Yeah, I started watching Pok�mon again. About 2 months ago I guess, with the first season, after thinking of playing the game over again. You see, while it appears to be a game for kids, the original Pok�mon Red and Blue were far more complicated than they actually appear to be and I actually thought it was. I remember getting to know this around 2006-2007 and I thought, "One day I shall try it again". So, when Klow introduced me to Bulbapedia, I started playing Pok�mon Blue again, thinking of going on to Pok�mon Crystal (since those are the only two console games I have, not counting emulators on the PC.
For those of you who still don't know and wonder how complicated Pok�mon can get even for just the first generation, here's what you didn't know:
Besides normal levels and types, there are quite a number of pok�mon which are dual-type, and this means that the damage multipliers for type weaknesses are multiplied together to result in minimum of 25%, or max of 400%. Some of these pok�mon have moves not relating to their own type, which means they could be use as effective battlers for their own type. E.g. (though impossible) a charmander knowing water gun would battle really well against another charmander, since it receives less damage from fire type moves. Some pok�mon can be taught moves not of their own type, while some cannot, adding to a little complication. The main thing that most don't know exist however, is the IVs or EVs (effort values) that pok�mon gain when winning a battle against another pok�mon. E.g. Battling a geodude will increase your pok�mon's defense EV which after reaching a certain value will increase your pok�mon's defense stat upon the next level up. This means that training is ALWAYS better than rare candy-ing. But you can never max out your pok�mon's stat values this way since EVs are quite small compared to exp. So it's a tough choice on which stat you should build for your pok�mon. Then, I bet not many people know about STAB (same type attack bonus). A butterfree using a psybeam will cause 66.7% (rounded) less damage than a kadabra, simply because psybeam is not butterfree's pok�mon type while it is kadabra's.
Along with these, there's also programming flaws in the first generation that is responsible for the many bugs in the game which I'm also sure most will not know how to actually glitch in a mew or any other type of pok�mon they want for that matter. The way the glitch works is quite interesting, and let's me know more about how the game programming works.
So along with playing the game, I decided I might as well watch the anime. That's when my focus changed. While the game is rather short and fixed (i.e. standard battle, and sort of mathematical), the anime which follows the protagonist is more varied, calling in, e.g. more than 4 different types of moves for some pok�mon which is impossible to do so in the game. There are also many improvised stuff like drenching onix with water, grounding pikachu with it's own tail, and etc. Level's don't seem to matter so much, and instead experience and training. But besides all the plot details, literature has taught me to notice other stuff as well. The characterisation of the protagonists, antagonists, and they do show a little more depth now that I watch the show again, as previously taught. I also thought I picked up some hints at the possible romantic relationship between Ash and Misty. That's when I discovered Pok�Shipping, and now am a fan (or shipper) of that too... Besides, the fanart that comes with it is incredibly cute!
So on I go, hopefully to make it right through the many episodes (1000+) and catch up with the current airings. (91 watched and counting)