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Wanna become a hot Pokemon trainer? Well, come October you can nurture your very own all-evolving pets! What's all this red and blue all about then? It's simple, they're effectively one and the same, but subtle differences in creature type make them both worth having.

Some creatures are rarer than others, but by linking up with a friend you can track down the most sought after critters until you collect all 150! Viewed from a Zelda-style top-down perspective it's up to you to choose one of three domesticated Pokemons from the prof's lab and toughen him up by fighting weaker pets of your rivals. Don't expect to find all 150 in one pak though, you'll need Red and Blue if you stand a chance of becoming the most celebrated leader.

Find, entrap and train all Pokemons found throughout the land - you never know when the next one will rear up out of the long grass to challenge you. It's like a mini-RPG with challenges, puzzles and fighting all playing an integral part of the action.

Players choose a tamed 'starter' Pokemon, who is really only there to let players get to grips with the turn-based fighting before moving onto stronger and further evolved creatures. It's a gentle learning curve and quite good fun building up, breeding and fighting the little fellas. Each one encountered (there are fifteen different categories) is based upon a specific characteristic or element such as fire, water, air, bug, flora. It's very much like stone, paper, scissors to begin with as one element is better and weaker than one of the others.

All captured Pokemons are kept in a special Monster Ball adding to your collection. Remember, you don't fight at all - only your army of monsters does this. Just sit back and watch them kick butt!

One final word of caution; there are other trainers out their vying for the same honour - Gary is your main rival.

Both Pokemon games are fun and challenging. They'll keep you busy for hours!

The Pokemon phenomenon just baffles me. It really is amazing how something so obscure and bizarre can take off in Japan, get exported over to the States where they then go mad for it - and can then take over the world!

From what I can make out, the games are very simple affairs with nothing particularly original to offer. The characters themselves are freaks of a monstrous nature: ducks with shoes on their heads, caterpillars with beaks - it's nothing but a freak show! But then the kids do love it!

Graphics 80% Small, "Zelda-like" sprites.

Sound 60% Cool sound effects and music.

Playability 60% To be honest, quite limited.

Lastability 60% Lots of monsters, but similar games.

Overall 85% A unique gaming experience.