Old man (Kanto)/Role/Generations I and III

When the player first visits Viridian City, an old man lying on the path blocks the player's way. In the original Japanese version, he is passed out drunk; in the European language versions, he is grumpy due to not having had his coffee for the day. Once the player has delivered Oak's Parcel to Professor Oak, the old man will no longer be in the way.

Once he has had his coffee (sobered up in the Japanese version), he helps the player by teaching them how to catch a Pokémon using a Poké Ball. In, he carries a total of 50 s in his Bag and uses one to catch a. In, he has just one Poké Ball and fails to catch a ; after failing to catch it, he goes to the Poké Mart to buy more and agrees to repeat the tutorial and successfully catch the Rattata after the player enters and leaves the Poké Mart. In, he only has one Poké Ball, which he uses to successfully catch a Weedle; additionally, in these games he gives the player a Teachy TV, which contains additional video tutorials provided by his grandson, Primo, in his Poké Dude Show.

In Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!, the old man does not appear. His function as a road block early in the game is replaced by Jessie, James, and. His function as a tutorial is replaced by Professor Oak, who helps the player catch their.