How would you explain Pokémon to someone who doesn't know it?

[NovaBrunswick]

Most people - if not everyone - have heard of Pokémon, or played some or all of the games. But some people still don't know what Pokémon is, even though it's now a 20-year-old franchise which includes games, TV shows, movies and manga.

So if you did meet someone who didn't know what Pokémon is all about, how would you explain it to them?

 

[BCVM22]

It's a deep and extensive turn-based monster battling RPG offering varying levels of intensity and gameplay that can depend on your level of dedication and interest.

 

[RedJirachi]

At this point, who doesn't know about Pokemon?

 

[Italianbaptist]

Chess with fuzzy animals

Seriously, though, especially when trying to explain that Pokemon is more than just a kids' game, I love pointing out the in depth battle system.

 

[NovaBrunswick]

Chess with fuzzy animals

Seriously, though, especially when trying to explain that Pokemon is more than just a kids' game, I love pointing out the in depth battle system.

This. Some people say Pokémon is only for kids, but that's probably because they only saw the cartoon or saw kids (possibly their own) playing the games when they were littler. But show them some of the darker side of the franchise, like Alola's apparently morbid Pokédex entries (look at Bewear's, for example - he kills people by hugging them tightly?!) or that one scene in the Pokémon Adventures manga where...

Spoiler: hide

an Arbok gets slashed in half by a Charmeleon (I think).

Or the...

Spoiler: hide

Psyduck zombies.

And they say Pokémon is a kids' game/show.

 

[Crystal]

Pokemon now is such a large media franchise, it expanded into many different medias, not only games, but also anime, manga, TCG, toys, and many miscellaneous. Are you going to explain to that ignorant someone a small branch of the large tree, or the entire tree? It makes a complete different explanation if you focus on different things.

Not any of the branches, but if I have to explain the Pokemon franchise as a whole, then it will be:
A fictional universe about lovable pet-like monsters that are easily affectionate towards human beings. Human beings in that fictional universe treat them with pet-owner love, sees them either as pet and life-partner, or items for collection and tools for battle. Oh yes, they are lovable, they are pet-like, yet they are powerful, they possess supernatural powers, they can kick your a*s really REALLY hard.
That's why Pokemon is both cute and cool at the same time.

 

[Samayouru]

In a nutshell? PETA's worst nightmare.

Jokes aside - I'd describe it as an RPG series with elements of pet care, supernatural/sci-fi forces and competitive battling with said pets.

 

[NovaBrunswick]

In a nutshell? PETA's worst nightmare.

Jokes aside - I'd describe it as an RPG series with elements of pet care, supernatural/sci-fi forces and competitive battling with said pets.

PETA actually made a couple of parody Pokémon games (Black & Blue and Red, Black & Blue) highlighting the alleged 'animal abuse' that goes on in the Pokémon franchise. They also made a parody Mario game, saying that Mario's Tanooki (raccoon) costume is in fact made from an actual dead raccoon.

 

[Excitable Boy]

a fad

 

[fireredxy]

Spoiler: hide

an Arbok gets slashed in half by a Charmeleon (I think).

[/QUOTE]

I do believe the Arbok was also a zombie.

 

[Ketaru]

This. Some people say Pokémon is only for kids,

By now, if somebody really doesn't realize the extent of the fandom, and that it is as household a name as Spider-Man or Super Mario (both of whom have very extensive adult followings), there's really no reaching such a person.

 

[Laurelai]

I tell people that there are several aspects that you can choose to participate in or not-
A) A linear storyline RPG
B) A collecting game
C) a giant rock/paper/scissors game

 

[thiagomestres]

It's a fictional world where you catch monster and battle with them.

What's hard to explain?

 

[NovaBrunswick]

I tell people that there are several aspects that you can choose to participate in or not-
A) A linear storyline RPG
B) A collecting game
C) a giant rock/paper/scissors game

In the fifth-generation games, there's actually a girl in Accumula Town (I think) who will play Pokémon Rock-Paper-Scissors with you, though instead of Rock-Paper-Scissors, it's Grass-Fire-Water. This also goes on in the Striaton triplets' Gym in BW1.