Every time Nintendo releases a new Pokemon game, someone always asks me, "Pokemon's still popular?," to which I respond, "Of course it is!" While Pikachu fever isn't as crazy as it was several years ago, Nintendo's popular battle monster franchise continues to enthrall children as well as adults. With the latest additions, FireRed and LeafGreen, Mario and Co. have gone back to the series' roots, as they're both updated versions of the 1996 originals, Red and Blue. However, while very similar to those games, there's enough new content to warrant a purchase, as they still gave me a reason to "catch-em all!"

Before we dive into what's new and good about these two games, I need to get this out of the way: For the most part, FireRed and LeafGreen are the same games you may have played way back in 1996. Yeah, both have been given Super Nintendo quality visuals (just not very exceptional ones), and sure, the music's been kicked up a notch and is therefore, more dramatic, but by and large, FireRed and LeafGreen bear a striking resemblance to Red and Blue. The game still takes place in the Kanto region, and, although you can explore some new paths, you're still on a mission to catch all of the Pokemon for Professor Oak, while at the same time defeat various rivals. Oh yeah, and somewhere along the way, you'll become a very skilled Pokemon trainer and your Pokedex will be ridiculously filled. The point of me saying all of this is simple: Don't go into this expecting a new adventure. Think of them as Pokemon Special Edition. Still interested? I hope so, because there are several cool features worth noting, and they actually make buying one or even both of these games a smart decision.

The object of the game remains a simple one. As a Pokemon trainer, you travel around the enormous Kanto region visiting towns and exploring grassy patches and caves to uncover wild Pokemon, cute-looking creatures that can be used as battle instruments and/or become your friends. You'll do this for several reasons. For starters, you're helping your hometown's Pokemon expert, Professor Oak, finish his research on the critters. Next, you need to find them to survive, as wild Pokemon and other trainers are constantly battling you with much stronger monsters of their own, so it's your goal to become the most skilled Pokemon trainer in the universe. Lastly, the games are just so addictive you won't be able to stop playing! Early on, it's implanted in your brain that you need to buy and/or locate every item, as well as uncover the hiding places of the rarest Pokemon or else your life just won't be complete! This is made worse by Nintendo releasing two different versions, which, despite being virtually identical games, have specific Pokemon in each that you can only find if you purchase both! Combine this with a multiplayer battle mode for up to four players, and what you've got is one of the most addictive and value-filled games ever made.

The games' concept is simple and can be enjoyed by people of all ages (except newborns, of course). While all Pokemon can battle one another, for the most part they belong to a certain type, including (but not limited to), Fire, Water, Poison, and Grass, so the battle system is a rock, paper, scissors affair. Fire damages Grass, but Water seriously hurts Fire. It's not that simple, but this is the basic building block of Pokemon.

The original Pokemon games were developed for the age old black-and-white Game Boy, so popping in FireRed and LeafGreen and seeing their improved visuals was a welcome sight. The games look great compared to their grandpa counterparts, featuring SNES-quality graphics that include some new features such as seeing your reflection as you pass by water. It's good stuff, but slightly disappointing considering the power held within your standard Game Boy Advance. I would've liked to see the hardware pushed to reveal its true potential, but Nintendo has certainly done an admirable job cleaning everything up. Also worth noting is the sound, which has certainly been given an enormous lift. A sweet symphony, the familiar Pokemon theme has never sounded better on a hand held!

The biggest edition to FireRed and LeafGreen are the changes Nintendo has made to the multiplayer mode. For starters, each game includes a FREE Game Boy Advance wireless adapter that allows you to exchange messages and have two to four player Pokemon battles without being constrained by the short length of the link cables. These little devices allow you to wirelessly play anyone using any Game Boy game that supports the wireless feature. It's a $20 value yours free for making the purchase, which automatically makes buying FireRed and/or LeafGreen a necessity.

If you don't have a wireless adapter, you can still play others using the GBA link cable. In the game's Pokemon Centers, you can trade Pokemon as well as use the game's primitive yet very addictive chatting system. You can also engage in two to four player battles and enjoy five-player mini games. Even better, you can connect to Pokemon: Ruby and Sapphire to battle and trade, and the same goes for Pokemon Colosseum, where you can bring your teams from Ruby and Sapphire or FireRed and LeafGreen to Orre and Mt. Battle! If you have a lot of Pokemon-crazy friends, the replay value is almost limitless!

As far as the wireless adapters go, they work very well if you're within close proximity of the other player(s), but they're nowhere near as effective as Nintendo's other wireless marvel, the Wavebird controller for the Gamecube. Get too far away (especially behind a wall), and the GBA wireless adapter will struggle to locate a signal.

While FireRed and LeafGreen aren't brand new Pokemon adventures, there is something to be said for enjoying the classics every now and again. Besides, the inclusion of a free wireless adapter appears to be Nintendo's way of thanking people for providing the fuel that powered the Pokemon machine, because we all know that they still would've made a killing selling them separately. A good start for beginners, as well as collectibles for the fans, FireRed and LeafGreen may be oldies, but they're also good games, and it's those types that always deserve another play through.