Pokémon FireRed & LeafGreen

With FireRed & LeafGreen, Pokémon returns to its roots by remaking the original Red & Blue (or Red & Green as in Japan). The release comes partly due to Pokémon Ruby & Sapphire overhauling the core of Pokémon and lacking compatibility with previous games. FR/LG thus allow the capture of Pokémon from the first two generations.

Details

Platform Game Boy Advance
Director Junichi Masuda

Release dates

Japan 29th January 2004
America 9th September 2004
Europe 1st October 2004
Australia 23rd September 2004
Pokemon FireRed box art featuring Charizard Pokemon LeafGreen box art featuring Venusaur
Pokémon FireRed and Pokémon LeafGreen box art

Gameplay

FireRed & Leafgreen follows the same plot at the original Red & Blue. You begin in Pallet Town and Professor Oak lets you choose one of three Pokémon - Bulbasaur, Charmander or Squirtle. The usual eight gyms and Elite Four follow, all the while tackling Team Rocket.

All changes to Pokémon and mechanics persist from Ruby/Sapphire, including the EV system, abilities, natures, genders and so on. Evolutionary lines are also retained, so for example Golbat will evolve into Crobat with high friendship - though it does not appear in the Kanto Pokédex.

A new set of locations are introduced, called Sevii Islands, accessible after deafeating the Elite Four and Champion. Many Pokémon from the second generation can be caught here, and a post-game plot involving Team Rocket occurs.

Bulbasaur, Charmander and Squirtle
The Kanto starters: Bulbasaur, Charmander and Squirtle