10 Video Game Plot Points Everybody Gets Wrong

5. The Pokemon Trainer Isn't Ash Ketchum - Pokemon (Series)

SUPER MARIO 3
Nintendo

Considering Pokemon is the most lucrative video game franchise of all time, it's likely you've played at least one of the titles. If so, you should be able to name the protagonist in the first game, Pokemon Red/Blue.

Instinctively, many people will answer "Ash Ketchum". After all, Ash is the lead in the Pokemon animated series, isn't he? Surely the main character in the original RPG is the same as his video game counterpart, right?

However, the lead in Pokemon Red/Blue is called Red. (Sometimes, he's simply referred to as The Pokemon Trainer.) Now, there's no denying Red and Ash have more than a passing resemblance to one another. Their clothes are almost identical, they follow the same narrative, and they both have a rival.

Only by analysing the pair's personalities does the contrast between them become clear. Ash is social, irritable, and insecure, while Red is calm, quiet, and independent. While looking at them separately, it's easy to mistake one for the other. When they are viewed side-by-side, they couldn't be more different.

But if you were brought up with the Pokemon cartoon, you might call Red "Ash" out of reflex, even if you know that's not his name.

Contributor

James Egan has been with Whatculture for five years and prominently works on Horror, Film, and Video Games. He's written over 80 books including 1000 Facts about Horror Movies Vol. 1-3 1000 Facts about The Greatest Films Ever Made Vol. 1-3 1000 Facts about Video Games Vol. 1-3 1000 Facts About James Bond 1000 Facts About TV Shows