Pokémon Play It!

Pokémon Play It! is a Pokémon game for PC that simulates the Pokémon Trading Card Game. It was released in 1999 in Europe and February 2000 in North America. It was included in the 2-Player CD-ROM Starter Set.

Pokémon Play It!
Play It EN boxart.jpg
Pokémon Play It! cover art
Basic info
Platform: PC
Category: Card game
Players: Single player
Connectivity: None
Developer: Fluid Entertainment
Publisher: Wizards of the Coast
Part of: Generation I miscellaneous
Ratings
CERO: N/A
ESRB: N/A
ACB: N/A
OFLC: N/A
PEGI: N/A
GRAC: N/A
GSRR: N/A
Release dates
Japan: N/A
North America: February 2000
Australia: N/A
Europe: 1999
South Korea: N/A
Hong Kong: N/A
Taiwan: N/A
Websites
Japanese: N/A
English: N/A
Title screen.

The game has a sequel, titled Pokémon Play It! Version 2.

Gameplay

The main menu of the original version contains three options: "Play", "Learn", and "Extras".

In "Play" mode, the player can play a duel against a computer opponent, Julie, using one of four Half Decks, named Fighting Deck, Water Deck, Fire Deck and Xtra Deck. Initially, only the Fighting and Water decks are available. The additional two can be unlocked by typing the word "fire" on the main menu. Julie always uses the Fighting Deck, unless the player chooses it; in such case she uses the Water Deck. All four decks are composed of Base Set and Jungle cards.

The "Learn" feature is meant to teach about the mechanics of the Trading Card Game.

Each card has its own unique cry, some of which are based on the their voices in the Pokémon anime.

Extras

Following features are found in the "Extras".

  • An "Academy Entrance Exam", with questions about the TCG, as well as about Pokémon in general. Finishing the test with 10/10 correct answers unlocks a certificate—which can be printed and taken to the Pokémon League, where it should be exchanged for "10 points in the Trainer's Badge Book"—a desktop wallpaper and a second, harder quiz. Finishing the second quiz unlocks another certificate (worth 20 points) and three additional wallpapers.
  • Two special issues of TopDeck (Wizards of the Coast's now-defunct magazine dedicated to TCGs), one with tips about the game and one focusing on the Pokémon League
  • Custom Pokémon Game Gear and coins to print
  • A video promoting the League

Wallpapers

The wallpaper unlocked after beating the first quiz has a large Poké Ball in the center with Pikachu, Gengar, and Snorlax around it, on a blue background. Of the three wallpapers unlocked after the second quiz, one has a jungle background (reference to the expansion name) with Scyther in the center and Vileplume and Wigglytuff on the sides, another is supposed to look like a box with the Fossil set logo and Aerodactyl escaped out of it and the final one has a red background with Mewtwo on the left and a big Base Set 2 logo on the right.

Certificates

The certificates are awarded for answering correctly 10 questions in a row, in the Pokémon Academy Entrance Exam.

Issues

  • It is not possible to put Pokémon on the Bench before the play starts. Instead, players must wait for their first turn to put Pokémon on the bench.
  • No Energy card is discarded from Magmar when using the Flamethrower attack. This issue was addressed in Version 2.

System requirements

IBM PC or 100% compatible Pentium 133 processor, Windows 95/98, 16 MB RAM, 4× CD-ROM, 16-bit video card (800×600 pixel resolution). All major DirectX compatible sound and video cards.

Trivia

  • This is the first game where Ash Ketchum is mentioned (said in the dialogue by Julie), although he is not seen.

In other languages

Language Title
  Dutch Pokémon: Speel het!

External links


Pikachu series: Hey You, Pikachu!ChannelDash
TCG: Game Boy TCG series: Trading Card GameTrading Card Game 2: The Invasion of Team GR!
Play It! series: Play It!Play It! Version 2
TCG Client series: Trading Card Game OnlineTrading Card Game Live
Misc. TCG: Card Game OnlineCard Game: How to Play DSTCG Card DexTrading Card Game Pocket
Super Smash Bros. series: Super Smash Bros.MeleeBrawlfor Nintendo 3DS/Wii UUltimate
Snap series: SnapNew Pokémon Snap
Picross: Picross NP Vol. 1Picross (GBC) (canceled)Picross (3DS)
Pinball series: PinballPinball miniPinball: RS
Puzzle series: Puzzle LeaguePuzzle Challenge
Trozei series: Trozei!Battle Trozei
Mystery Dungeon
series
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Red Rescue Team & Blue Rescue Team
Explorers of Time, Darkness & Sky
Blazing, Stormy & Light Adventure Squad
Gates to Infinity
Super Mystery Dungeon
Rescue Team DX
Ranger series: RangerShadows of AlmiaGuardian Signs
Puck series: BattrioTretta (Tretta Lab) • Ga-OléMezastar
Rumble series: RumbleRumble BlastRumble URumble WorldRumble Rush
PokéPark series: PokéPark WiiPokéPark 2: Wonders Beyond
Detective Pikachu series: Detective PikachuDetective Pikachu Returns
Playground: Pokémon Detective Pikachu
Pokémon game templates


  This article is part of both Project Sidegames and Project TCG, Bulbapedia projects that, together, aim to write comprehensive articles on the Pokémon Sidegames and TCG, respectively.