"Pokemon Red", "Pokemon Yellow", or Both? Quiz

Answer: Pokemon Red

In "Pokemon Red", you are given the option at the very start of the game to select one of three starters: Charmander, Bulbasaur, and Squirtle. However, in "Pokemon Yellow" you are given a Pikachu that Professor Oak catches right in front of you when you first venture into the tall grass.

Answer: Pokemon Red

The starter you select determines who your rival chooses in "Pokemon Red". The rival will choose the starter that is super effective against yours. If you choose the fire-type Charmander, the rival will choose the water-type Squirtle. If you choose Squirtle, the rival will choose Bulbasaur. If you choose Bulbasaur, he will choose Charmander.

In "Pokemon Yellow", the rival will always receive an Eevee, so his team never contains a Bulbasaur.

Answer: Pokemon Red

Charmander's final stage, Charizard, is a Fire and Flying type that cannot learn fly in "Pokemon Red". This may have been an oversight because the anime clearly shows the giant fire lizard is very much capable of flight - this was swiftly corrected in a rare inter-generational move set upgrade for Charizard, and in the enhanced "Pokemon Yellow" the starter Pokemon can learn HM02: Fly.

Answer: Pokemon Red

The old man is initially blocking the road to Viridian Forest because he has not yet had his coffee (In the original Japanese version, the old man was hung over). He will then show the player how to catch a Pokemon, throwing a Pokeball at a Weedle and catching it.

This particular encounter was one of the elements that led to the infamous "Infinite Item" glitch that players exploited in the original "Pokemon Red" version to encounter MissingNo and have effectively unlimited TMs, Master Balls, and Rare Candies. Perhaps that was the reason the developers changed this encounter in the enhanced "Pokemon Yellow".

The old man encounters a Rattata, but fails to catch it; the "Infinite Item" glitch also no longer works.

Answer: Pokemon Yellow

While the only starter in the game is Pikachu, the player actually has access to all three starters from the original "Pokemon Red" version. He can receive a Charmander from a young kid after Nugget Bridge; he can receive Bulbasaur in Cerulean City if Pikachu is happy enough, and he can receive Squirtle in Vermillion City from a police officer.

This effectively mirrors the anime where the protagonist, Ash starts out with a Pikachu but later owns all three starters.

Answer: Pokemon Yellow

The rival in "Pokemon Yellow" is even more obnoxious than his very similar "Pokemon Red" counterpart. In the original, the rival graciously (although perhaps deviously) allows the player to select his Pokemon first, ensuring that he has a typing advantage over his foe.

In "Pokemon Yellow" there is only one Pokeball on the table, originally intended for the player. However, the rival rudely insists on receiving that Pokemon, an Eevee. The player is then left with the wild Pokeball-disliking Pikachu.

Answer: Pokemon Yellow

While Team Rocket is present in both games, the anime antagonists, "Jessie and James" are nowhere to be seen in "Pokemon Red". All team Rocket members in that game have the same sprite and are referred to as "Rocket Grunt" with the exception of the leader, Giovanni.

In "Pokemon Yellow", Jessie and James appear with their own unique overworld and battle sprite, although their trainer class is still "Rocket Grunt".

Answer: Pokemon Yellow

In "Pokemon Red", a Pikachu can be caught in Viridian Forest and then evolved with a Thunderstone purchased in the Celadon Department Store. In "Pokemon Yellow", no Pikachu are available to be caught and the only one in the game (if no trades occur) is the player's starter Pikachu.

While Thunderstones can be purchased in Celadon City in this version as well, the starter Pikachu will refuse to evolve. This mirrors the anime where Ash never evolves his beloved starter.

Answer: Both Games

The Master Ball is a Poke Ball that can catch any wild Pokemon without fail. Only one of these balls can be legitimately obtained in the games, and it's best to save such a ball for headache-inducing legendary Pokemon, that are a notorious pain to catch.

The player will receive a Master Ball from the president of Silph Co. in both versions, after defeating Team Rocket and releasing the hostages.

Answer: Both Games

Erika is the grass-type gym leader and is present in both games in Celadon City, although her team is different in each version. In "Pokemon Red", she uses Victreebel, Vileplume, and Tangela. In "Pokemon Yellow" she uses Weepinbell, Gloom, and Tangela, with her Gloom being her signature Pokemon in order to emulate her appearance in the anime.

Answer: Both Games

While the rival starter is either Bulbasaur, Squirtle, or Charmander in "Pokemon Red", and it is Eevee in "Pokemon Yellow" (with the evolved form being determined by battle results with the player), he catches an Abra early on in both games that eventually becomes an Alakazam that he uses in several battles, most notably the champion battle at the Indigo Plateau.

Answer: Both Games

Mewtwo is by far the most powerful Pokemon in the game, both statistically and due to its moveset and typing. This characterization is fitting, because the creature is said to have been specifically designed for perfection. After defeating the Pokemon league, the protagonist can head to the previously inaccessible Cerulean Cave and find, fight, and maybe catch the legendary Pokemon in both games.