The first of Pokémon games - but not the last!
The graphics are as much - or little - as can be expected from Game Boy Color, but it's not the look that's so captivating; it's the idea.
Set off on a Pokémon journey with your starter Pokémon (Bulbasaur, Squirtle or Charmander), catch wild Pokémon, train them (trade them), make them evolve, grow and lean new moves. Challenge gym leaders and battle other trainers.
A few times the gym battles were a pain. Well, the second one for me, and then the final battle against the Elite Four. After a few losses you start to see where you went wrong - and what to do better the next time around.
The story also consists of small tasks: take an item to someone else somewhere else. Gain something in return. Talk to other characters to gain information. Solve problems. Defeat Team Rocket (which is far more bad-ass in this game than it is in the anime).
Pokémon Red seemed too short in the end. After defeating Elite Four and becoming Pokémon master, there isn't really much to do anymore, other than catch the Pokémon you haven't yet, and maybe battle friends if you are able to link with them.
One downside of the whole Pokémon franchise is that you can't catch 'em all in one game - thus various versions and the couple of Pokémon that are "unique" in each. If you can't trade with anyone, you can't get them, but that's okay. You've got almost everything you can from the game after you've finished the storyline.
I like this game. It isn't perfect, there could be more, and sometimes doing the same thing over and over again gets to your nerves, but overall, if you're into this kind of thing, it's a joy ride from start to finish.
And it makes you want to play the other games in the series as well!