For over 25 years, the Pokémon series has continued to maintain its relevance in the minds of players and the world as a whole. People of all ages are still driven to catch Pokémon, battle them, and collect their cards. Through thick and thin, Pokémon remains one of the most influential and profitable properties both in gaming and entertainment as a whole. It's clear Pokémon isn't going anywhere anytime soon.
In 2004, Game Freak began remaking their Pokémon games. The first among these are remakes of the first-generation titled Pokémon FireRed and Pokémon LeafGreen. Remakes of the following three generations, as well as a second first-generation remake, would later follow. Most recently, a different company in ILCA has taken on remaking reigns with Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Pokémon Shining Pearl becoming the first main series games not developed by Game Freak. These version remakes offer up more than just fancy new visuals. They often add many quality of life improvements that have been made in the series up until that point.
10 Remakes Have Updated Visuals And Soundtracks
The first difference players will notice with remakes are the updated visuals. Aside from BDSP, these visuals are often in line with the current generation at the time. This allows players to see characters, Pokémon, and the region that surrounds them in a completely new way. The color palette, and in some cases 3D visuals, make the world pop more while also staying true to the region's designs and layouts, making them feel incredibly familiar.
In addition, each game's soundtracks are redone and remixed, giving players new takes on nostalgic tunes while making them just as catchy as ever.
9 Remakes Give Players New Ways To Experience Regions
Remakes can breathe new life into established regions, giving players new ways and new places to explore. One example comes from the Sevii Islands in FRLG. These islands are completely new and original to the Kanto region, with added story elements and Johto Pokémon to catch.
Another example is the Soar mechanic from Pokémon Omega Ruby and Pokémon Alpha Sapphire. Soaring allows players to hop on a Latios or Latias and explore the Hoenn region from the air, providing players with an entirely new perspective on the region.
8 Remakes Bring Over New Pokémon
Nothing excites players more for a new generation of Pokémon than seeing the many new Pokémon to catch. Some of these are even evolutions of previously established Pokémon. One benefit to having remakes are that many of these Pokémon become integrated into the older regions. The Togepi players acquired in Johto can now fully evolve into a Toegkiss, for example. Players can also catch legendary Pokémon that they weren't able to originally.
Members of the Elite Four also bring Pokémon from recent generations when the player rematches them, giving them a new challenge beyond a higher-level opponent. In Pokémon HeartGold and Pokémon SoulSilver, Gym leaders also have updated teams during rematches.
7 Remakes Enhance The Story And Introduce New Characters
The story in Pokémon games is usually very surface level. It's not always the case, as the fifth generation put a heavier emphasis on story than other generations. One of the benefits of having remakes is the fact that these stories can be expanded upon.
The story expansions can be new characters like new rival Trace from Pokémon Let's Go Pikachu and Pokémon Let's Go Eevee. They can also be new story additions like the Sevii Islands in FRLG that tells the story of the aftermath of Team Rocket's defeat. The latter serves as an example of how new story elements can provide connective tissue to other generations.
6 Remakes Can Include Content From The Third Game Of A Region
Typically, when a pair of versions are released for a new generation, they are soon followed by a third version. This third version acts as a definitive version that brings new content that can't be experienced in the standard pair of versions. Remakes can bring along many of that added content without the need for a third version. HGSS, for example, included much of the Suicune storyline from Pokémon Crystal.
These content additions are some of the most desired inclusions whenever a new set of remakes are made. It becomes a vital part of that region, and many players feel that the games feel incomplete without it.
5 Remakes Carry Over New Mechanics, Moves, And Typings
Throughout Pokémon's history, the series has introduced numerous new mechanics, moves, and typings. Many of the regions that missed out on these are given a chance to utilize them through remakes, sometimes even completely overhauling how players approach each region.
FRLG was able to utilize second-generation typings, such as Dark and Steel. HGSS had a robust Battle Frontier similar to that of Pokémon Platinum. ORAS gained the use of Pokémon X and Pokémon Y's Mega Evolutions, even providing newer Mega Evolutions for Pokémon, such as the Hoenn starter Pokémon.
4 Remakes Utilize Newer Items and Pokéballs
The Pokémon series has steadily introduced new items and specialized Pokéballs to make catching and raising Pokémon more involving. Remakes can bring these recent additions to their respective regions. Catching a legendary, for example, is now a little easier with the addition of a Timer Ball. A Timer Ball improves a Pokémon's catch rate the more turns have passed, no doubt something many who have attempted to catch Mewtwo without a Master Ball wish they had.
This is also advantageous in the competitive side of things, as players can piece together their perfect team more easily. One example of this is the inclusion of XY's Ability Capsule in ORAS, which allows Pokémon with multiple non-hidden abilities to swap between them.
3 Remakes Take Advantage Of The Series' Quality Of Life Updates
As the series has progressed, many of the series' wrinkles get ironed out. Playing Pokémon Red and Pokémon Blue can be very rough these days, as something as simple as item management can be a great hassle. FRLG utilized the expansive backpacks introduced throughout the previous two generations, giving players much better organization of their items. In ORAS, the games many technical machines (TMs) can be used an infinite amount of times.
Quality of life updates like these, no matter how simple, can provide a much less frustrating time playing. This can give players further incentive to keep playing and even replay the games. Nostalgia can only carry things so far, especially with the original generation of games.
2 Remakes Make Transferring Pokémon Easier
One of the primary issues with FRLG was that Game Freak was unable to allow Pokémon to be transferred from the standard Game Boy to the Game Boy Advance. Players of the first two generations could not transfer their favorite Pokémon to Pokémon Ruby and Pokémon Sapphire. Releasing remakes decreases the number of steps required to transfer Pokémon to the latest generation or to Pokémon Home.
Transferring an ORAS Pokémon from Hoenn to the Galar region simply takes transferring the Pokémon to Pokémon Bank and then from there to Pokémon Home. To transfer one from RSE, it would take transferring it to a fourth-generation game, then to a fifth-generation game, then to the Poké Transporter, which transfers them to the Pokémon Bank, and then finally to Pokémon Home. This process requires multiple systems, which many players do not have access to.
1 Remakes Give Players More Pokémon Games To Play
Of course, one of the biggest benefits to having remakes is the fact it's more Pokémon. Game Freak tends to release new generations every three years, and remakes are a great way to fill that gap. Remakes can introduce new ideas that can carry over into future games, such as LGPE having Pokémon wander around in the open instead of traditional random encounters. They can even bring back and popularize previous ideas, such as Pokémon that follow the player.
Remakes also bring regions to the current consoles, meaning players don't have to juggle multiple devices to get their fill of Pokémon. In the case of ORAS and BDSP in particular, players won't have to risk buying fake copies of the originals to experience these regions. Unlike first and second-generation games, third and fourth-generation games aren't available digitally on the Nintendo 3DS.