Red was my first, and I played all the way through to the end right around when it came out - My cousin got it as a gift but didn't like it, so I used HIS cart and my neighbor's borrowed gameboy (the original). I was a shameless addict even back then, taking stuff from these people just to get my fix, haha.
When Gold came out a few years later I was given it along with a Gameboy color. Since it was truly mine, I got far more attached to my Pokemon. Even completed the dex, sans mew, celebi, and the couple trade evolutions that required another king's rock or metal coat (politoed and scizor). Gen 2 will always be my favorite, but Gen I started it all for me.
(It freaks me out to see people saying Gen 3 or 4 was their first game... I feel so old. D
When Gold came out a few years later I was given it along with a Gameboy color. Since it was truly mine, I got far more attached to my Pokemon. Even completed the dex, sans mew, celebi, and the couple trade evolutions that required another king's rock or metal coat (politoed and scizor). Gen 2 will always be my favorite, but Gen I started it all for me.
(It freaks me out to see people saying Gen 3 or 4 was their first game... I feel so old. D