Phendrana Drifts

Pokemon Ruby/Sapphire

This game got a fairly bad score from Electronic Gaming Monthly (the largest gaming magazine) and a fairly high one from IGN (the largest online gaming site). Where do I think it stands? That is a good question. IGN gave it a high score because it is engrossing, deep, and fun. EGM gave it a low score because it is the exact same game (more or less) that was found in Pokemon Red, Blue, Yellow, Gold, Silver and Crystal. And the truth is, they are both right. However, the game may be virtually the same (and shame on Nintendo for not putting a bit more effort into it) it is not stale. I still have played this Game Boy game more than any other (and Pokemon Crystal probably was played more on my old GBA more than any other game including the fancier Game Boy Advance games). In the end, the facts are the game looks terrible in contrast to a game like Golden Sun, it can get a little tedious from time to time, but it plays like a dream. Simple mechanics taken to the ultimate extreme, with superb gameplay that anyone can pick up and enjoy and yet is challenging and engrossing enough for anyone who is demanding. I still wish more had been done - a larger and more diverse world, more diversity in the pokemon themselves, and maybe a better story. And better sounds and battle graphics for the pokemon. Despite the value of the game, I can't give it a perfect score - the flaws exist and are uncharacteristic for a Nintendo first party game.

9.5/10

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