Generation 3 was when Gamefreak made it a tradition to have both a new game and a remake of a previous generation, this one is the new entry and it shows, not only because the creatures are new, but because bosses have noticeably better teams and story progress is more streamlined compared to the remakes.
Pokémon Emerald also introduced the Battle Frontier, gym leader rematches and other post game content to extend the longevity of the game so that's neat. However, I really dislike how grindy it is to train Pokémon and get battle points for items and such, EVs were introduced in this generation and it shows because the mechanic leaves a lot to be desired in contrast to the simple stat experience of old.
I also dislike how despite Emerald supposedly being the definitive gen 3 game they still implemented version exclusives. Gamefreak have always been bastards when it comes to this, but the joke's on them because I've only ever emulated their games.
This title is also somehow controversial because you need 3 different water HMs to traverse the region and there's an excess of water routes populated by pretty much the same Pokémon. I'm afraid this is true, a couple islands here and there with an item or patch of grass would have been great.
I came back to this game for a Nuzlocke challenge. I wiped 3 times, but I had fun in the end. It's nice that self imposed challenges like that exist because otherwise Pokémon causes me an existential crisis with how easy it is. I have no idea how good new Pokémon games are because I haven't played them, but I like this one a lot.
Pokémon Emerald also introduced the Battle Frontier, gym leader rematches and other post game content to extend the longevity of the game so that's neat. However, I really dislike how grindy it is to train Pokémon and get battle points for items and such, EVs were introduced in this generation and it shows because the mechanic leaves a lot to be desired in contrast to the simple stat experience of old.
I also dislike how despite Emerald supposedly being the definitive gen 3 game they still implemented version exclusives. Gamefreak have always been bastards when it comes to this, but the joke's on them because I've only ever emulated their games.
This title is also somehow controversial because you need 3 different water HMs to traverse the region and there's an excess of water routes populated by pretty much the same Pokémon. I'm afraid this is true, a couple islands here and there with an item or patch of grass would have been great.
I came back to this game for a Nuzlocke challenge. I wiped 3 times, but I had fun in the end. It's nice that self imposed challenges like that exist because otherwise Pokémon causes me an existential crisis with how easy it is. I have no idea how good new Pokémon games are because I haven't played them, but I like this one a lot.