Summary
Pokemon Emeraldis fast approaching its twentieth anniversary. First released in September 2004 in Japan, the fan-favorite follow-up toPokemon RubyandPokemon Saphiretakes trainers on an exploration of the Hoenn region in the typical main-series style.
And for many fans of the franchise, it did so to great success. Even when swatting away the misty fog of nostalgia, numerous Pokemon fans still hold the game in high regard. Naturally, this means that the developers, Game Freak, must haveimbued the game with aspectscapable of standing the test of time, holding up well against newly-introduced mechanics such as Gigantamaxing and Mega forms.These things mean thatPokemon Emeraldhas aged well.
10Legendary Pokemon That Are Still Well-Loved
A Truly Top-Notch Trio
Peruse Pokemon forums on the subject of the top legendary Pokemon and fans are likely to find Groudon, Kyogre, and the indomitable Rayquaza somewhere on the list. Steeped in lore, this trio synergizes extremely well with everything about generation three, from the landscapes throughout the game to the Team AquaversusTeam Magma story itself.
Their popularity arguably stems from different reasons for each trainer. Some love the sheer brilliance of their designs, which means they have set the bar high. Some love their usability in competitive play, with all three possessing unique stats. Some then love how they translated so well to the Pokemon anime and movies. What’s for sure is that when venturing to Terra Cave, Marine Cave, and Sky Pillar, Groudon, Kyogre and Rayquaza all clearly captured the imaginations of trainers.
9A Storyline With Drama
Two Teams, Two Motives
The fight for dominion over the land and the sea is quite the backdrop to a game where players are tasked with steering the final outcome and saving the future of the Pokemon universe. Both Team Magma and Team Aqua are given clear motives, and handed Pokemon teams that neatly reflect their objectives.
Stunting their progress from the beginning in Petalburg Woods, right up until the throes in Sootopolis City, is no doubt a thrill that trainers can revel in. The figureheads of all this, Maxie for Team Magma and Archie for Team Aqua, areantagonists that allowed the franchise to think beyond simply stealing one another’s Pokemon, and instead provide villain teams with agrander feel. This is a legacy that carried on beyond generation three, givingPokemon Emeralda truly influential feel.
8Secret Bases That Felt Personal
Secret Power Is The Key To Finding These Areas
A non-necessity in the game but nonetheless a nice touch added by Game Freak, Secret Bases can be found scattered around the Routes of Hoenn. They offer small nooks and crannies that players can customize with decorations from Lilycove City Department Store and elsewhere.
This idea, which was also picked up in the Sinnoh-based games, has been fairly evergreen and one that has seemed to capture trainers' imaginations. That’s why, in the Hoenn remakes ofOmega RubyandAlpha Saphire,it was unsurprising to see them return and evolve, allowing for ever-more interactivity with other Pokemon players.
7A Map With Large Expanses Of Water
A Game Where Players Can Surf And Sail
The Hoenn region, andPokemon Emeraldby extension, created waves by introducing a map that contained vast expanses of water. With the premise of the story centered around the theme of landversussea, it was only natural to have a map that was so covered in blue. In the story, the surfing mechanic becomes a fundamental part, especially after advancement past Lilycove City. Here onwards, HMs give trainers the ability to crest waves, scale waterfalls, and even dive to the depths of the ocean – all the while bringing them ever close to game completion.
All of this gives the fanbase a solid level of interactivity which has likely inspired future installments. For example, areas such as Shoal Cave, which change over time, draw similarities with the calendar systems that were introduced in later generations. And of course,Pokemon Sun and Moonwent on to have a heavy water influence too.
6Clever Nods To Real-world Culture
Game Freak Are Known To Take Inspiration From Different Countries
Like all the other Pokemon games, Hoenn is based on a real-world region. Taking inspiration from the Japanese island and region of Kyushu, Hoenn has many examples of locations that draw parallels to cities across Japan’s prefectures. For example, Mossdeep, the distant island trainers have to surf to in the latter stages of the game, home to the Pokemon world’s very own space complex, is thought to bebased on the Tanegashima Space Center.
There are even more subtle examples, such as the Trick House, situated on Route 110, where trainers can go deeper and deeper into a house filled with multiple doors upon correctly interacting with the NPC. This building, and perhaps Petalburg City Gym too, gives off strong indications that they are based on Japanse Machiya – traditional buildings characterized by sliding floors and doors.
5Gym Challenges That Are Actually Memorable
From Rustboro To Sootopolis To The Pokemon League
After falling through the ice of Sootopolis' Gym Floor for the third or fourth time, trainers will likely realize this is a challenge they won’t quickly forget. Such puzzles, along with the flying-type Fortree Gym with its spinning gate mechanics, among many others, makeHoenn a regionwith some memorable gym experiences.
As precursors to the battles themselves, they offer a neat challenge with some fairly unique concepts that lean cleverly into the gym leader’s type preference. And with them being picked up and revamped with new-and-improved graphics for theOmega RubyandAlpha Saphireremakes, trainers would have gotten a nostalgia-fuelled sense of achievement, based onPokemon Emerald, once more years later, as they came face-to-face with the region’s gym badge holders.
4Pokemon With Interesting Overworld Appearances
Exciting Interactions With Uncommon Sprites
Just as Generation One is famous for its sleeping Snorlax,Pokemon Emeraldhas its own overworld mascot in Kecleon. The Pokemon that can change the color of its body to match its surroundings notoriously blocks the path on key occasions during the game, all of which are no doubt memorable moments for trainers. That spot before Fortree City Gym is key among these.
Though it’s not just Kecleon that makesPokemon Emerald’suse of overworld sprites as brilliant now as it was then. For example, the Wailmer that block the cove entrance in Lilycove City are part of the tapestry of a game where the villain team uses Pokemon that adeptly work with their surroundings. Such appearances are arguably as clever in 2024 as they were in 2004.
3Contests, Poffins, And Chasing Ribbons
Impress Judges With Well-timed Moves
Pokemon contests were a new addition to the franchise in generation three, and they were an aspect that seemingly reached out to a niche portion of trainers who were keen to chase after ribbons.
They gave an interesting secondary spin to Pokemon moves, with each representing a single category, be it cute, cool, smart, tough, or beautiful. And then, with the finger-tapping poffin-making mechanic, trainers could further enhance the likelihood of winning a contest. Just as players find Pokemon ribbons thrilling now, there were no doubt some who felt the pull while playingPokemon Emerald.
2A Stylish Soundtrack That Still Resonates
Music That Is Nostalgic For Fans
It’s often said that music can transport players to different times, and that is no doubt what the soundtrack toPokemon Emeralddid, and continues to do, for many trainers with its recognizable soundtrack.
Alongside the Pokemon designs themselves, music is almost always one of the key aspects to game memorability;Pokemon Emeraldstruck the right tone with its players. From the flutes of Littleroot Town to the paced tones of the Elite Four battles, it seems to remain just as evocative now as it was upon first release.
1An Actual Tough Champion Battle
Encounters Throughout Culminate In A Fiery Final Interaction
Steven,the champion of the Hoenn regionand collector of rare stones, as well as an all-round well-designed character, is one of the tougher battles from the main series. Fans' desire to face NPCs that actually push players to think about type match-ups and consider the strength of the opposition often comes unstuck, but it is not the case in the Hoenn region.
Steven, the son of the president of the Devon Corporation, has a team worthy of that final battle status, with the steel-type pseudo-Metagross a looming presence, and Arnaldo offering a unique threat. Steven also has a solid Skarmory with a moveset ready to frustrate; Toxic, Spikes, and the unmissable Aerial Ace give players plenty of reasons to bring Full Restores. In short, Game Freak gave the games a character that actually made trainers want to compete.
Pokemon Emerald
WHERE TO PLAY
Take on the might of Teams Magma and Aqua in this latest pulsating Pokémon adventure! In Pokémon Emerald, protect the world of Hoenn from Groudon and Kyogre, the mysterious forces of ground and water that are seeking to take over. Fortunately the power of Rayquaza - the sky - can help you. Even hardened Pokémon Trainers will need to be at their battling best, as Pokémon Emerald packs some of the toughest battles you’ll have ever experienced.Seek out all 7 of the all-new Frontier Brain competitors to track down every symbol in the Battle Frontier. Completely new areas of Hoenn will be revealed in this startling extension of Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire. Plus, using the Nintendo Game Boy Advance Wireless Adapter, you can trade and battle wire-free with other players.Or you can use the Game Link Cable to trade and battle with Pokémon Emerald, Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, and Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen. You can even link up to Pokémon Colosseum using the Nintendo GameCube Game Boy Advance cable!
