Longtime fans of both the Pokémon video game franchise and anime series will note several differences that have occurred throughout the history of the two. While some differences should be assumed at the onset, such as a lack of limiting factors like power points in the anime, others are blatant differences that call into question the similarities between the anime version of Ash and the player’s character in the video games.
While video games and animes are certainly different mediums, some factors seem as though they could be involved in gameplay design and are confusing omissions. Limiting these to the primary character of the anime, Ash, here are ten things we have witnessed which players are unable to do while following the journey of the television protagonist in the games.
10 Fighting Pokémon
The title of this entry might be a bit misleading. The entire purpose of the video game series is to battle Pokémon. That isn’t what we mean here.
In the anime, there are several instances of Pokémon attacking trainers. In many episodes, the unceremonious exit of Team Rocket is caused by some Pokémon or another attacking the Rocket members in order to send them “blasting off again.”
In relation to Ash, no interaction displays this concept more than when Ash was obtaining his Primeape. Encountering the Pokémon as a Mankey, it would steal Ash’s hat and fight him in his attempt to retain his hat. While Ash ultimately ended up capturing the Pokémon, players certainly cannot fight Pokémon in the video games.
9 Capturing Non-Pokémon
While discussing Ash’s capture of his Primeape, there is another concept that occurs in the anime that isn’t possible in the video games.
Early in the encounter, Mankey was seen to be quite friendly. Initially, Mankey began eating some food that Brock gave to it. Players who’ve spent a significant amount of time in the Safari Zone will note that feeding Pokémon is definitely possible in video games.
What isn’t possible is capturing food in a Pokéball. In fact, nothing besides Pokémon can be caught in the video games. While this scene was certainly entertaining, it falls outside the realm of possibility for gamers.
8 Carrying a Pokémon to the Pokémon Center
We all remember that moment in the first episode of the Pokémon anime, where Pikachu is rendered unconscious by fatigue after a brutal attack by a swarm of Spearow. Ash valiantly carries Pikachu away from the danger, recklessly throwing himself into a river and floating away before taking Misty’s bike to the nearest Poke Center in Viridian City.
This is a dramatic sequence to be sure, but it is far from the series of events one will encounter in the game series. Pikachu was Ash’s lone Pokémon at the time. That means he had no more usable Pokémon. In the video games, this would be where the player falls unconscious and returns to the last Pokémon Center visited.
7 Multiple Pokémon in Battle
Pulling from the swarm of Spearow, no player will ever be faced with an unmatchable number of enemies in the game series. While Ash didn’t use an equal number of Pokémon to counter the offensive in this instance, he has been observed to open several Poké Balls at once on numerous occasions to allow his Pokémon to rest, battle, or reach objectives.
Newer generations have incorporated elements where either the player will use multiple Pokémon in battle or be paired with another trainer for a two-on-two effort. This was not the case in Generation 1 which coincided with the airing of this specific episode or subsequent examples.
6 Traveling Companions
Speaking of Misty, it is well known that Ash is accompanied on his journeys throughout the series by a number of companions. While Misty and Brock were the original lineup, the roster has rotated throughout seasons to include regional characters and companions who offer relevant insight to the tasks and region at hand.
While the video games feature both of Ash’s early companions, both Brock and Misty retain their posts once defeated. Brock’s family is not a factor in his decision to leave Pewter City, nor does Misty abandon her post as Cerulean City’s gym leader.
5 Use of HMs
Hidden Machines, or HMs, are an important part of the video game series. At certain points, the player will acquire items that allow them to complete certain objectives and access new areas through the use of permanent moves called HMs. These have varied over the years, but tend to include the ability to surf, fly, move heavy objects, and light up dark areas.
These moves are painful for trainers in the games. Fortunately for Ash, the anime does not place such requirements on trainers. Many Pokémon are capable of doing things based on their appearance, such as Misty’s ability to swim on the back of her Starmie or Ash’s ability to fly on his Charizard despite the absence of this ability in the original Generation 1 games.
4 Pokédex Information
Almost every episode of the anime features Ash using his iconic Pokédex to receive information on a Pokémon he is unfamiliar with. Ash will pull out his Pokédex, point it at a Pokémon, and receive information about the Pokémon in front of him.
While both the anime and the game series feature Professor Oak giving the player a Pokédex at the start, the function of this device is significantly different.
In the games, the Pokédex does not contain complete information on even the most common of Pokémon until one has been captured by the player. While encountered Pokémon will render limited information, the interactions displayed by Ash are unavailable until a Pokémon is owned. Furthermore, players of the video games cannot access this tool during battle as Ash frequently does.
3 Receiving Badges Without Battle
Aside from collecting and cataloging Pokémon, the main objective of the game series is to collect all eight gym badges in order to challenge the Elite Four and become the Pokémon Champion. Almost every aspect of this plays out differently in the anime than in the game series, but the earliest contrast evident between the two is in the acquisition of gym badges.
In the games, gym badges are earned by defeating the gym leader in battle. There is literally no other way. Often, players must train and level up their Pokémon prior to these challenging battles in order to stand a chance of success. While Ash encounters all of the same gyms in his travels, he rarely defeats the gym leader in battle to obtain their top prize.
2 New Moves
Aside from badges, gym leaders in the video games tend to offer a Technical Machine, or TM, to victorious trainers. These TMs contain a powerful move that reflects the identity of the gym which awards it. Players use these to strengthen their Pokémon and improve their chances to win.
TMs are absent from the anime. Often, Pokémon seem to acquire new moves through experience, as happens in the games. On several occasions, Ash is seen to use new moves on a Pokémon which aren’t observed being taught to them. While Pokémon can acquire many moves, Ash’s nonexistent use of TMs (as well as their seeming absence from the anime) is a stark contrast that cannot be ignored.
1 Obtaining Owned Pokémon
Throughout the Pokémon series, villainous organizations such as Team Rocket seek to steal valuable and rare Pokémon from trainers. This trend often serves as the focal conflict for episodes, resulting in the thwarting of these efforts. While this is a negative view in the anime, it is impossible in the video games.
If you’ve ever attempted to throw a Pokéball at another trainer’s Pokémon in the video games, you have been met with a discouraging message which essentially informs you that this isn’t possible. While impossible for you, Ash actually obtained his Charmander at the loss of another trainer early in the series. Arguments could be made to say that the Charmander had been released, but no interpretation of this acquisition would be possible in the games.