Time for another review by The IB, so here it is. This game is on Pokemon Alpha Sapphire, this game is a remake of the Generation III game Pokemon Sapphire that was released in 2002 (in Japan) and 2003 (in North America, Europe, and Australia). This game as well with Pokemon Omega Ruby was released on November 21st, 2014, this game had brought us back to the Hoenn region that we all hope that one day we will return to (we all are familiar with “Hoenn Confirmed” quote), but when this game was announced this has really exited a number of Pokemon fans in playing in Hoenn once again, and not just playing the Hoenn region, but playing the hoenn region in a 3D format, because in both Pokemon Alpha Sapphire and Omega Ruby, it brings those 3D graphics we all are familiar with in the last games (which are X & Y), so with all that said, I will go ahead and describe each and every section of the review.

Graphics..

For the graphics, although not a whole lot has changed from Pokemon X / Y, but in a way, the graphics in Alpha Sapphire (and Omega Ruby) has got a little bit for quality than we have seen, like looking between X / Y and Alpha Sapphire / Omega Ruby, it looks like that AS / OR is like a tad more sharper than before, but not really a whole lot though. As for the 3D graphics, although this is the 2nd batch of Pokemon games released under the 3D format, I feel like seeing Hoenn in a 3D world is truly amazing, and some of the cities in Hoenn are amazing, even in 2002/2003, and you add 3D to those cities makes it a whole lot newer element and setting to the series. This also is the first remake of a past game that has got a newer 3D graphics. And two, after making X / Y, Nintendo / Game Freak seen on how much more they can improve on their 3D technology, so that’s why graphic wise, it’s a really fantastic job.

I like a few cities in the game, like take for an example, in Mauville City, in the games in 2002/2003, it might look like an ordinary Pokemon city, but when Pokemon Alpha Sapphire / Omega Ruby came along, it make it look like it’s a big shopping mall with shopping areas and the Mauville City gym, and a lot of other interesting things as well. Plus also other cities also had an interesting change into the 3D format.

For the Graphics in Alpha Sapphire (and Omega Ruby), I will give this a perfect 10 out of 10, just really like on how the 3D format brings in the well known Hoenn region.

Sound/Music..

For the sound effects, nothing much has in fact changed from X / Y, but if you aren’t familiar and/or just haven’t played X / Y, I’ll go ahead and describe the sound effects in OR / AS, the sound effects are a whole lot more in high def, like we would expect in the 8th generation, even on a handheld, after hearing all these effects like the cries, the move sounds, and any other sounds I haven’t mentioned on here, they sound a whole lot more clearer than ever before.

Ok, onto the music, I think personally, the music is the one that really takes the cake with this one, Game Freak has taken all the soundtrack we know in the original 2002/2003 games (Ruby / Sapphire) and give it a more of a HD sound, which means a whole lot more clearer music, and personally, I think Hoenn’s music is the best in the whole series and trust me, I have played all 6 regions in the whole series, and Hoenn really stands out for the music and the setting.

For the sound effects and the music, I will give it a 9 out of 10, personally, the sound effects did kinda kept it at 9 out of 10, but the music is the in this section that really dominated, that tells you, who doesn’t like video game music

Addiction Level..

Just like I said in my Pokemon Y review I made a few months ago, this is the biggest thing what makes a Pokemon game successful, it’s on how addicting these games are, when you play Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, you won’t stop playing, you have all the things you remember doing in the games back in 2002/2003, plus you also got features from future Pokemon games from that point on, especially from X / Y, which adds a whole lot more in the addiction level for the Pokemon games. Not just the way the Pokemon games all, but all the new things added in OR / AS, and a lot of them are a first in the series, like capturing all the past Legendaries, and a bunch of other interesting things added in OR / AS, most of these other things I mention here, I will descried in the Depth section below.

For the Addiction Level in this game, like every Pokemon game, I will give this a perfect 10 out of 10, and especially being in Hoenn, it will be really hard to set the 3DS down, because so much to do in Hoenn, even after you enter the Hall of Fame.

The Storyline..

Although the storyline isn’t different than in the 2002/2003 games, but the difference between generation III and the other generations in the whole Pokemon series, it depends on what game you’re playing is depending on how the storyline will go. Since this is on Alpha Sapphire, I will focus on the Alpha Sapphire side of the Hoenn remake. You have just moved to the Hoenn region from Johto region, and you start in Littleroot Town and as soon you get your things unpacked, the Professor who in this region is named Professor Birch, he’s being chased by a Poochyena and he gives you a favor by choosing one of 3 Pokemon (Treecko, Torchic, or Mudkip) and battle the Poochyena, and Birch get’s you started once you defeat the Poochyena, and you’ll be on your way to collect those 8 badges and then head off to the Pokemon League to defeat the Elite Four and the Champion. But on your way to getting your 8 badges, your adventure is interrupted by Team Aqua and their goal is to make the whole world nothing but the sea by awaking up the legendary Kyogre and flodding the whole Hoenn region, but then soon, their plans are stopped by you.

Then once you enter the Hall of Fame, you will be entering the Delta Episode, which brings a new element in the series where you’ll be with Zinnia by battling here a couple times and you travel with her to the Sky Pillar to summon Rayquaza and as soon as you capture Rayquaza, you’ll as asteroid hurling towage the Hoenn region, and you ride Rayquaza to that asteroid, and you end up destroying to find out it has a Pokemon in it, thus Deoxys, and you try to capture the legendary Deoxy as well. Once you get that all completed, the Delta Episode ends, but there is still a whole lot more to do though.

With how much interesting the storyline has, I defiantly have to give this a perfect 10 out of 10, I think personally the Delta Episode really boosted up the storyline a whole lot, and also the great Hoenn storyline, that’s why this is a perfect score.

Depth..

This is what really makes a Pokemon game very unique, the amount of things to do in the games, like you have 719 Pokemon to choose from, so you can have a whole lot of different ways for your team and that’s why in Pokemon, there is a saying that there is no 2 teams the same, even on how hard you try to copy another person’s team, they all will be different. With more Mega Evolutions introduced in OR / AS, this adds the factor a whole lot more on what team you like to have with you. Also, I have not mentioned this in my Y review, but with all the storage on the PC and the Pokemon Bank app on the 3DS, storing your Pokemon might end up getting all 719 pokemon. Not just the amount of Pokemon is a factor in the depth in the game, but it’s also on some of the things you want to do prior and after the Hall of Fame. Plus also,  for the first time ever in the series, you can summon Latias or Latios (depending on what game you own) by using an Eon Flute, and by doing this, you can be able to fly to your destination, and you can do fly tricks, encounter other flying Pokemon, and a punch of other interesting things, personally others replaced fly for this, but others still use fly if they are in a hurry, personally, it depends for me, half of the time, I use Fly and the other half, I use the Eon Flute Also to bring up, the minigames that were in X / Y has made a return in OR / AS, if you aren’t familiar with the feature in X / Y, I’ll tell you each of them. You got a game called “Polemon Amie” which you can be able to interact with your Pokemon and also feed it Poke Puffs, play minigames with your pokemon, by doing a lot of this, this will get your Pokemon more attractive to you and it will have a major effect on how you battle others. The other minigame is the Super Training, where you can be able to raise your Pokemon stats a whole lot more without having to battle others to get your stats higher. The only disadvantage I have is unlike X / Y, you can’t really buy outfits, but personally, this isn’t really a big dead though.

All and all, I do have to give this a perfect 10 out of 10, even despite not able to customize your player. This in what really makes a Pokemon really famous, it’s so much to do in the series, and how much can change, like I said with the addiction level, the amount of stuff to do, it is really hard to stop playing this game, that’s why it’s got a perfect score.

Difficulty / Gameplay..

Ok, as for the difficulty, it is a pretty decent difficulty setting, it’s not too hard and not too easy, and during your trip from start to becoming the champ, the challenge gets tougher and tougher, but that’s the way video games are, they are meant to be tougher the farther you go, it gives you that accomplishment you need to make a great game. Sure, unlike when I played X / Y where I haven’t played a Pokemon game in 10 years, in OR / AS, I was fully aware of the difficulty of the games, although this is my first time playing in Hoenn, so really a new region for me, so getting the hang of playing the Hoenn region, it took a bit of time to get used to, but after playing X / Y, I got the hang of the game really quick, and from that point on, it was pretty easy for me, I even manage to battle all the Gym Leaders, Elite Four, and the Champion in one go. For the Elite and Champion, like in past game, if you lose once, you have to start over again, but it will be worth it because your pokemon will gain more experience and get stronger.

As for the gameplay itself, it has a lot more improvements than you seen in X /Y, including for the first time ever, you can sneak in any directing by lightly moving the circle pad in the direction you want to travel, and plus unlike in X / Y, when you move the circle pad, you can freely walk in any direction, but if you like to keep things straight, you can simply use the d-pad below the circle pad on the 3DS. Also, like every game from Generation IV and on, you can be able to select your moves you want to use and access all the features like the new DevNav with the touch screen, which really uses the touch screen a whole lot in this game, which is a basic need for a 3DS system.

For the Difficulty and the Gameplay, I have to say that this section deserves a 7 out of 10. If you’re familiar with the Pokemon series, then this is pretty easy for you to play, although at some parts, it can be a challenge even for experienced players.

Overall..

Overall, this game happens to be my new favorite game in the series (sorry Pokemon X / Y), even know I said in my Y review that Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire will be better with all the content, although I haven’t really played Ruby and Sapphire in 2002-2003 because I never got the games because I was young and then I had my 10-year leave from the series in 2004, but fast forward 10 years, I finally get to play in the Hoenn region. I think that this is the best region up to date to my opinion, and you add the 3D effects and the HD sounds and music, this has made this game to be one of the great games in the entire series. Also on how addicting the series is and how much detail is in the game, this also adds in the greatness in this game. So, personally, this is a really great game to try out yourself, no matter if you’re a serous Pokemon fan or wanted to start the series and want to choose this game.

I will give this a 7.8 out of 10 (Nice try IGN, your stupid 7.8 won’t brainwash me), I give this game a 9.5 out of 10, a little more than I gave Pokemon X / Y, mostly because come on, it’s Hoenn, who doesn't like the Hoenn region.