Pokemon Ruby

by Nintendo

• You can control two Pokémon in battle
• Much needed graphic and sound facelift
• Nice multiplayer feature (requires link cable and extra game cartridge)

Product Details

• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B000084313
• Item Weight: 2.4 ounces
• Media: Video Game
• Release Date: March 17, 2003
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (367 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #623 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)

Product Description

Amazon.com

Pokémon Ruby's updated graphics with weather effects, amazing sound, more than 200 Pokémon with over 100 new species--as well as its faithful adherence to the existing series of Pokémon games--makes for a welcome evolution in the series.

First, the game has a lot in common with Pokémon games Silver, Gold, and Crystal. For example, players can choose to be a boy or a girl trainer, an internal clock sets events at certain times, and you’re the game's handy-dandy Pokédex helps players keep track of the many stats. You're main goal is still to beat all the Gym Trainers and become the Pokémon Master. If you've played the old games, you will be right at home. But not all is the same.

The most obvious change is in the battles themselves. Now that two Pokémon can fight on your side at the same time, you can tag-team them against an enemy by taking advantage of the strengths of your Pokémons while covering their weaknesses. For example, you can now have a water Pokémon watch your fire Pokémon's back. You can also attack more than one Pokémon at a time.

A whole new element to the game focuses on how berries are used in battle. And if you collect enough berries, you can take them to a Berry Blender and make a PokéBlock, which is a little super-charged candy that raises your Pokémon's "Condition" attributes. You can then groom your Pokémon for regional contests and compete for ribbons like "Best of Show," which will unlock additional contests. There's even strategy in how to best use your berries: pick too many and the berry tree will disappear; plant berries, though, and a tree will grow. You can also build a Secret Base in special areas of the game, which you can decorate just like you can your room.

And let us not forget that Pokémon Ruby has a kickin' multiplayer system, too. You can trade Pokémon, and link up to four players for incredible battles. The only downside is that you can't link up with the old Game Boy Color games. --Bryan Karsh

Pros:

• You can control two Pokémon in battle
• Much needed graphic and sound facelift
• Nice multiplayer feature (requires link cable and extra game cartridge)

Cons:

• Can't trade Pokémon with Game Boy Color

Product Description

Edit By BS Editor: The gameplay is mostly unchanged from the previous games; the player controls the main character from an overhead perspective, and the controls are largely the same as those of previous games. As with previous games, the main objectives are to catch all of the Pokémon in the games and defeat the Elite Four (a group of Pokémon trainers); also like their predecessors, the games' main subplot involves the main character defeating a criminal organization that attempts to take over the region. New features, such as double battles and Pokémon abilities, have been added. As the Game Boy Advance is more powerful than its predecessors, four players may be connected at a time instead of the previous limit of two. Additionally, the games can be connected to an E-Reader or other advanced generation Pokémon games.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

139 of 156 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Pokemon Ruby + Sapphire Versions February 18, 2003

By Michael

Ready to battle it out with over 100 Pokemon in Pokemon Ruby and Pokemon Sapphire? Well get ready!
The creatures are coming! No, don't run for your life - it's just two new Pokemon games, Pokemon Ruby and Pokemon Sapphire, arriving on the Gameboy Advance in March.
Here's a sneak poke...er, peek at the coolest features of both games.
Brand New Pokemon:
Ruby and Sapphire will unleash more than 100 new battle-ready Pokemon. Here are a few Ruby/Sapphire Pokemon:
1.Groudon / Type:Ground / On Pokemon Ruby box cover
2.Kyogre / Type:Water / On Pokemon Sapphire box cover
3.Torchic / Type:Fire / Starter Pokemon
4.Mudkip / Type:Water / Starter Pokemon
5.Treecko / Type:Grass / Starter Pokemon

New Trainers:
You can't have new Pokemon without new trainers, and each game offers up a never-before-seen pair. Gamers can test Landon and Terra in Ruby and Sean and Marina in Sapphire.

Two-on-Two Battles:
The intense - and tougher - new battle schemes in both Ruby and Sapphire will satisfy even the most hard-core battlers. Now you can battle two characters against your friend's two characters, or link up and battle three friends with each player managing one Pokemon at a time.

Here's some tips:
1.Early in the game, catch a few Zigzagoon! Their special ability can get you a lot of great free items.
2.Make sure to replant berries to keep your berrie supply growing.

I hope this information helps you in your quest to be a Pokemon Master.

62 of 68 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Great new RPG October 28, 2003

By plasmaball3000

Just to start off, this game is essentially the same as Pokemon Sapphire, for those of you who are new to Pokemon. There are some differences, such as who the bad guys are and what Pokemon you can collect, but if you're just starting out with the series, don't worry about that. In the Pokemon games, you start off by choosing to be a boy or a girl, and then you get right into the game. The goal here is to capture wild Pokemon by battling them. Then, you train them so they will be strong enough to fight other trainers' Pokemon,

Pokemon Ruby is a great new addition to the Pokemon family, anyone who enjoyed any of the other Pokemon games will love this one just as much. Even if you are just starting out with the Pokemon games, this is a great way to get in on the action. Ruby has more than 200 all-new Pokemon to capture, updated graphics, new battle styles and tons of other great features.

At its heart, this is an RPG, so if you hate them, stay away from this game. Of course, if you love RPG's, this is a great game for you. The graphics are also wonderful for an RPG on the Game Boy advance. It plays just like the previous Pokemon games (looking in a 2D-like position over your character, but that's pretty good, considering this game is going to take you a VERY long to beat), but now there are added effects such as rain and volcanic ash.

The sound is (thankfully) much better than that of the previous games. The soundtrack fits the game and is pleasant to listen to (if you play for hours on end though, it can get kind of annoying, but that's why you can the sound off).

The most notable new battle mode is the battles where you can have two of your Pokemon battle at once. You can use this to get a good advantage over your opponent by using different type Pokemon together.

And then there is the multiplayer function (you're going to need a game link cable and another game pack, however). You can battle your friend's Pokemon in head-to-head battles, and even trade Pokemon with each other. You can't trade Pokemon with any of the Game Boy Color games though.

Pros:
New graphics
New battle modes
Hundreds of new Pokemon

Cons:
Can take a while to get from one place to another
Wild Pokemon get really annoying when they attack you every five seconds

This is definatly an excellent addition to the Pokemon family. RPG and Pokemon fans alike will love this game (you're going to be staying up late playing this one).

28 of 29 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Pokemon Ruby Mega Review February 26, 2003

By Michael

This is about my 6th review and each review told different things about this game. What I am doing now is putting all the information from those reviews and putting them in this mega review. All of this information has been confirmed and is true.
Okay Pokemon Ruby came out to the public in Japan on 11.21.02 also with its brother Pokemon Sapphire. The game was ranked as the No.1 game in Japan the first week it came out and stayed at the top for about a month and a half. The American realease date for Pokemon Ruby is 3.17.03 and there is a rumor that Nintendo changed the release date to 3.19.03 but I don't think that it is true. It will feature 135 new Pokemon to catch and train ( don't ask me why they picked 135 other than 100 or 150 ). It will also feature a totally new battle system that enables you to use 2 Pokemon in battle instead of just 1 against an opponents 2 Pokemon. With the use of a Gameboy Advance Link Cable you are able to link with 3 friends and battle in teams. This means that you and a friend team up to battle against 2 other friends with each player managing 1 Pokemon each. The new battle system is what enables this. And instead of just 1 gamesave slot, now there is 3 slots so now you can start 1 game with Treecko the grass starter Pokemon, 1 game with Torchic the fire starter Pokemon, and 1 game with Mudkip the water starter Pokemon while you journey through the land of Houen which is the new land you have to explore. Team Rocket was getting old so Nintendo replaced them with Team Magma who are after all of the legendary fire Pokemon ( Team Aqua in Pokemon Sapphire who are after all of the legendary water Pokemon ). You can make your own fort where you are able to feed, play, and hang with your Pokemon. The point of the game is to catch, train, and battle with your Pokemon to try to win gym badges and defeat the Elite 4 and the Champion. There are also some new trainers, Landon and Terra
( Sean and Marina in Pokemon Sapphire ). That's all I know but here are a few tips. 1.Early in the game, catch a few Zigzagoon! Their special ability can get you a lot of free items. 2.Make sure you replant berries to keep your berry supply growing. I hope you can use this information or I wrote this all for nothing. See ya!