If I ever visit Nintendo of America's headquarters, I expect to see a sign over the front desk that reads "Classics Never Die!" No company in the history of companies believes this more than Mario and Co. Mario, Donkey Kong, and Kirby have been tossed into so many repackaged games it's impossible to keep track of them all, and Pokemon is no exception. One of Nintendo's biggest cash cows, Pokemon continues to outsell the competition, and Nintendo is about to say "Thank You" to all of its fans by re-releasing two classic Pokemon games: LeafGreen and FireRed.

Remakes of the 1996 Blue and Red originals, Pokemon LeafGreen and FireRed are revamped versions of the age old classics, but with an extra coat of polish and some new features tossed into the mix. The first thing you'll notice, besides the snazzy packaging and green and red cartridges, is the inclusion of free Wireless Game Boy Advance adapters, a $20 value yours free if you choose to once again embark on the classic RPG quest to train and raise wild critters in the Kanto region. It's a really cool bonus, and one that's put to good use because the adapter enables you to trade, chat, battle, and play mini games wirelessly with friends!

To chat with people, you need to enter a place called the Union Room. You'll need to have two or more Pokemon to enter, so be sure to play the single-player adventure a bit before entering. However, once there, you'll enjoy a myriad of different features. Chatting is like instant messaging in its most basic form. Up to five people can chat, and you communicate by highlighting letters/symbols to form words. Outside chat, you can also view one another's Trainer Cards, have four-player battles, trade Pokemon, and create Berry Powder (up to five players). Outside the Union Room, you can play mini games at the Game Corner (you'll find it as you progress).

If you have old Pokemon games lying around, you can breathe new life into them using the GBA link cable. In Ruby and Sapphire, you can take your Pokemon in LeafGreen and FireRed and organize them as well as battle. You can also battle and trade if you connect the GBA to the GameCube and play Pokemon Colosseum.

Aside from the cool wireless and connectivity features, LeafGreen and FireRed are pretty much exact copies of the first two Pokemon games. To bring the games into the new generation, Nintendo has added a fresh coat of paint to beef up the graphics, but the hardware isn't taxed at all, as the games look like primitive 16-bit SNES games. There are some cool effects, such as seeing your reflection as you walk by pools of water, but you won't be dazzled by either title. Also, the music has been given a slight overhaul, and everything sounds much more dramatic. Hearing the classic Pokemon theme still gets me pumped...to battle with little kids in a school yard for three minutes.

While LeafGreen and FireRed aren't brand new editions to the series, fans looking to replay their favorite battle monster games and dive headfirst into the new additions will find a lot to love about what Nintendo has provided, and the free wireless adapters make picking up one, or both games a solid decision. They're even great for beginners who missed the Pokemon craze (because they weren't born in 1996!). However, if you've grown out of the battle monster phase and want something fresh, LeafGreen and FireRed may fail to satiate you.