Living Games

“The Alternate Universe Pokemon Iceberg Explained” by Midnight Krick is one of my favorite YouTube videos ever. It details a universe where Pokémon Gold and Silver were the final games in the series, and are quite different from the ones we know. I would HIGHLY recommend watching this video for yourself before I spoil the ending here.

A few of my favorite entries from the video:

sprite of a pokemon like pinsir, but with a small mask in the center of its body

1. "Plux". The evolution of Pinsir. A real beta pokemon irl. However, another beta pokemon is confirmed to be unused in this version of Pokemon.

2."Learning through Dreams"

Weird, obscure details and secrets in this game were discovered through sequences of actions seen in player's dreams.

a pokemon red/blue screencap of what looks like a couple of rocks and an onix head

3. The Onix Shrine. Players debate over its purpose, because it doesn't seem to do anything. a pokemon stats screen showing Yoshi

4. Evolving Dragonite into Yoshi. This infamous real-life hoax is possible in this version of the Pokemon Red and Blue.

Among the entertaining and creepy oddities in this version of the game is the observation that the ROM file appears to have expanded in size over the years.

“It's adapting, it's growing... it wants to please us. More secrets, More rumors, More content. The game that never has to end.”

Although this story continues by having the game expanding its influence into the real world (game cartridges oozing mysterious substances, people going missing, possession), it caused me to be fascinated by the concept of a “living” game that grows and evolves within itself, despite it being an old game that should not be able to do so. It is just so fascinating and unique.