>>27379417The game was solid enough to be the general skeleton of every generation thereafter. Honestly can you really say that without getting into the specifics, the game's general formula has changed so much? I feel your two reason are also more of opinions. The commute factor doesn't explain the success of the game in the west, where the GameBoy was already popular. Also in those days the games where primarily played by children, and they walk to school until high school age.
I do think the anime co-release had something to do with the popularity, but that's not to say that the game was bad.
Pokemon was popular because of clever marketing to the cute culture of Japan, and the playability of the game. The game utilized the link mechanic of the Gameboy in a new and innovative way, which was a huge wow factor. Humans beings generally like to collect things, look at the after shock Pokemon left with Digi mon, Monster rancher, and yokai watch.
Comparing the game to other RPGs of the time is like comparing apples to oranges my friend. The combat system is similar but the game in essence is particularly unique.
Pokemon despite its glitches was a great game, They had no idea how involved the combat would become, so we have to overlook the typing and simple mechanics of the first generation.
1st gen might not be the best generation of Pokemon, but to say when it stands alone it was one of the worst games ever released would be a gross overstatement.
