There's certainly plenty of stuff happening this year to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Pokémon franchise, including games, merchandise and even music, but it's fair to say that Nintendo and The Pokémon Company haven't revealed everything that's occurring over the next few months – which means people are on the lookout for any hint relating to other Pokémon-related festivities.
Take Nintendo Life reader Ash, for example. He emailed in to point out that, on the Nintendo UK site, a new search category has been added which mentions the Pokémon Mini handheld. In the "Originally For" section, Pokémon Mini now has its own listing, alongside the likes of the Game Boy, GameCube and Super Nintendo.
What's interesting is that there's also an "Other Systems" category, which is where you'd expect Nintendo to place the Pokémon Mini – unless, of course, there are plans afoot to resurrect the device in some way.
Look, we realise we're making a pretty big assumption here, but think about it – the Pokémon Mini is ripe for rediscovery, especially when you consider that many younger fans won't have been around to experience it the first time.
Given that it's listed in the "Originally For" category, we'd guess that some kind of digital re-release would be most likely. Perhaps Nintendo has plans to release a Pokémon Mini app for Switch or smartphones which is free to download but allows you to buy individual Pokémon Mini games for a small fee, like Capcom Arcade Stadium?
In case you're unaware of what Pokémon Mini is, it's a small Tamagotchi-sized device that was released in 2001 and allowed you to insert tiny cartridges which contain mini-games. Costing around $40 (£30 in the UK) and with software that was around $20 / £15 a pop, it had the potential to be a massive success, but it perhaps didn't sell as well as Nintendo had hoped and quickly faded from view – something which could potentially be attributed to the fact that it launched in the same year as the Game Boy Advance.
Only ten games were ever produced for the Pokémon Mini, each one having a Pokémon theme, so it would make an ideal digital collection for Switch.
Is this wishful thinking on our part? Let us know what you think by posting a comment below.
[source nintendo.co.uk]
Comments 25
It would be fun if this were akin to the NES mini or SNES mini, where it had some Pokemon games built into it. Like it had Kanto, Johto, Hoenn games on it? I would buy in an instant.
I mean, speculation is not news... you could write a thousand articles based on internet rumours that would have the same credibility as this.
That category isn't new at all. If my google search history is to be believed that has been there since at least last April. I was buying a Pokémon Mini last year after suddenly remembering that thing existed and encountered those pages back then, and got amazed that they even had screenshots of the games up and more than just some rudimentary information for all 5 PAL games.
For those interested there's a detailed rundown of the system and all ten games over on Hardcore Gaming 101 (written by yours truly). As far as I'm aware it's the most comprehensive article about the console and games anywhere online... I did a lot of research. They haven't migrated it to the new site yet but it's still accessible via the old archived one. Not sure I'm allow to link stuff here so I won't.
I expect its been put there for people who saw the Pokemon Mini in the 25th Anniversary video in the latest Poke Presents, and wanted to look for those games on the official Ninty website.
It smacks of them being thorough to me in their representation of Pokemon games on their website.
@kickerofelves And if anyone wishes to play them pokemon-mini dot net has fan translations of all the japan exclusive titles these days, and even links to a flash cart so they can be played on real hardware. The translations aren't all entirely perfect in terms of grammar but entirely serviceable.
Only available until March 31st 2022
@kickerofelves Please link away!
@PessitheMystic The title makes it pretty clear that we're speculating here.
@RAHelllord If it was only added last April then I don't think that would suggest nothing is happening... they'd be planning for the 25th many months in advance, after all.
Thanks @Damo
https://hg101.kontek.net/pokemonmini/pokemonmini.htm
The formatting was removed for some reason but all the screen shots are still in there.
@Damo I don't know when it exactly appeared, I don't think I used the store page on there at least a couple years prior to that time so for all I know that has been there far longer.
I feel like the pokemon pikachu handheld would be better to bring back
@kickerofelves sweet, I love HG101
Considering how Nintendo brought us the Game & Watch Super Mario Bros, I wouldn't be surprised if a special edition of the Pokémon Mini gets released.
@Damo but it was dropped in the ‘news’ category. Without any concrete evidence it should be a ‘rumour’ or ‘soapbox’, at best.
One of my biggest regrets is not buying a bunch of Pokemon minis when I saw them in a shop in Ibiza in 1999. I had no idea that it was even a genuine product, let alone how rare they would become 🤦♂️
I remember having a Pokemon mini pikachu edition.
Loved the hell out of it. It'd be nice to see it make a comeback.
Still waiting for an English version of that Eevee Tamagotchi
@DevinRex I think you're thinking of the Pokemon Pocket Pikachu which was a sort of Tamagotchi and whole different kettle of fish.
I wanted one as a kid, but for the price, I couldn't justify it, even when I saw them on clearance. sniff
I freaking love that there is a Smoochum variant of the little console as well. She doesn't get enough love. Let's Go Smoochum for 2022?
I never had a Game Boy Color (or any other variety) either, so, if I was going to splurge, it would have been on that instead.
I have no doubts something like this is in the works.
@kickerofelves that's the one.
I’m fortunate to own all 3 colour variations and all 10 games. I buy/sell a lot so I gradually acquired them. Still have quite a few systems and games to sell >.<
ie any normal day on nintendolife.com
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