As the saying goes: You never forget your first. No, I'm not referring to George Washington's autobiography. I'm referring to our first experiences, be it love, job, car, or house, to name a few. And for me, Leaf Green was my first foray into the gaming world of Pokemon (as I've previously mentioned here).

Don’t worry, this is more reminiscing and somewhat of a review - of which I feel I am entitled to, having registered over 500 hours of gameplay – and not a life lesson involving hatchets, cherry trees, and integrity.

Whenever I see this image, I can hear the intro music in my head

Leaf Green was released in 2004 (alongside its counterpart Fire Red) as GBA remakes of the 1996 Red and Blue versions, so it only seemed fitting that I also started out in the Kanto region like so many others before me. I believe it was my fascination of the ocean that swayed nine-year old me to pick Squirtle as my starter, thus kickstarting a love for the Water type (every other first playthrough of future games saw me pick the water starter with zero hesitation).

And boy was the game fun. Picking a water type made the first gym a breeze (sorry Brock, Water Gun triumphs Rock Tomb) although I did lose my bearings in Mt Moon for a bit. I faced my first real test in Cerulean City, where Wartortle didn't fair too well against Misty's water types. However, the Pikachu I caught in Viridian Forest came in clutch. It was also here where I had my first real taste of capitalism, with the bicycle shop owner asking for a million Pokedollars for one of his two-wheelers. Blasphemy.

Nine-year old me really wanted to join Team Rocket, but I reckon the data size and work required to script a whole new ending for the GBA game made it untenable. Still, glad (I'm being sardonic) to see Gamefreak has continued the "illusion of choice" farce in Legends: Z-A, because I really wanted an autograph from Canari

It was also here where I came oh-so close to being a full-fledged Team Rocket member (Nugget Bridge, directly above Cerulean City), although it was just an illusion of choice (much like most of the dialogue and options in Legends: Z-A). I also helped out Bill at his cottage in Cerulean Cape and met the nice Day-Care couple on Route 5, who I unwittingly left one of my Pokemon with and promptly forgot until long after I became the Kanto champion. By then, I handed over 6,700 Pokedollars and got back my Level 73 Kakuna. Talk about getting too big for its boots, or in this case, exoskeleton.

And so, my Kanto journey continued. I discovered Pokemon abilities the hard way (Dugtrio's Magnitude attack doing nish against Gastly thanks to Levitate), realised the importance of having a team that can dish it out against all types (I struggled against Sabrina's psychic attacks), and exercised patience (Seafoam Island's boulder puzzle was a little too much for nine-year old me). But the part I most enjoyed about Leaf Green? The post-game.

You're a real one if you can name the islands based on their map layout, including the two "green" ones

As previously mentioned, I have a soft spot for the ocean. That includes beaches, islands, reefs, etc. And the Sevii Islands were absolutely beautiful, to say the least. Gamefreak gave us a small taste when, after defeating Blaine, Bill takes us over to see his buddy Celio on One Island, where we subsequently gain access to Two and Three Island, chasing off a rogue biker gang and saving Lostelle from Hypno's paralysing gaze. And if you thought that was it, you're dead wrong. Upon defeating the Elite Four, Celio requests your help to find the Ruby and Sapphire (only if you have the National Dex), a reference to the GBA games released in 2003, but also to open up trading with Lanette in the Hoenn region.

And so begins a chase that starts from One Island, where you discover remnants of Team Rocket attempting to steal the Ruby from a cave. Beat them, grab the shiny rock, and give it to Celio. However, the Sapphire is still out there, so Celio upgrades your Tri-Pass to a Rainbow Pass, giving you access to islands Four, Five, Six, and Seven.

Four Island's BGM is a remix of the music used for Azalea Town and Blackthorne City, one of many post-game reference to Johto

Head over to Four Island, where one of my all-time favourite Pokemon BGM starts to play. Seriously, I once came here and left my Nintendo DS on for two hours just to hear the music (this was before smartphones and almost every household having access to the internet or a computer). A little sidetrack: I also love the BGM from Hoenn's Sootopolis City, Sinnoh's Eterna Forest, and Mystery Dungeon's Great Canyon.

Wait, where was I? Right, Four Island. Soon, you find out that this is where Lorelei of the Elite Four lives. She's currently battling Team Rocket members – there to capture Pokemon for nefarious intentions – in the depths of Icefall Cave (you can also catch Sneasel here). Fight alongside her and defeat the grunts, who reveals that the Pokemon they caught are in the Rocket Warehouse on Five Island. The grunt then gives you one half of the password to the warehouse, proclaiming that you’ll never figure out the second half, and runs off with his lackeys. Exchange pleasantries with Lorelei and head back to the docks for your next destination.

Five Island kind of feels like a vacation, with minimal battling, chill BGMs, and a poignant tribute to a beloved Onix

One quick boat trip later, and you step onto the docks of Five Island. Surf is the main form of travel here, as there are a series of smaller islands dotted around. On one, a Pokemon Breeder gives you a mysterious egg, which hatches into Togepi. Rescue Lady Selphy from the Lost Cave and speak to her daily at her Resort Gorgeous villa for a chance to attain valuable rewards. And don’t forget to pay your respects at the Memorial Pillar, where a trainer's Onix, affectionately nicknamed Tectonix, lies. But this isn't where the Sapphire is located, so off you pop to Six Island.

Six Island is pretty large, split into two halves and separated by water. The top half will take you through Water Path, Pattern Bush (where you can catch Heracross), and finally Altering Cave on Outcast Island, which only offers up wild Zubat. Pretty anticlimactic, right? Well, the wild spawns were officially meant to be altered via Mystery Gift, which would allow Johto-exclusive Pokemon like Houndour, Pineco, and Shuckle to be caught. Sadly, this data was never distributed.

Ruin Valley sorta feels like a trip back into time, and true to its name, ruin-loving Pokemon like Natu call the place home

The bottom half of Six Island contains the next part of the post-game progression: A long, sprawling canyon named Ruin Valley. And just like the other islands, Johto Pokemon can also be caught here, such as Natu and the iconic Wobbuffet. Make your way to the centre, where the Dotted Hole is located. Find another reference to the Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald GBA games here, as the entrance to the door is closed, with a three-letter word in braille plastered on the front door. Fortunately, it's a quick deciphering job, and you’re on your way down.

Reach the bottom to find the Sapphire, but before you can do anything, a scientist appears and steals it with the intention of selling it to Team Rocket. He mocks you and gives you the second half of the warehouse password, proclaiming that you’ll never figure out the first half. Now where have I heard that before? He takes off, and now, armed with the full password, you're ready to kick Team Rocket’s behind once again.

"Passwords at the ready" - Professor Oakgonagall

Back you go to Five Island, where you're now able to unlock the door to the warehouse. And just like Team Rocket's hideout underneath Celadon City's Game Corner, there's a conveyor belt puzzle. Once you've figured it out, defeat the scientist who stole your Sapphire and take it back. He’ll also see your Earth badge, realise that you've defeated Giovanni, and disband Team Rocket's Sevii branch for good, vowing to rebuild the organisation and return one day. Since that's that for the post-game main quest, one can only assume that he failed.

So where does that leave Seven Island? Well, if you're a fan of battling, you've found your home. Kanto's Trainer Tower is located in the upper section of the island, a short walk from the jetty. But if you want to do more side quests and get your hands on one of the most sought after Pokemon from Johto (Clue: Its final evolution has the Sand Stream ability), head down towards the Sevault Canyon. This place is littered with trainers carrying the highest level of Pokemon you can find anywhere else in the game (bar the Elite Four, obviously) and itching to battle, which makes it – combined with the VS Seeker's rematch capabilities – the best place to train up your Pokemon in preparation for the post-game Elite Four grind (The levels of the Elite Four's teams have gone up by at least 10, some with evolutions like Bruno's Onix to Steelix, so its not as easy as the first time).

Will you test your mettle at the Trainer Tower or head towards Sevault Canyon to hunt for one of Johto's fan-favourites with a 5% encounter rate?

No cap, I’ve spent much of my post-game journey here, getting my team to a high-enough level to then grind at the post-game Elite Four for that coveted Level 100 status, that I reckon I'd be able to name every single Pokemon that every single trainer in the canyon has.

Nine-year old me actually found this puzzle pretty straightforward and simple

This is also where you find the Tanoby Key, which is a key-shaped cave (duh) with boulders beside open holes in the ground. The obvious answer is to push them in, after which the ground rumbles and the distant sound of something unlocking can be heard. Make your way further down and reach a stretch of water that houses seven individual caves, known as the Tanoby Ruins. It is here where you can find all 28 iterations of the Unown Pokemon, and if you've done it in ascending order, the final side quest of Fire Red and Leaf Green's post-game content.

The Pokemon Adventures manga bring a fresh perspective to the relatively tame games. Series 1 through 30 mostly covers Kanto, Johto, and Hoenn, so for gamers who are still very much in love with the older regions (I don't blame you because girl same), give it a read if you haven't yet

The Pokemon Adventures story also features the Sevii Islands, but the plot plays out very differently. I suggest you give it a read (you should be able to find PDF copies online) if you want a bit more drama than the main games are able to provide. And while I do agree that Emerald is the overall best out of all the GBA games, the Fire Red and Leaf Green remakes have done Kanto justice, especially with its post-game content.

But if you ask me what's the best remake overall? Heart Gold and Soul Silver, hands down. That's a story for another day.

~ Fremont

(Images from Nintendo Life, Archive.org, YouTube, Twitter, Bulbapedia, PokeDream, and Pokemon Wiki)