The Pokémon franchise turns 28 this month (and 25 in North America, specifically)! The Punished Podcast crew celebrates Pikachu and co. with this 90-minute episode.
The Punished Podcast Episode 6
For episode 6 of The Punished Podcast, we chat about all things Pokémon. We discuss the strengths of the classic video game formula, reflect on our favorite ‘mon, debate innovations over the years, and share fond memories. And, of course, we had to talk about Palworld, a game that’s made news for being “Pokémon with guns.”
Whether you’re a longtime fan of the series or a casual player, a parent or a child, you’ll find something that resonates with you in this super-Lightning-Bolt-charged episode of the podcast.
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Some excerpts from our conversation:
- Kei: “Nintendo tends to struggle [with a balance between casual and hardcore players] because they make deep games which invites intense effort… Pokémon is probably the deepest turn-based competitive gaming experience out there right now. There’s so many variables. They’ve intentionally—or unintentionally—created a very, very layered and complex game. Maybe they wish they didn’t.”
- Amanda: “These are games that are ultimately–I think–designed for children, or meant to be easier. Pokémon is a game that’s can be accessible for young people as an entry point into gaming. Into battling, into more serious games. Can you level up? Can you gather and manage an inventory? Can you plan out and advance a [battle] strategy?”
- Sam: “The thing I really don’t like [in the series’ changes] is that, after Gen 2, they put a lot more effort into classic RPG storytelling. You’re not just a guy getting badges and trying to catch ’em all, but there’s also some meta plot happening. It’s not just Team Rocket. It’s some bigger deal happening. And to me, it’s never interesting. It’s never written well enough… It goes back to what we were talking about, that it’s hard to make a game that satisfies everyone.”
- David: “I accidentally released my starter into the wild, so I decided to main a Graveler and raise that to Level 100 throughout the game.”
- Jason: “I’ve been enjoying playing it with my group of fans. Palworld would be fantastic if it wasn’t for its attempts at being ‘evil.’ Palworld takes a lot of mechanics from other games…but it comes together in such a unique way that it’s pretty obvious as to why it’s so successful.”
Timestamps
- 0:00 — Intro
- 4:30 — What was your first Pokémon game?
- 8:30 — Innovations (and stagnation) in the formula
- 15:30 — Who is Pokémon “for”?
- 23:00 — Innovations in the core series
- 34:45 — Favorite Pokémon memories?
- 40:00 — Conspiracies and glitches
- 45:45 — Best Pokémon spin-offs
- 52:37 — Ideal Pokémon fan-service game?
- 58:30 — Discussing Palworld
- 1:12:30 — Rapid-fire questions
- 1:31:20 — Outro: Whatcha playing?
Song Credits
- “Pallet Town Title Theme” by Junichi Masuda from Pokémon Red/Blue/Yellow
- “Victory! (Wild Pokemon)” by Junichi Masuda and Go Ichinose from Pokémon Gold/Silver/Crystal
- “Evolution A + B Jingle” by Junichi Masuda and Morikazu Aoki from Pokémon Ruby/Sapphire
- “Level Up Sound” by Tsukasa Tawada from Pokémon Colosseum
- “Battle! (Trainer)” by Junichi Masuda Pokémon Red/Blue
- “Pikachu Voice” from Pokémon Yellow (Editor’s note: Here’s a long but interesting video about Pikachu’s sound effects in the game)
- “Lavender Town” by Junichi Masuda from Pokémon Red/Blue
- “Pokémon Healed!” by Junichi Masuda and Morikazu Aoki from Pokémon Diamond/Pearl
- “Pokémon Center” by Junichi Masuda and Go Ichinose from Pokémon Scarlet/Violet
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Huge video game, comic book, and anime fan. Spends way too much time watching things he doesn’t like. Hates Zack Snyder. Mains Falco.
Sam has been playing video games since his earliest years and has been writing about them since 2016. He’s a big fan of Nintendo games and complaining about The Last of Us Part II. You either agree wholeheartedly with his opinions or despise them. There is no in between. A lifelong New Yorker, Sam views gaming as far more than a silly little pastime, and hopes though critical analysis and in-depth reviews to better understand the medium's artistic merit. Twitter: @sam_martinelli.
David is the founder of The Punished Backlog. He has a problem finishing games he starts. Just beat: Nine Sols, UFO 50. Working on: Metaphor: ReFantazio. Can't wait for: Hollow Knight: Silksong. Follow David on Twitter at @David_Silbert to keep up to date with all things The Punished Backlog.
Amanda Tien (she/her or they) loves video games where she can pet dogs, punch bad guys, make friends, and have a good cry. She started writing for the site in 2020, and became an editor in 2022. She enjoys writing about mystery games, indies, and strong femme protagonists. Her work has also been published in Unwinnable Monthly (click here to read her cover feature on Nancy Drew games), Salt Hill Journal, Poets.org, Litro Magazine, Public Books, and more. She was the Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Columbia University's Culinarian Magazine, and served for two years as the Managing Editor of Aster(ix) Literary Journal. She recently graduated with a MFA (Master of Fine Arts) in Creative Writing from the University of Pittsburgh. Her writing, art, graphic design, and marketing work can be viewed at www.amandatien.com. She does not post a lot on social, but you can find her on X and on Instagram.
Jason graduated from Northeastern University with a degree in English and Game Design. For him, video games are not just an art form, but one of the greatest mediums to tell a story.
When not perpetuating the game journalist stereotype of being awful at a game and blaming the game for it, Jason likes writing short fiction novels that never get past chapter two, and playing Dungeons & Dragons.
