Taking a step back to the basics, the Pokemon Company has released their second set of sixth generation paired Pokemon games as a remake of the third generation pair, Sapphire and Ruby. The “new” games bear the names Alpha Sapphire and Omega Ruby, greatly live up to their expectations.

Holding true to the original, the game starts with the player’s character in the back of a moving van as the player is moving to his/her new home in Littleroot Town. The opposing team of this generation are once again Team Aqua or Team Magma (depending on version). After saving Professor Birch from a wild pokemon, the player also has the same choices for starter Pokemon as in Ruby and Sapphire.

Recent generations have come under fire from many Pokemon fans who consider them to be inferior to the original generations, but this remake combines in great success a familiar story and previously discontinued features with the newer features and pokemon characteristic to the newer generations.

I played Sapphire ten years ago and loved it then, and I love its, Alpha Sapphire, remake just as much now.

People who dislike the newer generations tend to gripe about all the new “silly” pokemon and features that supposedly detract from the gameplay. With over 700 pokemon now in the games, it isn’t hard to see why some people would dislike the number when compared to the approximate 200 in the original generations, but to me, the increased number of pokemon have just enriched the in-game world.

The remade Sapphire and Ruby games greatly benefit from expanded wildlife as well as new concepts such as mega evolutions while they also bring back older features such as Pokemon Contests and secret bases.

The advancements in graphics, however, are not without detriment. The new game allows the user to experience more of a 3D environment including the near maze that is Mauville City (which underwent a dramatic change from its presentation in the original games).

In Mauville City you might experience some awkward camera panning that can’t be controlled independently from the character’s movement. The awkward point of view isn’t unique to Mauville City, but I experienced it at several points throughout the game.

The fault isn’t so much within the game as in its platform. The Nintendo DS and 3DS systems just don’t have the physical features the allow independent camera and character movements.

Despite that minor flaw, the new instalments from the all-famous game franchise has been a great success and can be enjoyed by any old-time Pokemon fan or new player.