Generation III

Generation III Pokémon games consist of Pokémon Ruby, Pokémon Sapphire, Pokémon Emerald, Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen on Gameboy Advance and one Pokémon Colosseum game on Nintendo GameCube at the present time. The Generation III games take place in the Kanto region, the Hoenn region, and in the Orre region. The generation started with the 2002 release of Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire in Japan and 2003 release elsewhere.

Advances in Gameplay

The third generation, while incompatible with Generation II, boasts the most changes in the world of Pokémon. Many new Pokémon are added with strange type combinations such as fighting/psychic. The advances include:

• New Pokémon storage system.
• Pokémon Contests.
• 135 Pokémon added to the Pokémon world, bringing the total to 386.
• New teams involving one specific Legendary Pokémon - Groudon in Pokémon Ruby and Kyogre in Pokémon Sapphire.
• Natures, which can be affected by an item attached to a Pokémon while breeding.
• New environments can be explored: Underwater, Desert, Mountain and Jungle.
• Wireless communication (Only available in: Pokémon FireRed, LeafGreen and Emerald)
• Nintendo E-Reader communication.
• Abilities
• Improved Graphics.

Hoenn Starters

Players begin their journey in Littleroot Town with a choice of Treecko, Torchic, or Mudkip. The Grass-Fire-Water type triangle from previous generations remains, and the difficulty setting follows Generation I where Grass-type or Water-type Pokémon will serve to make the beginning gyms easier, wheras choosing the Fire-type provides an extra challenge.

Gym Leaders

1. Roxanne
2. Brawly
3. Wattson
4. Flannery
5. Norman
6. Winona
7. Tate & Liza
8. Wallace (Adan in Pokémon Emerald)

Other Generation III games

Pokémon Colosseum, for the Nintendo GameCube, features a new land called Orre where several Generation II and Generation III Pokémon are altered by two rival teams called Cipher and Team Snagem. Players must "snag" the "Shadow Pokémon" and cure them of their darkness. Once this is completed, the Pokémon may be transferred to the other Generation III games. Pokémon Colosseum is the first 3D Pokémon RPG.

This game also features an advanced stadium mode similar to those of the Pokémon Stadium games.

Pokémon Box Ruby and Sapphire is another Generation III game, which allows for:

• Storage of up to 1500 Pokémon.
• Playing Pokémon Ruby and Pokémon Sapphire on the television.

Pokémon XD is also on the way for the Nintendo GameCube and while not much is known of this title, it does boast the same graphics engine as Pokémon Colosseum.

Generation III is the biggest generation of its time, and Generation IV is on the horizon with games for the Nintendo DS.