Day and Week Cycles
The pair marked a changing point not only for the series but for the gaming industry as a whole. Day and night cycles, week cycles and having Pokemon appear only at precise times throughout the day using an internal clock marked a revolutionary, unique method for further immersing players, encouraging them to continuously play the game. The most famous case of this comes in the form of Lapras, as the Pokemon can only be caught during a certain time once per week.
As annoying as this may sound to modern audiences, these mechanics actually helped make the game come alive. Personally, it wasn’t too uncommon for kids in my elementary school to start a conversation on how to catch a Hoothoot or the aforementioned Lapras. It was a great way to get kids to talk with one another and ultimately make good friends.
