Pokemon Sapphire

First, the game has a lot in common with Pokemon games Silver, Gold, and Crystal. For example, players can choose to be a boy or a girl trainer, an internal clock sets events at certain times, and the game's handy-dandy Pokedex helps players keep track of the many stats. You're main goal is still to beat all the Gym Trainers and become the Pokemon Master. If you've played the old games, you will be right at home. But not all is the same.

The most obvious change is in the battles themselves. Now that two Pokemon can fight on your side at the same time, you can tag-team them against an enemy by taking advantage of the strengths of your Pokemons while covering their weaknesses. For example, you can now have a water Pokemon watch your fire Pokemon's back. You can also attack more than one Pokemon at a time.

A whole new element to the game focuses on how berries are used in battle. And if you collect enough berries, you can take them to a Berry Blender and make a PokeBlock, which is a little super-charged candy that raises your Pokemon's "Condition" attributes. You can then groom your Pokemon for regional contests and compete for ribbons like "Best of Show," which will unlock additional contests. There's even strategy in how to best use your berries: pick too many and the berry tree will disappear; plant berries, though, and a tree will grow. You can also build a Secret Base in special areas of the game, which you can decorate just like you can your room.

And let us not forget that Pokemon Sapphire has a kickin' multiplayer system, too. You can trade Pokemon, and link up to four players for incredible battles. The only downside is that you can't link up with the old Game Boy Color games. --Bryan Karsh

Pros:

• You can control two Pokemon in battle
• Much needed graphic and sound facelift
• Nice multiplayer feature (requires link cable and extra game cartridge)

• Can't trade Pokemon with Game Boy Color

Beyond that, the Pokedex has been entirely disposed of. It's been replaced with the Pokemon Navigator (of course, it's known as "Pokenavi" for short.) Inside the Pokenavi's copious confines you'll find more than a simple list of Pokemon. You'll be able to see a map of the game's world, and check out what's in different towns you've visited so you can refresh your memory without trekking back there to discover it all again. In a section of the Navi dubbed "Trainer Eye", you'll be able to review your win and loss record, and the inclinations your Pokemon display during battle. You'll be able to check strategies and schedule rematches with other characters.

It seems like Team Rocket finally hung up their hats, because this time you'll be battling two syndicates of Pokemon mischief: Team Magma and Team Aqua. Team Magma will trouble players of Ruby, while Sapphire fans will have to contend with Aqua. The stories of the two games are more or less the same, otherwise, though.

With the addition of new modes, new monsters, and all-new game interface options, it sounds like more than a little care is being put into Ruby and Sapphire to assure fans of an extremely enhanced Pokemon experience.


Get the Facts!   February 6, 2003
Michelle Park (Seongnam, Korea)
56 out of 64 found this review helpful

There are exactly 386 Pokemon, meaning there are 135 more, not 100. Of course, we don't know how to catch most of those 386 (everyone playing the Japanese games right now can only get a maximum of 200 right now). It is thought there will be another game (Gamecube or another Advance game) you will have to trade with to get all those other Pokemon. These games WILL NOT trade back with Red/Blue/Yellow/Gold/Silver/Crystal.

Some of the best new features of thse games include; a secret base which you can decorate with items collected on your journey, a popularity contest in which you can get ribbons for you pokemon to raise his fame, 2 VS 2 battles (both via link cable and with pairs of characters in the game, including a set of twin gym leaders), and the ability to plant trees to get special nuts & berries. There are at least 7 new legendary Pokemon, and while there are no new types of Pokemon in this game, the new critters have many new abilities to keep gameplay fresh.

These game may not be "all they could be" according to some people, but they are more than worthy successors to the Pokemon saga. We all eagerly await the coming of the Gamecube Stadium game...


Pokemon is NOT just for little kids!!!   January 26, 2003
KerBear102 (Middletown, CT United States)
40 out of 47 found this review helpful

For all of those pathetic people out there that think that the Pokemon games are just for kids, you're wrong. I am a sixteen-year-old female and very mature for my age, and I enjoyed the Japenese version of this game very much so far. Contrary to popular belief, these games do require a lot of thought and strategic planning. They require a vast knowledge of the contents of the game and problem solving techniques. So if anyone is looking for a simple, yet entertaining and thought provoking game, then this game is for you, despite your age.


Pokemon Sapphire   February 18, 2003
Michael (Clarksville, TN USA)
34 out of 36 found this review helpful

Okay, I'm a 12 year-old gamer and started the pokemon saga with the Yellow Version and coudn't stop playing it. Then I got Silver Version and thought the new pokemon was awesome. Then I got Crystal Version thinking it was something new finding out that nothing was different except the choice of being a boy or girl trainer, easier way to catch Suicune, and the Battle Tower. I really didn't care for the Gameboy Advance until I heard of Pokemon Ruby + Sapphire release. I coudn't wait. I'm suprised that I made it this long. I've been checking out every website imaginable to find out information. Here is some things I found out:

1. Ruby and Sapphire will unleash more than 100 new battle-ready Pokemon.
2.You can't have new Pokemon without new trainers, and each game offers up a never-before-seen pair. Gamers can test Landon and Terra in Ruby and Sean and Marina in Sapphire.
3. The intense - and tougher - new battle schemes in both Ruby and Sapphire will satisfy even the most hard-core battelers. Now you can have battle two characters againts your friends two characters, or link up and battle three friends with each player managing one Pokemon at a time.

I also found a couple of tips you can use in your gaming experience:

1.Early in the game, catch a few Zigzagoon! Their special ability can get you a lot of great free items.
2.Make sure to replant berries to keep your berry supply growing.

You begin your adventure inside a moving truck and had just arrived at your new home. Your mom tells you to take a walk. While you are walking you see that Professer Birch is running from a Phoenca and he climbs into a tree. He tells you to pick a Pokemon out of his bag. Once you take care of the Phoenca he notices your talent in Pokemon training so he lets you keep that Pokemon. By the way the new starting pokemon are Torchic the fire Pokemon, Mudkip the water Pokemon, and Treecko the grass Pokemon. After that you start your journey. If you are just starting in Pokemon you should play the other versions first but for all those Pokemon Masters out there you should defenitely buy this game. Just for the the link-up battles, sometime this week I'am going to buy a link cable for Gameboy Advance. This game and it's counterpart Pokemon Ruby will be the best versions yet in the Pokemon saga. I'm definitely going to buy these games when they come out.