Even though it's only January 2013, gamers were already treated to a fantastic announcement from Nintendo. Pokémon X and Pokémon Y will be the first core RPG in the series that will finally update those 2D visuals. In the debut trailer, we got a glimpse at the fantastic looking gameplay as well as a few new Pokémon that will debut for the first time. Though among the new Pokémon, we also got a chance to see some classic Pokémon as well.
Besides the fact that we have a new generation of Pokémon to get excited for come October, and that an inevitable Pokémon Z is sure to surface some time after that, history dictates that we might see a classic Pokémon game remade with the same visuals found in Pokémon X and Y. Let's look at a brief history of Pokémon games and their upgraded visual releases.
Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire = Pokémon LeafGreen and FireRed
Ruby and Sapphire were the first Pokémon titles to launch on the much more powerful Gameboy Advance which made some gorgeous leaps graphics wise. Individual monsters had far more detail and even the environments looked much better. The series evolved with the inclusion of double battles where two Pokémon could go up against two more.
Just a year and a half later, gamers were treated to a fantastic remake of the original Pokémon games, though instead of a Blue version, they got a Green one. While the core mechanics of the games remained the same, the visuals were amazing at the time. For the first time, gamers got to see the first Pokémon games that started it all with updated visuals, as well as a new island region after the completion of the main story.
Pokémon Diamond and Pearl = Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver
By 2007, the Nintendo DS was in the hands of players which meant a new Pokémon game was on the horizon. Pokémon Diamond and Pearl debuted on Nintendo's dual screen handheld on April 22, 2007. Aside from once again updating visuals to match the graphical capabilities of the DS, it also introduced the Pokétch, a smart watch of sorts which made use of the lower screen to display various helpful information like a map, menus, and even displayed combat options, which left the top screen uncluttered.
It took almost three years until gamers were treated to yet another remake of an earlier generation Pokémon game. Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver were yet again fantastic remakes of Gold and Silver which incorporated some of the advancements that that Diamond and Pearl introduced, as well as updated graphics to match the current-gen games. HeartGold and SoulSilver also came bundle with the Pokéwalker, an accessory which allowed players to take their caught Pokémon along with them, level them up outside the game and even catch new Pokémon and transfer them back onto the DS.
Pokémon X and Y = Pokémon ????????
The first Pokémon game to be specifically developed and designed for the Nintendo 3DS. This entry will introduce the sixth generation of Pokémon. Outside of what was shown during the trailer, not much is known about specific details. Since it will have completely new Pokémon to catch and tame, we can speculate that it will take place in an entirely new region, not yet seen in previous Pokémon games.
So what's next for Pokémon on the Nintendo 3DS. We have a few ideas. Firstly, if Nintendo continues the trend it's been following ever since the release of FireRed and LeafGreen on the Gameboy Advance, then the next logical game to be remade on the 3DS would be Pokémon Diamond and Pearl.
However, if Nintendo was smart, and really wanted to recapture the long time fans that have played Blue and Red version back when it was first released in 1998, they would gloriously recreate Kanto and our favorite 151 Pokémon in glorious 3D. Think about it, the series has evolved so much since then, and would be able to implement so many of these new features into an already fully featured game. Even better, make it Pokéwalker compatible and you have yet another reason to dust off that little accessory and snap it to your belt.
It certainly wouldn't be the first time fans would get to see their favorite original Pokémon rendered in glorious 3D, however it would be the first core Pokémon to do so. Come on Nintendo, make it happen!
So let us know what you think. Will Nintendo follow the trend and remake Diamond and Pearl, or will it offer some awesome fan service and remake the games that started it all.
