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Pokémon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire | Review Thread

J

JoeM86

Member
Can't believe nobody has made this yet. FOR SHAME.

Embargo's up. Adding as I get through. Stand by.

Kotaku - YES
When Pokémon fans talk about the Ruby and Sapphire, they like to reference trumpets, a strong, memorable instrument featured heavily in the soundtrack of the original games. They make some appearances in the updated soundtrack, too. I didn't really "get" the meme the first time around, thought it was just a weird joke that players latched on to. But now, after re-experiencing the sense of wonder fostered by Ruby and Sapphire, and after having the opportunity to soar through the skies on the back of a legendary Pokémon, I get it. The spirit of Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire can be heard in the trumpets, the trumpets sound a hell of a lot like triumph
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NintendoLife - 9 / 10
Overall, Pokémon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire seem very similar to Pokémon X & Y, as you might expect, but the story and the environments you encounter feel – despite the fact that they are remakes – very fresh and unique. They’re not an extensive upgrade from their other 3DS counterparts, but any Poké-fan who’s played one of the series remakes in the past knows that expecting an enormous upgrade is a fool’s errand. These titles should be considered as games that belong alongside X & Y, rather than successors. — they've successfully surpassed X & Y, however, by building on the tremendous features available on the 3DS and pushing new ideas such as the Soar ability. Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire are a must-buy for any Poké-fan, even if you already own X or Y.
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Nintendo Insider - 9 / 10
We’ve been catching ‘em all for 16 years now, but Pokémon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire promise to send nostalgia into overdrive while successfully retaining many of the recent improvements that Game Freak have made over the past few years. These remakes amount to a spellbinding conversion of the classic games – carefully woven to become a perfect starting point for newcomers, but also the perfect chance for returning players to dip back in.
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Nintendo World Report - 9 / 10
Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire are way better games than last year’s X/Y while also improving on the Game Boy Advance originals. Many of the features, like Pokémon-Amie, return to the game, but they managed to make extra subtle tweaks in this remake. Locations and situations have been changed up, capturing monsters is delightfully tweaked with the sneak mechanic, and the pace of the adventure is nice and brisk. While getting Mega Stones is a chore and presentation is still somewhat inconsistent, Game Freak knows once again how to pull off a remake in style.
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Nintendo Feed - 9 / 10
Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire are fantastic games that are well worth your time, whether you've never played Pokémon before or you're already a Poké Maniac.
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GameSided - 9 / 10
Pokemon Omega Ruby and Pokemon Alpha Sapphire are beautiful love letters to the original games. Though they have a few flaws that keep them from being perfect games, those flaws are hardly noticeable in light of the beauty and excitement of your trip through Hoenn, and largely consist of "should've done ____ instead" rather than being true flaws. Whether you're a series veteran who remembers the old games, a greener trainer who is playing them for the first time, or completely unfamiliar with Pokemon, Pokemon ORAS is a fabulous and fun installment in the series. It takes all the good that was established in X and Y, and completes it almost perfectly.
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Joystiq - 4.5/5
If you can't stand the cutesy vibe or slow, turn-based gameplay of Pokemon, Pokemon ORAS are not the games that will convert you. They're not a revolution for the series, but are instead an evolution and refinement of concepts that have been fan-favorites since the 1990s. This is a larger, more detailed world than the series has ever seen, and thanks to a swath of subtle improvements, exploring the Hoenn Region is more satisfying and rewarding than it's ever been. Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire do little to overhaul the major pillars of a series that's long relied on the same set of classic ideas, but they don't have to. The core mechanics of Pokemon remain immensely addictive, and Game Freak's latest coat of polish only enhances an already captivating adventure.
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GamesTM - 9 / 10
Pokémon Ruby/Sapphire were the highest selling games on GameBoy Advance, and we totally expect that to be replicated by Alpha/Omega on the 3DS. As a Pokémon experience, it’s that good.
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Pocket Gamer - 9 / 10
Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire brings back and adds some great features, but not without cutting out some of the standards set in Pokémon X and Y
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EGM - 8.5 / 10
New features like DexNav and the soar ability add just enough new gameplay elements to the classic Pokémon formula to help make this decade-old adventure feel new again.
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GamesRadar - 4 / 5
Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire remain faithful to what made the GBA originals great. The new features are strong, but some of the progress made by Pokemon X&Y has also been undone.
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Gamespot - 8 / 10
Give these remakes enough time, and you begin to understand why Pokemon's formula hasn't changed much over the years. It's a seemingly simple and cute journey, but with the underlying potential for strategy in combat, and a massive number of adorable Pokemon to catch, you can't help getting hooked by Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire.
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VideoGamer - 8 / 10
For the Murtaugh-esque Pokémon fans, the question of whether or not Omega Ruby or Alpha Sapphire are worth picking up boils down to when you last played Pokémon, and how enthusiastic you remain for the series. If you have a hankering for catching ‘em all, then you only have to answer the same question you did in 1996: red or blue?
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CVG - 8 / 10
It may not be the greatest Pokemon game, but it's still a strong one: as far as remakes go, this is more Clooney and Pitt in Ocean's Eleven than Nicolas Cage in The Wicker Man.
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IGN - 7.8
As a 3D remake, Pokémon Alpha Sapphire and Omega Ruby do a fantastic job of reintroducing Hoenn. Little details, like characters turning their heads to look as you pass or flocks of Wingulls flying overhead, make the region really come to life, and small updates and tweaks help make the journey smoother. Still, a few of its flaws are even more glaring in 3D, especially the excess water Pokémon and often dull navigation of their habitats. The added online features could help mitigate some of the type imbalances — I’m a huge fan of Wonder Trade — and there are even a few post-game surprises to encourage you to keep training well beyond the 25-hour main story.
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The Independent - No Score
Game Freak have also done something quietly amazing in this rejuvenation of the third generation - they’ve stepped back into their own game and tweaked it into, arguably, what it should have always been. There’s plenty here to love - two thirds or so through the game players unlock the ability to call down a legendary Pokemon from the sky, to soar across the overworld. From there you can see the whole breadth of the region - from the tiny islands dotted in the surf to the central volcano - Mt Chimney - and beyond. From up there you can enter secret areas to fight powerful Pokemon; you can land, with a skid, anywhere you’ve visited. I can’t wait to investigate every nook and cranny over the next few months to come - and have a sneaking suspicion there are far more secrets yet to uncover.
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GoNintendo - No Score
 
M

McDougles

Member
One of my staffers reviewed it for GameSided. She gave it a 9/10.

GameSided said:
Pokemon Omega Ruby and Pokemon Alpha Sapphire are beautiful love letters to the original games. Though they have a few flaws that keep them from being perfect games, those flaws are hardly noticeable in light of the beauty and excitement of your trip through Hoenn, and largely consist of "should've done ____ instead" rather than being true flaws. Whether you're a series veteran who remembers the old games, a greener trainer who is playing them for the first time, or completely unfamiliar with Pokemon, Pokemon ORAS is a fabulous and fun installment in the series. It takes all the good that was established in X and Y, and completes it almost perfectly.
Click to expand...
 
T

The Bankslammer

Member
Kotaku said:
Unfortunately, because of embargo rules set by Nintendo as a condition for reviewing the game prior to release, I can't be specific about the incredibly exciting things that happen once you beat the game.
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god dammit i need to know

battle frontier please, PLEASE
 
Z

zbarron

Member
Sounds promising. Any definitive word on how much game there is after you beat the Elite Four? Heart Gold has me spoiled on Pokemon remakes. Also does anyone mention difficulty? Ruby was a nice challenge but X and Y were way too easy.
 
L

LegionAgent

Member
I'm hoping that the "exciting things" Kotaku mentioned and can't talk about are the Battle Frontier and a new story thing after the Delta episode.
 
Ultimadrago

Ultimadrago

Member
backlot said:
It's true though.
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image9ju29.png
 
J

JoeM86

Member
Gone through and caught as many as I could find. Will keep searching but let me know if you spot any more and I'll throw them in the OP.

Roll on Friday!
 
G

Gentle Rodriguez

Member
I'm mostly interested in what postgame offers, so these aren't very useful for me. Except it's nice to know the games aren't complete garbage I guess, but I assume that of every Pokemon game.
 
W

WonderzL

Banned
DNAbro said:
Exactly. If it wasn't there, someone would say something. Can they embargo the lack of something?
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I don't think everyone will miss Battle Frontier considering the huge postgame content ORAS is getting (the ones we know of), so that's why I won't assume anything. I will miss it though. A lot.
 
W

Why would you do that?

Member
Kotaku said:
Unfortunately, because of embargo rules set by Nintendo as a condition for reviewing the game prior to release, I can't be specific about the incredibly exciting things that happen once you beat the game. Suffice it to say that players will find a ton of things to do once the main story is done—there are many Pokémon to collect, new places to battle, mega stones to find, and story things to tackle. The latter is of particular note, as the game sheds new light on the story in ORAS, as well as other Pokémon games.
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Hmm, interesting...
 
R

RiggyRob

Member
IGN said:
It’s the new Pokémon search app, the DexNav, that is perhaps the most interesting addition for Poképhiles. Every so often, a wild Pokémon will peek its ears or tail out of the tall grass (or sand or water), and DexNav will alert you to things like the Pokémon’s level, ability, and even rare moves it might have.

I found two Poochyena this way: a female with Ice Fang and a male with Poison Fang, two “egg moves” that you can usually only get by carefully breeding. Easy-access breeding material! The app has the potential to help EV trainers as well, since you can see what Pokémon you’ll face before you battle it, and in that regard it provides another alternative to Super Training aside from traditional, less-accessible methods.
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YES.

Too much water is not a legitimate complaint, it's a remake of the game and they're staying true to the level design. Running into a Tentacool every 5 steps is though.
 
Robin64

Robin64

Member
I had no idea about DexNav. It sounds awesome!

Remember when I said I was done with Pokémon for now? Uhh, yeah, well...
 
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