Pokémon Thunder Yellow is basically a souped-up version of the classic Yellow edition, but with way more punch. You still start with Pikachu following you around, but now there are tougher trainers, some new wild Pokémon popping up in weird places, and this weirdly satisfying lightning effect when you zap something. The sprites got a little glow-up too—nothing crazy, but battles feel a bit more lively.

First thing I noticed? Brock’s Geodude hits harder than I remembered. Had to actually grind a bit before taking him on, which was kinda refreshing. Also, random encounters with higher-level Pokémon keep you on your toes early on. Not gonna lie, I got wrecked by a level 12 Pidgeotto near Viridian Forest and had to rethink my life choices.

If you’ve played Yellow to death but want that nostalgia hit with a little extra spice, this one’s a solid pick. Just don’t expect it to go easy on you.