Pokémon Emerald
Pokémon Emerald is a title in the Pokémon video game series, released for the Game Boy Advance in late 2004. The game is a remake of the 3rd Generation games, Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, which has been enhanced in several ways. The game is a similar revamped version as to how Pokémon Crystal was to Pokémon Gold and Silver
The game was released in Japan on September 16 2004, May 1, 2005 in North America and Hong Kong and October 21, 2005 in Europe.
Emerald feature the pokémon available in Kanto like Ruby and Sapphire but also features many Johto pokémon once exclusive to Pokémon Colosseum, which provided convenience to players as they did not have to purchase Pokémon Colosseum, but they could now obtain these pokémon in a main RPG. The national pokédex is also available for in game retreival, unlike in Ruby and Sapphire.
Changes
While the game itself is similar to how Pokémon Yellow was to Pokémon Red and Blue and Pokémon Crystal to Pokémon Gold and Silver, this game adds more changes and revamps than its two predecssors.
- Double battles are now a lot more frequent as two separate people can team up against the player.
- New cut scenes involving Groudon, Kyogre, and Rayquaza can be seen during certain parts of the game.
- Pokémon have animations before battle, as in Pokémon Crystal (although not as impressive as those in Crystal).
- Wireless Adapter support (introduced in FireRed and LeafGreen) has been added.
- Brendon and May have new clothes.
- The chance to catch Rayquaza before you beat the Elite Four, and Groudon and Kyogre afterwards.
- The Battle Frontier - a new way of battling. It takes the place of the Battle Tower in Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire.
- After you beat the Elite four, a new section opens up in the Safari Zone. In the new section, you can catch Johto Pokémon.
- The chance to get the Johto starters (Chikorita, Cyndaquil and Totodile) after completing the Hoenn Pokédex.
Graphical
Because Ruby and Sapphire were released during a time when the Game Boy Advance did not have a backlight, Nintendo completely redid most of the graphics in Emerald, making most of the game slightly lighter, similar to FR/LG's pallet.
The developers changed some of the graphical elements, and added various sprites. They also improved on the new graphical engine which was introduced in Pokémon Fire Red and Leaf Green.
The playable characters (Brendan and May) have been outfitted in green-themed outfits.
From Ruby and Sapphire
- The gyms' layouts have changed, and the Pokémon of the Gym Leaders and members of the Elite Four have changed (this excludes Phoebe's and Glacia's teams).
- Wallace, the Gym Leader of Sootopolis City in Ruby and Sapphire, has been replaced by Juan (another Water-type trainer).
- Most of Wallace's team has been altered, and he is the Pokémon League Champion, while Steven, the former Pokémon League champion, is now in Meteor Falls, making his Pokémon stronger.
- Both of the desert fossils can now be collected. You'll first find them in the Mirage Tower, which occasionally appear in the Mauville Desert (Route 111). At the top, you can select from the Root Fossil (becomes Lileep) or the Claw Fossil (becomes Anorith). The second fossil dissappears after you take one, but can be found and collected in an excavation site after you beat the Elite Four.
- The player can now choose to catch Latios or Latias. Once the Elite Four has been beaten, the player hears a broadcast on television about a flying Pokémon spotted throughout the region. The color of the Pokémon isn't understood, so Mom asks the player whether it is red or blue. This decides which will be available in the wild.
- The method of opening the caves to the Regis (Regirock, Regice, and Registeel) is different. For Regirock, the player must go go 2 steps down, then 2 steps left, and use Rock Smash. For Registeel, players must use Flash in the middle of his cave. For Regice, players bike, run or walk a clockwise lap.
- Both Groudon and Kyogre can be caught; before, the Legendary caught depended on who was on the cover of the game (Groudon could be caught in Ruby; Kyogre in Sapphire). However, both are now at Level 70 (they were at Level 40 in R/S).
- The player can battle the Gym Leaders again after the Elite Four is defeated. All rematches are 2-on-2 fights and feature improved Pokémon teams, including some non-Hoenn Pokémon.
- The game also has a Battle Tent in place of three of the Pokémon Contest halls, each with a different Battle Frontier Event. The Pokémon Contest Hall in Lilycove now contains all levels of Pokémon contests
- Pokémon Link Contests may be held with 2 to 4 players, but only if playing with other Emerald Game Paks. Playing with Ruby and Sapphire requires 4 players.
- Pokémon Box moving capabilities have been added; players can now move Pokemon in large numbers, as well as give and remove items Pokemon are holding (before, players would have to withdraw the Pokemon to remove or give items).
- A few areas that were empty of Pokemon trainers have been reworked to include more trainers.
- There are minor additions to pokemon abilities. The abilities keen eye and intimidate lower the proportion of low level wild pokemon appearing, Hustle and vital spirit make high level wild pokemon more common, Pressure and arena trap increase the amount of wild pokemon that appear, sticky hold and suction cups increase the ability to catch pokemon while fishing and there are many more
Pokemon Additions
- A new exclusive Deoxys form can be obtained: Speed. Deoxys must be obtained through the Aurora Ticket. Deoxys are obtainable by the "Pokémon Rocks America" event and at the Deoxys Hunt event taking place at VUE cinemas in October in the UK.
- One can obtain the same tickets from FireRed and LeafGreen for acquiring Deoxys, Ho-oh, and Lugia. In addition, a new map is used for acquiring Mew at a place called World's Edge Island. As usual, the tickets are only obtainable at a Nintendo event or by cheating.
- Some Johto Pokémon not available in Ruby/Sapphire are now catchable; a new area in the Safari Zone opens up after defeating the Elite Four. Some are the pre-evolved forms of Pokemon originally exclusive to Colosseum.
Battle Frontier
A new park called the Battle Frontier, which replaces the Battle Tower's island, has seven different zones with varying rules, including:
- The Battle Arena
- The Battle Dome
- The Battle Factory
- The Battle Palace
- The Battle Pike
- The Battle Pyramid
- The Battle Tower
The Battle Frontier acts like a completely different region from Hoenn, and can be reached by beating the game. By defeating a battle section, you would receive a symbol (which comes in two types: Silver and Gold). However, the only real purpose of the Battle Frontier is getting the rare Pokemon Sudowoodo and Smeargle, a few rare berries, and the ability to get rare moves from move tutors.
External links
- Pokémon Japan's page
- Serebii.net, a resource for many Pokémon-related things
- SuperCheats.com, provides game help and a question and answer facility