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Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire
Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire
Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire
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  • Pokémon Ruby
  • Pokémon Sapphire
North American box art for Pokémon Ruby and Pokémon Sapphire depicting the legendary Pokémon Groudon and Kyogre respectively
DeveloperGame Freak
Publishers
DirectorJunichi Masuda
Producers
  • Hiroyuki Jinnai
  • Takehiro Izushi
  • Hiroaki Tsuru
DesignersShigeki Morimoto
Junichi Masuda
Shigeru Ohmori
ProgrammerTetsuya Watanabe
ArtistKen Sugimori
Writers
  • Toshinobu Matsumiya
  • Akihito Tomisawa
Composers
SeriesPokémon
PlatformGame Boy Advance
Release
  • JP: November 21, 2002
  • NA: March 19, 2003
  • AU: April 3, 2003
  • EU: July 25, 2003
GenreRole-playing
ModesSingle-player and multiplayer with link cable

Pokémon Ruby Version[a] and Pokémon Sapphire Version[b] are 2002 role-playing video games developed by Game Freak and published by The Pokémon Company and Nintendo for the Game Boy Advance. They are the first installments in the third generation of the Pokémon video game series, also known as the "advanced generation". After years of Nintendo being the sole publisher of the franchise in all regions, The Pokémon Company co-published the games for the first time since the establishment of the joint-owned company in 1998. They were first released in Japan in late 2002, and internationally in 2003. Pokémon Emerald, a third version, was released two years later in each region. Remakes of the two games, titled Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, were released for the Nintendo 3DS worldwide in November 2014, exactly twelve years to the date of the original Ruby and Sapphire release date, with the exception of Europe, where it released a week later.

The gameplay is mostly unchanged from the previous games; the player controls the main character from an overhead perspective, and the controls are largely the same as those of previous games. As with previous games, the main objectives are to catch all of the Pokémon in the games and defeat the Elite Four and the Pokémon League Champion; also like their predecessors, the games' main subplot involves the player character defeating a criminal organization that attempts to take over the region. New features, such as double battles, Pokémon abilities, Pokémon Contests, and 135 new Pokémon were added.[1][2][3] Owing to the increased capabilities of the Game Boy Advance, four players may be connected to each other at a time instead of the previous limit of two. Additionally, the games can be connected to an e-Reader or other third-generation Pokémon games.

Ruby and Sapphire received mostly positive reviews; praise was given to the new features and Pokémon designs, though critics were divided in their assessment of the games, especially on the gameplay and graphics. Most of the complaints focused on gameplay not changing much in relation to previous generations. With over 16.22 million copies sold, they were a commercial success and became the best-selling game for the Game Boy Advance; however, the games sold less than previous generations with Red and Blue having sold nearly 31 million units worldwide, and Gold and Silver selling over 23.10 million units.

Gameplay

[edit]
See also: Gameplay of Pokémon

The basic mechanics of Ruby and Sapphire are largely the same as their predecessors. As with all Pokémon games for handheld consoles, the gameplay is in third-person, overhead perspective and consists of three basic screens: a field map, in which the player navigates the main character; a battle screen; and the menu, in which the player configures their party, items, or gameplay settings. Players begin the game with one Pokémon and can capture more using Poké Balls. They can also use their Pokémon to battle other Pokémon. When the player encounters a wild Pokémon or is challenged by a trainer to a battle, the screen switches to a turn-based battle screen where the Pokémon fight.[4] During a battle, the player may use a move, use an item, switch their active Pokémon, or flee, although fleeing is not an option in battles against trainers. All Pokémon have hit points (HP); when a Pokémon's HP is reduced to zero, it faints and cannot battle until it is revived. If the player's Pokémon defeats the opposing Pokémon (causes it to faint), it receives experience points. After accumulating enough experience points, it will level up; most Pokémon evolve into a new species of Pokémon when they reach a certain level.[5]

Apart from battling, capturing Pokémon is the most essential element of Pokémon gameplay. During a battle with a wild Pokémon, the player may use a Poké Ball on them. If successful, the Pokémon will be added to the player's active party, or stored if the player already has the maximum six Pokémon in their party.[6] Factors in the success rate of capture include the HP, status effects such as Paralysis or Sleep, and the strength of the Poké Ball used: the lower the target's HP and the stronger the Poké Ball, the higher the success rate of capture is.[7] Other trainers' Pokémon cannot be captured.

New features

[edit]
See also: List of generation III Pokémon

The most prominent change in the battle mechanics is the introduction of double battles, in which the opposing parties each use two Pokémon at the same time. Consequently, certain Pokémon moves can affect multiple combatants at once.[8] Multi battles were added alongside double battles. They are identical to double battles, but there are two trainers to a side, each controlling one of the two Pokémon sent out. Also new to the games are innate abilities and natures; the former is shared by every Pokémon of a certain species, while the latter may vary among a particular species. Abilities grant their holders certain powers in battle, such as immunity against certain types of moves or strengthening a certain type of move. Natures, like innate abilities, affect the strength of Pokémon in battle; however, they affect the stats of the Pokémon rather than directly affecting the strength of the moves.[9] Another stat introduced in Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire is Condition, an important factor in Pokémon Contests, mini-games in which participants perform moves before a judge. Both Pokémon and their moves have a Condition, which is increased by using Pokéblocks, which are candies made from berries.[10] Secret bases were added as a one-off feature where players could open up a hole in the world and customize the area with various items picked up in-game. Players who linked up with others who set up secret bases were able to battle an NPC version of that trainer within their secret base.

Like Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal, Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire keep track of real-life time; this influences events like tides and berry plant growth. However, unlike their predecessors, Ruby and Sapphire do not differentiate between day and night. Also, due to the differences in the technical specifications of Game Boy link cables and Game Boy Advance link cables, Ruby and Sapphire cannot be linked with Pokémon games of previous generations; one cannot battle with or trade with the previous generations.[11]

Connectivity to other devices

[edit]
The Eon Ticket could be scanned in by the e-Reader to go and catch either Latios or Latias, depending on the game.

Ruby and Sapphire have limited e-Reader support. Nintendo released Battle-e Cards, a set of e-Reader cards that contained trainer battles in which the player could see previously hidden Pokémon.[12] A special e-Reader card called the Eon Ticket was also released; obtained through the Mystery Gift function, the Ticket allows the player to reach a place called Southern Island. There, the player faces either Latios or Latias, depending on which version of the game is used.[13]

Ruby and Sapphire are also able to connect to the GameCube games Pokémon Colosseum, Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness and Pokémon Box: Ruby and Sapphire. In the former two, once players reach a certain point in the game, they are able to transfer Pokémon between Colosseum / XD and Ruby / Sapphire.[14] Additionally, those who pre-ordered Colosseum were able to access the Pokémon Jirachi and see a preview of the movie Pokémon: Jirachi Wish Maker. Pokémon Box allows players to store and organize their Pokémon on the GameCube.[15] Also, in the European version of Pokémon Channel, players could receive a Jirachi at a certain point in the game, which they could then transfer over to Ruby or Sapphire.

Plot

[edit]

Setting

[edit]
Ruby and Sapphire are set in the Hoenn region, designed to be similar to Japan's island of Kyushu if rotated 90°. (pictured below).
Kyushu island, Japan

Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire occur in the Hoenn region, some distance from the Kanto and Johto regions featured in previous games. The design of Hoenn was based on the Japanese island and region of Kyushu; however, Hoenn is rotated 90° relative to Kyushu, as Junichi Masuda felt that it would provide a better gameplay balance.[16] Like Kyushu, Hoenn possesses many smaller islands, and part of the region is dominated by sea routes, several of which contain areas where the player can dive underwater.

Story

[edit]
See also: List of Pokémon characters and List of Pokémon

Like other Pokémon games, Ruby and Sapphire's gameplay is linear; the main events occur in a fixed order.[17] The protagonist of Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire are Brendan and May, who have recently moved to a small town called Littleroot Town. At the beginning of the games, the player chooses either Treecko, Torchic, or Mudkip to protect Professor Birch, the regional professor, from attacking Poochyena. After defending Birch, the player is taken to his lab and receives the chosen Pokémon as their starter Pokémon. After that, the player encounters May/Brendan, the child of Professor Birch. The player's rival, who appears as the professor's child, is also a Pokémon Trainer and occasionally battles the player.[18] The games' two main goals are defeating the eight Gym Leaders, proving oneself worthy of challenging the Elite Four and Hoenn League Champion to become the new Hoenn League Champion and completing the Pokédex by capturing, evolving, and trading to obtain all 202 Pokémon available between Ruby and Sapphire. It is possible to obtain all 386 Pokémon, but this requires trading with Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen or Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness and Pokémon Colosseum.[19]

In addition to the main quest of defeating the Gym Leaders, there are side quests in which the player can aid NPCs by fulfilling tasks, usually by obtaining items. The most prominent subplot involves Team Aqua and Team Magma, crime syndicates who want to use Pokémon to alter the climate of Hoenn: in Ruby, the villains, Team Magma, want to use the legendary Pokémon Groudon to dry up the oceans of Hoenn and increase the region's landmass; in Sapphire, Team Aqua are the villains and they try to use Groudon's counterpart, Kyogre, to flood the landmasses of Hoenn and increase the region's ocean.[20] Prior to facing the eighth Gym Leader, the player has a showdown with Magma or Aqua where the team's leader uses a mystical orb that awakens the slumbering Pokémon, believing it has the power to enthrall their respective target, only for the Pokémon to become enraged and cause catastrophic, region-wide climate changes—a drought in Ruby, and heavy rainfall in Sapphire—until it is defeated or captured by the protagonist.[21] The player's father Norman also introduces them to Wally, a sickly young boy whom the player helps capture a Pokémon to be his companion as he moves away from the big city. Wally eventually overcomes his illness and becomes a successful Pokémon Trainer, ultimately becoming the final challenger the player must face before the Elite Four.

Development

[edit]
Development director Junichi Masuda

Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire were developed by Game Freak and Nintendo under the direction of Junichi Masuda. As with its predecessors, Ken Sugimori was the art director, although these were the first games in which he did not single-handedly produce all of the art.[22] When asked where his design team came up with the ideas for all of the new Pokémon, Sugimori stated that they got their ideas from past experiences in their childhood involving nature, animals, and the media and then base them on insects. Even looking at the world in a different perspective sometimes provided inspiration for the creatures. "First we select an insect and after that we add essential elements to the insects to make it more like Pokemon, such as adding some hard shape to it, to be more like steel," Sugimori said, describing the process of creating a Pokémon.[23]

As the Game Boy Advance was able to handle enhanced graphics, Ruby and Sapphire were the first games in the series that allowed up to four people to share information at one time, as opposed to the previous limit of two. However, the development team used a more basic graphics engine to keep the game simple and not overly confusing. The team wanted the games to appeal to a large audience, so the game was designed to be easy enough for younger generations of children to play, but new features were added to bring the veteran gamers back.[23]

Masuda stated that the basic philosophy of all Pokémon games is communication; in the Pokémon series, this is manifested in trading and battling with other people. When asked about the new concept of double battles, the developers noted that they tried to focus more on the original one-on-one battles as the main type of competition and only added the double battles as a "new challenge". They stated that if they receive positive feedback about the double battles, the feature may appear more in future generations.[23]

The games were the first in the series that did not contain all of the Pokémon from previous generations. Sugimori stated that the team tried to include all the new Pokémon as well as some from previous generations. When asked about any features that could not be included due to technical restrictions, Masuda noted that he wanted each individual Pokémon to make up to three different cries depending on its mood.[23]

Audio

[edit]
Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire soundtrack
Studio album by
Junichi Masuda, Go Ichinose and Morikazu Aoki
ReleasedApril 26, 2003
GenreVideo game music, soundtrack, audio
LabelMedia Factory
ProducerUnknown

The audio of Ruby and Sapphire consists entirely of game music and sound effects; all dialogue is on-screen. The music, composed by Junichi Masuda, Go Ichinose and Morikazu Aoki, is completely instrumental except for two tracks with vocals, "Trick Master" and "Slateport City". The soundtrack of the game was released under the Mediafactory label in Japan on April 26, 2003; the album reached #297 on the Oricon charts and charted for one week.[24] Junichi Masuda wrote only battle tunes, Go Ichinose wrote most of the town, route, fanfare & 'Spotted' tunes, whereas Morikazu Aoki did the remainder.

The soundtrack is noted for its heavy use of trumpets,[25] but it also makes heavy use of French horns, strings ensembles, and even pianos.

Release

[edit]

Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire were released in Japan on November 21, 2002,[26] in North America on March 19, 2003,[27] in Australia on April 3, 2003,[28][26] and in Europe on July 25, 2003.[26] Nintendo did not promote Ruby and Sapphire at E3 2002;[29][30] however, it launched a US$ $7 million promotional campaign that lasted from March to May 2003.[31] In July and August 2002 they were promoted through a tour across Japan at Pokémon Festa 2002.[32] In addition to rewarding pre-orders of the games with merchandise, Nintendo held a contest in which participants submitted videos of themselves singing the Pokémon theme song with their own re-written lyrics; the grand prize for that event was a Lugia PT Cruiser.[33][34] Later that year, Nintendo launched the EON Ticket Summer Tour, in which 125 Toys "R" Us stores across the United States offered the Eon Ticket e-Card in stores from July 19 to September 1.[13][35] Nintendo aired two television advertisements, "Faces" and "Names", on prime-time network, cable, and syndication. "Faces" featured Pokémon juxtaposed with human look-alikes; "Names" featured people shouting out the names of Pokémon and emphasized the fact that the games introduced 100 new Pokémon.[31] Additionally, Nintendo collaborated with United Kingdom beverage brand Vimto to promote the games.[36]

Pokémon Emerald

[edit]
Main article: Pokémon Emerald

Pokémon Emerald Version[c] is a third version after Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, developed by Game Freak, published by The Pokémon Company and Nintendo for the Game Boy Advance. It was first released in Japan in 2004, and was later released internationally in 2005.[37] Emerald received generally positive reception[38] and by fiscal year 2007 sales had reached 6.32 million units.[39]

Reception

[edit]

Critical response

[edit]

The games met with mostly positive reviews. IGN gave them an "Amazing" 9.5 out of 10 rating and awarded them the Editor's Choice Award; in 2007, the games were collectively named the tenth best Game Boy Advance game of all time in an IGN article.[51] GameZone also gave the games a 9.5 out of 10 rating and awarded them an Outstanding Award.[49] GamePro gave the games 5 out of 5 stars and named them Editor's Choices.[52] ComputerAndVideoGames.com gave the games a 9 out of 10, and GameSpot gave the games 8.1 out of 10,[45] naming it the best Game Boy Advance game of March 2003.[53] Eurogamer and 1UP.com were less enthusiastic about the games, however; Eurogamer gave the games 7 out of 10, and 1UP.com gave them a B−.[44][46]

Reviewers were divided in their critiques of the games, especially concerning the gameplay and graphics. IGN praised the "deep design" and noted that the addition of features such as double battles greatly increased the strategic aspect of the games. GamePro also thought that the addition of double battles "add[ed] challenge" and "made the harder battles far more strategic than before—the way the game should be".[52] Likewise, ComputerAndVideoGames.com called the gameplay "incredibly compelling and addictive".[45] GameZone noted that the gameplay was more refined and challenging than that of previous titles.[49] However, GameSpot called the games "a cakewalk from start to finish" and claimed that Ruby and Sapphire "don't offer much of a challenge".[48] Eurogamer also felt that the mechanics "[get] very tired, very fast".[46] 1UP.com also felt that the games were formulaic and that double battles were underused.[44]

ComputerAndVideoGames.com was enthusiastic over the graphics, calling them "gorgeous".[45] Other reviewers were less enthusiastic, however. GamePro felt that the graphics were only "a fair bit prettier" than those of the Game Boy Color games;[52] GameZone said that the games "still [use] the simple animations and basic character designs that were created for the original, color-less Game Boy".[49] IGN and 1UP.com noted that the graphics had received only a minor upgrade,[44][54] and Eurogamer felt that the graphics had been upgraded to a "functional level at best".[46] The audio was generally well-received: GameZone and GameSpot both felt the audio was catchy; GameZone gave the audio an 8 out of 10 score, saying that while the music "was annoying at times, [...] it's also very good. [...] I found myself humming the music when I wasn't playing". Other complaints included the removal of the time system of Gold and Silver and the inability to import Pokémon from the games of previous generations.[54]

Sales

[edit]

Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire were highly anticipated.[55][56] In Japan, they sold 1.25 million units within the first four days of release and were the best-selling games of the 2002 holiday season;[57] sales totaled around 4.4 million within six weeks of release.[58] They also became the first games to sell 2 million copies in Japan since 2001's Final Fantasy X and the first games for a handheld console to do so since 2000's Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters 4.[59][d]

In North America, Nintendo sold 2.2 million units by April 2003, less than one month after the games' release in that region.[58] In the United States, Ruby and Sapphire were the second- and third-best-selling games of 2003, respectively.[60][61][62] The games enjoyed success in Europe as well.[63] Even before release, European retailers imported cartridges from the United States to meet the high demand.[64][65] Upon release, 500,000 copies were sold in its first weekend and sold 1.5 million within eight weeks.[66][67] They were the second-best-selling games of the holiday season in 2002.[68] The games were brought up at E3 2003 by Satoru Iwata as a symbol of how successful the Game Boy Advance was at the time.[69]

With 16.22 million units sold worldwide as of 2023, they are the best-selling games for the Game Boy Advance.[70][71] However, analysts noted that with "young kids...gravitating toward Yu-Gi-Oh!" at the time, Pokémon's popularity was waning even before the American release of Ruby and Sapphire.[72][73][74][75][76] This was reflected in the games' sales compared to those of previous generations: Red and Blue sold nearly 31 million units worldwide,[77] and Gold and Silver sold over 23 million units.[78][79]

Awards

[edit]
Year Award Category Result
2003 Golden Joystick Awards Handheld Game of the Year Nominated
2004 Interactive Achievement Awards Handheld Game of the Year Nominated
British Academy Game Awards Children's Game Nominated
Game Boy Advance Game Nominated

Legacy

[edit]

Remakes

[edit]
Main article: Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire

Pokémon Omega Ruby[e] and Pokémon Alpha Sapphire[f] are enhanced remakes of Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire. The new titles were developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 3DS. They were released worldwide for the Nintendo 3DS on November 21, 2014, exactly twelve years after the original release date of Ruby and Sapphire, while the European release was the following week.[80][81]

[edit]
Main articles: Pokémon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire, Pokémon Colosseum, and Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness

Pokémon Box: Ruby and Sapphire

[edit]

Pokémon Box: Ruby and Sapphire[g] or simply Pokémon Box[h], is a spin-off Pokémon game for the GameCube, bundled with a GameCube – Game Boy Advance link cable and a Memory Card 59.[82] It was released in Japan on May 30, 2003, and in North America on July 12, 2004,[83] but only through the New York Pokémon Center and its online store,[82] and it is no longer available in either location.[as of?] The game was released in some parts of Europe as Pokémon Memory Magic due to translation problems[84] and Europeans could only get the game by using points from Nintendo of Europe's loyalty program or by buying the Pokémon Colosseum Mega Pack.[85]

The game is essentially a storage system for the Game Boy Advance Pokémon games that allow players to trade and store Pokémon that they have caught in Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, FireRed and LeafGreen onto a GameCube memory card.[86][87] Players can then organize and interact with their Pokémon on the GameCube, such as allowing them to breed. Unique Pokémon can also be acquired. Another feature allows Ruby and Sapphire to be played on the television via the GameCube – Game Boy Advance link cable. Options such as taking screenshots of the game are available in this mode.[88] Another addition is the "Showcase", where players can create and display game pieces of Pokémon.[89]

Nintendo referred to the game as "the most exclusive Pokémon software ever offered to North American Pokémon fans,"[90] but it was generally considered to be unnecessary, receiving a score of 50% on GameRankings from 1 review.[91] Craig Harris of IGN gave the game a "Meh" rating of 5.0 out of 10, praising the interface, which makes the organization of Pokémon much easier as compared to the Game Boy Advance interface, as well as the emulator which allows Ruby and Sapphire to be played on the GameCube. He also stated that the game was a good deal due to the inclusion of a memory card and link cable. However, Harris cited the "Showcase" as "entirely unnecessary and completely out of place", and said that overall the game lacked much to do. He wrote, "It's targeted specifically for the truly die-hard Pokemon fan, but it requires so many specific elements to actually be useful to anyone."[89] Allgame gave the game three and a half out of five stars.[90]

Notes

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Pokémon Ruby and Pokémon Sapphire are paired role-playing video games developed by and published by for the Game Boy Advance handheld console. Released in Japan on November 21, 2002, in on March 19, 2003, and in on July 25, 2003, they serve as the inaugural titles of the third generation in the Pokémon series. Set in the fictional Hoenn region, inspired by Japan's island, the games follow a young Pokémon Trainer who embarks on a journey to collect and train Pokémon, challenge Gym Leaders, and ultimately confront the Pokémon League while unraveling a plot involving rival criminal organizations. The core gameplay revolves around turn-based battles, exploration of diverse environments, and Pokémon collection, with players able to capture over 200 species, including 135 new ones introduced in this generation. Key innovations include double battles, where two Pokémon fight simultaneously; Pokémon Contests, a performance-based competition system; and new mechanics such as Pokémon Abilities, Natures, and Pokéblocks to enhance training and strategy. In Ruby, the antagonist Magma seeks to expand landmasses by awakening the Legendary Pokémon Groudon, while in Sapphire, Aqua aims to the by summoning Kyogre, creating version-exclusive story elements centered on ecological conflict. These titles marked the first Pokémon games on the Game Boy Advance, leveraging the system's color graphics and sound capabilities for enhanced visuals and audio compared to prior generations. They also introduced connectivity features like trading and battling with previous games via the Game Boy Advance Link Cable, and integration with peripherals such as the GameCube's Pokémon Colosseum and Pokémon Box: and . Critically acclaimed for their expansive world and fresh mechanics, and sold millions of copies worldwide, solidifying the franchise's enduring popularity and paving the way for subsequent entries like .

Gameplay

Core mechanics

Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire retain the foundational turn-based battle system established in prior generations, adapted for the Game Boy Advance's capabilities, where players command one or two active Pokémon against an opponent's in sequential turns, including the new double battle format. During battles, each Pokémon possesses one or two types out of 17 total types, and move effectiveness is determined by type matchups: attacks deal double damage to weak types, half to resistant ones, or none to immune ones, such as moves being super effective against types but ineffective against fellow types. Status conditions like (causing gradual HP loss), (reducing speed and causing occasional immobility), (preventing actions for several turns), (halving physical attack power and causing HP loss), freeze (immobilizing until thawed), and (risking self-damage) can be inflicted to debilitate foes and influence battle outcomes. mechanics allow Pokémon to transform into more powerful forms upon reaching specific experience levels, using evolution stones like Stone or Thunder Stone, or through trading with another via link cable, enhancing stats, movesets, and appearances. Capturing wild Pokémon is central to building a team, achieved by throwing Poké Balls after encountering them in the grass, water, or caves; success is higher when the target's HP is low—ideally in the red zone—and when afflicted with a status condition, as these factors reduce the Pokémon's resistance to capture. Various Poké Ball types, such as standard Poké Balls or more effective Great Balls, affect catch rates, with formulas incorporating the target's level, HP ratio, and status multiplier determining the outcome after a brief wobble . Player progression involves training Pokémon to gain experience points (EXP) from defeated wild or trainer-owned Pokémon, increasing their levels and unlocking new moves or evolutions; defeating the eight regional Leaders grants badges that strengthen obedience of higher-level Pokémon and enable use of certain moves outside battle. Collecting all badges unlocks the Pokémon League, where trainers challenge the Elite Four in sequential single battles, followed by the , requiring a well-balanced team of level 50+ Pokémon to succeed. The presents a 2D top-down view of the Hoenn region, allowing free movement across routes, towns, and dungeons on foot or via , with environmental obstacles like boulders, ledges, and bodies of water navigated using Hidden Machines (HMs)—teachable moves such as Strength for pushing rocks, for underwater exploration, or Fly for fast travel between visited locations. Inventory management organizes items into categorized pouches for berries, medicine, Poké Balls, TMs/HMs, and key items, limited to 20-30 slots per pouch depending on type, while excess Pokémon beyond the six-party limit are deposited into PC storage boxes at any Pokémon Center, accessible remotely for swapping team members.

New features

Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire introduced 135 new Pokémon species to the franchise, increasing the total number of known Pokémon to 386 and featuring a diverse array of Grass-, Fire-, and Water-type starters in Treecko, Torchic, and Mudkip, respectively, along with the legendary titans Groudon, Kyogre, and Rayquaza that play central roles in the region's lore. These additions emphasized environmental themes, with many new species designed around Hoenn's tropical and oceanic motifs, allowing players to build teams with fresh strategic options beyond previous generations. However, many Pokémon species from previous generations became completely unavailable in the core game without trading from other titles. Additionally, some features from previous games were removed, such as the day-night cycle and the radio functionality from the Pokégear. Other notable new features included the introduction of the running mechanic, activated by holding the B button, which allows players to sprint at increased speeds across the overworld. Furthermore, two distinct types of bicycles were added: the Mach Bike for rapid straight-line travel and the Acro Bike, which enables tricks like bunny hops and better maneuverability on certain surfaces. A major innovation was the introduction of Abilities, passive traits assigned to each Pokémon that activate automatically during battles or in the to influence outcomes, such as Drizzle, which summons upon entry to boost Water-type moves and weaken Fire-type ones. Complementing Abilities, Natures were added as inherent personality modifiers determined upon capture or hatching, subtly altering a Pokémon's stats by increasing one (e.g., raises Attack by 10% but lowers Special Attack) to encourage deeper customization and long-term planning in team composition. Double Battles emerged as a core mechanic in specific encounters, such as against paired trainers, where players deploy two Pokémon simultaneously against opponents' pairs, requiring coordinated strategies and enabling support moves like Helping Hand to amplify an ally's attack power. This format added layers of tactical depth, distinguishing it from traditional single battles by promoting teamwork and positioning awareness on the field. Berries served as versatile held items providing in-battle effects like gradual HP restoration or status healing, while an cultivation system allowed players to plant and grow them in soil patches, harvesting yields based on watering and time to create a sustainable resource loop integrated with exploration. Pokémon Contests offered a non-combat avenue for engagement, where trained Pokémon compete in performances across categories like Cool, , Cute, and Smart, judged on moves, condition, and appeal to earn Ribbons as markers of achievement and eligibility for advanced events. These events highlighted aesthetic and timing elements, blending preparation with performative flair outside traditional battling. Secret Bases enabled personalization through customizable hideouts created using the Secret Power move on designated spots like trees or caves, where players could decorate with furniture, set traps, and store Pokémon dolls, fostering creative expression and subtle social interaction via base flags.

Multiplayer and connectivity

In Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, multiplayer functionality centers on wired connections via the Game Link Cable, enabling direct trading and battles between two systems without support for wireless options. Players access these features through the Cable Club in any Pokémon Center, where they can exchange Pokémon to complete regional Pokédexes or compete in real-time battles using up to three Pokémon per side. The Battle Tower, a post-game facility accessible by ferry from Lilycove City after receiving the S.S. Ticket from the player's father, provides structured competitive play. It supports singles (1v1 battles using a team of 3 Pokémon), doubles (2v2 battles using a team of 3 Pokémon), and multi (tag-team with a partner player using teams of 2 Pokémon) formats, allowing challenges against AI trainers in escalating difficulty streaks or linked human opponents for direct multiplayer contention. Victories yield Battle Points redeemable for items, TMs, and facility decorations, emphasizing strategic team-building for sustained performance. Mystery Event facilitates event-based distributions, unlocked by defeating Gym Leader Norman and conversing with the deliveryman in Petalburg City Pokémon Center using the phrase "Mystery Event is exciting." This activates a title screen option for receiving special content, such as the Eon Ticket for Southern Island access, via in-person promotions or card scans that prompt link cable transfers between compatible devices. The system was designed for limited-time connectivity to promote community gatherings and hardware bundling. Link cable compatibility extends to other Generation III titles like FireRed, LeafGreen, and Emerald, permitting seamless Pokémon trades after obtaining the National Pokédex in each game. Direct backward trading with Generation I or II games on or hardware is impossible due to incompatible data structures and port designs; instead, older Pokémon route through the FireRed and LeafGreen remakes as intermediaries. Generation III-exclusive species, such as Treecko or version-specific legendaries, face transfer restrictions to pre-Generation III titles, preserving balance across eras. The games integrate with on the through a dedicated GBA-GCN Link Cable, enabling bidirectional Pokémon transfers after clearing Colosseum's main storyline and activating the trade terminal in Phenac City's Pokémon Center. Players can import Hoenn Pokémon for 3D battles in Colosseum or export shadow Pokémon to or for purification via the in-game PC, fostering cross-platform team management and story continuity.

Setting and plot

World of Hoenn

The Hoenn region serves as the primary setting for Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, depicted as an expansive comprising a large central landmass flanked by numerous smaller islands and interconnected by rivers, seas, and straits. This water-abundant environment emphasizes maritime exploration, with over half of the region's terrain involving aquatic travel via boats, , or diving. The landscape showcases a rich variety of biomes, including lush tropical rainforests on islands like those near Dewford Town, arid deserts in the central Route 111 area, volcanic highlands around Mt. Chimney, and submerged underwater realms accessible beneath the waves near specific routes such as Route 108. These diverse ecosystems not only shape the region's visual identity but also dictate the habitats and behaviors of native Pokémon species. Key settlements and pathways anchor the region's layout, beginning with Littleroot Town as the protagonist's starting hometown—a quiet, newly developed suburb serving as the gateway to adventure. Petalburg City, located further along Route 104, houses the and acts as a familial hub in the narrative structure. Slateport City's vibrant market offers items, battles, and shipyard access, highlighting the region's trade-focused coastal culture. Environmental features like the perpetual heavy rain on Route 119 create dynamic zones that alter visibility and encounters, fostering a sense of varied terrain traversal across the archipelago's 40-plus routes and areas. Version-specific thematic elements differentiate the twin titles: Pokémon Ruby portrays Hoenn with an emphasis on terrestrial expansion and drought-like conditions tied to the legendary Pokémon Groudon, promoting land-based growth and fiery biomes, whereas Pokémon Sapphire highlights oceanic flooding and marine abundance linked to Kyogre, enhancing water routes and submerged explorations. These contrasts subtly influence environmental visuals and exclusive Pokémon distributions without altering core geography. Hoenn's challenge structure revolves around eight type-themed s scattered across its islands, each led by a specialist trainer whose advances the player's progression. Roxanne leads the Rustboro City Rock-type Gym with Pokémon like Geodude, setting an early puzzle-based tone; subsequent leaders include Brawly (Fighting, Dewford Town), Wattson (Electric, Mauville City), Flannery (Fire, Lavaridge Town), Norman (Normal, Petalburg City), Winona (Flying, Fortree City), Tate and Liza (Psychic, Mossdeep City), and Wallace (Water, Sootopolis City). Upon collecting all badges, trainers face the Four at the Pokémon League on Ever Grande Island—a quartet of Sidney (Dark), Phoebe (Ghost), Glacia (Ice), and Drake (Dragon), followed by Champion Steven Stone specializing in Steel-types—testing comprehensive team strategies in a sequential battle format. Wild Pokémon encounters are distributed across Hoenn's routes and biomes to reflect ecological realism, with early grassy paths like Route 101 featuring common starters such as Zigzagoon and Wurmple, while desert sands on Route 111 introduce Ground-types like Trapinch. Aquatic access via the Surf HM reveals Water-types like Tentacool on open seas, and the Dive HM unlocks hidden underwater currents for rarer such as Relicanth in areas like the Abandoned Ship. These expand accessible zones, with effects on routes like the rainy Route 119 boosting appearances of adaptable types such as Lombre or Castform, encouraging strategic team building based on regional diversity.

Main storyline

The player assumes the role of a young Pokémon Trainer who has recently moved to Littleroot Town in the Hoenn region with their family, including their father, Norman, who serves as the Gym Leader of Petalburg City. After assisting Professor Birch in escaping a wild Pokémon attack, the player receives their starter Pokémon and begins their adventure, aiming to collect eight Gym Badges by defeating Hoenn's Gym Leaders and ultimately challenging the Pokémon League to become the region's . Throughout this journey, the player encounters and battles their childhood rival, who is the opposite gender to the player—May if the player is male or Brendan if the player is female—who shares the same goal of becoming a top Trainer and frequently challenges the player to test their progress. Parallel to the player's personal quest, a central conflict unfolds involving antagonistic organizations with opposing environmental agendas. In Pokémon Ruby, Team Magma seeks to expand the landmass by awakening the Legendary Pokémon Groudon, believing it will create more habitats for land-based Pokémon and humans. In Pokémon Sapphire, Team Aqua pursues the opposite objective, aiming to flood the world by rousing Kyogre to foster an expansive ocean for water Pokémon. The player repeatedly clashes with these teams' leaders, Maxie and respectively, as they interfere with the antagonists' schemes across Hoenn, highlighting themes of ecological balance and the dangers of disrupting nature's equilibrium, with each version subtly biasing toward the "heroic" side opposing the primary antagonist. The narrative builds to a climax when Team Magma or Team Aqua succeeds in awakening their targeted Legendary in the Seafloor Cavern, leading to conditions that threaten Hoenn's stability. The player travels to the Cave of Origin, where they battle and capture (or defeat) the rampaging Legendary Pokémon, thereby restoring balance to the region. This event underscores the theme of natural harmony, portraying the consequences of tampering with super-ancient powers. Following the defeat of the Pokémon League's Elite Four and , post-game content allows the player to hunt additional Legendary Pokémon, including the Regi trio—Regirock, Regice, and Registeel—hidden in ancient ruins across Hoenn, as well as Rayquaza at the Sky Pillar and the version-exclusive roaming Latias (in Sapphire) or Latios (in ), as well as the opposite Eon Pokémon on Southern Island via the event item Eon Ticket. These pursuits extend the exploration of Hoenn's lore, emphasizing discovery and the interconnectedness of the region's mythical guardians without further antagonist interference.

Development

Conception and design

Development of Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire began in late 1999 at Game Freak, shortly after the completion of Pokémon Gold and Silver, with Junichi Masuda serving as director and Ken Sugimori as the primary artist and designer. The team was encouraged by Nintendo to produce a new generation amid the franchise's growing popularity, marking a significant shift to the Game Boy Advance hardware to enable vibrant color graphics and larger, more detailed sprites—supporting up to 32,768 colors on screen compared to the previous generation's more limited 56-color palette on the Game Boy Color. Development was officially announced in March 2001 at Space World, with the team growing from an initial 10 members to around 30 by completion. The design of the Hoenn region drew inspiration from tropical island environments, reflecting Masuda's childhood memories of summers on Japan's island, with an emphasis on water-based exploration through features like and diving to navigate a fragmented of routes and cities. This theme contrasted with the more continental layouts of prior regions, promoting a sense of discovery across diverse biomes including rainforests, deserts, and volcanic areas. To foster player interaction, the games were conceived as dual versions from the outset, featuring exclusive Pokémon and items to incentivize trading, while introducing opposing antagonist organizations— Magma in , focused on expanding land, and Aqua in , seeking to raise sea levels—for thematic and narrative conflict. In planning the Pokémon roster, the team prioritized creating 135 entirely new to establish a fresh start for Generation III, emphasizing diversity among non-legendary Pokémon such as varied types, abilities, and evolutionary lines without initially including direct evolutions or pre-evolutions for from previous generations, allowing Hoenn's to feel independent and innovative. Sugimori's artwork evolved to leverage the GBA's capabilities, with sprites designed in 256 colors for richer expressions and animations, while Masuda oversaw balancing the roster to introduce double battles and new mechanics seamlessly integrated into the core capture-and-train formula.

Production and audio

The development of Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire involved substantial programming challenges for , as the team optimized the game for the Game Boy Advance's 32-bit ARM7TDMI processor while incorporating innovative features like dynamic weather effects that altered battles and environments in real time. The games were programmed in the C programming language and compiled using the GCC 2.9 compiler, as revealed by decompilation projects and corroborated by the 2020 source code leak. Director later described the project as the most demanding in the series' history, noting the intense stress it caused, including health issues from the tight schedule and the need to balance ambitious additions with the handheld's memory and processing limitations. Weather systems, such as rain boosting Water-type moves or sandstorms affecting visibility, required careful code efficiency to prevent slowdowns during exploration of Hoenn's expansive routes. Sprite and animation production centered on 135 new Pokémon designs overseen by art director Ken Sugimori, who provided the official illustrations to capture Hoenn's diverse ecosystem, from tropical bird-like Taillow to aquatic Mudkip. In-game sprites were adapted for the GBA's graphical capabilities, featuring fluid battle animations like Treecko's vine extensions, while Pokémon cries were synthesized using layered waveforms to evoke each species' personality without exceeding audio hardware constraints. Sugimori collaborated closely with the team to ensure visual consistency, drawing inspiration from Hoenn's island theme for vibrant, nature-infused aesthetics. The audio direction was led by composer Go Ichinose, who crafted an orchestral-style exceeding 100 tracks, emphasizing synthesizers to blend epic swells with tropical motifs that mirrored the region's lush, oceanic vibe—exemplified by the lively and percussion in the Route 101 theme. Ichinose's work, released in the Pokémon Ruby & Pokémon Sapphire: Super Music Collection with 109 pieces, incorporated brass-heavy arrangements for battles to heighten tension and exploration tracks with rhythmic, wave-like patterns for coastal areas. Masuda praised Ichinose's contributions for evolving the series' sound from prior generations, adding depth through environmental cues like echoing cave reverberations. Beta elements uncovered in prerelease materials and 2020 source code leaks include early evolution concepts for select Pokémon, and unused abilities like Cacophony, which were refined or removed during iteration. These insights from internal documents highlight Game Freak's iterative process, where prototypes tested expanded features but were scaled back for pacing. Testing phases focused rigorously on balancing new mechanics, especially the debut of Pokémon abilities, with playtesters evaluating interactions like Drizzle summoning instant rain to ensure they enhanced strategy without overpowering core RPG elements. Game Freak's expanded resources from prior successes allowed for extended QA, addressing ability synergies—such as Speed Boost for rapid escalation—and wild encounter rates to promote fair progression through Hoenn's gyms.

Release

Launch and regional versions

Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire were first released in on November 21, 2002, exclusively for the , marking the debut of Generation III in the core series. The launch included promotional bundles at select retailers, aimed at capitalizing on the franchise's popularity among young players. These promotions were distributed through Pokémon Centers and major electronics stores like , enhancing initial accessibility and excitement for the new region's adventure. The games arrived internationally in 2003, with North America seeing a release on March 19, followed by on April 3 and on July 25. Nintendo handled the localization efforts for English-speaking markets, adapting the Japanese script through its internal teams to ensure cultural relevance while preserving core elements like character names—such as retaining "Team Magma" and "Team Aqua" without alteration. Adjustments were made to Pokémon Contests, incorporating Western-friendly explanations for judging criteria to make the feature more intuitive for global audiences, alongside minor tweaks to dialogue for humor and pacing. These changes facilitated a seamless transition for players familiar with prior generations. Marketing for the launch was tightly integrated with the Pokémon multimedia ecosystem, including tie-ins to the fifth season of the , known as Pokémon: Advanced Generation in (starting November 21, 2002) and Advanced Challenge in (starting September 11, 2004). Episodes featured Hoenn Pokémon and plot elements mirroring the games, boosting through television broadcasts on networks like and . Merchandise efforts included the launch of the Pokémon Game's EX Ruby & Sapphire expansion in June 2003, which introduced over 100 new Hoenn cards and was promoted via in-store demos and collector bundles sold at retailers like and Toys "R" Us. In , initial sales exceeded 1 million combined units in the first week, driven by strong pre-order demand and media coverage.

Enhanced edition: Pokémon Emerald

Pokémon Emerald is an enhanced version of Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, released for the Game Boy Advance as a definitive edition of the third-generation Pokémon games. It integrates elements from both predecessor titles, providing players with access to all version-exclusive Pokémon without needing to trade between Ruby and Sapphire. The game was released in on September 16, 2004, followed by on May 1, 2005, on June 9, 2005, and on October 21, 2005. A major storyline enhancement involves dual antagonists, with both Team Magma and Team Aqua serving as opposing villainous organizations, unlike the single-team focus in the base games. This culminates in Rayquaza, the legendary Dragon/Flying-type Pokémon, becoming playable after being awakened at the Sky Pillar to intervene in the conflict, offering players a powerful addition to their team at level 70. The post-game introduces the Battle Frontier, an expansive facility complex featuring seven distinct battle arenas—Battle Tower, Dome, Factory, Palace, Pike, Arena, and Pyramid—each with unique rules and escalating challenges against Frontier Brains, providing 14 Silver and Gold Symbols (7 of each) for dedicated players. Graphical improvements include refined sprites with animations for overworld Pokémon movements and updated interface elements, such as improved text rendering and color adjustments for better visibility compared to and . Connectivity remains fully compatible with the original games for trading and battling via Link Cable, while the Japanese version supports cards for special events like the Eon Ticket to access Southern Island. The title also allows Pokémon transfers to later games, bridging to Generation IV. Internationally, it sold over 7 million units worldwide, solidifying its status as the comprehensive Generation III experience.

Reception

Critical reviews

Upon release in 2002, Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire garnered generally positive reviews from critics, achieving aggregate scores of 82/100 for Ruby and 82/100 for Sapphire based on dozens of professional outlets. Reviewers frequently highlighted the games' innovations, including the debut of double battles, which introduced new strategic layers by allowing attacks to target single or multiple opponents simultaneously. awarded both titles 9.5/10, praising how double battles enhanced combat variety alongside the expansive exploration of the new Hoenn region, filled with diverse biomes like volcanic mountains and underwater routes. The addictive cycle of Pokémon collection and training was another common strength, with GameSpot giving Sapphire an 8.1/10 for its engaging RPG fundamentals, improved visuals over prior entries, and the thrill of discovering over 200 new species in a refreshed world. However, criticisms centered on pacing issues, particularly a sluggish early-game progression hampered by repetitive wild encounters and limited fast travel options, as noted in aggregated contemporary feedback. Additionally, the absence of direct backward compatibility with Generation I and II games drew ire, preventing seamless transfers of older Pokémon and isolating players from prior collections without workarounds like trading via later titles. The 2004 enhanced edition, , received a score of 76/100 but was lauded for its completeness, merging Ruby and Sapphire's version-exclusive content, expanding the storyline to feature both villainous teams equally, and introducing post-game challenges like the Battle Frontier for extended replayability. scored it 8/10, calling it a refined "" that polished the originals' core adventure while retaining their depth. Post-2010 retrospectives have reinforced the games' enduring appeal through their emphasis on environmental themes, such as the conflict between land expansion and oceanic preservation embodied by the rival teams' ideologies, which added narrative weight to Hoenn's ecosystem. Yet, many observers now view the sprite-based graphics as dated relative to the 3D visuals of later generations, though the remakes Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire (2014) addressed this while preserving the originals' design spirit. Comparisons between Ruby and Sapphire highlight only subtle differences, such as swapped version-exclusive Pokémon and antagonist focuses (Magma in Ruby, Aqua in Sapphire), resulting in negligible variations in overall difficulty perception.

Commercial performance

Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire were major commercial successes for and The Pokémon Company, with the pair selling over 16 million units combined worldwide as of 2023, establishing them as the best-selling titles on the Game Boy Advance platform. The enhanced third version, , followed with 7.06 million units sold in the same timeframe, further capitalizing on the Generation III popularity. Regionally, the original duo exceeded 6 million units in and over 5 million in , reflecting strong demand across core markets and contributing to the console's overall market penetration. The games' launch significantly boosted Game Boy Advance hardware sales, particularly during the 2003 holiday season in and , where they ranked among the top-selling software titles and drove bundled console purchases. This performance helped the broader Pokémon franchise surpass $1 billion in cumulative revenue by the mid-2000s, fueled by sales and related media. In 2014, Ruby and Sapphire received digital re-releases via the service, introducing the titles to a new generation of players. As of November 2025, no release has occurred, though speculation persists about future inclusion in the . The titles' enduring appeal has sustained economic impact through merchandise tie-ins, including toys, apparel, and trading cards linked to the Hoenn region, generating ongoing ancillary revenue for the franchise.

Awards and nominations

Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire garnered recognition from several prestigious gaming awards bodies for their innovative design and popularity upon release. At the 7th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards in 2004, the games were nominated for Handheld Game of the Year, highlighting their impact on portable gaming. In the , the titles received two nominations at the inaugural in 2004, including Handheld Game and Children's Game categories, acknowledging their appeal to younger audiences and technical execution on the Game Boy Advance. The games also received a nomination for Handheld Game of the Year at the 2003 . In , Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire earned the Best Sales Award at the 7th CESA Game Awards in 2003, recognizing their commercial dominance with over four million units sold in the award period. The enhanced version, , continued this acclaim by winning the Award for Excellence at the 9th CESA Game Awards in 2005, praised for refining the core mechanics and expanding the Hoenn region's narrative. Retrospectively, the Generation III games have been honored in influential lists, such as IGN's Top 25 Games of All Time, where and ranked in the top 10 for their lasting influence on the Pokémon series and RPG genre.

Legacy

Remakes and direct sequels

In 2014, developed Pokémon Omega and Pokémon Alpha as full remakes of the original Pokémon and for the , released worldwide on November 21. These titles modernized the Hoenn region's core storyline while incorporating mechanics from later generations, including Mega Evolution, which allows certain Pokémon to temporarily transform into more powerful forms during battles using Mega Stones. A new post-game storyline, the Delta Episode, explores a meteor threat and the origins of Mega Evolution, featuring encounters with legendary Pokémon like Rayquaza and Deoxys. The remakes expanded the Hoenn region with updated visuals in full 3D for battles and exploration, including a larger map and the Soar mechanic, which lets players ride the legendary Pokémon Latios or Latias to fly freely across the skies for faster travel. Primal Reversion was introduced as a unique transformation for the legendary Pokémon Kyogre and Groudon, reverting them to ancient, nature-infused forms that enhance their abilities and tie into the game's environmental themes. Multiplayer features were improved through the 3DS's online capabilities, enabling global trading, battles, and contests via the Pokémon Global Link service, with enhancements like Wonder Trade for random exchanges. Critically, the games received positive reviews for balancing fidelity to the originals with meaningful updates, earning a score of 83/100 based on 61 critic reviews for Omega Ruby and 82/100 for Alpha Sapphire. Publications praised the refreshed graphics, intuitive flying mechanics, and expanded content that revitalized the Hoenn experience without overshadowing its nostalgic appeal. Commercially, the pair sold 14.67 million units worldwide as of September 30, 2025, making them among the top-selling titles. No direct sequels to Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire exist beyond these remakes, though elements like Mega Evolution and Primal Reversion from Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire influence subsequent titles, including the 2025 release of Pokémon Legends: Z-A, which expands on transformation mechanics in a new narrative context. Pokémon Box: Ruby & Sapphire is a for the Nintendo , released in on May 30, 2003, and in on July 12, 2004. It enables players to store up to 1,500 Pokémon transferred from Game Boy Advance games such as Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald, expanding beyond the standard 30-Pokémon party and box limits in those titles. The software includes a for detailed examination of Pokémon models and animations, along with mini-games like a simplified Pokémon mode and a party mini-game where Pokémon interact in a virtual space. Additionally, it supports playing Ruby and Sapphire on a television screen connected to the GameCube via a Game Boy Advance , facilitating transfers without a handheld device. Pokémon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire, developed for the Game Boy Advance and released worldwide in 2003 starting with on August 1, serves as a pinball adaptation centered on the Hoenn region. Players control flippers to launch a Poké Ball across two themed tables—Ruby Field and Sapphire Field—aiming to score points, trigger bonuses, and capture over 200 Pokémon species by hitting targets and completing catch mini-games. The game incorporates Hoenn-specific elements, such as evolving captured Pokémon through field progression and unlocking bonus stages featuring legendary Pokémon like Rayquaza. Pokémon Colosseum, a 2003 GameCube title released in Japan on November 21 and in North America on March 22, 2004, acts as a narrative sequel utilizing assets from Ruby and Sapphire. Players assume the role of Wes, a former Team Snagem member who steals a device to "snag" Shadow Pokémon—corrupted creatures created by the antagonistic Team Cipher—and purify them via a personal chamber to restore their emotions and usability in battle. Set in the Orre region, the game supports transfers of up to 18 Pokémon from Hoenn-based Game Boy Advance titles for use in its story mode and colosseum battles, emphasizing double battles and 3D exploration. The Hoenn region features prominently in the Pokémon anime's Advanced Generation series (also known as Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire), which aired from November 21, 2002, to September 14, 2006, in and from October 4, 2003, to January 27, 2007, in the United States. This arc follows protagonist as he travels through Hoenn, collecting Gym Badges, encountering legendary Pokémon like Groudon and Kyogre, and competing in the Hoenn League, accompanied by new companions May and Max. In the Pokémon Adventures manga, the Ruby & Sapphire arc adapts and expands upon the Hoenn storyline across volumes 15 through 22, published in English by from 2006 to 2013. Written by Hidenori Kusaka and illustrated by Satoshi Yamamoto, it centers on young trainers and , who undertake personal quests amid a conflict involving teams and Aqua, incorporating elements like Mega Evolution precursors and battles against Hoenn legendaries. The Pokémon Game's EX Ruby & Sapphire expansion, launched in Japan on January 31, 2003, and in English-speaking regions on June 18, 2003, draws directly from the Hoenn Pokédex with 109 cards featuring Generation III Pokémon. This set introduced the Pokémon-ex card type, which possesses enhanced HP and attacks but awards double prize cards upon defeat, alongside new supporter cards and Hoenn-specific Pokémon like Blaziken ex and Aggron ex to reflect the region's dual-nature theme.

Influence on the franchise

Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire introduced several core mechanics that profoundly shaped subsequent generations of the series. Abilities, passive traits that activate during battles to provide strategic advantages such as type immunities or stat boosts, were debuted in these games and have remained a fundamental element of Pokémon battling ever since, expanding tactical depth across titles from Generation IV onward. Natures, which subtly modify a Pokémon's stat growth by increasing one attribute by 10% while decreasing another by 10%, were also first implemented here, influencing breeding strategies and competitive play in all later entries by adding layers of customization and individuality to each Pokémon. Pokémon Contests, a side activity where players showcased their Pokémon's appeal through performances tied to conditions like beauty or coolness, laid the groundwork for similar non-combat features in future games, such as the Pokémon Showcases in X and Y that emphasized performer-Pokémon synergy. The games' narrative prominently featured environmental themes, with antagonistic teams Magma and Aqua pursuing extreme ecological manipulations—expanding landmasses or flooding the world to "balance" nature—which allegorically addressed early 2000s concerns like and habitat disruption. This approach marked a shift toward more overt environmental storytelling in the franchise, influencing later plots that explored anthropogenic impacts, such as depicted through bleached Corsola in the Galar region of Sword and Shield or sustainable energy motifs in Diamond and Pearl. Ruby and Sapphire's focus on ecological conflict thus contributed to a broader trajectory in the series, where games post-2015 increasingly incorporated real-world issues like sea-level rise and into their world-building. The dual-version release model, featuring exclusive Pokémon and events to encourage trading, was solidified in Ruby and Sapphire as a cornerstone of the franchise's design philosophy, building on earlier pairs like Red and Blue to foster social interaction and replayability. This structure, inspired by creator Tajiri's idea of selling "two copies" to drive connectivity, became the standard for paired mainline releases, ensuring version-specific content motivates player engagement across generations. Hoenn, the region introduced in these titles, has demonstrated enduring fan appeal, with several of its Pokémon ranking highly in official popularity polls, such as Rayquaza and placing in the top tiers of the 2020 Pokémon of the Year vote. This sustained interest directly influenced the development of remakes Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire in , which modernized the originals while preserving their essence, underscoring Hoenn's role in revitalizing the series for new audiences. The region's thematic and mechanical legacy continues to resonate, as evidenced by its frequent citations in fan-driven discussions of favorite generations. Technically, Ruby and Sapphire's release on the Game Boy Advance established the viability of complex RPGs on portable hardware, leveraging the system's enhanced graphics and battery life to deliver expansive worlds that set expectations for the handheld format. This foundation paved the way for the era, where innovations like dual-screen interfaces in Diamond and Pearl built upon GBA portability to introduce features such as interactions and for seamless Pokémon transfers. The GBA titles' success in balancing exploration with accessibility influenced the series' shift to more immersive, on-the-go experiences in subsequent generations.

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