Nintendo announces that it plans on bringing Pokemon Red, Blue, and Yellow to the Nintendo 3DS, with wireless trading to make up for the lack of cables.

Ask an average fan of Pokemon which of the many versions is their favorite and they're likely to respond with the name of one of the original games. This is likely an opinion crafted out of nostalgia, as the franchise has evolved significantly since its North American debut on Game Boy, but there's no denying that Pokemon Red, Blue, and Yellow hold a special place in the hearts of longtime Pocket Monster aficionados.

Given the popularity that the original titles still hold amongst longtime followers of the franchise, it was seen as incredibly odd that Nintendo never opted to release the old games through its Virtual Console service on the 3DS. At least, it was until the company announced that it will be doing just that for Pokemon fans in a few months' time.

During the latest Nintendo Direct presentation, Nintendo revealed that all three of the aforementioned versions of Pokemon will be making an appearance on the 3DS via its current portable's digital storefront – the Nintendo eShop. As fans that tuned in quickly found out, the wait for the games won’t be all that long either, as the Big N plans to make the legendary trio of Game Boy titles available for the 3D-enabled handheld on February 27, 2016 to coincide with the 20^th anniversary of their initial release in Japan back in 1996.

As many will immediately point out, however, it seems like it will be impossible to trade the cutesy creatures since the 3DS lacks a link cable – or even a port to plug one in. Luckily, The Pokemon Company and Ninty have gamers covered there as well, since players will be able to wirelessly trade their various beasts to one another. It’s certainly a more practical take on what more or less equates to a “gotta catch ‘em all” centric trip down memory lane, and one that consumers are sure to appreciate. With that in mind, it would appear that the companies involved have thought of everything – that is to say, everything but word on an official price point.

Still, 2016 is looking to be a fantastic year for wannabe Pokemon Masters, with Pokken Tournament currently taking center stage with several popular monsters – including the never before seen Shadow Mewtwo – preparing to rumble in the near future on Wii U. Even then, it’s possible (if not incredibly likely) that more announcements will be made to coincide with the 20^th anniversary of the longstanding franchise, with a new core entry being a very likely possibility for the 3DS as well.

Are you excited to replay Pokemon Red, Blue, and Yellow on the Nintendo 3DS? What other Pocket Monster games would you like to see make a return on the Virtual Console? Get at us in the comments.