Pikachu is the sole starter Pokémon in Pokémon Yellow: Special Pikachu Edition.
Unlike Pokémon Red and Blue, which let players choose Bulbasaur, Charmander, or Squirtle, Pokémon Yellow gives the player Pikachu at the beginning. This design was intended to reflect the Pokémon anime, where Ash begins his journey with Pikachu rather than selecting one of the three original starter Pokémon.
Pikachu also behaves differently in Yellow. It follows the player in the overworld, has a unique voice, and reacts to the player’s actions through a happiness system. The rival begins with Eevee, creating a different early-game matchup from the one in Red and Blue.
The title was first released in Japan on September 12, 1998, followed by North America on October 19, 1999. A frequent mistake is treating Eevee as the player’s starter because it belongs to the rival in Yellow. Eevee became a player-selected partner much later in Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee!, which is based partly on Yellow’s design.