Pokémon Emerald

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Pokémon Emerald
Developer(s)	Game Freak
Publisher(s)	Nintendo
Release date(s)	JPN September 16, 2004 NA May 1, 2005 AU June 9, 2005 EU October 21, 2005
Genre(s)	Console role-playing game
Mode(s)	Single player, Multiplayer
Rating(s)	ESRB: Everyone USK: Free for all OFLC: G8+ PEGI: 3+
Platform(s)	Game Boy Advance
Media	128-megabit cartridge
Input	Game Boy Advance Directional pad

Pokémon Emerald, released in Japan as Pocket Monsters Emerald (ポケットモンスター　エメラルド, Poketto Monsutā Emerarudo^?), is a title in the Pokémon series of video games. It was released for the Game Boy Advance in Japan on September 16, 2004, in North America and Hong Kong on May 1, 2005, in Australia on June 9, 2005, and in Europe on October 21, 2005. It features the Dragon/Flying type Pokémon Rayquaza on the cover.

The game is an enhanced remake of Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, adding to the third generation of Pokémon games. Like the games it was based on, the player controls a Pokémon trainer, whose general goal is to traverse around the Hoenn region and capture Pokémon. Like Ruby and Sapphire, the game features the third generation Pokémon, but also adds some second generation Pokémon that were once limited to Pokémon Colosseum. The National Pokédex is also available without trading.

The game follows the same storyline as Ruby and Sapphire, but adds new elements such as the Battle Frontier, where the player can enter Pokémon battles with other trainers. The elements have been considered by many to be major additions, and the popularity of the Pokémon franchise had seen the game meet commercial success. Emerald was 2005’s second best-selling game in the United States.^[1]

Contents 1 Story 2 Changes 2.1 Battle Frontier 3 References 4 External links

[edit] Story

In Emerald, the protagonist moves to Littleroot Town of the Hoenn area from Johto. Upon rescuing Professor Birch from a wild Zigzagoon, he or she receives the Pokémon the player used to fight the Zigzagoon (either a Torchic, a Mudkip, or a Treecko) and begins a journey. Like the previous games, the player's goal is to collect eight Gym Leader badges so he or she can challenge the Elite Four and become the Pokémon Champion. In these two games, the rival is of the opposite gender and is more of a friendly helper, checking the player's progress at various times and giving items to help the player advance through the game.

In another difference from its predecessors, the protagonist's father, Norman, is the Petalburg City Gym Leader. When the player enters the city, he or she meets Norman. Shortly afterwards, a young boy named Wally enters, who wants to catch his first Pokémon before he has to move away from Petalburg. The player accompanies him out into wild grass, where he catches his first Ralts. Wally is overjoyed and thanks the player. Later on, the player faces him again in Mauville City, where he is seeking to challenge the Gym Leader there. After the player defeats him, (or if he defeats you, you start over where you last saved)he reconsiders and decides to improve his team.

The main antagonists that the player faces are Team Magma and Team Aqua. Emerald is different in that both teams are the villains in this game; in Ruby and Sapphire, one team was the villain and the other was the good guys trying to stop the other team. Like the previous games, both plot to awaken a legendary Pokémon. Team Magma's hideout is in the area of Mount Chimney, and is also the location where they awaken the legendary Pokémon Groudon. Like in the previous games, Aqua awakens the legendary Pokémon Kyogre at the bottom of the sea. The two Pokémon do not obey either team and begin fighting at Sootopolis City, and the weather alternates between sunshine and rain. The player must awaken the legendary Pokémon Rayquaza at the sky pillar, after which Rayquaza will swoop down and force the two combatants to cut it out, returning Hoenn to normal.

After the player acquires the eight badges, he or she is given entry to Victory Road, a location with high-leveled Pokémon and trainers. The Pokémon League and the Elite Four are stationed in an area north of Victory Road. Near the end of the area, Wally catches up to the player and demands another battle. His team is much improved, and after the player defeats him he vows to retrain until he triumphs. After beating the Elite Four the player can battle him again.

After defeating the Elite Four and being inducted into the Hall of Fame, the player will then be allowed to enter the Battle Frontier, where more Pokémon and more battles await.

[edit] Changes

While Emerald’s relation to Ruby and Sapphire is similar to that of Pokémon Yellow to Pokémon Red and Blue and Pokémon Crystal to Pokémon Gold and Silver, it also adds more dramatic changes and revamps than its two predecessors.

Emerald introduces several changes in battling. In Ruby and Sapphire, 2-on-2 battles were clearly marked, and those trainers would not challenge the player unless the player turned to them and pressed "A" to talk to them. 2-on-2 battles can now be random, with two separate trainers coming together to battle as one pair. Paired trainers will also now challenge the player if the player gets too close to them as well. After the Elite Four is defeated, gym leaders may also reopen their gyms to challenge the player further. In previous games, once a gym leader was defeated, they would not be open for further rematches. The new challenges are done in a 2-on-2 format.

The game includes many aesthetic changes. For instance, both Brendan and May now have green outfits. Some routes and areas have been redesigned with different layouts and more trainers to allow for more random 2-on-2 battles.

Some Pokémon locations have been changed as well. In Ruby, the player could only capture Groudon, while in Sapphire, the player could only catch Kyogre. In Emerald, both Legendaries can be caught now in separate caverns after the game. The player can also choose which running Legendary to catch (Latios or Latias). Previously, the player could only catch Latios in Ruby and Latias in Sapphire. The Safari Zone also has a new fifth area that allows the player to catch many Pokémon who originated from the Johto region.

[edit] Battle Frontier

One of the most significant changes is the addition of the Battle Frontier. The Battle Frontier is a much larger and expanded version of the Battle Tower that was present in Ruby and Sapphire. During the game, a man named Scott will meet the player frequently. As the player keeps moving up and winning more badges, Scott will become more impressed. After the player defeats Wallace (the champion, also in Ruby and Sapphire the last gym leader, replaced by his mentor Juan) and become the Pokémon League Champion, Scott will invite the player to the Battle Frontier.

The Frontier is divided into seven areas, six of them new (the seventh area is the Battle Tower). The player's trainer card is expanded to a Battle Frontier Pass. When the player wins matches, he or she gains Battle Points, which can then be used to buy vitamins, obtain rare items, or use move tutor services. After several consecutive victories, a player will face the facilitie's Frontier Brain, which will award the player with a Symbol (the Frontier equivalent of a badge) upon defeat.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Pokémon Website
• Pokémon Games Emerald page (requires Flash Player)
• Official Japanese site’s Emerald page

v • d • e Pokémon video games

Red and Blue • Yellow • Gold and Silver • Crystal • Ruby and Sapphire • FireRed and LeafGreen • Emerald • Diamond and Pearl Stadium • Stadium 2 • Colosseum • XD: Gale of Darkness • Battle Revolution