Pokémon Emerald

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Pokémon Emerald

Developer(s) Game Freak
Publisher(s) Nintendo
Designer(s) Satoshi Tajiri (executive producer)
Shigeru Miyamoto (director)
Junichi Masuda (world director)
Ken Sugimori (artist)
Series Pokémon series
Engine Modifed Pokémon Ruby/Sapphire Engine
Platform(s) Game Boy Advance
Release date JPN September 16, 2004
NA May 1, 2005
AUS June 9, 2005
EUR October 21, 2005
Genre(s) Console role-playing game
Mode(s) Single player, Multiplayer
Rating(s) ESRB: E
USK: Unrestricted
OFLC: G8+
PEGI: 3+
Media 128-megabit cartridge

Pokémon Emerald, released in Japan as Pocket Monsters Emerald (ポケットモンスター　エメラルド Poketto Monsutā Emerarudo,?), is a title in the Pokémon series of video games. It was released for the Game Boy Advance in Japan on September 16, 2004, in North America and Hong Kong on May 1, 2005, in Australia on June 9, 2005, and in Europe on October 21, 2005. It features the Dragon-type Legendary Pokémon Rayquaza on the cover.

The game is an enhanced remake of Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, adding to the third generation of Pokémon games. Like the games it was based on, the player controls a Pokémon trainer, whose general goal is to traverse around the Hoenn region and conquer a series of eight Pokémon gyms to earn eight Gym Badges, then take on the Elite Four, defeat the Pokémon League Champion and succeed him/her. Like Ruby and Sapphire, the game features the third generation Pokémon, but also adds some second generation Pokémon that were once limited to Pokémon Colosseum. The National Pokédex is also available without trading.

The game follows the same storyline as Ruby and Sapphire, but adds new elements such as the Battle Frontier, where the player can enter a variety of areas with different Pokémon competitions.

Contents

[edit] Setting and plot

See also: Plot
A battle between the protagonist and his rival commences.
A battle between the protagonist and his rival commences.
The playable characters of Pokémon Emerald, in their altered outfits.
The playable characters of Pokémon Emerald, in their altered outfits.

The main antagonists that the player faces are Team Magma and Team Aqua, which differs from Ruby and Sapphire in which one team was the antagonist and the other was the protagonist, trying to stop the other team. Instead of one team awakening a legendary Pokémon, both teams succeed in each awakening a legendary Pokémon; Groudon and Kyogre. The two Pokémon do not obey either team and begin fighting, causing the weather to alternate between sunshine and rain. The player must awaken the legendary Pokémon Rayquaza, after which it will swoop down and force the two combatants to stop, returning Hoenn to normal.

Once the player defeats the Elite Four, Norman gives the player the S.S Ticket for the S.S Tidal at the player's house. A news bulletin appears and says that a colored Pokémon is in flight through Hoenn. A little later, the player receives a phone call, whereupon he or she will be allowed to enter the Battle Frontier through the S.S Tidal.

[edit] Changes

See also: Pokémon game mechanics

While Emerald’s relation to Ruby and Sapphire is similar to that of Pokémon Yellow to Pokémon Red and Blue and Pokémon Crystal to Pokémon Gold and Silver, it also adds more dramatic changes and revamps than its two predecessors.

Emerald introduces several changes in battling. In Ruby and Sapphire, 2-on-2 battles were clearly marked, and those trainers would not challenge the player unless the player turned and talked to them. 2-on-2 battles are now more sporadic, with two separate trainers coming together to battle as a pair. Paired trainers will also challenge the player if the player gets too close to them as well. After the Elite Four is defeated, the Gym Leaders may also demand a 2-on-2 rematch with the player. Also, using the PokeNav, the player can now telephone a trainer they have already battled.

The game includes many graphical changes. For instance, both Brendan and May now have green outfits. Within battle, Pokémon sprites are animated similarly to Crystal. Some routes and areas have also been redesigned with different layouts and more trainers to allow for more random 2-on-2 battles, and the layouts of several Gyms are altered significantly. The eighth Gym Leader in Ruby and Sapphire, Wallace replaces the Pokémon League Champion, and in turn is replaced by his mentor, Juan.

Some Pokémon locations have been changed as well. In Ruby, the player could only capture Groudon, while in Sapphire, the player could only catch Kyogre. In Emerald, both Legendary Pokémon can be caught in separate caverns after defeating the Elite Four. The player can also choose which running Legendary Pokémon to catch (Latios or Latias). Previously, the player could only catch Latios in Ruby and Latias in Sapphire. The Safari Zone also has new areas that allow the player to catch many Pokémon that originated from the Johto region. In a new area called Altering Cave, players can change which Pokémon appear by using a Wonder Spot in real life.

[edit] Battle Frontier

Map of Battle Frontier.
Map of Battle Frontier.

One of the most significant changes is the addition of the Battle Frontier, an expanded version of the Battle Tower that was present in Ruby and Sapphire. During the game, a man will meet the player frequently. As the player progresses through the game and wins more badges, he will become more impressed. After the player defeats the Pokémon League Champion, the man will call and invite the player to the Battle Frontier.

The Battle Frontier is divided into seven areas: six completely new, and the seventh being the Battle Tower. When the player wins matches, he or she gains Battle Points, which can be used to purchase prizes. After several consecutive victories, players will face the facility's Frontier Brain, who will award them with a Frontier Symbol (the equivalent of a badge).

[edit] Reception

Pokémon Emerald has been generally well-received by both gamers and reviewers alike.[1][2] Gamespot gave Emerald a 7.5 rating.[3] Similarly, IGN has given Emerald an "Impressive" rating of 8.0 over a possible 10.0.[4] Emerald has also received an aggregate rating of 77% on Game Rankings.[5] However, Eurogamer gave Emerald a score of 6/10, praising it for looking better than either Ruby or Sapphire and for having harder and longer gameplay, but criticizing it for being more of a "director's cut" than a half changed update, with most of the game still resembling that of Ruby and Sapphire.[6] Nevertheless, the changes and additions in the game have been considered by many to be major ones, and the popularity of the Pokémon franchise has seen the game meet commercial success. Emerald was 2005’s second best-selling game in the United States, and went on to sell 6.32 million copies, making it the third-best selling game for the Game Boy Advance.[7]

[edit] References

  1. ^ IGN: Reader Reviews For: Pokémon Emerald Version. IGN. Retrieved on 2007-09-09.
  2. ^ Pokémon Emerald Reader Reviews at Game Rankings. Game Rankings. Retrieved on 2007-09-09.
  3. ^ Gamespot Summary of Pokémon Emerald. Gamespot. Retrieved on 2007-09-09.
  4. ^ IGN: Pokémon Emerald Version. IGN. Retrieved on 2007-09-09.
  5. ^ Pokémon Emerald Reviews at Game Rankings. Game Rankings. Retrieved on 2007-09-09.
  6. ^ Review - Pokémon Emerald // GBA /// Eurogamer. Eurogamer. Retrieved on 2007-12-06.
  7. ^ AOL Games: Pokémon Emerald. AOL Games (August 3, 2005). Retrieved on 2006-03-24.

[edit] External links

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