The anime took over the world, so the games answered. Pokémon Yellow (1999) rebuilt Red & Blue around the TV show: you start with a Pikachu who refuses to stay in its Poké Ball and follows you everywhere — turning its head, checking in, getting grumpy when you ignore it. It was the first time a Pokémon felt like a partner instead of a sprite.
Team Rocket's Jessie and James show up to menace you, your rival starts with an Eevee, and all three Kanto starters can join your team, just like Ash's. A surfing Pikachu unlocked a hidden beach minigame if you knew the trick. On a Game Boy Color, the whole game bloomed into real color. A love letter to the cartoon — and for a generation, the definitive Kanto.
Yellow — the anime edition, Pikachu on the cover where he belongedYour Pikachu, right behind you — check on him and he'd react
