Desire Drive

Today, I would like to invite everyone to gather around, and do some reminiscing about one of the most iconic Nintendo mascots.
Today's subject is fitting for the website - Pikachu! The most famous of all Pokemon by far, even being noteworthy enough to receive a parade float at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and many TCG cards dedicated to it. Pikachu has arguably become the very face of the franchise for many, so it should come as no surprise that the electric rodent is one of the top contenders in Nintendo's long line-up of iconic characters, alongside such greats as Mario, Link, Kirby, and other such familiar faces.


Come on, let's take a little trip down memory lane~

Pokemon Red & Green - February 27th, 1996


This marks the electic mouse's grand debut, as well as the franchise itself. Most likely, few people would have been able to guess the stardom #25 on the Pokedex would achieve. Can you believe it? It's been 16 years since it all began! Almost as old as some of the folks here.

First Episode of the Pokemon Anime - April 1st, 1997


Later down the road, Pikachu would soon make it's way to the small-screen in the form of the Pokemon Anime, which continues to air to this day. In the first episode, Ash Ketchum (the protagonist) receives a rebellious Pikachu as his starting Pokemon, and goes on down the road through many seasons all the way up to his current location, the Unova region. 15 years and on-going. This marks the inclination towards promoting Pikachu as a mascot.



Pokemon Yellow - September 12th, 1998


At long last, Pikachu gets it's own game in 1998, in the form of Pokemon Yellow version! The quirk about the first of the 3rd version archetype is that your starter is always Pikachu, who cannot be evolved. The three starters of Red/Blue/Green can all be obtained later in the game of course.



Hey You, Pikachu! - December 12th, 1998


Not one for skipping out on the latest crazes, Pikachu made it's 3-D debut in Hey You, Pikachu! In the game, the player can interact with Pikachu using a microphone, thus introducing an idea that would later be played upon in the form of the Nintendo DS microphone, which would serve a similar purpose.



Super Smash Bros. - January 21st, 1999


After years of seeing Mario and other mascots earning spotlight, Pikachu got it's chance to fry them in it's fighting game debut, Super Smash Bros. This would launch one of the most popular fighting franchises out there, allowing players to engage in chaotic multi-man fights using famous Nintendo characters, including Mario, Link, Fox McCloud, and others. The series would spawn 2 sequels, with a 3rd in the works as we speak.



Super Smash Bros Melee - November 21st, 2001


The sequel to the ever-popular Super Smash Bros for the Nintendo 64, Super Smash Bros Melee is leaps and bounds above it's predecessor. (And people say sequels suck. :V) With even more smooth graphics, many new characters, stages, items, game modes, and other features, Melee fails to disappoint. Pikachu appears as a Veteran fighter from the original, with some moveset adjustments, like most of it's fellow fighters from the original SSB.




Pokemon Fire Red/Leaf Green - January 29th, 2004


You know what they say, old habits die hard! Itching to return to it's roots, Pikachu, and the rest of the 1st Gen gang all saw a return to the spotlight in the form of Fire Red and Leaf Green, remakes of the original Gen I games. Here we can see Pikachu's design changing somewhat, becoming more sleek and lean. Guess Pikachu decided to lay off the Rare Candies. :V



Pokemon Mystery Dungeon Red/Blue Rescue Team - November 17th, 2005


Making yet another breakthrough for the franchise, Pikachu and other Pokemon appear as possible player characters in this Dungeon Crawler spin-off that in itself, also spawned a fairly popular spin-off series.



First Time Pikachu's Parade Float was used - Thanksgiving Day, 2006


Not content with the world of Television or Video Games, Pikachu decided to make it's push into the real world in the form of a parade float at the Macy's Thanksigiving Day Parade, in 2006, and has been a recurring float ever since. This all but reflect Pikachu and the Pokemon franchise's popularity as a whole.




Super Smash Bros Brawl - January 31st, 2008


The long-awaited sequel to Melee. Super Smash Bros Brawl improves on Melee, introducing many new things as well. Pikachu gains a storyline role of sorts in the Subspace Emmisary game mode, having zero dialogue however, just like most of the other fighters. During one of Solid Snake's codecs in the game, Mei Ling tells him to capture a Pikachu for her. Can she be blamed?




Pokemon Black and White - September 18, 2010


With the release of Pokemon Black and White, Pikachu sees yet another artwork/design update, as well as a helpful new ability in the form of Lightningrod.

I hope this blog entry is somewhat informative or nostalgic for you readers. Thank you for reading.