Pocket Monsters Red [Game Boy] Japanese Import {used}

Pocket Monsters Red (ポケットモンスター 赤) is the Japanese original that launched the entire Pokémon franchise in February 1996 — a full two and a half years before Western audiences ever saw Pokémon Red and Blue. Developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo, the Japanese version differs from its Western counterpart in ways collectors care about: the Japanese release paired Red with Green (not Blue), the sprite artwork is notably cruder and was redesigned for Western releases, and several Pokémon designs were revised before going global. The Western versions were actually based on the separately released Pocket Monsters Blue, which had updated sprites — making the original Japanese Red a distinct artifact in the franchise’s history.

Key Details
• Developer: Game Freak
• Publisher: Nintendo
• Release Year: 1996
• Platform: Game Boy
• Region: Japan
• Condition: Used, cartridge only