Why Pokémon Protagonists Are Always Kids
Pokémon games frequently use characters aged 11 to 16 for player protagonists, but what are the reasons for sending these children into such danger? There are several in-game and meta reasons for Nintendo’s decision to make player characters so young, but with the aging fanbase, it’s an understandable question that more people could begin asking. While it’s unknown whether Nintendo could adapt new protagonists to use in the franchise, understanding why young Trainers find themselves in life-threatening danger could improve the story experience for fans down the road, especially with Pokémon Scarlet and Violet approaching shortly.
Pokémon takes place in an alternate universe that runs (mostly) in parallel to real life. Pokémon regions (like in Scarlet and Violet) are based on actual countries, and Pokémon types often correspond with different environments found in those territories. Character names and organizations have also been known to resemble real-life counterparts, with Nintendo appearing in every mainline Pokémon game. However, the biggest difference between reality and Pokémon (aside from the powerful fantasy monsters) is the life-threatening Pokémon journeys that children (ages 11 and up) embark on once they receive a starter Pokémon.
Related: Animals Gen 9 Pokémon Can Be Based On In Scarlet & Violet's Region
The story formula for traditional Pokémon games hasn’t changed much in twenty years, resulting in players experiencing the same coming-of-age story in multiple regions. While Game Freak experimented with creating older protagonists (Black and White, Black and White 2, and X and Y), this trend quickly filtered away with the release of Pokémon Sword and Shield and the Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining
Read more on screenrant.com
