CHOOSING A POKÉMON THAT'S RIGHT FOR YOU

OK, you've just turned on your Game Boy and have started a New Game, right? Well, take the Potion in your PC and try to skip town. Professor Oak will show up and take you to his lab and let you choose one of three Pokémon to start out with. Each one is different, so there is a certain difficulty level with each one....

RED, BLUE AND YELLOW STARTING POKÉMON

	#1) BULBASAUR will ensure a smooth and easy path through the first half of the game, and Gary will build a final team of Pidgeot, Alakazam, Rhydon, Gyarados, Exeggutor and Charizard. This is probably the easiest path. I highly recommend this one.
	#7) SQUIRTLE will do well at the first Gym, but you'll soon have to start relying on your other Pokémon. Gary's team will be Pidgeot, Alakazam, Rhydon, Arcanine, Gyarados and Venusaur. This is a more advanced path than Bulbasaur's.

	#4) CHARMANDER's useful skills won't kick in until past the first half of the game, leaving you to rely heavily on your other Pokémon at the beginning (you'll really need a Butterfree on this path). Gary's team will be Pidgeot, Alakazam, Rhydon, Exeggutor, Arcanine and Blastoise. This is the hardest path to start out on.
	#25) PIKACHU will be tricky to begin with, since this Pokémon has its own mood meter and Gary's team will be completely different from Red and Blue, plus you'll need other Pokémon to deal with Brock, Lt. Surge, Erika and Giovanni. Details on Gary's team on the Gym Leaders page.

GOLD AND SILVER STARTING POKÉMON

	#155) CYNDAQUIL Will be the easiest pokémon to start with in GS. Its fire attacks will be very useful in Sprout Tower and the Violet Gym.
	#158) TOTODILE Will be the mildly difficult Pokémon in GS, using its water attacks to drench opponents. You'd better use your other Pokémon in Sprout Tower, though.

#152) CHIKORITA Will be the toughest Pokémon to begin with, falling prey to many of the Flying-types early on in the adventure. Of course, if Chikorita is a few levels higher than the competition, they shouldn't pose a serious threat. Of course, Chikorita's abilities will really kick tush-E once you go far enough into the game.