Rethinking Game Linkages

One of my Pokémon fellows recently offered a theory on how the main series games are linked, especially those beyond the first major generational games. For the latter, I'm accustomed to thinking of some of them as "third games" and "remakes" - which I've also discussed a few times on this blog - but this person had offered something different. Based on when the games were released and what content was offered on which console, the games can be considered to be more linked in more intimate relationships. It's a different way of thinking that also seems to make a lot more sense.

According to the person, the early "third games" (Yellow, Crystal, Emerald) are essentially "variants" of the games they are based on (Red/Green/Blue, Gold/Silver, and Ruby/Sapphire respectively), but as Platinum from Diamond/Pearl offers a few more new things, it is more fitting to call it as a "remaster" or "definitive edition" of the pair. And because Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon work the same way compared to Sun/Moon, they fall under the same heading, though they are a pair of games. Fire Red/Leaf Green, Heart Gold/Soul Silver, and Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire are considered "pure remakes" since they are on different consoles than the games they are based on, and so is Let's Go, Pikachu/Eevee... because they are really remakes of Yellow; additionally, OR/AS also includes an "integrated remake" of Emerald due to its post-game. At this point, the only odd ones out are Black/White, which have Black 2/White 2 as sequels, and X/Y with seemingly nothing.

Looking at the progression of the main series games, a new generation comes out every three to four years, at least based on Japan time. Between all those times, there seems to have to be a "stopgap" measure, which results in all these novelties, because something novel should be brought to the table to tide the legions of fans while they await the true new "step" - a new generation. Speaking of new steps, the console being different for a "pure remake" is a given, and it seems to be two steps ahead, save the Let's Go games, which are a "quantum leap" of sorts. With that being the case, the next novelty seems to be a remake of the fourth-generation games on the Switch (possibly including an "integrated remake") and/or a sequel of the Sword and Shield games, which are all entirely possible given past novelties. Then there would be the ninth generation, and afterwards other possibilities based on the technologies to come.

This way of thinking is quite different than my old ways of thinking, including what I outlined as a "new paradigm" way back when and is effectively obsolete at this point. But a lot of it does indeed make sense based on their timings and relationships, especially how the first major generational games become refined. The main series games are already a complex bunch with what they offer. And yet, the way one of my Pokémon fellows sees it, there's a different kind of closeness within that complexity. I'm only happy to recast my older views accordingly, and I can only expect further refinements to this later on.

One year ago: Passing It On: The Next Generation
Two years ago: Pikachu Head Collectibles