urban legends ✓

lavender town syndrome ☹

Back in 1996 the Pokemon Red and Green video games delighted Gameboy owners all over the world. Well, except for in one part of the world.

The game was first released in Japan and it supposedly correlated with a huge spike in suicides and illness in children ranging in age from 7 to 12. The children did not fall ill or commit suicide until reaching Lavender Town in the popular game.

The game's score was said to be the source of the sinister ailments in children. The piercing tones of the music caused headaches, nausea and eventually suicidal tendencies in young children. The music in the level was changed before the game was shipped overseas. The above clip is taken from the original Japanese version of the game.