Though everyone, of course, has the right to their own opinion, I haven’t been too impressed by the more recent releases in the Pokémon series, as Game Freak continues to experiment with the formula in a way that I just haven’t managed to get into at this point.
I liked the new setting in Pokémon Legends Z-A, but the overall game felt a little lacklustre and disappointing, while the changes to the battle systems didn’t really gel with how I like to play the games, historically.
Whilst I am all for the developer continuing to take big swings in the name of potential progress, I will still return to the older games with regularity, but that doesn’t mean that it needs to be the base versions of the releases that we remember so well.
One of the best ways to enjoy an updated experience within a classical setting is to try one of the many fan-made remakes of the earlier games, many of which stand as some of the very best examples of Pokémon games anywhere, including from the official developer.
Pokémon Gamma Emerald is a Dream Come True
As first reported by ScreenRant, Pokémon Gamma Emerald is a fan-made remake/re-imagining of the GBA classic that takes advantage of the perpetually underutilised 2.5D aesthetic popularised in recent years by Square Enix via both the Dragon Quest and Octopath franchises.
This Pokémon project comes from YouTuber UndreamedPanic, who continues to work diligently on the project, updating it all the time to add further content and improve stability.
So what can you expect from the story? Well, in the developers own words, “In Pokémon Gamma Emerald, on your way to your new home your trip takes an unexpected turn when a sudden storm appears and your boat crashes on a mysterious, uncharted island situated between the Hoenn and Sinnoh region. With no way to call for help or outside contact, you are forced to explore — but you are not alone.”
It’s a pretty stunning project with a jaw dropping aesthetic that you really should take a look at if you were a fan of the games around that time. Though there isn’t a release date for the finalised version of the game just yet, the current effort is available to download for free on the developer’s Itch.io page and feedback continues to be positive from those who have given it a go.
