Gotta catch some more! (Pokémon: Ruby (GBA))

Member Name: heekeer

Product:	Pokémon: Ruby (GBA)
Date:	18/08/09 (4 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: 100 new Pokemon, Double battles, Pokemon contests, better villains, improved graphics, great music

Disadvantages: Storyline is very similar.

Pokemon Ruby is a role playing game developed by Nintendo for the Gameboy Advance.

The storyline will be a little familiar to series veterans but I'll explain it anyway, you start off as a rookie Pokemon trainer in the world of Hoenn given your first Pokemon by Professor Birch who you save from wild Pokemon. Your journey is to become a Pokemon master by conquering all the battle Gyms around Hoenn and challenging the Elite Four.

Along the way you will come across tricky new villains Team Aqua and Team Magma who both want to destroy the world either by reclaiming the world with Lava from a volcano or flooding the land with water and resurrecting legendary new Pokemon, they have slightly more story than Team Rocket of the previous games which is good.

The game does introduce a number of new features, you can either play as a boy or a girl now though it is only a cosmetic change and it doesn't make any difference to the games storyline. The game also introduces 100 new Pokemon to the franchise, these new creatures look more outlandish than ever but do fit in with the general look of the monsters that have appeared in previous titles. That means you have 100 more creatures to capture in battle and as always you will need friends with the other version to get them all.

The battle system has been enhanced too most significantly by the addition of double battles, you will find pairs of trainers in the game and when you challenge them they will send out two Pokemon to battle you and you are able to send out two of yours to fight them. It allows for a bit more strategy and encourages you to find pairs of Pokemon with move sets that complement each other. Each Pokemon can learn 4 moves and can gain levels as they fight and even evolve into completely new forms.

Another innovation is the ability to enter Pokemon contests, here you attempt to wow judges with displays of cuteness, power or whatever it takes to make your Pokemon appealing to the audience, you can also make Pokeblock with the berries in the world to improve your Pokemons performance in Pokemon contests.

Graphics are still in 2D but the animations in battle are more smooth and have a lot more effects, the game is also very colourful. Music is all new and has an addictive new set of tunes.

Pokemon Ruby is an excellent game adding numerous features and more Pokemon for you to spend hours capturing.

Summary: An excellent adventure.