Pokémon Red and Pokémon Blue forever changed the gaming landscape and became the most popular franchises ever. Its merchandise sales exceed Harry Potter, Lego, and Star Wars. Little did we know that Pokémon would be the juggernaut it was back on Feb. 27, 1996. Developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo, these seminal titles marked the inception of a cultural phenomenon that continues to captivate audiences worldwide. But what were the main differences and similarities of the two?
The game introduced players to the enchanting realm of Kanto, where the dream of becoming a Pokémon Master began. Young children and adults were given the choice between three starter Pokémon: Charmander, Squirtle, and Bulbasaur. With each version offering exclusive creatures and subtle variations, the Red vs. Blue debate sparked a timeless rivalry among fans.
Pokémon Red and Blue Differences
The main differences in the game were the available Pokémon. While there was 151 Pokémon in the first generation, some were exclusive to each version. Of course, there was the elusive Mew and Mewtwo. To catch Mew in the original Pokémon games, one had to follow the infamous “Mew glitch.” After defeating all trainers on the Nugget Bridge except one, walk up the path beside the bridge. Continue until your start menu appears. Open and close the menu, then take one step and quickly open the menu again. Fly to Lavender Town from the menu, triggering a wild battle with a Level 7 Mew upon arrival.
There was a similar setup for catching Mewtwo. After defeating the Elite Four and becoming the Pokémon Champion, head to the Cerulean Cave just north of Cerulean City. Navigate through the cave’s labyrinthine layout to reach the bottom floor where Mewtwo resides. Approach Mewtwo and engage in a battle with this powerful Psychic-type Pokémon.
Here is the complete Pokémon list for the two.
| Pokémon Red | Pokémon Red |
|---|---|
| Abra | Abra |
| Aerodactyl | Aerodactyl |
| Alakazam | Alakazam |
| Arbok | Articuno |
| Arcanine | Beedrill |
| Articuno | Bellsprout |
| Beedrill | Blastoise |
| Blastoise | Bulbasaur |
| Bulbasaur | Butterfree |
| Butterfree | Caterpie |
| Caterpie | Chansey |
| Chansey | Charizard |
| Charizard | Charmander |
| Charmander | Charmeleon |
| Charmeleon | Clefable |
| Clefable | Clefairy |
| Clefairy | Cloyster |
| Cloyster | Cubone |
| Cubone | Dewgong |
| Dewgong | Diglett |
| Diglett | Ditto |
| Ditto | Dodrio |
| Dodrio | Doduo |
| Doduo | Dragonair |
| Dragonair | Dragonite |
| Dragonite | Dratini |
| Dratini | Drowzee |
| Drowzee | Dugtrio |
| Dugtrio | Eevee |
| Eevee | Electrode |
| Ekans | Exeggcute |
| Electabuzz | Exegutor |
| Electrode | Farfetch’d |
| Exeggcute | Fearow |
| Exeggutor | Flareon |
| Farfetch’d | Gastly |
| Fearow | Gengar |
| Flareon | Geodude |
| Gastly | Golbat |
| Gengar | Goldeen |
| Geodude | Golduck |
| Gloom | Golem |
| Golbat | Graveler |
| Goldeen | Grimer |
| Golduck | Gyarados |
| Golem | Haunter |
| Graveler | Hitmonlee |
| Grimer | Hitonchan |
| Growlithe | Horsea |
| Gyarados | Hypno |
| Haunter | Ivysaur |
| Hitmonchan | Jigglypuff |
| Hitmonlee | Jolteon |
| Horsea | Jynx |
| Hypno | Kabuto |
| Ivysaur | Kabutops |
| Jigglypuff | Kadabra |
| Jolteon | Kakuna |
| Jynx | Kangaskhan |
| Kabuto | Kingler |
| Kabutops | Koffing |
| Kadabra | Krabby |
| Kakuna | Lapras |
| Kangaskhan | Lickitung |
| Kingler | Machamp |
| Koffing | Machoke |
| Krabby | Machop |
| Lapras | Magikarp |
| Lickitung | Magmar |
| Machamp | Magnemite |
| Machoke | Magneton |
| Machop | Marowak |
| Magikarp | Meowth |
| Magnemite | Metapod |
| Magneton | Mew |
| Mankey | Mewtwo |
| Marowak | Moltres |
| Metapod | Mr. Mime |
| Mew | Muk |
| Mewtwo | Nidoking |
| Moltres | Nidoqueen |
| Mr. Mime | Nidoran (Female) |
| Muk | Nidoran (Male) |
| Nidoking | Nidorina |
| Nidoqueen | Nidorino |
| Nidoran♂ | Ninetales |
| Nidoran♀ | Omanyte |
| Nidorina | Omastar |
| Nidorino | Onix |
| Oddish | Paras |
| Omanyte | Parasect |
| Omastar | Persian |
| Onix | Pidgeot |
| Paras | Pidgeotto |
| Parasect | Pidgey |
| Pidgeot | Pikachu |
| Pidgeotto | Pinsir |
| Pidgey | Poliwag |
| Pikachu | Poliwhirl |
| Poliwag | Poliwrath |
| Poliwhirl | Ponyta |
| Poliwrath | Porygon |
| Ponyta | Psyduck |
| Porygon | Raichu |
| Primeape | Rapidash |
| Psyduck | Raticate |
| Raichu | Rattata |
| Rapidash | Rhydon |
| Raticate | Rhyhorn |
| Rattata | Sandshrew |
| Rhydon | Sandslash |
| Rhyhorn | Seadra |
| Scyther | Seaking |
| Seadra | Seel |
| Seaking | Shellder |
| Seel | Slowbro |
| Shellder | Slowpoke |
| Slowbro | Snorlax |
| Slowpoke | Spearow |
| Snorlax | Squirtle |
| Spearow | Starmie |
| Squirtle | Staryu |
| Starmie | Tangela |
| Staryu | Tauros |
| Tangela | Tentacool |
| Tauros | Tentacruel |
| Tentacool | Vaporeon |
| Tentacruel | Venomoth |
| Vaporeon | Venonat |
| Venomoth | Venusaur |
| Venonat | Victreebel |
| Venusaur | Voltorb |
| Vileplume | Vulpix |
| Voltorb | Wartortle |
| Wartortle | Weedle |
| Weedle | Weepinbell |
| Weezing | Weezing |
| Wigglytuff | Wigglytuff |
| Zapdos | Zapdos |
| Zubat | Zubat |
Pokémon Red and Blue Similarities
As for the similarities, the games both had the Gym and Final Four adversaries. The game did a fabulous job of keeping the games similar enough that everyone experienced the same fun. Players were excited to show off their version of the game and the exclusive Pokémon they could only get.
Gym Leaders
Final Four
Items List
The last similarities were the useable items, found in both games. Here is a complete list.
| Name | Price | Effect | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Antidote | 100 | Cures Poison | Most PokeMarts |
| Awakening | 250 | Cures Sleep | Most PokeMarts |
| Burn Heal | 250 | Cures Burn | Most PokeMarts |
| Calcium | 9800 | Raises Special Attack | Celadon Dept. Store, 5th Floor |
| Carbos | 9800 | Raises Speed | Celadon Dept. Store, 5th Floor |
| Dire Hit | 650 | Raises chances of a Critical Hit in battle | Celadon Dept. Store, 5th Floor |
| Elixir | – | Restores 10PP to each move | Various Routes & Areas |
| Escape Rope | 550 | Escape from the current cave | Most PokeMarts |
| Ether | – | Restores 10PP of one move | Various Route & Areas |
| Fire Stone | 2100 | Evolves Eevee, Growlithe and Vulpix | Celadon Dept. Store, 4th Floor |
| Fresh Water | 200 | Recovers 50HP | Celadon Dept. Store, 6th Floor |
| Full Heal | 600 | Cures all status ailments | Various PokeMarts |
| Full Restore | 3000 | Restores all HP and cures all status ailments | Indigo Plateau PokeMart |
| Guard Spec | 700 | Prevents stat reduction in a battle | Celadon Dept. Store, 5th Floor |
| HP Up | 9800 | Raises max HP | Celadon Dept. Store, 5th Floor |
| Hyper Potion | 1200 | Restores 200HP | Various PokeMarts |
| Ice Heal | 250 | Cures Freeze | Various PokeMarts |
| Iron | 9800 | Raises Defense | Celadon Dept. Store, 5th Floor |
| Leaf Stone | – | Evolves Exeggcute, Gloom, and Weepinbell | Celadon Dept. Store, 4th Floor |
| Lemonade | 350 | Restores 80HP | Celadon Dept. Store, 6th Floor |
| Max Elixir | – | Restores all PP to all moves | Various Routes & Areas |
| Max Ether | – | Restores all PP to one move | Various Routes & Areas |
| Max Potion | 2500 | Restores all HP | Indigo Plateau PokeMart |
| Max Repel | 700 | Repels weaker Pokemon for 250 steps | Saffron, Cinnabar and Indigo Plateau PokeMarts |
| Max Revive | – | Revives a fainted Pokemon to max HP | Various PokeMarts |
| Moon Stone | – | Evolves Clefairy, Jigglypuff, Nidorina and Nidorino | Mt. Moon, Rocket Hideout, Route 2, Cinnabar Mansion |
| Nugget | – | Sell for money | Various Routes & Areas |
| Paralyz Heal | 200 | Cures Paralysis | Most PokeMarts |
| Poke Doll | 1000 | Trade for TM31 in Saffron, Allows escape from battle | Celadon Dept. Store, 4th Floor |
| Potion | 300 | Restores 20HP | Most PokeMarts |
| PP Up | – | Increases the max PP of a move | Various Routes & Areas |
| Protein | 9800 | Raises Attack | Celadon Dept. Store, 5th Floor |
| Rare Candy | – | Raises a Pokemon’s level by one | Various Routes & Areas |
| Repel | 350 | Repels weaker Pokemon for 100 steps | Various PokeMarts |
| Revive | 1500 | Recovers a fainted Pokemon to half max HP | Various PokeMarts |
| Soda Pop | 300 | Recovers 80HP | Celadon Dept. Store, 6th Floor |
| Super Potion | 700 | Restores 50HP | Various PokeMarts |
| Super Repel | 500 | Repels weaker Pokemon for 200 steps | Various PokeMarts |
| Thunderstone | 2100 | Evolves Eevee and Pikachu | Celadon Dept. Store, 4th Floor |
| Water Stone | 2100 | Evolves Eevee, Poliwag, Shellder and Staryu | Celadon Dept. Store, 4th Floor |
| X Accuracy | 950 | Raises accuracy in a battle | Celadon Dept. Store, 5th Floor |
| X Attack | 500 | Raises attack in a battle | Celadon Dept. Store, 5th Floor |
| X Defend | 550 | Raises defense in a battle | Celadon Dept. Store, 5th Floor |
| X Special | 350 | Raises special in a battle | Celadon Dept. Store, 5th Floor |
| X Speed | 350 | Raises speed in a battle | Celadon Dept. Store, 5th Floor |
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Cover art for Pokémon Red and Blue..