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We can start with the visuals. Everything looks nice enough, but then we should be pretty accustomed to this series already, given that this is the third game in the series on the GameCube. The presentation is merely adequate overall, and maintains most of the charm that was such a big part of the GBA versions, but falls far short of what we've come to expect from a Nintendo product this generation. I think the visuals could probably have been better given the age of the hardware, but I might just be nitpicking, since graphics have never been a huge draw of this series anyway.
Presentation aside, one thing I'm sure fans won't appreciate is the changes made to how you capture wild Pokémon. No longer can you hunt for them whenever and wherever you want. There are now only a few select areas to find them, and you're now required to bait your prey and wait for your PDA to indicate when they show up. This makes an already linear game far more restricted than it should be, since part of the fun has always come from the freedom to roam freely and pursue new Pokémon at leisure. Reducing the locations of these wild creatures is probably going to ensure that most people finish the game with incomplete pokedexes, something that may come back to haunt them when they play against friends.
Ah yes, what kind of Pokémon game would this be without the option to play against someone else? In this age of DS wifi capabilities, it sure would be sweet to have an online Pokémon game, wouldn't it? Lamentably, we're still restricted to GBA connectivity here, which never was as impressive as Nintendo made it out to be. In order to make use of the game's multiplayer feature, each player will need their own GBA system and GameCube cable, as well as a copy of Ruby/Sapphire, FireRed/LeafGreen, or Emerald. Somehow, the thought of four portables connected to my GameCube still doesn't impress me, and it's easier to simply just battle each other using the GBA's wireless adapter. See Nintendo? Pokémon battles with no cables! Make a note of it for the next DS sequel.
When it all comes down to it, this isn't the 3D rendition of the handheld classics we've all been begging Nintendo for over the last decade. Maybe it's because Game Freak is no longer at the helm, but the whole adventure just doesn't exactly feel like a true Pokémon RPG. It's close, darn close, but not quite there yet. But then, it's a heck of a lot closer than anything else Nintendo has released on console before, so that has to mean something. Hopefully, they'll get it right and bring back Game Freak for the next sequel (on Revolution?) in the classic style we all want. For now though, there's still enough goodness here to warrant catching them all.
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