The original and virtual console versions of get back into the Pokémon series, and Yellow is arguably the most interesting of the bunch. Yellow came after Pokémon Red and Blue and contains a slightly different collection of Pokémon; it also has dialogue and characters from the anime and allows players to start with a Pikachu rather than one of the three traditional starters.
Pokémon Yellow was originally released for the Game Boy, but a virtual console version was later released on the 3DS. Most players will probably opt for the virtual console port for the sake of convenience, and it will certainly make trading easier. Trading with the Game Boy version requires a link cable, while the VC version allows players to trade with other people wirelessly. Multiplayer battles are also wireless on VC, so Yellow's social aspect is noticeably improved, with the Virtual Console menu replacing the Cable Club attendant's dialogue.
Completing Pokémon Yellow's improved Gen 1 Pokédex on VC is a bit more doable, as Yellow can wirelessly battle and trade with other Generation One VC Pokémon games, and trade with Generation Two VC games using the Time Capsule as well. All first- and second-generation VC games are compatible with Poké Transporter, a 3DS app that allows players to transfer Pokémon to a Pokémon Bank, where they can be withdrawn into either Pokémon Home or a seventh-generation game. This change is far more significant than it sounds because it marks the first time Pokémon can be transferred from the first and second generation to the present; previously, the second generation of games was unable to Pokémon to the third and beyond.
Completing Pokémon Yellow's Pokédex Is Much Easier On Virtual Console
The other changes are fairly minor. Major features like tracking down the hardest-to-find Pokémon remain the same. Some of the only animation-related changes apply to moves with bright flashing lights, which are toned down to better accommodate players with photo-sensitive epilepsy. These moves include Blizzard, Confusion, Hyper Beam, Psychic, and Thunderbolt. The other graphic change pertains to Jynx, which deservedly drew negative attention due to its offensive appearance. Jynx is now purple, and all of its move animations are changed to implement its new design, making Jynx the most colorful Pokémon in Pokémon Yellow.
Luckily, Yellow is not one of the most expensive classic Pokémon games, so the Game Boy version is somewhat reasonably priced. The Game Boy version of Yellow includes a surfing minigame called Pikachu's Beach, but it requires a Pikachu with the move Surf, which can only be obtained using Pokémon Stadium. The VC version allows players to start Pikachu's Beach as long as they have a Pikachu in their party at all, making the Easter egg far easier and as a result, a bit less satisfying. Game Boy Printer features are also disabled in VC for obvious reasons; the Game Boy version allows players to print a record of their Pokémon storage boxes, and when players complete the Pokédex, they gain a certificate. This feature was purely aesthetic but quite charming and creative, so its presence will be sorely missed.
