This week brought the news that thousands of Pokémon fans have been waiting to hear for years, so much so that “HOENN CONFIRMED!” became an internet meme.
A teaser trailer for Pokémon OmegaRuby and AlphaSapphire was released this week, with the captions “AN EPIC NEW ADVENTURE IS COMING!” and “EXPLORE A DRAMATIC NEW WORLD”. While the trailer did not provide many details, the box art for the two games were showcased with Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire legendaries Groudon and Kyogre respectively. It is due to be released on Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo 2DS worldwide in November 2014, just over a year since the release of Pokémon bestsellers Pokémon X and Y.
Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire were released internationally on Gameboy Advance in 2003, and fans have been speculating the possible remake of the games since Nintendo Remade Generation 2 games Pokémon Gold and Silver with Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver in 2010 and Generation 1 games Pokémon Red and Blue with Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen in 2004. With remakes comes improvements in graphics, new Pokémon additions and improvements to gameplay and storyline.
However, “EXPLORE A DRAMATIC NEW WORLD” indicates that the remakes may not be returning to the Hoenn region, but a whole new region entirely. There are various hints of a Ruby and Sapphire remakes in Pokémon X and Y with various references to Hoenn, however there is a certain backpacker that seems intent on telling you about the region he is from, insists he is not from Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, Sinnoh, Unova or Kalos (all regions of t
he previous Pokémon generations) and proceeds to give you a Strange Souvenir based on a Legendary Pokémon that is not recognisable. Given that Pokémon X and Y introduced so few new Pokémon, it could be that more new Pokémon will be featured in these games. It’s speculated that there will be new Mega Evolutions introduced in Pokémon OmegaRuby and AlphaSapphire, as Mega Latios and Mega Latias are within Pokémon X and Y’s encoding, but is not yet available. Supposedly, according to the Pokémon X and Y strategy book, there are 14 berries that do not appear in Pokémon X and Y and can be obtained by trading them from other regions. It is not possible to transfer items via Pokémon Bank, so it plausible that these new games could be based on a new region.
Until more information is available, fans can only speculate. But whether Hoenn is confirmed or not, I am excited to throw my money at it in November.
Pokémon OmegaRuby and AlphaSapphire due to be released on Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo 2DS worldwide in November 2014.
