Off the Shelf Media

My first ever console that was truly mine was a Nintendo GameCube, quickly followed by a Game Boy Advance SP and a Nintendo DS Lite. Of course, I still have each of these consoles working to this day in tip-top condition with my original copies of Pokémon Emerald and Pokémon Blue. Both, surprisingly, still work. 

But if I’m being entirely honest, though I know my consoles and these games will run, they’re such treasured momentos that I am quickly becoming too nervous to play them anymore so as to not run the risk of breaking them. So, when Nintendo announced that they would be re-releasing Pokémon LeafGreen and Pokémon FireRed on the Switch, I pre-ordered both editions immediately. 

Since I was young, I’ve always had a soft spot for Nintendo, with a few of my favorite franchises being the Pokémon and Animal Crossing series. As an adult, I’ve been a tad more critical of the developer as a whole, which is mostly a result of the sheer amount of adoration I hold for the games of my childhood. 

But has that love and adoration lasted? Or has it simply been fueled by pure, blind nostalgia?

Let’s take a look at whether a love since childhood is enough to carry Pokémon LeafGreen into adulthood. 

Gameplay: 2

Pokémon are considered to be turn-based games, even non-traditional titles like the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series feature turn-based combat. So they typically do not vary, and they certainly don’t step outside of what they know, though that could be seeing some changes in the future, given some of the recent titles. 

However, Pokémon’s iconic turn-based battles are part of what has made it so loved. Though Nintendo doesn’t make any attempts to reinvent the wheel in this remake, they don’t need to. 

Pokémon LeafGreen has stood the test of time, to the excitement of fans, simply because the gameplay has always been so good. Of course, unlike in newer titles, players should expect to invest a lot of time in training and catching wild Pokémon if they aspire to complete the Pokedex, which also requires some trading, if you didn’t know. 

Accomplishing Pokémon’s “catch ‘em all” mission is easier said than done. Not only do players need to be able to access game exclusives for both Pokémon LeafGreen and Pokémon FireRed, but certain Pokémon, such as legendary Pokémon or rarer finds like Snorlax, do not have unlimited opportunities to catch them. So, if you’re sure on Master Balls, stock up as best as possible, otherwise you risk never seeing some of these creatures again. 

The game itself is also a grind. If you actually care about training your Pokémon up yourself and watching them evolve, don’t expect any help from experience sharing like the newer titles feature, unless your Pokémon holds a particular item. Yet, if you have the patience and are willing to put in the work, you will be rewarded with watching the Pokémon you caught and raised level up and evolve as you absolutely demolish everyone and everything in your path. Oh, and don’t forget, HM moves like “Cut” or “Flash” are essential to unlock areas in the game, so don’t think you can only blast your way through battles. 

All in all, the gameplay remains top-notch and remains fun, despite all the grinding you’ll need to do in order to level up and make your way as a Pokémon champion. 

Story: 1

You’re a young Pokémon trainer with dreams of becoming a champion. Beloved Professor Oak believes in your abilities and trusts you with one of his own starters, who will probably be with you throughout the game. By the way, my go-to starter has always been Charmander, but I digress. 

Travel through Kanto, defeat your annoying rival, and catch ‘em all to complete your Pokedex for Professor Oak. 

Along the way, of course, you’ll get roped into having to deal with Team Rocket and somehow find yourself hunting after legendary Pokémon as you go. 

Pokémon titles, as fun as they are, follow clear patterns and storylines. Even the film series doesn’t tend to stray too far away from one simple pattern. 

While I didn’t expect them to make any changes to this version, the story was never much to write home about in the early days anyway. 

Atmosphere: 2

If there is one thing Nintendo has always excelled at, it’s atmosphere. 

For older players who remember playing the original 2004 version, the music and settings will certainly bring back plenty of memories. Even for players new to the game, you’ll likely have heard the soundtrack used in other titles, and the art design is still fantastic. The iconic battle music still to this day lets me know that it’s time to get my game face on. 

While it is cool for a few minutes to see modern Pokémon’s new 3D art style, nothing beats the pixel 2D look of classic Pokémon. Though I highly doubt Nintendo would adopt this look in newer gen games, a girl can dream. 

Value: 2

Both Pokémon LeafGreen and Pokémon FireRed are priced at $19.99 each. Personally, I find this number to be fair and a great value for one classic title. However, for $29.99, I could have easily been convinced to buy a physical copy of the game simply to put it right next to my Game Boy versions and get the visual. It’s worth noting that both versions are digital download only, at least in the United States, that is. 

As Off the Shelf writer Conor McCloud notes in his review of Pokémon FireRed, these games are practically identical, and while $19.99 is fair for one game, players hoping to complete their Pokedex will have to invest both time and money to do so. 

While I did purchase both copies, time will tell how long that investment was worth. But for one title, it’s already proven itself well worth it. 

Duration: 2

To complete the main storyline, it takes roughly 30 hours or so. Of course, that is, if you’re not spending a ton of time training or exploring every aspect of the game. By the way, if you don’t talk to every non-player character (NPC) that you can, you’re probably missing out on free items and other tips. 

As an adult with a full-time job, any game asking me to devote anything close to 100 hours to simply beat the story is probably not going to get finished. It’s a sad fact of adulthood. However, 40-60 hours is a much more realistic compromise. 

Pokémon LeafGreen is at a near-perfect sweet spot. It offers enough gameplay time to make you feel like you got your value but doesn’t steal so much time that you want to put it down altogether and walk away. 

Though I’ve never been one to start from fresh and complete multiple runs, players certainly could find value in replaying the game to try out different pairings of party members, or maybe going back to catch the Snorlax that you accidentally made faint in one shot. 

Total Score: 9/10

Casual fans of the series might moan and groan about how Pokémon LeafGreen on Nintendo Switch is a copy-and-paste money grab, but that is exactly why devoted fans have been loving the game so much. 

I’ve tried my hand at some of the newer Pokémon titles like Pokémon Sword, and it’s fun. There are characteristics about the game that make it an easier lift, such as the automatic experience sharing in your party, which limits the amount of sheer training you have to do. And the ability to buy new clothes and experience Pokémon battles with real animation is great at first, but none of those design choices make it a better game than the earliest versions. 

The early Pokémon games are a grind, to say the least, but they aren’t asking you to devote 300 hours of trudging through lackluster gameplay, fetch quests, or dead-end side missions. 

When every developer is looking for ways to make the next title bigger, better, and more expensive, sometimes sticking to the basics and simply making sure your game is fun above anything else is all you need to do. 

What did you think of Nintendo’s remakes? Did you find yourself playing with new starters or new strategies in this modern rendition? Let us know what you think in the comments, and be sure to subscribe for new articles directly in your inbox every Tuesday and Thursday.