I've finally got my hands on PoKeMoN Ruby and here's what I found...
...It's really cool, there are as usual
3 Pokemon that you get to choose at the beginning of the
game...
...And even the screen for that is quite
funky...
..I chose the really cute blue one on the right, he
was a 'Mizugorou' but now he's evolved into a 'Numakuro' which looks like
this...
...Still very cute and looks quite alot like
'Machop' so I'd guess he was either a 'Water/Fighting' or 'Water/Ground' type
Pokemon
So far I've found 2 Gyms and got one badge. The
first Gym that I found, I couldn't fight in so I guess it'll be a bit like the
Earth badge Gym in the other Pokemon games where ya have to come back to it at a
later point in the game. The first gym looks like this...
...And on the inside looks like
this...
...Anyway, just as I was about to kick the crap out
of this Gym leaders Pokemon I was interupted by some guy who wanted to show me
how to catch Pokemon ( Where has he been since Pokemon Green came out in Japan?
) and then when I want back to the gym I cauldn't fight the shady looking guy in
there...
...So on with the adventure I end up fighting all
sorts of people on route to my next town, like Bug Catchers, Lads, Lasses, etc.(
and even a new one called 'Mini-skirt chick' which is quite amusing ) oh yeah
and of course the compulsary 'Rival' who seems to be the other selectable
character from the beginning of the game ( Male/Female ) and she looks like
this...
...Oh, and did I mention that there's a GameCube in
the bedroom now, LOOK!!!...
...Anyway, so there I am at the second Gym that I
arrive at and hooray, I get to destroy her stupid Geodude & some crazy new
Pokemon that looks like a rock with a Beak...
...Sadly for her my clever Water/Ground type
Pokemon wasn't interested in the health issues of her stupid Brock
wannabie Pokemon...
...Oh well it had an interesting end to it all cos
I got a lovely badge which got added to my trainer card that now looks like
this...
...Ok so I've failed to mention any graphical flair
in the game so here goes.
All the doors to the bulidings have a little
animation so when you go through them you get to see them opening so that means
that all the sliding doors slide etc. Also the water is much more impressive
than any of the previouse versions of the game. With patches having a
different texture to other bit of water like maybe a steady rock or possibly a
tide and other suck differences. Oh and it reflects stuff too...
...As well as the reflections the puddles also give
out ripples as you walk through them and footprints appear in the sand as you
trot along the beaches, and the even bushes swish about as you push
throught them looking for a wild Pokemon to beat on...
..Also there's the possibility to link upto 4 GBA's
together to have a 2 vs 2 battle which should proove to be very
interesting...
...The Pokedex is alot nicer too, the picture
refreshes instantly so it doesn't take an age to get from one end of
it to the other like it did in GS. Also as you scroll down the list, the
pictures appear on what can only be compared to a fruit machine wheel, and it
looks really nice and fluid. When you goto the info on a Pokemon and listen to
their 'Cry' you get a neat little sound wave thing at the bottom of the screen
and a funky DB counter type thing on the right...
...Here's a picture of the local
shops...
Generally it's alot nicer than the others and it
makes me proud to have a GBA. Can't wait for the UK relese so I can pop out to
my local shops to get in-line with all the 10yr old kids to purchase a copy for
my self ;)