Does Gold canonically beat red?

Does Gold Canonically Beat Red?

The debate has been raging on for years: Does Gold, the protagonist of Pokémon Gold, canonically beat Red, the protagonist of the original Pokémon Red and Blue? The answer may surprise you, but it’s not as simple as just saying yes or no. In this article, we’ll delve into the world of Pokémon to explore the different perspectives and arguments for and against Gold’s victory.

The Original Story

The Pokémon games have always been designed with multiple endings, leaving the outcome of battles between protagonists to the player’s imagination. However, in the Pokémon Gold and Silver games, there is no explicit mention of Gold’s victory over Red. In fact, Red is only mentioned once in the game, as the champion who can be battled, but not defeated.

In-Game Dialogue

If we look at the in-game dialogue, we see that the characters mention Red, but not as the result of a battle. In the Pokémon Tower, Professor Oak talks about Red and his Pokémon journey, but there’s no mention of Gold defeating him. Even in the Battle Frontier, where trainers can battle other trainers, there is no reference to Red being defeated by Gold.

Canonical Canons

Canonical canons refer to the official rules and settings that define the Pokémon world. According to the Pokémon official canon, Red is the champion of the Pokémon League, while Gold is a novice trainer. This implies that Red’s status as champion is unchanged, even after the events of Pokémon Gold and Silver.

Theoretical Battle

Now, let’s imagine a scenario where Gold does defeat Red in a battle. Even in this scenario, the outcome would not be considered canonical because it is not officially recognized or supported by the game’s developers. Additionally, the in-game dialogue would likely reflect Red’s status as the champion, which would contradict the idea that Gold defeated him.

The Fan Theory

Some fans argue that Gold does beat Red, citing events in the game where Gold becomes the champion. However, this argument relies on the assumption that Gold’s ascension to champion means he must have defeated Red, which is not explicitly stated in the game.

The Argument Against

Others argue that even if Gold does beat Red, it would not be canonically recognized. As mentioned earlier, the Pokémon games are designed with multiple endings, leaving the outcome of battles between protagonists to the player’s imagination. Since Red’s status as champion is never explicitly changed in the game, the outcome of a hypothetical battle between Red and Gold remains ambiguous.

In-Game Data

Some enthusiasts have analyzed the in-game data to investigate the possibility of a Gold-Red battle. One notable find is that the game code includes data for a "battle" between Red and Gold, which some fans have interpreted as evidence that Gold defeated Red. However, the game developers have not confirmed this finding, and the data may simply represent a test scenario or an unused event.

Conclusion

In conclusion, based on the analysis of in-game dialogue, canonical canons, and theoretical arguments, it is difficult to conclude that Gold canonically beats Red. While some fans may argue for a hypothetical Gold victory, there is no official evidence or recognition from the game developers to support this claim. As a result, it is safe to say that Red remains the champion of the Pokémon League, and Gold remains a novice trainer in the eyes of the official canon.

Table of Evidence

Remember, the world of Pokémon is full of mysteries and interpretations, but when it comes to the question of who wins in a battle between Gold and Red, the evidence points to Red emerging victorious, in the eyes of the official canon.