Positives:
- Super smooth battling mechanics that "Pokémon" has always been known for.
- Addition of double battling makes for fun layers of strategy.
- Strikes a nice balance of not being overly easy but not being overly difficult.
- Gen 3 features a lot of my personal favorite Pokémon.
- Hoenn itself is a beautiful, varied region that's an absolute joy to explore.
- Visuals are vibrant and colorful, breathing a little extra life into this lovely region.
- THE MUSIC! Some of my favorite stuff in any Pokémon game.
- Much as "Pokémon" may not seem story-heavy, there are some well-written moments here.
- Very memorable characters in this large cast.
Negatives:
- I kinda understand what the "too much water" meme means now; the surfing/water-based sections of the game can be monotonous.
Consensus: Ah, to be five years old again. Generation 3 of "Pokémon" (which equates to "Pokémon Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald") were the titles that I grew up on, and I played the hell out of these games in my youth. I never got around to beating them as a kid, mostly because I just wasn't THAT into turn-based RPGs. Recently, though, I had a kick to give the game another go thanks to the magic of emulation (and I blew through it thanks to some cheat codes...don't look at me like that, you would too if you could). And not only did it feel satisfying to finally see the game through to the end, but it put a massive smile on my face getting to re-live this game. "Pokémon Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald" is every bit as fun and joyous as I remember it being in my childhood, and it's still a game I'd recommend in a heartbeat. I'm happy that the newer "Pokémon" games are easier and more accessible for a noobie like me, but I'll still always have a soft spot in my heart for Hoenn.
Final rating: 9 out of 10 "Awesome"