Amazon.co.uk Review
While it's basically the same game as the previously released
Pokémon Red and
Pokémon Blue,
Pokémon Yellow: Special Pikachu Edition features enhancements that make it the best version yet. In all three versions, the player is on a quest to become the World's Greatest Pokémon Trainer, with exploration and Pokémon battles (think advanced paper-scissors-rock) factoring heavily into the gameplay. While the game world is the same in all three versions, the Pokémon you encounter vary from version to version; the underlying goal of collecting all 151 Pokémon can only be met by trading Pokémon via Link Cable with another player with a different Pokémon version. (Players can also battle against one another using the Link Cable setup.)
Pokémon Yellow follows the TV cartoon series more closely than the other versions. Your first Pokémon in
Yellow is Pikachu, and he travels alongside you as opposed to inside a Pokéball (like most Pokémon). Pikachu's mood can be displayed virtual-pet style: keeping him happy is important, as his mood affects certain events in the game. In addition to the inclusion of other TV-show elements, like Team Rocket, new battle modes between players are available as well as a secret game called Pikachu's Beach.
If you haven't played any of the Pokémon games before, Pokémon Yellow is the best place to start. But while Pokémaniacs will go gaga over Yellow's new features, less enthusiastic veterans of Red and Blue may not find the extras to be quite so special. --Joe Hon
Manufacturer's Description
The next version of the best-selling Pokémon series! Pikachu accompanies the player throughout the game that follows the storyline of the #1 animated television programme. Players attempt to become the "World's Greatest Pokémon Master" by searching for, training and battling with 150 different creatures. Fully compatible with Game Boy Color for beautiful 56-colour graphics, also works in black and white for Game Boy pocket. Special limited edition Game Boy Color decorated with Pokémon characters is also available. Characters from the animated series make special appearances along with familiar faces such as Professor Oak. Developed by Game Freak/Creatures and published by Nintendo. Trade Pokémon with friends as players attempt to catch 'em all! Just like the previous two versions, players can't catch all the Pokémon with just the Yellow version. Players must trade with both the Red and Blue versions to catch all 150 creatures.