Pokémon Yellow was the first main-series Pokémon game to make Pikachu the player’s permanent partner.
Released in Japan in 1998 and internationally from 1999 onward, Pokémon Yellow was an enhanced version of the first-generation games. It drew heavily on the television anime, where Pikachu was Ash’s distinctive companion.
Instead of choosing Bulbasaur, Charmander, or Squirtle at the beginning, the player receives Pikachu from Professor Oak. Pikachu follows the player outside its Poké Ball and reacts to the player throughout the adventure. The game also allows the player to obtain all three traditional first-generation starters during the story.
Pokémon Yellow is sometimes called a remake of the anime, but it remains a revised version of the original Red and Green gameplay structure. Its Pikachu focus distinguishes it from the standard paired releases.