The menu, also known as the start menu, is a sidebar used in all of the main series Pokémon games which allows the player to cycle through a list of information and options. The menu's contents have changed from generation to generation, and may also change as a player progresses through the game. From Generation I through Generation III, the menu was accessed via the Start Button. In Generation IV, the default access button is the X button, but this can be changed in the settings.

The menu in Pokémon Red and Blue.

Menu commands

Pokédex

File:PokedexHoennView.png

Hoenn's Pokédex display

The Pokédex command displays the player's Pokédex. Information is recorded here about Pokémon the player has seen and caught. The Pokédex command is usually found at the top of the menu and must be obtained as the player progresses through the game. On the Pokédex interface, a list of Pokémon is displayed in numerical order and can be scrolled through vertically. Pokémon that haven't been seen by the player are marked with question marks or dashes. Information isn't displayed for Pokémon that haven't been caught, but have been encountered by the player. Images are available in the Pokédex for all Pokémon caught or encountered. Once the player selects a previously caught Pokémon from the list, the Pokémon's information is displayed in sections including a description, the area in which the Pokémon is found, its cry, its size and weight, and its different forms. For Pokémon that have only been encountered and not caught, the only information displayed is its name and image.

Generation I

Professor Oak gives the player a Pokédex after the player returns from Viridian and delivers a parcel. The Pokémon's cry is played immediately when viewing the summary page in the Pokédex. In Pokémon Yellow, a print option is available for accessing the Game Boy Printer.

Generation II

The Pokédex is obtained when the player first meets Professor Oak, on a mission from Professor Elm to meet with Mr. Pokémon. In Generation II, an Unown Dex is also an available upgrade. A print option is available for accessing the Game Boy Printer. The footprints of Pokémon are listed in the description page. The cry and nest area of the Pokémon are selectable options at the bottom of the summary page.

Generation III

Professor Birch gives the player a Pokédex after the first rival battle. The National Dex is introduced in this generation, as well as options for sorting Pokémon by features rather than just names and numbers. Once the National Pokédex is obtained, one can switch between the regional and National listings. Another new option is the search feature, which allows the player to search by color, type, and first letter of the Pokémon's name.

Generation IV

Professor Rowan gives the player a Pokédex in Sandgem after choosing a starter Pokémon.

Platinum

A different Pokédex configuration was introduced in Pokémon Platinum, with a different numbering system and more native Pokémon.

Pokémon

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Pokémon Party in Pokémon Red and Blue

The Pokémon command displays the player's current party. Once opened, it will display the six party slots and the Pokémon present in the player's party. The Pokémon order and line-up can be changed by switching their places or by removing Pokémon at computer kiosks. By selecting an individual Pokémon, its summary will appear. The summary information is dependent on what is available in the game's generation, but it can include the status of the Pokémon, current level and experience points, stats, nature and preference of taste, condition, moves with their battle and contest information, where the Pokémon was first met, as well as any ribbons earned.

Bag

File:Bag.PNG

Bag display

The Bag or Pack command displays the player's bag and the items inside. By opening the bag, the player can change and arrange items in the bag, along with registering and deleting items. Beginning in Generation II, registering a key item allows the player to easily activate and use the item using the select button, or Y button in Generation IV.

Generation I

Any item placed in the bag went in a single pocket. Ninety-nine copies of an item count as taking up one slot, and twenty different items are allowed in the bag, in total. When the bag is full, the player's PC can be used for item storage.

Generation II

Items are automatically separated into four different pockets: Healing items (including berries), Poké Balls, TMs and HMs, and Key items.

Generation III

The bag is in either a girl's or boy's design, and it moves whenever something is done. When the limit of ninety-nine items is reached, the player now can carry more of that particular item by using a second slot in the bag. This generation also expanded the Pocket System from Generation II, with five pockets available instead of four:

Items
Berries
Poké Balls
TMs and HMs
Key Items

In FireRed and LeafGreen, the bag is only divided into Items, Key Items, and Poké Balls. There are two sub-pockets in the Key Items pocket, TM Case and Berry Pouch, which hold TMs and HMs and berries, respectively. Also, beginning with FireRed and LeafGreen, when an item is viewed, it will have a picture. This continues with Emerald and Generation IV.

Generation IV

Generation IV changed the Pocket System even more, dividing the bag up further:

Items
Medicine
Poké Balls
TMs and HMs
Berries
Mail
Battle Items
Key Items

The player can navigate the bag by either using the face buttons on the DS or using the Touch Screen to scroll through the bag and items.

Unlike previous generations, the bag has an infinite amount of space within it, meaning that the PC Item Storage system is obsolete and therefore not present. It is replaced within the PC menu with an option for decorating Poké Balls with Seals instead.

Pokémon Applications

PokéGear

File:PokéGearTime.png

PokéGear display

The PokéGear command displays the player's PokéGear. The PokéGear command is only available in Generation II where it displays the map of the region, names of previously fought trainers, the current time, and be able to call registered trainers. The main character of Gold, Silver, and Crystal receives a PokéGear from their mother at the start of their journey. It has several functions, some of which will need to be unlocked during the game by receiving special expansion cards. The functions of the PokéGear include:

Time - The PokéGear displays the day of the week and the time of day, entered at the beginning of the game.
Map - The PokéGear displays a map of Johto, and later Kanto.
Phone - The PokéGear will function like a cellphone, allowing the user to make calls to people that the player has traded phone numbers with.
Radio - The PokéGear functions as a radio. This allows the player to listen to radio shows and music.

PokéNav

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PokéNav display

The PokéNav command displays the player's PokéNav. The PokéNav command is only available in Generation III (save FireRed and LeafGreen, Pokémon XD, and Pokémon Colosseum) where it displays the map of the region, names of previously fought trainers, conditions of Pokémon, and the ribbons on Pokémon. Mr. Stone gives it to the the player of Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald for recovering the Devon Goods from Team Aqua or Team Magma. It has several new functions, most already programmed on when received:

Map - The PokéNav displays a map of Hoenn, along with the current location of its owner.
Condition - The PokéNav checks the conditions of Pokémon in detail. It can be set to search only through party Pokémon, or all Pokémon owned combined.
Trainer's Eyes - The PokéNav will keep track of trainers and alert the user when they want a rematch. This function appears only in Ruby and Sapphire.
Match Call - An upgraded version of the Trainer's Eyes only available in Emerald, it allows its user to call anyone who has had their PokéNav registered with theirs, similar to the cell phone feature of the PokéGear.
Ribbons - The PokéNav will display the Ribbons the Pokémon have acquired, either via Contests or special events. This function can only be activated if a Pokémon receives a ribbon.

Pokétch

The Pokétch, short for Pokémon watch, replaces the PokéNav in Generation IV. Depending on the player character's gender he or she will be given a blue or pink Pokétch. Throughout game play, the player obtains various apps that can be installed on the Pokétch. A list of apps, complete with images, descriptions, and locations where each is attainable can be found here.

Player's name

File:Trainercard.png

Red's trainer card.

The Player's name command allows the player to displays their Trainer card. Several things are present on all trainer cards, including the trainer's name, the trainer ID number, how much money the player has, how many Pokémon seen (caught in generations I-III), which badges the player has earned, and the amount of time they have been playing their game. The badges can be shined in Generation IV using the Touch Screen, and when touched, they will play musical notes depending on their shininess. In Generation III, a back side was introduced that displayed such data as how many times a player had played in link battles, won and lost, traded, and even how long they had been playing when they first defeated the Elite Four and Champion to enter the Hall of Fame. A signature strip was added to the back in Generation IV. The trainer card also changes colors after meeting certain conditions, such as defeating the Elite Four. In Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, a trainer's party could be photographed in the Rocket Game Corner in Celadon City and put on the back as well.

Save

The Save command saves the player's current progress. The player can save his or her game at any time, when on the field. In Generation IV, sometimes the game will be "Saving a lot of data...", usually when the game has been played for an prolonged amount of time or when the Pokémon storage system has been used. When the player selects "Continue" on the main menu, the player can continue playing the game from the last place saved.

Options

The Options command allows the player to change various in-game features.

In Generations III and IV, the player can use the options to change:

Text Speed - changes text speed to slow, medium, or fast.
Battle Scene - changes battle scene (animations) to on or off.
Battle Style - changes battle style to shift or set (whether or not the player can switch out after an opponent faints in a Single Battle).
Sound - changes sound to stereo or mono.
Button mode - changes button mode to normal, LR *, Start=X*, Help*, or L=A.
Frame type - change frame type to one of 20 different schemes.
Confirm*- save these settings.

In Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, the "Help" option is also available. With this, pressing L or R will bring up the Help menu.

Exit

The Exit command closes the menu and returns to the game. The player can also press the start button (or the X button in Generation IV) or the B button to close the menu.

Trivia

In Generation I, the menu screen would be darker than usual if the menu was opened in a cave or other place that was very dark and Flash had not yet been used.
In the Mystery Dungeon series, an entirely different menu format was introduced due to the vastly different style of gameplay.
The first main series game to feature the menu on the touch screen is the upcoming game, Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver. The player is able to select different opinions by using the DS's touch screen capabilities, such as one-touch saving, accessing the Pokédex, and accessing the bag.