Pokemon Alpha Sapphire

Pokémon Alpha Sapphire is another excellent Pokémon game that updates the format with some spectacular new graphics, making the game feel like this is the way the genre was meant to be played. Take control of your trainer and travel through the Hoenn region and battle through an incredible number of wild Pokémon, other trainers, and the devious Team Aqua who are out to defeat you. I really enjoyed the updated graphics and gameplay in this game and if you are a longstanding fan of the franchise, then you are going to adore this game as well. Buckle up and ready yourself as we jump into the pocket monster madness.

Gameplay

The gameplay of Pokémon Alpha Sapphire is very similar to many of the other Pokémon games. The majority of your time is spent travelling around the region, finding Pokémon, fighting them with your own Pokémon and capturing the ones you want to capture. There are a few environmental challenges as well, which requires you to be able to teach your Pokémon new tricks so they may assist in your journey but much of the theming and delivery is identical to others of its ilk, reaching all the way back to the original Pokemon Fire Red.

Battling enemies in this turn-based style is pretty straightforward, and with the overabundance of water-based Pokémon means that you will likely have an electric type Pokémon that is vastly overpowered. This does mean that, provided you stick to the most efficient way to play, you could get through the game quite quickly. This does make the game much more accessible for younger audiences.

There is a base building minigame in this title that absolutely slaps, so keep an eye out for that.

Visuals

The visual aspect of this title is brilliant. As an updated version of Pokémon Sapphire, this got an aesthetic upgrade that excellently utilizes the consoles abilities. One of my favorite bits of the game was looking at the reflections in the water, weather it was watching the stars in the splashing puddles you step in or watching the reflections of the player or other people standing by bodies of water gives the game a big upgrade in the visuals department.

The addition of a more dedicated 3D overhaul to the entire game provides an entirely different look that really brings the title forward into the new era. Everything from the world, the characters, and the Pokémon have all been given a huge visual upgrade too, making this an entirely new game.

Story

So, I did state that this story is pretty standard as far as Pokémon games go. You take control of a nameable character who starts off in a little town, you will then leave to start on your Pokémon journey after speaking to the Pokémon professor who lives in the town. Battling your way through wild Pokémon, an annoying criminal group of Pokémon thieves, and a regional championship, you will become the local champ. If you read this, you would think that this could be about absolutely any Pokémon game but the series is tried and tested, so it may be a case of “if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it.”

But thankfully, the difference in available Pokémon and the changes in environment provide some variety to the games; unlike FIFA 14 is in regards to its predecessors, which are functionally identical.

Pros

• Excellent visual upgrades
• Great gameplay

Cons

• Doesn’t do enough to differentiate itself from other Pokémon games