Game Freak's Forgotten Legacy
To most of the world Game Freak is nothing more than just the Pokémon guys. Known solely for games like Pokémon Red and Blue, and more recently the infamous Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. However, looking back it quickly becomes apparent that they’re so much more than that. Beyond the familiar gyms, and badges lies a treasure trove of games, some of which even venture outside of Nintendo’s ecosystem. From one of the first indie games Quinty, to Mario & Wario, and even solitaire horse racing with Pocket Card Jockey, Game Freak’s legacy extends well beyond its flagship franchise, and this is a side of them that tends to go largely underappreciated. So, let’s appreciate it. Let’s take a step back and explore Game Freak’s legacy, beyond Pokémon.
Branding by:
/ whaddupnico
Thumbnail art by:
/ cuteytcat
3D Pulseman Animation by:
/ segasteven
Twitter:
/ jakstalgia
Chapters:
00:00 - 00:52 Intro
00:52 - 03:40 Game Freak's Humble Beginnings
3:40 - 5:36 Quinty/Mendel Palace
5:36 - 9:37 Jerry Boy/Smart Ball
9:37 - 11:07 Yoshi
11:07 - 12:30 Magical Taruruto-kun
12:30 - 15:31 Mario & Wario
15:31 - 18:41 Pulseman
18:41 - 20:51 Pokemania
20:51 - 21:34 Bushi Seiryūden: Futari no Yūsha
21:34 - 22:01 Click Medic
22:01 - 23:08 Pokemon Fatigue
23:08 - 25:20 Drill Dozer
25:20 - 25:58 The Gear Project
25:58 - 28:01 HarmoKnight
28:01 - 30:38 Pocket Card Jockey
30:38 - 33:10 Tembo The Badass Elephant
33:10 - 34:25 Giga Wrecker
34:25 - 35:48 Game Freak's 30th Anniversary
35:48 - 39:23 Little Town Hero
39:23 - 43:58 The Future of Game Freak
Sources:
Satoshi Tajiri GCCX Interview: • Video
Quinty Interview (shmuplations): https://shmuplations.com/quinty/
Tajiri and Ishihara on Pokemon's Beginnings (lavacutcontent): https://lavacutcontent.com/satoshi-ta...
Game Freak is More Than Just A Pokemon Developer (Kotaku): https://kotaku.com/how-pokemons-devel...
Iwata Asks HarmoKnight:
https://iwataasks.nintendo.com/interv...
Game Freak ‘prioritising’ original game projects: https://www.videogameschronicle.com/n...
Nintendo interview with Tajiri and Ishihara: https://web.archive.org/web/200702260...
Satoshi Tajiri: The Man Who Created Pokémon (Manga/Comic)