Pokemon Gold/Silver were meant to be the series finale

Many consider “Generation II” of Pokémon to be the highlight of the pocket monster series, and indeed it does represent the perfect point between depth and convolution, the moment before Pokémon became needlessly complicated and required fifteen spreadsheets in order to maximize its potential. Did you know that Silver and Gold were intended to be the last in the series, too? 

“I worked with the assumption that after we put out Gold and Silver, my work as far as Pokémon was concerned would be done,” explains Pokémon Company president Tsunekazu Ishihara. “I didn’t intend to make any more Pokémon titles. I even thought that once we entered the twenty-first century, it would be time for me to do something else entirely.

“I remember that when Gold and Silver were released, I felt like a burden had finally been lifted from my shoulders. We’d had our sights set on the finish line of Gold and Silver for so long, and now that we’d finally completed the major series running right through from Red and Blue, I felt I could say to Tajiri-san: ‘I’ve fulfilled my duty!'”

Of course, Pokémon just kept making money, so GameFreak just kept making games, right?

HeartGold and SoulSilver, the remakes of these classic games, are due in stores tomorrow. We’re playing it right now for a review, and I’ll get that written as soon as I stop building my shrine to Ekans.

Iwata Asks [Nintendo.co.uk via GoNintendo]