Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen Are Unexpectedly Censored

Pokemon FireRed and Pokemon LeafGreen players on Switch consoles are finding that the game has some censorship. The discovery marks a change in the games compared to the original version of Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen that launched for the Game Boy Advance handhelds way back in 2004.

Following a long series of rumors and leaks, it was revealed just before Pokemon Day that Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen, the Game Boy Advance remakes of the original Gen 1 games, would be launching on Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 systems. Instead of coming to the consoles as part of the Nintendo Switch Online service, the games are instead on the standard Nintendo eShop for $19.99 each. However, players have discovered something that has changed in the very early moments of the games.

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By Andrea Trama

Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen Censor Names

Shortly after the release of Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen, players noticed that something was different from the original releases. Those who attempted to enter curse words or other inappropriate words as a name for their own character or their rival discovered that the game wouldn't allow it. Instead of displaying the bad word, the game instead switches the name to one of the defaults available, like Red or Ash. Although some milder words like "damn" don't seem to be a problem for the game, players have formulated long lists of names that have been blocked.

Considering that the Pokemon games are rated E for Everyone and are intended to be safe for kids, it may come as a surprise to some fans that these names were ever allowed in the first place. Since changing the player or rival's name to something lewd or offensive would normally be restricted to the user's system, it may not have been as big a deal in 2004 if certain words were used. However, some changes in how Pokemon games work over the years likely played a role in why that's not the case now. Nintendo Switch consoles can inherently take screenshots and record video, so The Pokemon Company may not want screenshots with explicit words circulating on the internet. Pokemon transferred from Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen to Pokemon Home will also carry their original trainer name, which could lead to players, including minors, encountering vulgar names even when they didn't use one themselves.

While this change won't be a problem for players who use the default names supplied or a generic one, some aren't happy. Giving one's rival a goofy name, in particular, has been a tradition for a lot of Pokemon players, who are now finding that they can't use the ones that they wanted to. Some have also pointed out that a nickname for the name Richard also gets hit by the filter, which seems unfair to those who just want to use their own name while playing the game.

Although these small censoring changes have disappointed some, most of the game is fully intact the exact way that players remember it. This includes the creepy old man in Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen who lurks outside the Celadon City Pokemon Gym. The NPC can be seen staring through a window into the gym, and comments that the place is great because it's full of women, seemingly admitting to peeping on them. This line was actually replaced in Pokemon: Let's Go Pikachu! And Pokemon: Let's Go Eevee! With one that didn't make much sense, with the old guy stating that the gym was great because there were strong trainers inside, which would arguably be the case at any Pokemon Gym.

Outside this discovery, players seem to be enjoying Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen on the Switch. Many have expressed hopes that the trend continues with other classics thta fans have been waiting for will make it to Switch consoles, like Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver, the Nintendo DS remakes of the original Gen 2 titles Pokemon Gold and Silver.