So, time for my very first review! ('Bout time...)
Pokémon is something that I grew up with. I had sapphire first, and I loved that game to death, but when I got Emerald... Oh, boy...' It was like sapphire, but better in almost every way. It's so similar to the other games, but different enough to give a new and refreshing experience. I would never make good teams based on stats, but just use the ones the I liked. The many teams I made will always have a place in my heart.
Graphics: 10. I think that Pokémon Emerald's Graphics were amazing at the time and still wonderful today. Everything is very vibrant and colorful, areas don't blend together, and there are a lot of touches that just give the impression that they went all out. Whether it be your reflections in the water, the footprints in the sand as you walk through it, or the puddles in rainy areas. All the Pokémon look great and they're easier to understand what they're supposed to look like. In the early games, (especially red and blue) the 8-bit graphics made it hard to figure out what you were fighting or what you were fighting with. Overall. The graphics are overall very pretty and dazzling.
Sound: 9.
The music and sounds in Pokémon emerald are just great. There isn't a single music piece I don't like, (Except for maybe the surf theme because it's not very long and you hear it a lot.), the music fits their environments well and helps to immerse you into the game. The Pokémon cries are very similar to those in previous games, but just higher quality. I like all of the beeps and boops that you'll hear just selecting items and talking to people. I think the sound and music is pretty amazing.
Addictiveness: 10.
The first time I played, I would keep playing, and playing, and playing, until it was time to eat or something. Now, It's exactly the same. "Just one more battle." I'd tell myself. "Just one more level." Here on Vizzed, with the speed up feature, grinding becomes much less of a chore (Not that you really need to do it much anyway). The game just keeps making you plead for more, and while it's kind of dangerous, it's great.
Story: 9.
Now, just like most Pokémon games, the story isn't all that prevalent. It really takes a backseat for most of the game, except for some points. In Ruby and Sapphire, either Team Magma or Team Aqua would be your villain, with the other supporting you to help bring them down. In Emerald, however, they're both bad, and you need to stop them. They try to awaken two of the region's legendary Pokémon to either increase the land mass (team magma), or expand the oceans (team aqua). Aside from that, you also have to defeat all 8 gym leaders and the Elite Four and become the champion. I give it a 9, because like most Pokémon games, the story lacks depth, because it isn't really meant to have any. It all just seems to be a bit too ridiculous to be serious about it.
Depth: 10.
This game is huge. For a gba game, anyways. There are dozens of different areas, hundreds of different Pokémon, thousands of different battles to have, and millions of ounces of fun to have!
Difficulty: 6.
I ranked this low because it really isn't very challenging. You don't have to grind outside of the very beginning of the game, and it offers a very comfortable experience the whole way through. You can beat the game with only one Pokémon if you want to. The elite four might give you some trouble, just because it's a gauntlet, but if you're at their level, you can win.
Overall: 10.
This game is my favorite Pokémon game of all time. It is one of the reasons I joined this site. The feels you get when you defeat the champion, and you and your team are enacted into the hall of fame is something that will never be forgotten. The joys of finally getting all three of the regis, or going to the battle frontier, are joys that will always be with me. |