Pokémon FireRed and Pokémon LeafGreen are beloved remakes of the games that started it all. They were originally released for the Game Boy Advance. I have many fond memories of playing these games on the original Game Boy Advance, which did not even have a backlight. They took up hours of my time and still remain a fond memory today. As my introduction to the Pokémon series, they were great games. However, if we play them today, after all the improvements made in modern Pokémon titles, they can feel a bit dated. This raises the question of whether these games have truly stood the test of time.
Nintendo has now released both games at a budget price on the eShop, and they can be played on both the Switch and Switch 2. There are no major quality-of-life improvements in this release, such as faster battle speed. However, some small tweaks are included, like the ability to adjust text speed, which helps the battles flow a bit better, and the option to turn off move animations that can become repetitive over time. The lack of a proper battle speed option is noticeable, but despite that, the games are still playable and enjoyable.
The story of the game takes place in the Kanto region and introduces the first generation of Pokémon, including the iconic starters Charmander, Bulbasaur, and Squirtle. The story itself is simple. You play as a Pokémon trainer who is asked by Professor Oak to explore the world and capture wild Pokémon to help with his research. At the same time, you travel across the Kanto region with the goal of becoming the best Pokémon trainer by defeating various Gym Leaders. Each Gym Leader has a unique personality and specializes in a specific Pokémon type, which pushes the player to plan carefully and build a balanced team to defeat them.
The game is fairly straightforward and avoids many of the more complex mechanics that were added in later titles. The story follows both the player and their rival as they try to become the strongest Pokémon trainer. The main opponents include Team Rocket, the Elite Four, and several Gym Leaders along the way. One notable addition in this release is the ability to obtain legendary Pokémon such as Ho-Oh, Lugia, and Deoxys, which were previously limited to special in-person events. With these included, this version becomes the most complete release of Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen. The option to trade Pokémon through Pokémon Home is also an exciting feature, although support for it is not available at launch.
One thing that should be stressed is that while these games are still fun, they may not appeal as much to newcomers or players who recently joined the series. The main reason is the slow pace, and some elements have not aged very well. While the game features a working matchup system with around 17 Pokémon types and their respective strengths and weaknesses, customizing a Pokémon team is not as detailed or flexible compared to modern entries.
One of the bigger issues I faced was controlling my character. The movement system feels quite dated, as it only supports four directional inputs, which makes analog stick movement feel awkward. The character also moves slowly, and there is no sprint button at first. Later on, the player receives running shoes and a bike, which help improve traversal. Another limitation is the HM system, where certain moves must be taught to Pokémon in order to progress, which often comes at the cost of more useful moves. Later Pokémon games addressed this issue, but it remains part of this release. Random encounters can also become tiring, as they occur frequently and there is no way to skip or speed through them.
When it comes to trading Pokémon, the game supports local trading but not online features, which limits its appeal somewhat. That said, it will be interesting to see how Pokémon Home support works once it becomes available. The soundtrack is excellent and keeps the classic lo-fi Game Boy Advance sound intact. There is also an option to switch between mono and stereo audio. However, most of the music is reused from the original release, so there are no new arrangements.
In the end, nostalgia will likely play a big role for those interested in this release. For newcomers, this version of Pokémon may not be as appealing, especially with several modern Pokémon games available on the Switch that include more updated features. I enjoyed playing through Pokémon FireRed again because it reminded me of my carefree teenage years. Your experience may vary, but overall, there is nothing particularly wrong with this port, though there is also nothing especially remarkable about it either.
Pokémon FireRed Game Information
- Price: $19.99
- Publisher: Nintendo
- Developer: Game Freaks
- Platform: Switch 2 (Reviewed)
- Disclaimer: A review code was given by the publisher
