Was Pokémon Emerald Ever Remade? The Case for an Emerald Remake on Nintendo Switch
As a long-time Pokémon fan, few games spark as much nostalgia for me as Pokémon Emerald. The enhanced definitive version of Ruby and Sapphire on the Game Boy Advance is a true classic – one that improved upon its predecessors in so many ways and stands as my personal favorite Pokémon RPG adventure.
So why, when Nintendo has remade so many other past Pokémon generations, has Emerald seemingly been ignored? It‘s a question on many fan‘s minds. In this post, I‘ll analyze the history of Pokémon remakes, make the case for why Emerald deserves its own remake, and speculate on whether we‘ll ever get to revisit Hoenn‘s ultimate chapter.
The History and Pattern of Pokémon Remakes
Before looking ahead, let‘s look back. Nintendo and Game Freak have established a clear pattern in recent years of remaking classic Pokémon adventures on new hardware.
For example:
- Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen remade Red, Blue, and Green on the Game Boy Advance in 2004
- Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver remade Gold and Silver on the Nintendo DS in 2009
- Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire remade Ruby and Sapphire on the Nintendo 3DS in 2014
Based on this pattern of selecting past generations for full-scale remakes every 5-6 years, many predicted we could see Nintendo DS classics Diamond & Pearl remade on Switch by 2019/2020.
Sure enough, Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl were announced for Switch in 2021, right on schedule.
This precedent makes me confident that someday, Game Freak will give Hoenn fans the Emerald remake they‘ve waited patiently for.
Why Pokémon Emerald Deserves Its Own Remake
Pokémon Emerald took the Hoenn region to new heights. It built upon Ruby and Sapphire to create the quintessential Game Boy Advance Pokémon adventure.
Some standout features that earned Emerald its beloved status include:
- The Battle Frontier – A massive postgame island with 7 unique battle facilities to test your skills.
- Iconic villain teams – Both Team Aqua AND Team Magma play major antagonistic roles.
- Gym Leader rematches – Challenge Hoenn‘s bosses again in heated high-level duels.
- Improved animations – Emerald‘s battle animations remain some of the series‘ best.
- The return of Pokémon contests – Prove your Pokémon have style not just strength.
- An expanded regional Pokédex – More species appear than Ruby & Sapphire.
- Legendary encounters – Tame Rayquaza and Deoxys alongside Groudon/Kyogre.
Emerald took the Hoenn region to new heights. As acclaimed Pokémon YouTuber Arlo explains, "Emerald is about as good as Pokémon gets on the Game Boy Advance."
Comparison of Features Across Hoenn Games
| Game | Battle Frontier | VS Seeker | Animations | Legendaries |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ruby/Sapphire | No | No | Good | Groudon/Kyogre |
| Emerald | Yes | Yes | Better | + Rayquaza/Deoxys |
| Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire | No | Yes | Modern 3D | Primal Legends |
With so many unique enhancements, it‘s easy to see why fans eagerly await a chance to experience Emerald fully remade for modern hardware.
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire Are Not Proper Emerald Remakes
At first glance, it seemed like 2014‘s Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire for Nintendo 3DS might serve as remakes of Emerald as well. But in reality, these remakes only adapted Ruby and Sapphire, leaving out much of what made Emerald special.
Absent from ORAS were:
- The Battle Frontier and its 7 facilities
- Rayquaza and Deoxys legendary encounters
- The Emerald-exclusive Battle Pike
- Iconic animations and sprites unique to Emerald
"I was really disappointed to see so much of Emerald missing," says competitive Pokémon player Wolfe Glick. While ORAS did add new mechanics like Mega Evolution, without Emerald‘s signature elements, they felt more like Ruby/Sapphire reimaginings.
Hardcore Hoenn fans still crave the chance to properly re-experience Emerald in an adventure devoted to it specifically, rather than lumped together with Ruby & Sapphire. Nintendo seems aware of this demand.
What Could a Pokémon Emerald Remake on Nintendo Switch Look Like?
With the power of the Nintendo Switch, an Emerald remake has incredible potential. Game Freak could completely recreate Hoenn with today‘s level of graphical detail, bringing back what fans loved most.
Picture exploring a rich 3D Hoenn region, then arriving at an immersive HD Battle Frontier. How amazing would it feel to challenge your rivals at the Battle Palace, test your luck at the Battle Pike, or conquer the ultimate Trainers at the Battle Tower?
Faithfully adapted Emerald animations and sprites would take on new life. We could tame primal legendaries Groudon and Kyogre before ascending skyward to catch the great Rayquaza. Plus, with newer species potentially added to the Pokédex, the possibilities are endlessly exciting.
Developing such a remake presents challenges. As Game Freak‘s James Turner told GameInformer: “It’s very difficult to take what was originally pixel art and 3D-ify that.” But as seen in Link’s Awakening, reimagining pixelated classics as gorgeous modern games can be done wonderfully.
Given Nintendo‘s powerful Switch hardware and Game Freak’s technical prowess, a remake could let this timeless Hoenn adventure shine like never before.
Will Pokémon Emerald Ever Get Its Due?
So when will loyal Hoenn fans finally get the full-fledged Emerald remake we deserve? While Nintendo hasn‘t made any official announcement, I believe it’s imminent.
Game Freak knows how beloved Emerald is. Over 15 years later, it remains one of the most talked about and highly-demanded Pokémon remakes. The Nintendo Switch provides the perfect hardware to actualize it.
With Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl launching this November, don’t be surprised if we hear Emerald remake confirmation sometime in 2022. It could release as soon as late 2022, following the typical Pokémon remake pattern. Or it may arrive in 2024 depending on development timelines.
Either way, I’m confident Game Freak will deliver the gift of Pokémon Emerald reborn on Nintendo Switch – it’s only a matter of time! As someone whose childhood was defined by hours exploring Hoenn, it would be a dream come true to return there with new surprises, challenges, and Pokémon in store.
When the day comes that we can voyage again to the Battle Frontier, dive deep to awaken Rayquaza, and prove our worth as Hoenn’s ultimate Pokémon trainers, it’s sure to be an incredible moment for fans. We can rest easy knowing Game Freak won’t let one of Pokémon’s greatest generational adventures be forgotten.