Pokemon Yellow: Playthrough Part 4

We grab two more badges, thwart Team Rockets plans once again and our Pokémon are evolving left and right!

We left off last time just after finishing us the Cemetery Tower and freeing Marowak's soul. I decided to cut through Saffron City (used the extra Fresh Water I picked up in Celadon to get the guard to let us in) to see if I could take on the Gym. Team Rocket was blocking the Gym but the Fighting Dojo was open. Pidgeotto and Charmeleon made quick work of the trainers in the Dojo and I was given the choice between a Hitmonlee and Hitmonchan (I picked Hitmonchan but put him in the computer, never been much for fighting types).

I'm only allowed one so I had to leave Hitmonlee after choosing Hitmonchan.

Team Rocket was blocking not only the Gym but also the Silph Co. sky scraper (where I know the next Team Rocket fight is) so I decided to head back to Celedon City to take the Bicycle Road down to the next town - Fushcia City.

After all the experience from the fighting Dojo it wasn't long before Pidgeotto evolved!

Outside Celadon there is a large Pokemon blocking the path to the Bicycle Road, I use the Poke Flute we got in Lavendar Town and he wakes up and attacks! The Pokemon is a Snorlax who likes to use Rest to recover all the damage I was doing to him. Eventually I was able to get his health down low enough for long enough to catch him and then head out to Bicycle Road.

Ivysaur was the next to evolve, just outside Fuschia City.

The Party got a whole lot of experience fighting the trainers on Bicycle Road on the way to Fushcia City. Once we arrived I decided to bypass the town and go back to Lavendar town and take the other way to Fushcia City (you can also go south from Lavendar Town to get there). Another Snorlax battle (and capture) along with a slew of more trainers added to all my Pokemon levels.

There are only 2 Snorlax in the game, I decided not to use him but he is a powerful addition to any team.

Back in Fuschia City it was time to tackle Safari Zone. I picked up several good items (TMs, Rare Candy, Protein, etc.) along with HM 3 (Surf) and the GOLD TEETH. I also took the time to try to catch a few rare Pokemon but it's pretty difficult and I think all I got was Execute. Back in town I picked up the Good Rod (also got the Super Rod on the docks south of Lavendar Town) so now I can do some good fishing if I want. Gave the Gold Teeth to the Warden so he could talk again and he gave me HM 4 (Strength).

Wartortle got his last evolution just before we got back to Fuschia City!

Next it was time to tackle the Fushcia City gym. The lower trainers in the gym are mostly Jugglers with lots of Drowzees and Hypnos so it is hard to guess that the leader (Koga) is going to have 3 Venonats and a Venomoth. Charmeleon got some good experience in this gym but Pidgeot had to help him out some.

The experience at the gym put Charmelon over the edge and we now have Charizard!

Next it was time to head back to Saffron City to take care of some unfinished business, I can't just allow Team Rocket to run the town! The Silph Co. Sky Scraper is about 12 Stories and has quite a few teleport panels throughout, along with a bunch of team rocket grunts and scientists itching for a fight. There are quite a few TMs and other good items throughout the building so I took my time to try to get them all and face every trainer.

Eventually I found the Card Key that allowed me to open special doors and make my way towards the final string of battles (you know you are getting close when you find the lady with the beds that heals your pokemon). The final three battles in the building were with Gary, Jessie & James, and Giovanni. All three have upgraded their Pokemon significantly but with my pretty awesome team I was able to take them down fairly easily.

Gary finally decided to evolve his Eevee, but I have all the main types so I could counter just about anything.

The President of the Silph Co. along with all the staff were grateful that I sent Team Rock 'blasting off again!' and I made a quick round through the building to make sure I picked up all the items. Back out in the city I went to the house in the southern part of the city to pick up the TM for Psychic and then headed towards the gym.

The President of Silph Co. gave me the Master Ball, I'll just tuck that away for a rainy day!

The Saffron City gym uses teleport panels like the ones in the Silph Co. building. It took me a while but I was able to take down each of the sub-trainers and then get to Sabrina for the battle for the badge. I was surprised by Sabrina's Pokemon (Abra, Kadabra and Alakazam all at Lvl 50!) and it was a tough battle as my highest Pokemon was at Lvl 45, but I was able to take her down. Pikachu, Pidgeot and Charizard all had amazing battles here and Blastoise finished off Alakazam with an Ice Beam freezing and a few Bites.

My Pokemon after the fight with Sabrina

Now that we have Surf the question is where do I want to go next. The traditional route is south from Fuschia City to the Island with Articuno then on to Cinnibar Island for the 7th Badge. Or I could go back to Pallet Town and surf south straight to Cinnibar. Or I could back track near Rock Tunnel with Surf and take on the Power Plant and try to Catch Zapdos. So many choices!

I'm probably about 22 hours in now (playing on an Emulator so it stretches the time) and have been missing a lot of Pokemon I could be catching, I'll have to fix that!

That's all for now, I'm hoping to play again a little later this week. We just have two more badges to go before the trek down Victory Road to the Final Four and Championship fight! But there is also a whole lot more to unlock before then and with Fly and Surf we now have access to most of it. I'm looking forward to it!