Pokemon Emerald 386 is an RGR hack any Pokemon fan should look to first for some fun. There are the usual quirks from Pokemon Emerald, the game this game is clearly based off, plus so much more that makes this a must try. The hack makes all 386 Pokemon, up to Generation III, obtainable through normal single-player gameplay. The hack is the the perfect Pokemon ROM because it takes away the frustration of not being able to evolve your Machoke or get a Celebi. Frustrations I'm sure you've had. Well, this review will tell what makes the game great, and what parts fall short.

Graphics-
Compared to other GBA games, this offers some of the best graphics the system can offer. Game Freak brought animated sprites back for the first time since Emerald, and it adds a change when every battle begins with your Pokemon moving around rather than just sliding into view in a static fashion. Pokemon games offer familiar graphics, and these are some of the best. Hoenn has its own unique look. It is more tropical than any other region, and from volcanoes, to lush forests, to bustling cities on the coast, and even underwater, it all looks beautiful.

Sound-
There is nothing like the nostalgia the sounds of Hoenn bring. The cries, unique for all 386 Pokemon, blend with the fun battle music, and this is one of the few games I plug in the headphones and crank up the volume when playing on the laptop. Exploring all the nooks and crannies in the region couldn't be more pleasant listening to the sounds of the Hoenn. Definately high quality for any GBA game.

Addictiveness-
The thing the developers at Game Freak like to do with Pokemon games is make it as easy to play for five minutes as it is for five hours. Pokemon Emerald already delivered, but the unpredictability of finding a Charmander where you would normally only find Zubat is a delight and you'll always wonder what you'll find in the next area. It certainly won't be the same Zigzagoon you'd come to expect in Hoenn. This provides incredibly addictive gameplay because... Well, who doesn't want to "Catch 'em All?"

Story-
Admittedly, Pokemon games have never had great stories, and this one just recycles Pokemon Emerald's. It still is a nice good-triumphs-over-evil story, and having to face Team Magma and Team Aqua is an improvement over Ruby and Sapphire. I never laughed or cried during the story as you might with a Mario & Luigi or Kingdom Hearts game. But then again, Pokemon doesn't draw its thousands of fans with its stories. It is a nice story with some twists, but it certainly won't wow you.

Depth-
This is the game's bread and butter. I'd give it 20 if I could. Catching all 180 or so Pokemon in Pokemon Emerald would be hard enough, but this talented hacker added 200 more to search out. Some are frustratingly difficult to find, some are insanely rare, and some are hidden in places you would never look. You'd have a challenge ahead of you if you want to obtain every Pokemon. The game offers so much depth that in February, the site's creator, Davideo7, offered a contest to catch as many different Pokemon as possible, the deadline being at the end of the month. After one month no one had gotten all 386. People played completely determined for 28 days, trying to catch every Pokemon and they couldn't do it. You can find the results here. This proves how incredibly deep Pokemon Emerald 386 is.

Difficulty-
Because the hacker made it easier to catch a more diverse range of Pokemon, it is only fitting that he increase the difficulty of the game. As you advance through the game, you'll realize, compared to Pokemon Emerald, most trainers' Pokemon are 10-15 levels higher and this number increases as you advance even further into the game. Most experienced Pokemon trainers find the games painfully easy, but this game adds a challenge most Pokemon games don't. I've heard problems that if you don't save by F2, you can lose your file, and to advance past the E4, you need to press F2 right as it enters your Pokemon and their names into the machine.


Overall, a fantastic hack, and I play this game as much, if not more than Emerald, as it adds so much gameplay. If you're a Pokemon fan, or just a casual gamer, and you have nothing to do for the next year or two, I'd suggest trying to catch every Pokemon in Pokemon Emerald 386.

Wow, this review is insane. It's like, twice as long as one of my regular ones.

Maybe we should do a review together in the future.

Definately a good job reviewing this, seriously, its pretty descriptive stuff here. Good job. I might just play Pokemon Emerald now.