You remember the first time you stepped into Kanto. That 8-bit music. The agonizing choice between a lizard with a flaming tail and a turtle with cannons. For many of us, Pokemon Red and Blue weren't just games; they were the blueprint for our entire childhood. Fast forward twenty years, and Game Freak drops us into the tropical paradise of Alola. On the surface, Pokemon Sun and Moon felt like a total departure. No gyms? Ride Pokemon instead of HMs? It was a lot to take in.
But here is the thing: Sun and Moon are actually a massive, sun-drenched love letter to the original 151.
It is not just nostalgia bait. The DNA of the original Game Boy titles is woven into the very fabric of the Alola region. If you look closely, the connection between these two generations isn't just a cameo or two—it's a deliberate bridge built to show how much the world of Pokemon has aged with us.
The Adult Red and Blue Nobody Expected
The biggest shocker for long-time fans was seeing the "Battle Legend" duo at the Battle Tree. Seeing Red and Blue as grown men was a trip. For years, we’d seen them frozen in time as 10-year-olds. Suddenly, Red is standing there at the entrance to the Battle Tree, looking like a weary traveler in a simple t-shirt, and Blue is… well, Blue is still wearing a ridiculous scarf and talking your ear off.
Red is still silent. "..." is all you get.
Honestly, it makes sense. He’s the silent protagonist we played as in 1996. Blue, on the other hand, has clearly mellowed out from the "smell ya later" brat of the Kanto days. He’s more of a mentor figure now, though he still has that competitive edge that makes you want to sweep his team just for old time's sake.
Why the Battle Tree Matters
The Battle Tree isn't just a post-game grind. It's the place where the legends of the past meet the champions of the present. When you face Red, he isn't using some random Alolan team. He brings the heat with his classic Mt. Silver roster: Pikachu, Lapras, Snorlax, and the Kanto starters.
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It's a brutal reality check. You might be the Alola Champion, but these guys are the original titans.
Those Weird Alolan Forms are Actually Kanto History
People love to joke about Alolan Exeggutor’s neck. It’s hilarious. But the "regional variants" in Sun and Moon are exclusively tied to Pokemon from Red and Blue. Every single one.
Why? Because Alola is a series of islands, and Game Freak used this to explain Darwinian evolution in the Pokemon world. The Grimer that moved to Alola had to eat garbage instead of toxic sludge, so they turned bright green and yellow with "crystals" that are actually hardened toxins. The Vulpix that fled to the snowy peaks of Mount Lanakila became Ice-types to survive.
- Alolan Raichu: Developed psychic powers from eating too many fluffy pancakes (yes, that is the actual lore).
- Alolan Marowak: Changed to Fire/Ghost type to ward off the predators that didn't exist in Kanto.
- Alolan Muk: Essentially a colorful, chemical disposal unit.
It was a brilliant move. It took the Pokemon we knew by heart and forced us to relearn their type matchups. Suddenly, your Charizard isn't safe against a Golem because that Golem is now part Electric-type. It kept the old-school fans on their toes while honoring the 1996 roster.
The Oak Family Tree Gets Complicated
Remember Professor Oak? Of course you do. Well, in Sun and Moon, we meet his cousin, Samson Oak. He looks exactly like Samuel Oak, but with a deep tan and long, flowing hair.
Samson is there to study the regional variants, specifically how Kanto Pokemon adapted to Alola. It's a fun nod, but it also deepens the lore. It suggests that the research being done in Kanto isn't isolated. There’s a global network of these guys, and the Oak name carries weight even thousands of miles away from Pallet Town.
Also, can we talk about the Porygon entries? In the original games, Porygon was "state-of-the-art" technology. In Sun and Moon, the Pokedex explicitly states it was created about 20 years ago. That is a direct, meta-reference to the real-world time gap between the release of Red/Blue and Sun/Moon.
Moving Your 1996 Team to 2016
One of the most underrated features was the Virtual Console connectivity. Nintendo released the original Red, Blue, and Yellow on the 3DS eShop right around the time Sun and Moon launched.
The coolest part? You could actually transfer your Pokemon from the 1996 versions (via the Virtual Console) into the modern Pokemon Bank and then into Sun and Moon.
Imagine that for a second. A Charizard that lived in a monochrome world of glitches and "MissingNo" can now stand in a fully 3D, high-definition tropical paradise. When you transfer them, they even get a special "Game Boy" origin mark and their Hidden Ability. It literally bridged a twenty-year gap in hardware.
How to Experience the Connection Yourself
If you’re looking to dive back into this cross-generational link, you don't need to overcomplicate it.
First, grab a copy of Sun or Moon (or the Ultra versions). Don't just rush the story. Talk to the NPCs in cities like Malie. You’ll find characters who moved from Kanto to Alola, complaining about the heat or reminiscing about the "old days."
Second, get to the Battle Tree. It is a long haul—you have to beat the Elite Four and traverse Poni Island—but the payoff of standing face-to-face with Red and Blue is worth the grind.
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Lastly, try to build a team using only Alolan variants of Kanto Pokemon. It’s a fun challenge that highlights exactly how much the developers thought about the relationship between these two specific eras of the franchise. It’s not just a game; it’s a timeline.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check your 3DS: If you still have the Virtual Console versions of Red or Blue, make sure your Pokemon Bank subscription is active to move those 1996 legends into the modern era.
- Visit the Heahea Hotel: In Sun and Moon, go to the Game Freak office in-game. You can battle the developers and get a special diploma if you've completed the Alola Dex, which often includes nods to the Kanto roots.
- Hunt for Samson Oak: Track him down across the islands; he gives you special Pokeballs (like the Moon Ball or Heavy Ball) that were originally introduced shortly after the Red/Blue era, further cementing that old-school feel.