Gotta catch 'em all!: Difference between revisions

: ''If you were looking for the Italian anime opening, see [[Gotta Catch 'em All! (song)]].''

'''Gotta catch 'em all!''' is the original English slogan of the [[Pokémon games|Pokémon video games]], with references to it abound in [[Pokémon]] [[canon]]. The Japanese equivalent is '''ポケモンゲットだぜー！''' (Pokémon <sc>get</sc> da ze~!)

The original pair of Pokémon games released in the US, {{game|Red and Blue|s}}, were labeled with the catchphrase below the Pokémon logo. Just as well, their sequels, {{game|Gold and Silver|s}}, and later, {{game|Crystal}}, had the catchphrase in the same position. {{game|Yellow}} was the only exception, instead advertising that it was the "Special {{p|Pikachu}} Edition" of the game below the logo.

The most obvious reference to the catchphrase in the [[Pokémon anime|anime]] was introduced in the [[EP001|first episode]], [[Ash Ketchum]] himself. Even promising that he would catch all of the Pokémon in the [[Pokémon world|world]], Ash set off on his journey. However, up to the current point in the anime, Ash has only progressed to 50 captures of Pokémon, barely more than than 10% of the total number of Pokémon known.

Another anime reference comes in the lyrics of different songs.  It is featured in the [[Pokémon Theme|original opening theme]], as well as in the chorus of the [[Pokérap]].  It is also found in [[Pokémon Johto|the theme]] for [[Pokémon: The Johto Journeys|The Johto Journeys]], the anime's third season. The lyrics include, in reference to the {{cat|Generation II Pokémon|Pokémon introduced in Gold and Silver}}, that "you still gotta catch 'em all!".

A final reference was the title of the second-to-last episode of the [[original series]], ''[[EP273|Gotta Catch Ya Later!]]''. In this episode, both [[Brock]] and [[Misty]] return to [[Kanto]], leaving Ash to head to the [[Hoenn]] region alone.

==Retirement==

The slogan was retired around 2003, with the release of {{game|Ruby and Sapphire|s}}. Instead of the now-familiar phrase appearing below the Pokémon logo, the game's version name appeared there. This held true for the remaining games of [[Generation III]], and would later prove to be the standard with the release of the [[Generation IV]] games, {{game|Diamond and Pearl|s}}.

The retirement was possibly due to the large amount of Pokémon now required to capture to complete the [[National Dex]], 493 as of Generation IV. It may as well have been due to the incompatibility between the [[Generation II]] and Generation III games, as all of the Pokémon known as of the third generation were not available between Ruby and Sapphire, unlike what had been the case with Red and Blue and Gold and Silver.

The slogan may also have been taken out of use since it was a target of critics of the game and franchise (with some saying the phrase was an equivalent to 'Gotta Buy 'em All').

An English-language commercial was released that features the phrase in the United States. It it also used as the slogan for the [[Catch That Pokémon Show]] in {{game|Diamond and Pearl|s}}. This does not, however, mean that the slogan will make a permanent return, rather it's just a reference to the now defunct slogan.

The phrase is heard in the end of the American {{2v|Diamond|Pearl}} commercial.

==Rewards==

In the games, the reward for catching all the Pokémon available in the game was a [[diploma]], proof of the feat.  However, from the beginning, rumors appeared about a greater reward for attaining the ultimate goal of catching them all.  Specifically, in Red and Blue, rumors circulated that after the player had [[captured Pokémon|caught]] the 150 {{cat|Generation I Pokémon}}, if they showed their full [[Pokédex]] to the [[Game Freak]] employees in [[Celadon Mansion]], they would be rewarded with the elusive 151st Pokémon, {{p|Mew}}. These rumors, however, were false, as the only reward offered for capture of 150 Pokémon was the Diploma; Mew was only officially available through [[Nintendo]]-sponsored events, though otherwise available through the [[Mew glitch]].

The same was true of the Generation II games, where showing a 249-Pokémon Pokédex (minus {{p|Celebi}} and Mew) would have the same developers give the player another diploma. With the retirement of the slogan, Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire only required the player to complete the 200-Pokémon [[Hoenn Dex]] (lacking {{p|Jirachi}} and {{p|Deoxys}}) to receive a diploma, though the 386-Pokémon [[National Dex]] still remained as a goal for players who wanted bragging rights.

In the Generation IV games, by the time the [[Elite Four]] and [[Pokémon champion|Champion]] are defeated, the player will have seen almost all of the Pokémon in the [[Sinnoh Dex]], if not all 150; it is also possible to do this before entering the [[Hall of Fame]]. The reward for this is the National Dex, allowing the player to go on a true quest to actually catch them all once more, though this feat, compared to completing just the Sinnoh Dex, is more than three times larger. For this, however, (which only requires 482 of the 493 Pokémon, lacking Mew, {{p|Lugia}}, {{p|Ho-Oh}}, Celebi, Jirachi, Deoxys, {{p|Manaphy}}, {{p|Phione}}, {{p|Darkrai}}, {{p|Shaymin}}, and {{p|Arceus}}), another diploma is awarded.