Pokemon Master Trainer
$50 - $249.99
Pokemon Master at a Glance
| Game Type Adventure Card Video - TV Theme Roll and Move | Play Time 30 mins | Skill/Complexity (2 - 5) Light |
| Age 7+ | Publisher(s) Hasbro | Published 1999 |
| Categories Family | Players 2 - 5 (4 is best) | Rules Manual Official Rules PDF |
| Our Rating 7/10 | Cost Collectable and no longer published. |
About – Description
The Pokemon Master Trainer Board Game is based on the Nintendo Franchise and was released in 1999. Designed by Koichi Ooyama and Bill Sabram it is a game that is family based and suitable for players aged 7 and over.
With a 45 minute playing time, it is the perfect length of time for children of this age. It involves battles, capture and travel, and it’s an intriguing game that captures the imagination in the same way as the video game did.
Who’s it best suited for?
This game offers you a chance to enjoy it as a family and that is down to the age at which players have to be to play it. However, there is an element of strategy and card playing with it, so this could be suitable for those who enjoy strategy games but are also fans of the franchise.
Skill – Complexity
It is not considered to be a complex game to play although an element of thought has to go into playing it, so the younger players find it difficult to play.
Players have to move around the board where they battle or capture species but they can also trade and make other decisions during the game.
Set Up – Playing Rules & Instructions
The setup of the game involves placing Pokemon chips on the board and the starter Pokemon chips next to the gameboard.
The Pokemon rival cards have to be shuffled and placed on the specific area of the board while the Item and Events cards have to be shuffled and placed alongside the board. All trainers then pick an Ash mover which they can match up with their starter Pokemon.
Players begin moving around the board, starting with the player who has the lowest power rating. The die is rolled and players move their ash mover along the board traveling in one direction. As the players move through the board they will have the chance to change direction slightly and they will also be able to choose item and event cards. The items consist of Poke balls, Potions and vitamins while the event cards enable players to trade Pokemon, catch Pokemon and use certain moves.
Once a player has moved around the board and arrived at Cinnabar Island with 20 points, they can then move to Indigo Plateau where they will face a battle with either Gary Oak or Kanto Elite Four.
If they defeat their opponent then they win the game, if not they have to go back to Pallet Town.
Versions – Editions
The game has been released in several countries and there is a Johto Version available.
Likes & Dislikes
For Pokemon enthusiasts, it might seem like the perfect game but some dislike the setup time and the way in which it plays. For many, it does have a nostalgic feeling to it but this is a game that children love playing although some feel as though it is not a game that you can return to soon after playing it.
Final Thoughts
A great looking game that is designed around the Pokemon franchise. As expected, it does appeal to the Pokemon enthusiasts out there and it is even appealing to a new, younger audience.
It could take new players a little time to get to grips with the game but with the excitement it offers, no wonder it is a popular choice.
