Pokémon: Emerald Version

Pokémon: Emerald Version
Developer	Game Freak
Publisher	Nintendo
System	Game Boy Advance
Release Date	JP September 16, 2004 US May 1, 2005 AU June 9, 2005 EU October 21, 2003
Rating	ESRB: E

Pokémon: Emerald Version is the special third version of the third-generation Pokémon games. It is partially a remake of Pokémon: Ruby and Sapphire Versions, but with a variety of new features, the most obvious being the inclusion of the Battle Frontier.

Story

The journey follows the adventure of a young Pokémon trainer, whom the player can choose as either a boy or a girl. The trainer must travel through Hoenn to catch and raise Pokémon, take on the challenge of the gym leaders and Elite Four and foil the plans of Team Magma and Team Aqua.

Gameplay

Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire retains much of the gameplay of the original set of games. However, they have added some things. The most notable addition is over 100 new species of Pokémon the game introduced.

One of the new features added in Ruby and 'Sapphire is the Pokémon Contests. The Contests are similar to pet shows in real life in which the player must try to impress the judges with their Pokémon. This also brings in a system of planting berry trees. Some of the new features from Crystal, such as choosing a gender, remain, although the day/night system was disavowed. The game still was able to tell separate days, however.

In addition, double battles were added. In double battles, two Pokémon fight as a team.

Connectivity

Emerald can connect with any of the other versions for the Gameboy Advance such as Ruby, Sapphire, FireRed and LeafGreen using a Link Cable to trade and battle Pokémon. However, none of these games are able to trade with older games for the Gameboy Color due to changes in the game's code. Thus, linking to FireRed and LeafGreen are the only ways of getting most of the original 250 Pokémon in Ruby and Sapphire.

The pair of games can also connect to Pokémon Diamond and Pearl using the dongle method. This can only be done once the player sees all 150 Pokémon in Diamond and Pearl. The Pokémon sent from Emerald to Diamond, Pearl or Platinum cannot be traded back.

Through the Gamecube/Gameboy Advance Link, players can store their Pokémon in Pokémon Box. Certain bonuses can be transferred from Pokémon Colosseum or Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness to Emerald, including Jirachi.

The games also make use of the e-Reader. There are certain islands with rare Pokémon that can only be reached by using an e-Reader and a special promotional card.

Version Differences

As with all versions, Emerald misses some Pokémon that instead can only be caught in Ruby or Sapphire. Emerald's distinct new features included a new island called the Battle Frontier where the player could battle through various matches after completing the Elite Four challenge. There were also some alterations to the storyline and the line-ups of the gym leaders and Elite Four. The storyline changes involved putting the player against both Teams Aqua and Magma, whereas in the other versions the player would only have to battle one of the two teams. The story also took a new focus on Rayquaza.

Other changes included new battle animations, an opportunity to gain one of the starters from the second generation games and more double battles.

Legacy

Sequels

Emerald was followed up by the fourth generation games, Pokémon: Diamond and Pearl Versions. Pokémon: Platinum Version would also later revisit the Battle Frontier concept.