[Retro Pokémon: How do I play?] Part 1 - Playing the game boy color game

Though the Pokémon TCG for the GBC (as the hep cats say it) is not the most prominent Pokémon video game, it's a fun introduction to the Base-Fossil format. At the start of the game you are given a theme deck and charged with defeating a number of type-themed competitors at the TCG, with each victory earning you a pack of new cards to incorporate into your deck(s). The NPC opponents play decks that are more flavorful than competitive and are not too aggressive with energy removal, so you can try out a wide variety of builds with a little more forgiveness. The card pool itself is ~95% Base-Fossil (a few tweaks) but the fundamentals are the same, making it a great jumping-off point.

If this sounds fun, go ahead and rustle yourself up a legally acquired ROM by googling and load it into any GBC emulator. I use Delta emulator on my apple phone but I'm sure there are others for android phones or PC. The game is also available for multiplayer through Nintendo Switch Online, at a subscription cost, but I’ve never used that platform.

At some point while you're playing the game you're going to get frustrated that you can't find another copy of Hitmonchan or Scoop Up or whatever. With some skill and luck you can win the game without any grinding at all, but who wants to win with a bunch of random commons?? Here are some increasingly drastic tactics you can use to make sure you can make a deck that's fun for you:

• There's a guy in the Mason lab who will give you a bunch of energy if all your energy is currently tied up in decks. I didn't figure out how to do this until I had enough energy, but I'm sure you're smarter than I am, reader.
• Figure out which opponents give the packs you need (you can see the list of packs and which Pokémon are in them here) and make sure you're fighting the right opponent.
• Even if you're getting the right pack, it seems like the odds for different cards are altered between various NPCs. If you can’t get a specific card from a pack it should be in, mix it up and battle someone else.
• Rare cards are the hardest to collect because you only get 1 per pack. Right before the battle ends, create a "save state" in your emulator. Then, if you don't get a rare card you want, re-load the save state and try again. After a few tries you will usually get something good. This is especially useful for collecting promotional cards only given as a prize from the three-round (!) challenge cup. Don't try to use this to cheat coin flips, though, as those are predetermined by the game seed.
• If you're really sick of grinding, there is a glitch you can do to instantly win a battle. I recommend making a save state before trying it just in case.

If you enjoy playing this game and want more, there is a fan translation of TGC2: The Invasion of Team GR!, which has the same general premise except (1) some restrictions on deckbuilding for 'challenge' opponents and (2) a strange, expanded card pool that includes Base-Fossil cards plus the Team Rocket set, all the Japanese-only Vending Series cards, and more game boy exclusives. There is also a fan-made ROM hack that inserts the Neo series cards into the original GBC game, but I will note that many of the apparent Neo-series trainers in the hack actually function as their Base-Fossil equivalents (e.g., Professor Elm discards your hand and draws 7, like Professor Oak, or Mail from Bill draws 2, like Bill) so it becomes another curious self-contained format.

If playing these game boy games inspires you to expand your retro Pokémon horizons or play against 'live' opponents, check out my other posts about playing online or playing with physical cards.