Chapter 8
"Since we're done with Generation 2, let's move on to Generation 3," Alice announces, her eyes lighting up as she shows me five games. One cover features Groudon, another Kyogre, and a third Rayquaza, while the remaining two display Venusaur and Charizard, reminiscent of Red and Green.
"First, let's take a look at these three games: Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald Versions. They tell the story of the Hoenn Region," she explains, placing the games on the table in front of us.
"Oh, the Hoenn Region... the place where we reunited after our journey ended," I say, a smile spreading across my face as memories flood back.
"Yeah, the same Hoenn Region," Alice continues, her voice filled with enthusiasm. "In the games, you can choose to play as the male character Brendan or the female character May. Whichever one you pick, the other becomes your rival."
"That's interesting," I remark, intrigued by the game mechanics. "But May is the same May who traveled with me and even worked with you in the Contests, right?"
"Yes, the very same May," Alice confirms with a nod. "If you choose her as your player character, she takes on the role of the protagonist. And here's the interesting part: regardless of who you choose, your father is always Norman, the Petalburg Gym Leader, while the rival is Professor Birch's child."
"Oh, so if you pick the male character, that means May's father isn't Norman but Professor Birch?" I ask, trying to piece everything together.
"Exactly," Alice replies, her eyes sparkling with excitement. She leans closer, her voice dropping slightly.
"Let's begin with the Pokémon," Alice says, her excitement evident as she opens the first game. "There are 135 new Pokémon added in these games. They removed the morning, day, and night encounters, and besides the National Dex, this is the first game to feature a Regional Dex, which includes 302 Pokémon."
"Okay, I see where this is going. I think this makes it much easier to guess the version exclusives," I reply, leaning in closer. "Lotad and Seedot? Seviper and Zangoose? Lunatone and Solrock?"
"Exactly," Alice confirms, nodding enthusiastically. "Sableye and Mawile are also version exclusives, not to mention the cover Legendaries, Kyogre and Groudon. These are the first games to have version-exclusive Legendary Pokémon."
"But Plusle and Minun aren't?" I ask, my eyebrows knitting in confusion.
"Well, you can get both in one game, but their encounter rates differ depending on the version," Alice explains, her tone patient. "The same goes for Volbeat and Illumise, as well as Latias and Latios. The encounter rates vary, but they're available in both versions."
"Latias and Latios? I don't think encounter rates apply to them," I remark, confusion evident in my voice.
"They are roaming Pokémon, but their availability depends on the game version," Alice explains patiently. "There was also a distribution event that gave you the Eon Ticket, allowing you to visit the Southern Islands to catch the other one. And for new mechanics, we have the Pokémon Contests."
"Oh yeah, the Pokémon Contests started in Hoenn," I recall, feeling a wave of nostalgia. "And that's also why you're heading there after Kalos," I add, remembering our conversations about her plans.
"Exactly," Alice replies, her eyes lighting up with enthusiasm. "The contests added a whole new layer to the gameplay, allowing trainers to showcase their Pokémon's beauty, toughness, coolness, cleverness, and cuteness in various challenges. It brought a new dimension to the Pokémon world, making it more than just battles and journeys."
"I remember how exciting it was to see the Pokémon perform in those contests," I say, a smile spreading across my face. "It really highlighted their unique abilities and personalities. No wonder you're so passionate about it."
Alice smiles, her eyes sparkling. "Yeah, though the contests are quite different in the games compared to the Pokémon world, we can talk about that another time. As for the Fire Red and Leaf Green versions over here," she says, gesturing to the two games, "I'll quickly go through them first. They are remakes of the Red and Green games, but with the addition of a new place known as the Sevii Islands. This area allows you to capture Pokémon from Generations 2 and 3 in the Kanto Region. Other than that, it's the same storyline with better graphics."
I nod, taking in the information. "The Sevii Islands sound interesting. It's nice to see them incorporating elements from the later generations into the older games. It must have been exciting for players to revisit Kanto with these new features."
"Absolutely," Alice agrees. "The updated graphics and additional content really breathed new life into the classic games. Plus, it gave players more to explore and added more depth to the original experience."
"I can see how that would appeal to both new and veteran players," I respond, appreciating the thought put into the remakes. "It's a great way to honor the past while integrating the advancements from the newer generations."
"Now let's go back to the Hoenn games," Alice continues, her enthusiasm evident. "Not just the Pokémon, but these three games also have different plotlines this time. It still revolves around challenging gyms, with leaders like Roxanne (Rock type), Brawly (Fighting type), Wattson (Electric type), Flannery (Fire type), Norman (Normal type), Winona (Flying type), Tate and Liza (Psychic type), and depending on the version, you have either Wallace (Water type) or Juan (Water type) as the final gym leader in Sootopolis."
"Wallace or Juan? I remember facing Juan for my final gym battle," I recall, thinking back to my own journey.
"Yeah, but Juan was using Wallace's team to face you," Alice clarifies. "And after defeating them, you head to Ever Grande City to face off against the Elite Four: Sidney (Dark type), Phoebe (Ghost type), Glacia (Ice type), and Drake (Dragon type). Depending on the version, you either get Steven Stone (Steel type) or Wallace (Water type) as the Champion."
"Steven as the Champion, that I know, but Wallace as the Champion? That blows my mind," I admit, surprised by the variation.
"Yes, it's a unique twist," Alice nods. "In Emerald, Wallace takes on the role of Champion, while Juan replaces him as the Sootopolis Gym Leader. It adds a fresh dynamic to the storyline and gives players a new challenge to look forward to."
"I love how they keep things interesting with these variations," I say, appreciating the thought put into the different versions. "It makes each playthrough a unique experience."
"That's the beauty of the Pokémon games," Alice agrees. "There's always something new to discover, even in regions we've visited before."
"And what about the evil teams? I assume that since it's the Hoenn Region, it should be either Team Magma or Team Aqua?" I ask, curious about the antagonists.
"And that's where the plotline splits," Alice explains, leaning forward slightly. "In Ruby, you face Team Magma, who wants to expand the land by awakening Groudon. Their leader, Maxie, believes that increasing landmass will benefit humanity. Meanwhile, Team Aqua exists but plays a minor role, generally trying to stop Team Magma's plans."
"What about Sapphire?" I inquire, wanting to understand the full scope.
"In Sapphire, you deal with Team Aqua, who aims to expand the sea by awakening Kyogre," Alice continues. "Led by Archie, they believe that expanding the oceans will provide more habitats for water Pokémon and restore the planet's natural balance. In this version, Team Magma is the minor team, attempting to thwart Team Aqua's plans."
"And Emerald?" I ask, intrigued by the combined storyline.
"Emerald combines both storylines, creating a more complex narrative," Alice explains. "You have to stop both teams from wreaking havoc. Team Magma and Team Aqua each try to awaken their respective Legendary Pokémon, Groudon and Kyogre, leading to a catastrophic clash. Their conflicting goals threaten to disrupt the natural balance of the world. At this point, you must awaken Rayquaza, who then descends from the Sky Pillar to quell the conflict between Groudon and Kyogre. This event is pivotal, showcasing the power and significance of Rayquaza in maintaining balance in the Hoenn Region."
"That sounds intense," I remark, picturing the epic confrontations.
"It is," Alice agrees. "The presence of both teams and Rayquaza's involvement adds depth to the story and increases the stakes. You end up working alongside Steven Stone and Wallace to navigate these challenges. This dual-threat scenario makes Emerald particularly unique and memorable among the Hoenn games."
"That is quite interesting," Ash replies, his curiosity piqued. "But what about the Orbs? Won't they be absorbed into the body like Pikachu did?"
"There isn't any mention in the game about that happening," Alice explains, shaking her head. "But they do steal the Orbs at Mt. Pyre. You encounter either Maxie or Archie first in the Slateport museum, and then the other one at Meteor Falls, where the main villain team is trying to steal Professor Cozmo's meteorite."
"So, the Orbs are just used to awaken Groudon and Kyogre?" Ash asks, wanting to understand their significance.
"Exactly," Alice confirms. "In Ruby and Sapphire, the Orbs are crucial for awakening Groudon and Kyogre. Team Magma steals the Blue Orb, believing it will control Groudon, while Team Aqua steals the Red Orb, thinking it will control Kyogre. However, they quickly realize their mistake as the Orbs actually exacerbate the Pokémon's rampage. In Emerald, both teams' plans intersect, leading to the climactic battle that requires Rayquaza's intervention."
"That makes sense," Ash nods, absorbing the information. "It's interesting how the games intertwine these elements to create such engaging storylines."
"Definitely," Alice agrees. "The Hoenn games are rich with lore and complex narratives, making them stand out in the Pokémon series. The addition of the Orbs and the interactions between the teams add a layer of depth that keeps players invested in the story."
"I still remember that there are also the Regis, Jirachi, and Deoxys. How do you get them?" I ask, my interest piqued by the legendary Pokémon.
"Ah, the Regis, Jirachi, and Deoxys," Alice says with a smile. "The Regis—Regirock, Regice, and Registeel—are obtained through a series of puzzles. First, you need a Relicanth and a Wailord, then you go to the Sealed Chamber on Route 134. There, you solve a puzzle to unlock the entrances to the caves where the Regis reside. Each cave has its own set of riddles you need to solve to access the Regis."
"That sounds like a fun challenge," I remark, imagining the intricate puzzles.
"It is," Alice agrees. "As for Jirachi, it was mostly available through special distribution events. In the original games, you couldn't catch it through normal gameplay. There were various events and promotional distributions where players could receive Jirachi."
"And Deoxys?" I ask, curious about the DNA Pokémon.
"Deoxys was also primarily obtained through special events in the original games," Alice explains. "In Emerald, there's an event where you can get the Aurora Ticket, which takes you to Birth Island. There, you solve a puzzle to encounter and catch Deoxys. Interestingly, Deoxys has different forms depending on the game version. In Ruby and Sapphire, Deoxys appears in its Normal Form. In FireRed, it takes on its Attack Form, while in LeafGreen, it appears in its Defense Form. Emerald features Deoxys in its Speed Form. Each form has different stats, making it a unique addition to your team based on the version you're playing."
"That's amazing," I say, fascinated by the detailed methods to obtain these legendary Pokémon. "The effort to get them really adds to their value."
"Definitely," Alice nods. "The Regis, Jirachi, and Deoxys each have unique methods of obtaining them, making the journey to catch them memorable and rewarding for players."
"You know, after my Hoenn journey, I did travel through Kanto again, but that was because of the Battle Frontier. I assume there's a Battle Frontier in the games as well?" I ask, recalling my adventures.
"Yeah, but it's different from the anime," Alice replies, nodding. "In Emerald, the Battle Frontier is a significant post-game feature, offering a variety of challenging battle facilities. Unlike the anime, where the Frontier Brains are spread across different locations, the game's Battle Frontier is all located in one area."
"That's interesting," I remark, intrigued by the differences.
"Yes, and the facilities themselves are unique," Alice continues. "There are seven different facilities: the Battle Tower, Battle Dome, Battle Palace, Battle Arena, Battle Factory, Battle Pike, and Battle Pyramid. Each one has its own set of rules and battle styles, requiring different strategies. For example, in the Battle Factory, you use rental Pokémon instead of your own, and in the Battle Pyramid, you navigate through a maze-like challenge battling trainers as you go."
"So, all these different challenges are in one place?" I ask, picturing the centralized Battle Frontier.
"Exactly," Alice nods. "To challenge the Frontier Brains, you need to win a certain number of battles in each facility first. For instance, in the Battle Tower, you have to win 35 consecutive battles before you can challenge Anabel, the Frontier Brain. In the Battle Dome, you participate in a tournament, and after winning multiple rounds, you face Tucker. Each facility has its own requirements before you can challenge the Brain."
"That sounds intense," I say, appreciating the game's complexity. "It's fascinating how they adapted the concept differently in the games."
"Absolutely," Alice agrees. "The Battle Frontier in the games adds a lot of replay value and depth, encouraging players to develop diverse strategies and teams to tackle the various facilities. The different requirements and challenges make it a true test of a trainer's skills."
"I can see why players would be hooked," I respond, imagining the thrill of conquering each facility. "So, what's next after Hoenn?"
"Next, we move on to Generation 4," Alice says, her excitement palpable. "There's a lot to cover in the Sinnoh region, with its own unique features and Pokémon."
"I'm looking forward to hearing about it," I reply, eager to dive into the next chapter of our discussion.
Here is a new chapter, and in this chapter, we finish Generation 3 and I hope you like it.
