For us 90s babies, the Holy Trinity of Disney Channel, Nickelodeon, and Cartoon Network formed a big part of our childhood. The internet was just about coming into fruition, with the rise of a plethora of websites with numerous entertaining flash games and of course, the early days of YouTube. And though those things have come and gone, one thing in my life remained constant: My love for Pokemon.

I first got into Pokemon 20 years ago, and I remember exactly how it went down. Let me set the scene: My friends and I were sitting on the staircase steps of the corridor leading to the school hall in our primary school. It was a sunny afternoon in 2005. That year was pretty much life-changing for me: I got my own computer, got cable for the first time (goodbye Kids Central, hello Holy Trinity), and as per the story goes – got into Pokemon. My friend showed me a few Pokemon trading cards he had. I don’t exactly remember what they were, but I remembered I wanted to start collecting too, just to be a part of the trend. Spoiler alert: no regrets.

You couldn't pay me enough to sell my childhood collection. It would be like losing a huge part of me.

And thus began my foray into the hobby. I got my dad to buy me a Nintendo DS and my very first Pokemon game: Leaf Green (yes I know, I was late to the game). I begged and begged for him to buy me Pokemon cards. I saved up my allowance to grab the pre-built decks (I remember they were going for about $18.90) just for the EX chase cards. And slowly, my passion for the hobby grew. A year later, I had a binder full of amazing cards and all five GBA games for the Pokemon series (Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, Leaf Green, Fire Red), all of which I still have with me today. Throw away a huge part of my adolescence? Blasphemy. Perish the thought.

I stopped collecting the cards in 2007, although I still played the games. I got the Diamond and Pearl versions for the DS, but as a growing child, my focus quickly shifted to other games such as Counter Strike, Blackshot, and Soldier Front (you’re an OG if you remember this). However, Pokemon still remained a big, big part of me. I replayed the GBA games, I tried to get all my favourite Pokemon to Level 100, I beat the Elite Four over and over again just to try and hit personal milestones. The passion may have withered, but it never died.

They're all still working perfectly. Fun fact: I've logged over 500 man hours on Leaf Green alone.

But my passion ignited again in December 2023. My mum wanted to get me a Christmas present, so she asked what I wanted. I thought about it for a while, before deciding on a Nintendo Switch. And obviously there was only one game series I wanted to start with.

With Eevee being my favourite Pokemon and Blastoise (Squirtle was my first ever starter) coming a close second, I chose Let’s Go, Eevee! as my first Pokemon console game in 16 years. And suddenly, the memories came flooding back. The wave of nostalgia hit like a truck. I felt like a kid again, carrying a handheld gaming console around and playing Pokemon on it.

Back like I never left. And of course I had to buy the classic remakes first. I practically grew up on them.

And so began the revival of a passion that just took an extended break. Mystery Dungeon came next (the remake of the DS game I also played 16 years back), with Legends: Arceus and Pokemon Scarlet following shortly after. I was back, I was hooked, and now I have adult money to fulfil the yearnings my inner kid never got to. Still, I didn’t think I’d get back into the trading card game (TCG), until the Twilight Masquerade (TWM) set dropped in May 2024.

It featured a specialised Eevee artwork (known as an Illustrated Rare) and immediately I knew I had to have it. Out of impulse, I went down to the Pokemon Centre at Jewel and got myself a TWM booster box to try and pull it myself. Spoiler alert: I didn’t. But again, ripping the packs after almost two decades brought me back to my nine-year-old self ripping booster packs for the first time and getting so excited at whatever I manage to get, caring not for the rarity or the price, but because I pulled it myself. And so, I fell back in love with the TCG hobby.

A year later. The binder purely contains Eevee singles, all different variations from different sets. The goal is to fill up all 360 slots. Slowly, but surely.

Fast forward ten months. Yes, I managed to get the Eevee card I mentioned. And the Japanese version too. Oh, and both English and Japanese versions in PSA10 slabs too. Along with a binder with different Eevee cards. And numerous other Eevees in PSA10 slabs. Alongside other cards ranging from Full Arts to Special Illustrated Rares. I may have dropped quite a number of greenbacks on this hobby, but at the end of the day, what matters most is my happiness and the healing of my inner child.

I’m going full geek but I don’t give a damn. I’m back, baby!

~ Fremont

(Images by Fremont Seow, Facebook)