This story of Pokèmon happens a few years after Ash Ketchum catches all 150 Pokèmon, which is why you can't catch Mewtwo, Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres, because Ash already owns them. You also only have one shot at catching Snorlax. Now you have decided to go in Ash's footsteps and be the world's greatest Pokèmon trainer and claim the title of Pokèmon Master.

You start up the game and you see the flying bird flapping its wings and sprinkling golden dust. The next screen you see is a menu. The top option when you first start is "New Game", but after you have save a game the top option is "Continue", the second one is "New Game" and the last option is, well, "Options". After you select a new game, it asks you for the hour of the day, then the minute. Prof. Oak then gives his Pokèmon speech but then forgets you name so you choose or make your own name, then your jorney begins.

You're in your bedroom, so go downstairs. You can try out the PC, but there's no item in there. Once you get downstairs, your mom gets up and gives you your PokèGear, which is a better replacement for the Item bag in Red, Blue, Yellow.... Then she asks you what day of the week it is, are you sure, and finally, "Do you know how to use the Gear?" Just say yes. In all versions, yes is on the top and no is on the bottom. You leave the house and go to the biggest and northernmost house in town. It's Prof. Elm's lab (Prof. Oak and Prof. Elm. Get it? Oak? Elm? Trees?). There you can get your first Pokèmon. As you leave, Prof. Elm's Assistant stops you and gives you a Potion.

Now you're probably wondering which Pokèmon is the best to choose. Here's a little info on each of them:
The first Pokèmon from the left is Pokèmon #155 Cyndaquil, the fire Pokèmon. This is the one I choose because he looked cool. Unlike Charmander in Red and Blue, it can actully beat the first few gyms and many others later single-handedly (almost). It learns its first special attack (Ember) on level 12. And fire is a pretty strong element.
The Pokèmon in the middle is Pokèmon #158 Totodile, the water Pokèmon. Like Cyndaquil, its good at quite a few gyms. It is also the strongest of the three. It has a natural advantage in attack (in the stats). It learns its first special attack (Water Gun) on Level 12.
The very last Pokèmon is Pokèmon #152 Chikorita, the plant Pokèmon. It, on the other hand is opposite to Bulbasaur, and is hard to get past the first few gyms. But of course there are advantages. Chikorita learns its first special move (Razor Leaf) on Level 8, so you start flinging those leaves early on. But when you're all done, it really just adds up to taste. Just choose whatever you want. You like the way Cyndaquil is cool-looking, then choose it. You like the strong Totodile, then choose it. You like the early-bird Chikorita, then choose it. There's no really right or wrong choice.

After you choose your Pokèmon, go outside and go west into Route 29. Here you can catch Sentrets (flying squirels), Pidgeys, and Rattatas. During the night, you catch Hoot Hoots (owls), and Rattatas. Along the way is a gatehouse to a path. Don't go in there, just remember where it is, because you can get Geodudes here. Neat the end of the path is a bulb like that of Bulbasaur. Inside it holds a Nut. Go up to it and press A. You just got a Nut. Nuts can be used like a potion, but they also can be equipped to a Pokèmon and when the Pokèmon's HP reaches a certain level, it uses it. The Nuts also grow back after a while. In fact, there was a Nut equipped to your Pokèmon in the beginning. You might have noticed it. At the other end of Route 29 is Cherry Grove City.

One of the most boring cities in the map (doesn't even have a GYM) is Cherry Grove City is like a "resting" point. As you enter the city you see an old man. Talk to him and say yes to his question (Remember, yes is on top). After introduce the whole city, he stops in front of his house and gives you a Map Card. Then he goes in his house. Train your Pokèmon up to Level 10 before you head north to Route 30.

Shortly after you go on Route 30, you see a house with a Nut plant next to it. Get the nut and go in the house. Talk to the guy and he'll give you another Nut. When you try to go on the path on the left, a pair of battling trainers blocks the way, so the only choice is to go on the path on the right. It leads you to Prof. Oak's home. Beside the house is another Nut plant, but this one is an Antidote Nut and cures poison. There a man will give you an Egg and Prof. Oak will come over and give you a hi-tech Pokèdex. Then the other dude will even heal your Pokèmon before you leave. Right when you get out of the house, Prof. Elm will call you over the radio saying something is extremely wrong happened and that you should hurry over back to the lab as fast as you can. While in Cherry Grove City, you better heal your Pokèmon and make sure that they are over Level 10. If not train on Route 30, not Route 29.