"Hello there! Welcome to the world of Pokémon!" - Professor Oak.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
The very first time I booted up Pokémon Blue on the gray brick that was my brother's Game Boy, I was hooked. Inside was a whole new world filled with monsters, giant bugs, mythical birds, and terrifying science experiments.
As I traversed the pixelated world, I imagined myself journeying with my own Pokémon pals, spelunking in the cool, damp caves of Mt. Moon, or getting lost in the maze-like Viridian forest, or surfing across the vast ocean to the volcanic island of Cinnabar. As the years passed, I picked up each new game and had so many more adventures - but none of them could ever recreate that first time in 1998. Nothing, that is, until I was browsing Itch one day and found this absolute gem.
As I read the rules of Pokémon Tales, I could feel a childlike grin crossing my face, and the images of my 10-year-old self with his pal Squirtle at his side and the Indigo Plateau on the horizon, filled my mind. All at once, every Pokémon dream I had ever had seemed possible.
The simple rules coupled with the excellent guidance and examples of gameplay make learning this game a breeze, and soon I was starting out on my own Pokémon adventure. The going was tough - my starter Pokémon and I ran into some trouble in the forest near my hometown as the infamous Team Rocket attempted to steal some of the forest's rarer Pokémon. But Squirtle and I were able to team up with a spunky Phantump and send Team Rocket into the stratosphere! Afterward, Phantump joined our team, and we waved goodbye to the forest Pokémon and headed off together to our next great adventure.
I can't recommend Pokémon Tales enough. If you've ever wanted to blaze your own path through the world of Pokémon, meeting strange and amazing pals, then this is the right game for you. Learning to play without roleplaying game without dice may seem a little confusing at first, but once it clicks, you'll be weaving amazing stories and forging new legends in no time.
Thank you, Iron Echo Games, for your hard work and dedication to making something we Poké fans have been begging for all these years.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Your very own Pokémon legend is about to unfold! A world of dreams and adventures with Pokémon awaits! Let's go!" - Professor Oak.