by Charlie Brooks posted in Parenting

My kids are officially obsessed with Pokémon. In a way, this is great news for me. After years of dealing with the likes of Thomas and Friends, I can finally bond with them without having to do any research. I was into Pokémon in the 1990s, so the kids are in my wheelhouse now.
I gleefully fired up a game of Pokémon Red for the kids to share my introduction to the franchise with them. Unfortunately, it was only after I got them hooked on the game that I remembered the downside to sharing my childhood entertainment with them: some of those early installments are really messed up.
I?m not talking about the dissonant nature of a game that talks about the importance of treating Pokémon well but then encourages you to capture them and force them to battle. That?s a flaw of the whole franchise, but it falls under the mantle of, ?this is just a video game, so don?t overthink it.? No, I?m talking about a place called Lavender Town. That?s where the original games go from fun-filled adventures with cartoon creatures to creepy horror with some truly disturbing backstory. Lavender Town is where the game introduces ghost Pokémon, and as far as I know it?s the only part of the franchise to really explore death.
Entering Lavender Town
Lavender Town marks a sudden and jarring shift in the game?s mood. Before and after this section, the game is happy and upbeat. Inside Lavender Town, though, you?re greeted by this music:
The town features a plac...