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GAF, Am I too old for Pokemon?

There's a bunch of pretty well-made Flash-based Pokemon games on the internet you can try out first.

Pokemon Tower Defense


Personally, I think the rpg mechanic is too simplistic and the storyline non-existent to really hold your attention. The big question is do you have that need to 'collect them all'. That's where Pokemon really shines. But if you have done that before in other games, it might not have the same kind of pull it did for many of us 10 years ago.
 
Amneisac said:
Okay, GAF - I'm a 31 year old male who's always played games. I don't discriminate, I have all the consoles and enjoy most genres.

I love JRPGs and I have a 3DSXL with 0 games and I've never, ever played a Pokemon game or watched an episode of the TV show (it was a TV show, right?).

Should I buy a Pokemon game? Are they worth it to someone who has absolutely zero familiarity with the series? If I do, should I wait for the upcoming 3DS game or should I buy one of the older ones?
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No, you're not too old. haha

Pokemon games are real easy to get into. I'd recommend starting with either HeartGold/SoulSilver or Black/White or Platinum.
 
You're not too old for any game. With Pokemon and other games, it comes down to do they bore the shit out of you now because you've played the same game over and over? If not, keep on playing, if yes, stop and move on to something else.
 
I turned 30 last May, bought myself a 3DS for my birthday. Basically one of those people that dislikes most of Nintendos first party games, generally play only niche stuff like Devil Survivor, etc. Bought Black 2 for shits and giggles, and its probably the longest experience I've had playing a portable game in about 10 years. It kind of transcends age, really.
 
Baconsammy said:
With Pokemon and other games, it comes down to do they bore the shit out of you now because you've played the same game over and over? If not, keep on playing, if yes, stop and move on to something else.
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I'd be surprised if the OP finds playing pokemon to be boring because its the same game hes played over and over given he states quite clearly in the OP that he has never played a pokemon game.
 
The question should be am I too old for video games? And the answer is no. If you enjoy something it shouldn't matter what age you are or the social image you project to others. Fun is fun regardless of age, and Pokemon is no exception.
 
Depends, are you 32? If you are then your to old, and for anyone who doesn't believe me look up the pokemon law. It clearly states that if you are over 32 yrs of age you may not enjoy pokemon, or consume dunkaroos or mondos.
 
I'm playing Black/White 2 right now, and it's fairly decent about being all-ages. The characters have a tendency to repeat the messages and themes over and over, but it's not too overbearing.
 
I started playing Pokemon with Pokemon Yellow when I was 5 or 6. I'll be 20 next year and look forward to X and Y. If you enjoy something, age typically shouldn't matter.

Amneisac said:
I don't mean am I too old as in anyone my age shouldn't enjoy it, I just meant am I too old to get started having no experience with Pokemon previously. I mean I still enjoy lots of stuff I liked when I was younger, but I can't imagine I'd start watching GI Joe or something now if I'd never seen it before.

Are the games really that good without any previous interest in the license? I guess that's a better way to phrase the question!
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Every entry starts out by introducing you to "the world of Pokemon". So new players can easily jump in. This is especially true for Black and White, so I'd recommend you start with one of those if you're gonna try to get into the series.
 
Syril said:
I'm playing Black/White 2 right now, and it's fairly decent about being all-ages. The characters have a tendency to repeat the messages and themes over and over, but it's not too overbearing.
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You get beat over the head with the theme in Black/White, but version 2 had a lot of repetition and awkward text. HG/SS did the same thing, so I'm wondering if it's just the writers and translators that they have on the remake team that do this.

The games don't have much story to speak of though. There's a lot of recurring themes and characters for the sake of building a consistent world moreso than telling a grand tale. A lot of characters have development that spans several games (like the hints they keep dropping about Brock and Misty's relationship), but they'll be fairly shallow and vapid in dialogue.
 
Hey, let me tell you, I thought I was "Too Old" for POKEMON, but after I purchased Diamond for my kids, and recently Black & White 2 for my two sons and nephew I was tempted to try them out again. The verdict? Good clean classic timeless fun. While the games are esthetically simple, underneath their is a great RPG, I can't believe how many features they have managed to cram into the tiny DS cartridges. Cool Online, a seperate companion website, online battleing/ trading, I remember playing these games on the gameboy with the link cable. Bottom line, if you are even considering getting the game, or decided to make a thread about it, I'd say you are young at heart enough to enjoy a simple game that represents some of that old Nintendo charm that will never go out of style.
 
Never too old for anything man, Pokemon is a fun RPG you say you love them so go for it. You'll sink a TON of hours into it if you get hooked.
 
You're asking a website full of manchildren whether you're too old for Pokemon.

The correct answer is: Yes!

It's time you grow up and move on to Digimon.
 
If you're already familiar with RPGs, with Pokemon you shouldn't expect an epic story or deep characters. The storyline in all the games is just a shallow vehicle for the "meat" of the game: the monster raising. The fun in Pokemon comes from choosing your party and customize their stats and attacks to fight against other people.

So it's basically like Call of Duty, the fun comes from the interaction with other players. If you're ok with that, go ahead. The series has been hugely popular for a reason.
 
No, but you MAY be too old to stand outside a Toys R Us with a bunch of kids (and their judgmental parents) waiting to download a legendary Pokemon.

Especially if you look like me.
 
So how do the Pokemon-playing old folks play multiplayer? Of course there's no such thing as being too old to play any single player game...but the single player campaigns in Pokemon are never challenging enough to reveal much of the depth of the gameplay. That's for multiplayer...but it seems that multiplayer means going to the events and being a strange adult man around a bunch of kids. Do you all have a bunch of friends that also play, or clubs/events for adults, or what?
 
The only problem here is if you've been playing Pokemon since red or something.

I mean, how many times can you play the same game over and over?

Age isn't factor.
 
Are you too old for entertainment? That's the way I'd look at it. Play it if you're interested/curious, shelve it knowing you at least formed an opinion for yourself or enjoy the ride and stick with it if you feel it's worth it.
 
chaostrophy said:
So how do the Pokemon-playing old folks play multiplayer? Of course there's no such thing as being too old to play any single player game...but the single player campaigns in Pokemon are never challenging enough to reveal much of the depth of the gameplay. That's for multiplayer...but it seems that multiplayer means going to the events and being a strange adult man around a bunch of kids. Do you all have a bunch of friends that also play, or clubs/events for adults, or what?
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Don't the newer ones all have online modes?
 
Hell no. No one is too old for it.

I work at a university and was surprised to overhear some of the students at the gym talking about playing. These were guys who I never, ever would have guessed played Pokemon or any video games other than COD (total dudebros) and they mentioned they along with many of their friends played it. I was kinda blown away.
 
10 years old is too old for Pokemon.

You can never be "too old" for anything. Play what you like, and don't be uptight.
 
I met a 40-something year old lady at a weekend pokemon club in a comic book store who loves playing the games.

Never too old!
 
I'm 30 in March, and yesterday I finally caught 647 Pokemon in my White 2, meaning I just need the two legendaries that come before Genesect to have 'caught them all'. Until the next ones XD
 
I just don't see how people can keep playing the same game over and over. It has nothing to do with age, but it's just so repetitive. Loved Red, then tried Silver and it was just okay. Tried White, just too much of the same.

But I'm glad people enjoy it still, because at its core it's a solid RPG with some great music.
 
Can Crusher said:
The only problem here is if you've been playing Pokemon since red or something.

I mean, how many times can you play the same game over and over?

Age isn't factor.
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Because it's a solid franchise that I want to support? Oh wait, that makes too much sense.
 
Too old for pokemon? There's no such thing.

I'm 28 and still play the games and enjoy them, they are great rpgs with a nice level of strategy.
 
I'm 38 so I've never played it; it came out in my senior year of college. I would like to. And no, I don't find it embarrassing at all.
 
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