History VideoGame / Telefang

''Telefang'' [[labelnote:a.k.a.]]''"Keitai Denjuu Telefang"'' or ''"Mobile Phone Monster Telefang"''[[/labelnote]] is a series of monster-battling [=RPGs=] vaguely in the mold of ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}''. Perhaps one of the most distinguishing feature of ''Telefang'' is that [[TelecomTree monsters are contacted via the "D-Shot", something like a cell phone]], in order to enter battle. The series count with 2 games (the first one for the UsefulNotes/GameBoyColor, the second one for the UsefulNotes/GameBoyAdvance) and two manga series.

[[{{NoExportForYou}} Since the games were never exported outside Japan]], these games - specifically, the UsefulNotes/GameBoyColor versions - are perhaps best known among English-speaking gamers as the real deal behind the [[AdaptationDisplacement memetically-famous]] bootlegs "Pokémon Diamond"[[labelnote:*]]not related to the official original ''[[VideoGame/PokemonDiamondAndPearl Pokémon Diamond]]'' game[[/labelnote]] and "Pokémon Jade". With a horrible (and very often inconsistent) translation and plagued with glitches, it's hard to decide whether or not those bootlegs actually damaged the ''Telefang'' series, since [[FollowTheLeader they made the series look like a cheap copy of Pokémon]], but [[NoSuchThingAsBadPublicity they also helped it to get widely known due to the memetic mutation]]. Whatever the case, the series could have been a serious competitor to the ''Pokémon'' franchise if it had been been exported.

* BonusBoss: In the first game, there is a locked room very early on which only becomes unlocked after you've beaten the main storyline. There you can choose to fight one of a pair of sisters, both of which have a team of three maximum-level Denjuu.

* EverythingsBetterWithPenguins: Badhorou, a somewhat owl-like Denjuu, learns the special attack Penguin Missile.

* TurtlePower: Musa, some sort of rocky-looking turtle-dragon hybrid, is the Denjuu who apparently summoned the protagonist into the Denjuu world in the first game. He's the elder of Toronko Village, and is one of the Denjuu whose phone number is a secret.

* AnimeHair: The protagonists' hairstyles were relatively normal in the first game, but the sequel [[YouGottaHaveBlueHair played this straight.]]

* YouGottaHaveBlueHair: In the sequel, the protagonist, Kyou, has blue hair.

* EverythingsBetterWithMonkeys: Waratah, a fluffy monkey-like Denjuu, features prominently in the first manga adaption as Matsukiyo's partner. While it starts out small enough to sit on a shoulder, it eventually evolves into a massive rideable baboon-like monstrosity. Also, it's notable for making monkey noises rather than speaking normally like every other Denjuu.

* DummiedOut: Telefang has quite a few of these:
** The Human World, the place at the very beginning of the game, is larger than what you can normally see. It has plenty of unused buildings (albeit locked), including two large ones with unique graphics not seen elsewhere. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLHqXVkNVmY]]
** Unused UsefulNotes/SuperGameBoy features, including unused borders (the border depends on the version played), and some unused color palettes (although one is a glitchy completely white one). Even if the Super Game Boy functionality is enabled by hacking the game, there are still many unused color palettes that the game could have used. [[https://forum.telefang.net/viewtopic.php?p=6236]]
** Some unused moves, although many of them are either identical to existing ones or are glitchy. This is also true in the sequel to an extent.
** An unused shop, which presumably would have been near the cave in Ion Island, and two unused houses, which presumably would have been in Panses Village.
** Dialogue which suggests an even worse end for the entire Kakuza party.
** Several T-Fangers had unique post-defeat quotes planned for them, as opposed to the usual default.

In the same fashion as Franchise/{{Pokemon}}, [[OneGameForThePriceOfTwo two versions of each game were released]], "Power Version" and "Speed Version". These games were created by Creator/{{Natsume}} and Smilesoft, [[http://s15.zetaboards.com/Tulunk_Village/topic/6813625/ which became Rocket Company]] in 2003.

While there is no official English version of either games, some [[FanTranslation fans are currently working on a translation patch]]. It can be found [[http://wikifang.meowcorp.us/wiki/Wikifang:Telefang_1_Translation_Patch here]]. A still active English-speaking forum based on the series can be found [[http://s15.zetaboards.com/Tulunk_Village/index/ here]].

** Unused UsefulNotes/SuperGameBoy features, including unused borders (the border depends on the version played), and some unused color palettes (although one is a glitchy completely white one). Even if the Super Game Boy functionality is enabled by hacking the game, there are still many unused color palettes that the game could have used. [[http://s15.zetaboards.com/Tulunk_Village/topic/6937443/]]