Pokemon LeafGreen Version

"Gotta catch 'em all!...uh...again..."

PokeMon: LeafGreen Version is a remake of the blue version for the original GameBoy - one of the games that started it all. Sporting better graphics, remixed music, compatibility with the ruby, sapphire, and emerald versions, and an assortment of new features added to the series since the originals were released, this game has quite a bit to set it apart from its predecessor. However, if you've played the red or blue versions, this game still feels like a rehash.

The story hasn't been changed from the original: you are a young PokeMon trainer-to-be. You are quickly given your first PokeMon by Prof. Oak, who wants to make a database with information about every PokeMon. You and a rival are asked by him to catch as many PokeMon as you can in order to help complete the PokeDex. This is one of your goals: catch every PokeMon there is to catch, thereby completing the PokeDex. This was a daunting task when the original games were released, and there were 150 PokeMon, with trading between both versions of the game required to get them, plus a bonus PokeMon that could only be obtained by attending certain events (or using a glitch). Now that there are over 300 PokeMon, and even more games you need to trade with, plus even more PokeMon that can only be obtained from Nintendo, only the hardcore PokeMon fanatic is likely to complete this cumbersome task.

The more immediate task at hand is this: as a new PokeMon trainer, you want to shoot for the stars, hoping to become the champion of the PokeMon league. To enter the PokeMon league, however, you must travel around and defeat the leaders of PokeMon gyms to obtain eight badges. To defeat these gym leaders, you'll have to catch powerful PokeMon and train them well. Along the way, you'll also have to confront Team Rocket, an organisation which happens to put their evil plots into action just as you arrive on the scene.

That pretty much covers the story, so let's take a look at the gameplay. The gameplay will be very familiar if you've played the ruby, sapphire, or emerald versions. If you've only played the older versions, there will be a few things new to you. If you haven't played any version of PokeMon, well, I'll try to give you an idea of how the game works.

First let's consider the battle system, since battles form the backbone of the game, like any RPG (or at least all the RPGs that I've heard of). You can carry up to six PokeMon with you at the time (the others are stored... in a PC!?). The first PokeMon in the list of PokeMon with you starts the battle. Gameplay is turn-based, and on any given turn, you can choose to attack, use an item, switch to a different PokeMon, or run from battle. Your turn ends after you use any of these actions.

Each PokeMon can learn a maximum of four attacks at one time. Every attack is classified as a certain type, and every PokeMon is classified as one or two different types. Certain types of attacks are more effective against certain types of PokeMon. For instance, an electric attack is more effective than a fire attack against a water-type PokeMon. Each attack also has a limited number of uses, although the number of uses left can be replenished, so you'll have to choose your attacks wisely. Some attacks have extra effects in addition to damaging the opponent; in fact, some don't do any damage at all, but have some other function. Attacks can have many different effects, from boosting your PokeMon's attack power to freezing the opponent solid!

It's worth noting that some of the cheap tactics from the original blue version are no longer possible. For instance, attacks that formally damaged a foe while preventing them from attacking you at all now simply damage them slightly after each turn. Frozen PokeMon can now thaw automatically, without the use of an item.

There are also some other differences in attacks compared to the attacks in the blue version. For starters, quite a few attacks in this game weren't even invented when blue version was released! There are two types of attacks and PokeMon that weren't in the original blue version as well. PokeMon of these types are pretty rare in this game, since the types of most preexisting PokeMon weren't tampered with when these types were made. PokeMon are now given personalities, which affect how their stats increase as they grow stronger. PokeMon can hold items, some of which are used automatically during battle. PokeMon also have automatic abilities now, which range from picking up items to poisoning a foe who comes in contact with them. Additionally, PokeMon learn different attacks at different levels now.

The bulk of the game is divided into towns and routes. Towns generally contain a Pokemon center, where you can heal the PokeMon you have with you. You'll also usually find a mart, where you can buy items to help you on your journey. There will also be people to talk to and buildings to explore. The people you meet might give you items or advice if you talk to them. People may be found inside buildings, and you might also find items laying around. Some towns have gyms, where you need to defeat the gym leader to earn their badge.

Buildings are not as common in routes. Unlike towns, routes contain grassy areas. If you walk through these grassy areas, you may randomly encounter PokeMon specific to the area. These PokeMon can be caught by weakening them and throwing a "Pokeball". If you're lucky, the PokeMon will be yours to keep! If you aren't lucky, the PokeMon will break out of the Pokeball and continue the battle. You can also find other PokeMon trainers in routes (and sometimes in buildings). When a trainer spots you for the first time, they will approach you and you will be forced into battle! You cannnot run from battle when fighting a trainer. There are also caves in this game, which are similar to routes, except that there can be multiple floors within a cave, and random battles with wild PokeMon can occur at any time.

Whenever you defeat a PokeMon, whether it's a trainer's PokeMon or a wild PokeMon from one of the grassy areas, any PokeMon you used while battling it gets experience points. When a PokeMon gets enough experience points, it reaches a new level, and its attack, defense, and other stats increase. At certain levels, your PokeMon will try to learn a new attack. If it knew less than four attacks to begin with, the move will be added to its arsenal automatically. If it alreasy knows four attacks, however, you will have to decide whether it's worth it to replace an older attack with the new attack. A new feature that wasn't in the original is a screen that gives a description of the attacks the PokeMon currently knows, as well as the attack it is trying to learn, so you don't have to blindly guess what an attack does if you've never seen it used or don't remember what it does.

If you know someone else who plays any version of PokeMon on GBA - the game is not compatible with the older versions, which is very annoying - you can link up with each other to trade or battle. Trades allow you to do just that. Each player chooses a PokeMon to trade, then confirms that they approve the trade. Battles work about the same as they do when facing CPU players, except with a smarter opponent.

PokeMon LeafGreen Version also features the ability to enter a community room via a wireless reciever, which is included with the game. In the community room, you can communicate with anyone nearby who happens to by playing the LeafGreen or FireRed versions, and you can also post a request for a PokeMon of a certain type.

If you're familiar with the original version, there are just enough changes in the game to keep you guessing. In addition to the changes I mentioned earlier, some trainers throughout the game have been relocated. They have also been given names, and some have turned into a different type of trainer. For instance, gamblers have become gamers! New trainers have also appeard. There are some helpful new items in this version, most notably shoes that allow you to run faster, and a device that lets you challenge nearby trainers to a rematch. There are also some new events, and some new areas that you can access later which contain PokeMon that weren't created until the gold and silver versions were released. Also, all of the glitches such as glitch city and missingno have been removed.

Another change that you would probably expect is in the graphics department. Many of the graphics look like they came directly from the ruby and sapphire versions, which they probably did. The new graphics are mostly of the same style and fit right in. The exception is the trainer sprites, which are a different style than their ruby and sapphire counterparts. They look a bit more cartoonish, and I think they fit the PokeMon style better.

As I mentioned at the beginning of the review, all the music in this game has been remixed. The music sounds better than blue version's, mostly because of the Game Boy Advance's superior sound capabilities. The new areas have remixes from the gold and silver versions, which also sound nice. Strangely, the tune that plays when you defeat a trainer was taken straight from the ruby and sapphire versions instead of being a remix of blue version's music. Overall, the music is upbeat. There aren't many really catchy tunes, but there isn't really anything annoying, either. The sound effects are generally fitting. A Pokeball opening, for instance, is accompanied by a "pop!" sound.

It probably won't take you too long to just travel through every area in the game and defeat the PokeMon league, but there are other things to do in this game. You are sent on missions in the new areas, which extends the game's longevity a bit. If you want to catch every PokeMon that can be caught within this game, it will take you quite a while, and it will take even longer if you try to track down every PokeMon in existence to truly complete your Pokedex! If you want to raise the perfect team for battling others, the game will last even longer.

To conclude this review, any big PokeMon fan will no doubt like this game. Anybody who likes RPGs and hasn't played a PokeMon RPG yet will probably like it, too, but the formula might seem a bit stale if you've played other non-spinoff PokeMon games before. As for anyone who owns the original blue version (or red or yellow), you might like this for the nostalgia combined with the new surprises, assuming you started back when the PokeMon craze was at its peak. If you started later on but backtracked and got one of the oldies, well, you decide: is it worth the money for pretty graphics and the occasional new feature?

Scoring:
Story: 6.6
Gameplay: 7.5
Graphics: 8.7
Sound: 8.3
Difficulty: easy
Longevity and replayability: 9.5
Average score: 8.1
Actual score: 7.5 rounded to 8 (very good)

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 04/14/06