Splinterlands is actually my first taste of Card battles, despite how long Pokemon has existed and the fact that I've known about it for so long. I watched a few episodes of the cartoon while growing up but other than Pikachu, I can't remember anything about it.
is it anything like SPlinterlands?
The actual game play of the Game Boy version here is more like Zelda (run around) and battles are turn based with the cards used to unlock energy and powers and such.
I have been playing Splinterlands a bit this last week (apparently I bought a starter pack a while back and forgot). I like Splinterlands more myself - easier to understand what is going on and none of this "add energy to do that" type stuff that is rampant in Pokemon Trading Card Game and Magic, and countless other card games.