Do you have the skills to be NUMBER ONE?!

♪ You've got the power right in your hand ♫

♪ They'll evolve before your eyes ♫

♪ A world of magic at your command ♫

♪ You can be a master if you try! ♫

You veteran Pokémon fans will recognize those lyrics, and know what I'm talking about. The thrill and sensation you got when you first inserted that red, blue, or yellow cartridge into your 8-bit Game Boy and switched the power on, transporting you to an incredible world of monsters, battles, villains, heroes, and two goals:

To be the very best, like no one ever was!

And

To catch 'em all!

I'm talking about the original Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow versions!

I will always remember the hours of joy that playing Pokémon on my Game Boy brought me, and how it shaped my life today. I might not be where I am today if it weren't for Pokémon.

And while I give concession to the current line of Pokémon games for the 3DS, with the outstanding graphics and artwork which really make your Pokémon lifelike; there's just something more abstract and wondrous about how the original games captivated you when you played them. You knew it was just a game, but you still could see yourself in that world, battling, training, and raising the best Pokémon team you could.

And I often thought "If only I could really be there..."

Well here, Alastair has that pleasure as he sends his Pokémon partner Machoke out to challenge the League Champion.

Pokémon, I choose you!

Artwork done by the artist  Maldu, go check out his Machoke and fighting Pokémon art!

Alastair is of course me

And Pokémon is ©Nintendo and Game Freak