Pocket Pikachu Color is one of the most coveted Pokémon toys around now-a-days. Only available for sale/distribution in Japan, only those lucky souls who have connections(like me), can get their greedy, little hands on this collector's item. Well, I was lucky enough to get one for my birthday(early, but I still got it). I'll let all of you folks in on this treat and rate this product for you.

Well, one of the things that stuck out at me first, was the case! It was a nice looking yellow case in the form of Pikachu(did you expect Bulbasaur maybe?). (My screenshots are currently being developed) The instruction manual is useless unless you know how to read Japanese characters(my parents are still trying to figure it out), so your own intuition is required to work this product.

When you first turn on the game, you set the time. Then you proceed to meet your cyber pet(or, as some would say, pest). The thing about this little guy, is that it isn't a pest! Unlike Tamagotchi, Digimon, Nano, and Gigawhatever, it doesn't beep for attention and can be turned off or paused! No more annoying "beep! beep! BEEP!"s going off in your ear, making you scream for mercy. No more 24-hour care of a little cyper cockroach. All you do with Pikachu, buy him gifts(when you feel like it), and earn watts. You can earn watts by shaking him(it has a sensor that detects motion), or walking around with him clipped to your waist.

Once you earn 5 watts, you can earn additional watts by playing a sort of Poker. Pikachu shows you a card. The other card has a more, lesser, or equal value to the one shown. You decide whether it's higher or lower. If it's of equal value, Pikachu will give it to you either way. You collect points for however many you get right(following the sequence of 8-12-17-25-40-55-77-etc.). A hint on this game, the card revealed will always be the one that shows up next. Use this to determine whether to go on or not.

Pocket Pikachu Color also has an infrared sensor on the top. Use this sensor to trade watts between friends or trade in watts to get stuff in Pokémon Gold/Silver.

There are currently two forms of PPC out. The rare "clear case" and the newer, more available "white case w/ Pika Shadow" PPC. I was lucky enough to get a "clear case," but don't get your hopes up. Hey, at least you might get a PPC.

I really liked the graphics on this game, so it gets a 9.5(Pikachu looks a bit too fat). Sound is great. I love that "breep, beep" sound. Sound gets an 8. Fun Factor is definitely 10. The concept of walking to earn points helps keep you in shape(it got a Guinness for that), and it's fun to care for. Concept gets a 10 also. The replay value is going to be 9.5. It's fun to try to beat your score, but I guess any game gets tiring after a while. On the whole, Pocket Pikachu Color gets a 9.4.