10 Awesome Gaming Franchises It Became Cool To Hate

8. Pokemon

Much like Mario, Pokemon is another long-running Nintendo franchise that had an enormous impact on the video game industry. With Pokemon Red and Blue it blossomed into a global phenomenon. While it has since never quite reached the levels of hype those first couple of generations did, Pokemon still remains a steady and lucrative franchise for Nintendo. However, also like Mario, the current mood of the video game industry (grimdark) has given rise to the idea that Pokemon is only meant for kids. While certainly a large number of adult gamers unabashedly love the series, those same people will be met with snickers by another percentage of gamers who look down on such interests. Pokemon was, and continues to be, a genuinely well crafted and entertaining role-playing game. The first core games in the series still hold up to this day, and the new ones keep expanding while still adhering to the same design that stole our hearts all those years ago. This is what keeps new generations of kids interested in Pokemon where other franchises don't; the design is simple yet challenging, and both kids and adults respond to that. Yes, the designs of each new generation of Pokemon feels increasingly lacking compared to the last, but that's not surprising given how many there have been. And Nintendo's insistence that the series be restricted to handhelds is a shame. Grievances aside though, Pokemon was fun and unique when it first hit the scene nearly 20 years ago, and it continues to be now. It's easy to hate on something as popular and imaginative as Pokemon; to make fun of it and pass it off as kiddie fodder, but there is a reason why it had the impact it had and continues to enrapture its audience to this day. It's old school fun.