Back to Hoenn
In 2014, a year after X and Y, Game Freak brought players back to Hoenn. Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire do not simply redraw the 2002 Game Boy Advance games in 3D: they keep the plot, the towns and the original Gym Leaders, then graft on everything the sixth generation had introduced, Mega Evolutions first and foremost. The result is both a faithful tribute and one of the most generous entries on the Nintendo 3DS.
A faithful adventure, better told
The structure hasn’t changed: you rescue Professor Birch north of Littleroot Town, choose between Treecko, Torchic and Mudkip, then cross Hoenn to collect eight Badges while Team Magma or Team Aqua tries to awaken Groudon or Kyogre. What changes is the staging. The leaders of both Teams have gained depth, key scenes benefit from cutscenes, and the awakening of the legendary Pokémon takes on a spectacular dimension with Primal Reversion, a brand-new ancient form of Groudon and Kyogre.
All the iconic locations are here, from Fallarbor Town and its ashes to Mt. Pyre, from Pacifidlog Town on the water to Meteor Falls. Nostalgic players find their bearings, while newcomers discover a singular region, rich in seas and islands, that has kept all its charm.
What the sixth generation brings
- Mega Evolutions: around twenty new Mega forms join those of X and Y, including Mega Sceptile and Mega Swampert, who join Mega Blaziken so that all three starter Pokémon have one of their own. Mega Stones are scattered across the whole region.
- The DexNav: on the touch screen, it detects Pokémon hiding in the grass, along with their Hidden Abilities or rare moves. It is a fantastic tool for completing the Pokédex and for shiny hunting (see the PokéNav Plus).
- Soaring: after the crisis, the Eon Flute lets you fly over Hoenn on the back of Latios or Latias, discover Mirage Spots and meet legendary Pokémon from other regions there. See flying in the skies of Hoenn.
- The Super Secret Bases: the original Secret Bases become extremely customizable and can be shared with other players (our guide).
- Pokémon Contests return, along with Cosplay Pikachu, a Pikachu that changes outfit and move.
The Delta Episode, a true sequel
The best surprise comes after the League. The Delta Episode, a postgame adventure lasting several hours, features a threat from space, the mysterious Zinnia and the Lorekeepers, all the way to the appearance of Mega Rayquaza and a showdown with Deoxys. Written as a genuine extra chapter, it deepens Hoenn’s mythology and ties the game to the series’ wider universe. Our summary: the Delta Episode.
Polished production
Graphically, ORAS reuses the X and Y engine with a more colorful art direction. The towns have gained detail, and the water and weather effects make Hoenn feel alive, even if the stereoscopic 3D effect remains subtle and the animation can slow down in the busiest battles. The soundtrack faithfully reorchestrates the 2002 themes: a real treat for the ears, and an elegant way to modernize without betraying the original.
Revisited Gym Leaders and League
Hoenn’s eight Gym Leaders keep their specialties, from Roxanne and her Rock-type Pokémon to Wallace and his Water team, but their teams have been revised to account for new moves and the Pokémon that have appeared since 2002. Battles against Brendan or May, your rival, punctuate the adventure, and the Pokémon League in Ever Grande City remains a solid finale, with an Elite Four that demands a balanced team. Our pages the Gym Leaders and the Pokémon League detail their teams.
A very full postgame
Beyond the Delta Episode, ORAS overflows with content: dozens of legendary Pokémon to catch thanks to Mirage Spots and Soaring, from the fourth to the fifth generation (see our recap), the Trick House, the Contests, the Super Secret Bases to decorate and the Battle Resort. Filling the National Pokédex takes dozens of hours, and the DexNav gives you a reason to go back into every patch of tall grass. Few games in the series offer so much to do once the credits have rolled.
Who is it for?
Players who knew Ruby and Sapphire will find a perfectly prepared madeleine, with enough novelties to justify rediscovering it. Younger players, or those just starting out with Pokémon, will enjoy an accessible adventure, a varied region and an inexhaustible postgame. Only those who like a challenge will need to adjust how they play, by turning off the Exp. Share or imposing restrictions on themselves.
The drawbacks
The game is easy. The Exp. Share, active for the whole team, levels you up very quickly, and Mega Evolutions make most battles a non-event. Seasoned players will have to set their own rules to get a challenge back.
Another disappointment: Emerald’s Battle Frontier, beloved by fans, has not returned. It is replaced by the more modest Battle Resort. Finally, the famous trips across the water, plentiful in the second half of the game, can feel long: IGN had made a criticism of it that became a running joke among fans.
Playing it today
Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire exist only on Nintendo 3DS and 2DS. The 3DS online store closed on March 27, 2023 and the online features have since been shut down: you therefore need a cartridge, or a version bought previously, and trades happen locally. To transfer your Pokémon to the Switch games, go through Pokémon Bank before it closes, scheduled for February 26, 2027. Full details in the fact sheet.
Our verdict
Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire are among the best remakes in the series: faithful to the original, enriched with excellent ideas and extended by a memorable Delta Episode. Only their ease, and the absence of the Battle Frontier, keep them from reaching excellence.
What we like
- A faithful and generous modernization of Hoenn
- The Delta Episode, a true extra chapter
- The DexNav and Soaring
- The new Mega Evolutions and Primal Reversion
- A high-quality reorchestrated soundtrack
What we like less
- Very low difficulty with the Exp. Share
- No Battle Frontier
- Sometimes long trips across the water
- 3DS only, with no online features today
To start the adventure: getting started and the complete walkthrough.
