Even at this early stage, I think I’m preferring Pokémon Emerald to Pokémon Leaf Green. I played Blue to death when it came out, and more than once. I took to transferring over all my Pokémon to Pokémon Stadium on the N64 and then playing through it again, it was insane. This is probably why Leaf Green felt so familiar, and dare I say it, a bit dull. The nice new graphics were excellent, and some of the new features were very welcome, but it was just a bit too much. By contrast, I played Pokémon Ruby when it came out in the US, but didn’t get very far at all. I had other things on my plate at that time as I was no longer a lazy student with loads of free time. This Pokémon Emerald seems new and exciting, even though I’ve played through the first half of Ruby.
The Pokémon are unfamiliar and interesting, mysteries waiting to be unravelled by level ups. The Pokédex is nicer, and easier to navigate, the Bag is split into more manageable sections, and berries are handled better in this game too. No longer do you randomly find them in shadows on the ground, you can actually plant them to grow more. I spent about two hours trying to make a Seedot appear the other night, and am currently trying to get everything up to level 20 or thereabouts before I go on, but some things like Sableye (which don’t evolve) and Beautifly and Dustox (only really good for beginners) I’m leaving as they are. I think I’m going to go with Linoone for my HM slave (Cut, Surf, Strength, Rock Smash – I think that’s the four I need to progress through the game).
The one thing I do miss is the VS Seeker from Leaf Green. That thing was excellent. Just hold it up and any trainers nearby decide whether they want a rematch, great. This PokéNav thing seems a bit less precise. I’ve had someone phone me up and tell me they nearly caught a Wingull (WOW FUCK REALLY???), but so far no-one has offered a rematch. Even when they do, if I’m off half-way across the region, am I really going to want to traipse all the way back to where they are, beat them in a few seconds, then go all the way back to where I was and carry on? Oh, I also love how if you time it right, two unrelated Trainers can challenge you at once.
I don’t know why everyone slates Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald as having the worst Pokémon designs – there are some really good “Pokémon-ey” ones in there. I’ve made a collage of some of my favourites (yeah, maybe Plusle and Minun are Pikachu rip-offs, and Feebas is a different take on Magikarp, but still, I think these Pokémon are pretty well designed).
More fucking Zubats and Geodudes though. Those things must proliferate and spread like there’s no tomorrow. A Wild Zubat appeared. Run. Take two steps. A Wild Zubat appears. Repeat ad nauseum. Profit. (I lie, there is no profit).
