20 Years Later, Pokemon Emerald Set a High Bar for ‘Third Version’ Games

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20 Years Later, Pokemon Emerald Set a High Bar for 'Third Version' Games

As a die-hard Pokemon fan since the days of the Game Boy Color, I can confidently say that Pokemon Emerald holds a special place in my heart. Growing up with Ruby and Sapphire, the prospect of a third game was like finding a shiny Pikachu in the wild – rare and exhilarating. The marketing for Emerald was so effective, it felt like I could practically smell the fresh Game Boy Advance cartridge as I waited in line at my local gaming store.

Pokémon is a widely discussed and popular gaming franchise that has grown even more with services like Pokémon GO expanding its fan base beyond the traditional mainline games. The GameFreak RPG series, while always successful, didn’t achieve its current massive scale instantly. Fans initially enjoyed portable games such as Pokémon Emerald, along with occasional spin-offs like Pokémon Colosseum.

As a dedicated Pokémon fan these days, I can attest that there’s an endless stream of content throughout the year, keeping both casual and hardcore fans engaged and excited, especially with major releases like the upcoming “Pokemon Legends: Z-A”. However, it’s important to remember that being a Pokémon fan has always been an exhilarating journey. For instance, the time leading up to and during “Pokemon Emerald” was truly unique in its own right. It was during the peak of Generation 3, a period that significantly transformed the series as it marked the franchise’s first leap from the Game Boy to a handheld device.

The promotional efforts surrounding Emerald were impossible to overlook, and it sparked anticipation for one of the series’ sought-after third versions at that time. Although the custom of launching a third game shortly after the typical dual releases in Pokemon is no longer common in more recent generations, Emerald effectively demonstrates why these later editions were worth investing additional funds.

Pokemon Emerald Refined the Third Generation to End Up Defining It

In comparison to Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire, which were already quite unique due to their exceptional marketing and the new visuals provided by the Game Boy Advance, Pokemon Emerald stood out because it significantly enhanced many features that were introduced in Pokemon Crystal. Furthermore, Emerald made Generation 3’s journey feel more spectacular. Essentially, the game’s memorable qualities can be attributed to its refinement of previous elements and its impressive showcasing, along with the general quality-of-life improvements that are characteristic of third versions in the Pokemon series.

In the Pokemon world, Kyogre and Groudon are often associated with their continuous battles for dominance over land and sea. However, what’s less frequently discussed is the intervention of Rayquaza that prevented a catastrophic flood or drought. Similarly, the rivalry between Team Magma and Team Aqua left a lasting impression on players not only because of their eventual defeat but also due to the natural disaster that demonstrated the destructive consequences of their wishes. Pokemon Emerald was groundbreaking in introducing animated sprites which became a beloved feature, enhancing the gaming experience when Pokemon Diamond and Pearl were launched two years later, as per the release date of Pokemon Emerald in Japan.

How Pokemon Emerald Left High Expectations for Pokemon Platinum and Beyond

In the game Pokemon Crystal, the storyline was similar to that of Suicune, but the introduction of Rayquaza enriched the original narrative of Ruby and Sapphire even more. The Battle Frontier, which was introduced later, became extremely popular among fans, creating a strong desire for it to appear in future games as well.

In a remarkable manner, Pokemon Emerald demonstrated how a third installment in the mainline Pokemon series could innovatively build upon its predecessors, resulting in extensive additions like the Distortion World in Pokemon Platinum. Pokemon Emerald was an immense success among fans and became the third best-selling game for the Game Boy Advance. Fans even wished that the pattern of Pokemon remakes having only two games might change, allowing Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire to be accompanied by a ‘Delta Emerald.’ With DLC becoming commonplace in Pokemon and third versions seemingly surviving through the concept of Pokemon Legends: Z-A being the ‘Z’ to X and Y, Pokemon Emerald remains a brilliant illustration of what these supplementary games could achieve when they were the series norm.

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2024-09-16 19:44