• Yellow Special Pikachu Edition has the longest name of all core series titles, including symbols and spaces, with 30.
• According to a FAQ page that was available in February 1999 onPokémon.com, there were no plans to release an American version of Pokémon Yellow (mentioned as the "Pikachu" version), as well as any other Pokémon games that had only been released in Japanese at the time.^[26]
• The Poké Cup format is based on the Nintendo Cup '97, a real life event that took place in Japan that year and which was the first tournament in Pokémon history.
• If the player attempts to use a Thunder Stone on their Pikachu, it'll refuse. Talking to Pikachu afterwards will cause it to shake its head. Traded Pikachu are unaffected by this.
• The Japanese version ofPokémon Pinball uses thePokédex entries from Pokémon Yellow. However, Pokémon Pinball was released in English before Pokémon Yellow. The English version of Pokémon Pinball uses the Pokédex entries shared byPokémon Red and Blue instead.
• The majority of Pokémon unavailable for capture in Pokémon Yellow have either been caught (albeit given away) or temporarily commanded byAsh in later seasons ofPokémon the Series.
  • Ash catches aBeedrill, but gives it toCasey.
  • InThe Power of Us,Ash catches an Ekans for thePokémon Catch Race. However, Ash had to release it as per the race’s rules.
  • InThe Ultimate Test, Ash commands anArbok,Weezing, andMeowth when he took thePokémon League Admissions Exam.
  • Ash temporarily cares for aRaichu as part ofPokémon Summer Academy.

Unique content

In thecore series, this is the only game with these characteristics:

• It was the second "upper version" game in the samegeneration (in Japan, afterPokémon Blue).
• It has a singlewalking Pokémon.
• This is the only game with thesefriendship-based qualities:
  • There is a single Pokémon with the friendship mechanic available.
  • Depositing a Pokémon in theStorage System causes it to lose some friendship.
  • There are no available friendship-based Evolutions even though the friendship mechanic is present.
• There are two different types ofcries available for the same species depending on whether the player is the Pokémon'sOT (the partner Pikachu has a vocalized cry like inPokémon the Series, while a non-OT Pikachu still has a chiptune noise cry like in earlier games).
• The entire trio of first partner Pokémon introduced in the game's owngeneration can be obtained without trades, transfers, or events.
• Therival is seen preventing the player from obtaining a Pokémon (the first partnerEevee in the cutscene at the start of the game).
• The rival's first partner Pokémon is able to evolve, but not the player's first partner Pokémon.
• The rival's team is influenced by whether he has won or lost earlier battles against the player.
• Out of all localized games, this is the only one where noitem was introduced.
  • In Japanese, this applies to bothPokémon Blue and Yellow.

Introduced content

In the core series, this was the first game with these characteristics:

• It is heavily influenced byPokémon the Series. This carries over into its remakes,Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!.
• A Pokémon species is part of the Japanese title. This is also the case in the remakes.
• This was the first localized game whose boxart lacks theslogan below the Pokémon logo, although this slogan was reused inGeneration II before it was dropped from the game boxarts altogether inGeneration III.
• Characters introduced inPokémon the Series appear in-game. This includes theTeam Rocket trio,Nurse Joy, andOfficer Jenny.
• Farfetch'd can be caught in the wild, instead of only fromin-game trades like in earlier games.
• Theintro cutscenes only feature a single Pokémon species (Pikachu in this case).
• The intro cutscenes do not feature any human character.
• It has a Pokémon whosecry was influenced by the vocalizations used in animation instead of using a chiptune noise.
  • This was also the first game to have a single available Pokémon species with this kind of cry, which was also the case later for Pikachu inPokémon X and Y.
• It has a singlefirst partner Pokémon available for the player.
• The player's first partner Pokémon is unable to evolve. This is also the case in the remakes.
• A Pokémon is unable to evolve even though the current game is compatible with the evolved form.
  • In later games, this was also the case with other Pokémon such asSpiky-eared Pichu^HGSS andCosplay Pikachu^ORAS.
• The first partner Pokémon for the player and the rival have notype advantage against each other before evolving (although this changes if the rival's first partner Pokémon evolves intoVaporeon).
• An entire trio of first partner Pokémon is obtainable in a single saved game with no trades, transfers, or events.
• A Pokémon may be available (in this case,Bulbasaur) depending on the friendship value of a Pokémon owned by the player.
  • This was also the case for thelake guardians in theNameless Cavern fromPokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire.
• Even though thefriendship mechanic is present, there are no usable moves involving this mechanic.
  • This is also the case with later games fromGeneration VIII onwards.

In other languages

External links

• Miiverse - Pokémon Red/Blue/Yellow Version Community

References

Related articles

• Yellow walkthrough

This game-related article is part ofProject Games, aBulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on thePokémon games.

• Games
• Game Boy games
• Pokémon Yellow
• Upper versions
• Virtual Console games
• Nintendo 3DS games