Editor’s Note
Today marks the 19th anniversary of the release of “Pokémon Emerald” for the Game Boy Advance, introducing players to the Battle Frontier. This edition revisits a classic milestone in the Pokémon series.
Today, 19 years ago on September 16, 2004 (Heisei 16), was the day the Game Boy Advance software “Pokémon Emerald” went on sale.
“Pokémon Emerald” is an RPG released by The Pokémon Company. It is one of the alternative versions added to “Pokémon Ruby” and “Pokémon Sapphire,” which were released on November 21, 2002.
The legendary Pokémon gracing the package is Rayquaza, the sky-high Pokémon. Its cool appearance, reminiscent of an Eastern dragon, likely captivated many. Among the Pokémon of the Year voted on twice in the past, Rayquaza won 8th place overall in the 2020 poll. In the category of Hoenn region Pokémon, it ranked 1st.
By the way, the three starter Pokémon partners you can choose from at the beginning are Treecko, Torchic, and Mudkip. The writer has a memory of choosing Torchic, but do you all remember which Pokémon you chose as your partner?
In the Hoenn region, which serves as the game’s stage, Team Magma and Team Aqua are in conflict. In “Pokémon Ruby,” you battled Team Magma, and in “Pokémon Sapphire,” you battled Team Aqua, but in “Pokémon Emerald,” you had to face both sides and prevent their ambitions, making it more challenging. However, new episodes not present in “Ruby/Sapphire” were added, allowing you to encounter the legendary Pokémon Groudon and Kyogre, which gave a sense of volume and reward. With the addition of new Gym Leaders and a fresh look for Gym puzzles, there were many points of change.
What left a strong impression on the writer was the significant increase in Pokémon abilities that trigger effects on the field in “Emerald.” Until then, there were abilities like “Intimidate” and others that triggered effects on the field, but it was from “Emerald” onwards that they began to have a major impact on the play environment. The addition of new effects was an element not explicitly stated in the manual, so those who discovered them must have been truly grateful.
Frequently used were abilities like “Pickup” and “Flame Body,” which provided the effect of halving the number of steps required for a Pokémon’s egg to hatch when held in the party. These were abilities that players focused on raising Pokémon would have paid attention to, and many people must have talked about them. They have also become standard in subsequent works. Similarly, using “Synchronize” made it easier to encounter wild Pokémon with the same nature, which was also useful.
For players who got into it, the debut of the “Battle Frontier” must be unforgettable. This is an area consisting of 7 facilities that test the limits of Pokémon battles. Since “Ruby/Sapphire” also had a “Battle Tower,” it was a place where enthusiasts gathered.
“Battle Dome,” where you compete in tournaments with 3 Pokémon; “Battle Pike,” where you choose one of three routes and navigate various events to reach the goal; “Battle Factory,” where you battle using only rented Pokémon; and more. The rules were also diverse, and after clearing the main story, many people must have become immersed here. The writer liked the Battle Tower, so they probably utilized the effects of new abilities to raise Pokémon for challenges.
The latest work in the “Pokémon” series is “Pokémon Scarlet” and “Pokémon Violet,” released on November 18, 2022. Just the other day, on September 13 of this year (2023), the DLC “The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero” “Part 1: The Teal Mask” was distributed.
“Pokémon Emerald” Official Site
“Pokémon” Official Site
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