Genre: RPG
Developer: Game Freak
Publisher: Nintendo
# of Players: 4
Memory: N/A
ERSB: Everyone
Released On: March 17th, 2003
Also On: None
Introduction:
Pokemon…It’s like Nintendo has stated on the Ruby and Sapphire boxes, their "The Pokemon Company." There isn’t one person in the entire world who hasn’t at least heard of the Pokemon franchise. Whether it is the Saturday morning cartoon show on KidsWB to the... well, Pokemon games for Gameboy Color and the N64. Yes, Nintendo has now shipped their long-awaited GBA version for all those Pokemaniacs and collectors. And I, Rashaan, the new reviewer on the block, shall inform on whether you should put down your hard earned $30 (or more... check out Gameplay) on one of these titles.
Presentation:
Da-da-da-da!! Here it is! So all you crazy pokefans who have grown tired of belligerently slaughtering the CPU trainers (or your friends) with your super powered, steroid pumped Pokemon can rejoice! You know have another 1000 hours of your life to waste leveling your Pokemon to 100 and layin’ the smackdown on your opponents.
"Anything new?" you ask me. Weeeeell...yes and no. There are a couple of twists, a couple of turns, but don’t panic, you won’t need a map because your on the same road. Looky here...
You start off the same way you have in every other Pokemon game, you know, "What’s your name?", "Are you a girl or a boy?” yeah, you know. Anyway, the story is a bit different from the other games, but not enough to blow you away, your time, but not you. It seems as though your character has now moved to a little town called, watchout now, Littleroot Town from Johto. No more Kanto, you’ve upgraded to Hoenn. It seems as though your dad is also the new Gym leader for the Petalburg gym. In Hoenn, like all places, there is a Pokemon professor, Professor Birch. You immediately go to see him but find that he is not in his lab. Soon, you find him being attacked by a Poochyena on a road. You then get to pick from 3 Pokemon in his bag to fight off the devilish beast. Then later you get to keep it. Sound familiar? Then I have nothing more to say.
Graphics:
"Wow! Is that my reflection in the water?" Yes, and on the ice and in the puddle and in the water while you surf... Oh! In case you couldn’t tell by now, there really isn’t too much eye candy in this game. But then, you have to remember, it is only GBA. No. That’s not enough excuse. With games like Golden Sun making benchmarks in GBA history, why can’t Nintendo’s piggy bank make some too!! But honestly, this game has definitely improved over its past brethren. Obviously the sprites are more detailed and colorful and the game even takes advantage of GBA effects like sprite scaling, scrolling backgrounds, and transparencies. But is it enough when you know there’s better? Sadly yes. With all the stuff they packed into this cartridge and knowing they aren’t done yet is enough to make me appreciate what I have in my plate.
Gameplay:
You know the name of the game; pick your pocket monster and battle against the world by designating moves with limited PP (PowerPoints) at the beginning of each round until one of the buggers faints. Each battle garners you an allotted amount of experience points which make your Pokemon stronger. To add to that, at certain levels, say 26, your P-mon will evolve into an equally weirder lookin’ monster. But you’ll be a stronger weirder lookin’ monster. Battle your way to the Supreme spectacle, (drumroll please... well forget you!) POKEMON LEAGUE!!! Beat them, *gasp* continue the story, and fill your Pokedex to the brim. Oh yeah...
The ultimate goal of both the games is to complete your Pokedex. Incase your one of the 2 people in the world that doesn’t know; your Pokedex records all the Pokemon that you see and own. Of course the only Pokemon that count are the ones you own. D’OH!! That’s right, not ALL the Pokemon are present in any one of the games. Meaning... you can’t catch [Pokemon A] in Ruby, but you can in Sapphire. That ultimately means in order to complete your ’Dex, you either (A) need a friend with the opposite version you own and a link cable or (B) need to buy the opposite version you own, a link cable and another GBA or (C) be like me and don’t give a rat’s ass and just play the game for fun. Sounds good...
There are a couple of other nice features that are in the game also. You’ve got Pokemon contests to enter which are like PKMN Fashion Shows and let’s not forget the infamous GameCorner. But the biggest addition has to be the 2-on-2 Poke Battles. Yeah, they’re scarce, but when you get them, you know they’re good. *sigh* They got rid of the day and night transitions. Yes, no more venturing out at two in the morning to go catch that HootHoot. *sniffle*
Sound:
Buuum-buumm-bum-bum-buuuum... Oh sorry, I was just humming the tune you hear when you go out surfing. YEAH RIGHT!! It’s not even that serious. Aside from using the GBA sound card, there really isn’t any tune in the game that will get you hummin’ on the bus. Nice to see them use more sound channels though.
Final Thoughts:
And the conclusion to my longwinded account…Yes, yes, and yes. Yes this game is the same as the others with some touches here and there, yes it is addictive with new features, and yes it will sell like music bootlegs on the corner. It really doesn’t matter what I say you psychos are still going to go buy it or already have it, the most I’ll get is a plastic explosive and hate mail at my doorstep... so what you waitin’ for?
