Pokemon Ruby & Sapphire
Pokemon Ruby & Sapphire were the most highly anticipated RPG games of 2002 and 2003. As the first Generation 3 Pokemon Games, people were expecting big things. They were also the first Pokemon games made specially for the Game Boy Advance, released in 2002. These games include new legendaries, starters, a whole new Pokedex in a whole new region and many many more exciting features.
Release Date:
Japan: November 21 2001
USA: March 19 2003
Australia: April 3 2003
Europe: July 25 2003
Platform: Game Boy Advance
Region: Hoenn
New Pokemon: 135
New Moves: 103
New Abilities: 76
Gameplay Changes:
Ruby & Sapphire follows the usual pattern of training and catching Pokémon, battling through eight gyms and then the Elite Four and Champion. The game starts in Littleroot Town in the Hoenn region. You have just moved to town due to your father becoming a gym leader in the nearby Petalburg City. After meeting Professor Birch out in the wild you choose a starter Pokémon - Treecko, Torchic or Mudkip.
There are new enemies in the game too. Instead of Team Rocket, the are now Team Magma and Team Aqua (Team Magma on Ruby only, Team Aqua on Sapphire only) who try and use the legendary Pokemon (Groudon on Ruby, Kyogre on Sapphire) to take over Hoenn. You must stop them and save the Pokemon world!
Mechanic Changes:
In Pokemon Ruby & Sapphire, many new game mechanics were added. Firstly,EVs and IVs are different. A Pokemon can have a maximum of 510 EVs altogether, the maximum being 252 on one single stat. From Ruby/Sapphire onwards each wild Pokemon gives off a maximum of 3 EV stats at once. IVs now have a wider range, giving more individuality to Pokémon in the wild. Now they can have 31 IVs on each stat.
In Generation 3, Pokemon gained Abilities, a special trait that have a variety of effects in battle. Some making moves unable to hit them - like Levitate, and Lightningrod - and some abilities that cause status problems on contact - Flame Body, Static, Effect Spore & Poison Point etc. - plus many many more.
Also, Pokemon gained Natures, making each Pokemon even more unique and making it almost have have it's own personality. Most natures also boosted one stat up by one and hindered another stat by one, making Pokemon battling even more interesting.
Other Changes:
Pokemon Contests were added into gameplay to show-off non-batlling attributes
Weather conditions were added on some routes, and also more in battle. Significantly, on Route 111 you can see a Sandstorm, and on Route 119, some heavy rain. A new weather condition - Hail - has been introduced to battles, also making it a new move.
Version Exclusive Pokemon:
Some Pokemon in Ruby & Sapphire can only be found in one game, either Ruby or Sapphire
Exclusive to Ruby:
Seedot
Nuzleaf
Shiftry
Mawile
Zangoose
Solrock
Groudon
Exclusive to Sapphire:
Lotad
Lombre
Ludicolo
Sableye
Seviper
Lunatone
Kyogre
Release Date:
Japan: November 21 2001
USA: March 19 2003
Australia: April 3 2003
Europe: July 25 2003
Platform: Game Boy Advance
Region: Hoenn
New Pokemon: 135
New Moves: 103
New Abilities: 76
Gameplay Changes:
Ruby & Sapphire follows the usual pattern of training and catching Pokémon, battling through eight gyms and then the Elite Four and Champion. The game starts in Littleroot Town in the Hoenn region. You have just moved to town due to your father becoming a gym leader in the nearby Petalburg City. After meeting Professor Birch out in the wild you choose a starter Pokémon - Treecko, Torchic or Mudkip.
There are new enemies in the game too. Instead of Team Rocket, the are now Team Magma and Team Aqua (Team Magma on Ruby only, Team Aqua on Sapphire only) who try and use the legendary Pokemon (Groudon on Ruby, Kyogre on Sapphire) to take over Hoenn. You must stop them and save the Pokemon world!
Mechanic Changes:
In Pokemon Ruby & Sapphire, many new game mechanics were added. Firstly,EVs and IVs are different. A Pokemon can have a maximum of 510 EVs altogether, the maximum being 252 on one single stat. From Ruby/Sapphire onwards each wild Pokemon gives off a maximum of 3 EV stats at once. IVs now have a wider range, giving more individuality to Pokémon in the wild. Now they can have 31 IVs on each stat.
In Generation 3, Pokemon gained Abilities, a special trait that have a variety of effects in battle. Some making moves unable to hit them - like Levitate, and Lightningrod - and some abilities that cause status problems on contact - Flame Body, Static, Effect Spore & Poison Point etc. - plus many many more.
Also, Pokemon gained Natures, making each Pokemon even more unique and making it almost have have it's own personality. Most natures also boosted one stat up by one and hindered another stat by one, making Pokemon battling even more interesting.
Other Changes:
Pokemon Contests were added into gameplay to show-off non-batlling attributes
Weather conditions were added on some routes, and also more in battle. Significantly, on Route 111 you can see a Sandstorm, and on Route 119, some heavy rain. A new weather condition - Hail - has been introduced to battles, also making it a new move.
Version Exclusive Pokemon:
Some Pokemon in Ruby & Sapphire can only be found in one game, either Ruby or Sapphire
Exclusive to Ruby:
Seedot
Nuzleaf
Shiftry
Mawile
Zangoose
Solrock
Groudon
Exclusive to Sapphire:
Lotad
Lombre
Ludicolo
Sableye
Seviper
Lunatone
Kyogre