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Even those with an understanding of Pokémon informed as much by Red and Blue as Pokémon Go may find themselves more than a little confused by the new Nintendo 3DS games.
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Sun and Moon mark the seventh set of role-playing games in the series, which means there's plenty of catching up to do for anyone foreign to the formula. More exciting than just a yearlong Pokémon birthday party, though, was the ultimate present to players with the fall release of Pokémon Sun and Moon. Pokémon Go's arrival was perfect timing for two reasons: The franchise turned 20 this past February, making 2016 a nostalgia fest for all kinds of fans. Since its July launch, millions of new fans have embraced the Pokémon series, whether for the first time ever or first time since its late '90s heyday. We can't pin all of Pokémon's recent, revitalized success on Pokémon Go, but we'd be remiss to ignore the free-to-play mobile game's influence.
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