Pokemon has finally allowed me to overcome my Gen 3 blind spots after 20 years

With 2026 Pokemon With the series' 30th anniversary, there's never been a better time to finally fill in the missing gaps of my childhood by playing the Gen 3 games I missed 20 years ago. Thankfully, the recent Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 releases celebrating this anniversary have helped me tremendously in this goal. between the Fire red and leaf green Switch ports and Pokemon XD: Storm of Darkness Dropping into Nintendo Switch Online, I've been able to reconnect with my inner child and make them proud by completing a long-time goal.

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I can finally access the Gen 3 Pokemon games I missed as a kid thanks to the Switch 2

Like many kids, I had some pretty dumb or straight-up misconceptions about video games. As soon as I realized that Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen was a remake of the original red and blue games, I hadn't played these remakes when they were released, so this was a clear opportunity in my eyes to experience the Kanto region for the first time. I could pick it up fire red Purely because I thought Charizard was the strongest Pokemon, which I think a lot of kids held back at the time.

When it came Pokemon XD: Storm of DarknessBelieving it was just a remake, I was given little information about what the game actually consisted of Pokemon ColosseumWhich I already played, with some new features. Because I didn't know Pokemon XD was a full blown sequel ColosseumI never paid attention to it. When I grew up, I found out what I was missing Pokemon XD Many issues were fixed Colosseum Theo, and I was kicking myself for missing out on it when GameCube games were so easily accessible.

I just played LeafGreen for the first time after growing up with FireRed

Because I haven't had a chance to play Leaf green As a kid, I decided this would be the version I picked up when the Switch ports were released. After playing Pokemon FireRed As a child, I used to get jealous Leaf green Players once I understood this Leaf green There are good version exclusives, and I haven't always been able to get them on replays fire red. Now I have a chance to play Leaf greenNot sure if I can go again fire red Because I much prefer a special edition for this version of the game.

Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen Edition Exclusive

Except Leaf green Technically having more than one special Pokemon fire redI think it has a great roster of specials due to the presence of my favorite Pokemon. I love Slowpoke, and was disappointed that it was never available to me fire redInstead I was left with Psyduck and Golduck, which I was always disappointed with when I remembered that they weren't water/psychic like they should have been. Additionally, I prefer Sandshrew and Sandslash to Ekans and Arbok, so I was happy to finally have access to those as well. While I like both Arcanine and Ninetales equally, I've made it a goal to use Ninetales on my team, since I haven't had a chance to use it in any of my games. fire red Playthroughs.

Playing through Pokemon XD: Dark Storm for the first time makes me wish I hadn't slept on it as a kid

Finished my playthrough Leaf green With my version-exclusive Slowbro and Ninetales part of my Hall of Fame team, I proceeded to play Pokemon XD the first time. Back in the day, I used to struggle with it Pokemon ColosseumIts steep difficulty jump compared to the main series, largely limits the way it catches Pokemon to just Shadow Pokemon. Finally after the beating Pokemon Colosseum As a kid, I wasn't too keen on going in Pokemon XD When I saw it announced, I believed it was essentially the same, and I wasn't ready to go through that challenge again.

How Pokémon XD: Storm of Darkness is different from Colosseum

• A new story after five years Colosseum

• Improved purification mechanics for Shadow Pokemon

• An expanded roster of available Pokemon

• Shadow Lugia

If I had paid more attention to game releases as a kid, I would have realized that Pokemon XD Solves almost all my problems Colosseum. the story of Pokemon Colosseum Never really caught me as a kid, but I instantly feel more involved Pokemon XDIts story is now playing out for the first time. I also found it really hard to purify Shadow Pokemon and make them usable on my team, and A storm of darkness With a pure chamber makes this process much faster.

Those improvements alone would have gotten me more interested in the game as a kid, but I'm also discovering how it's expanded. Pokemon XDThe roster is also there. Having Eevee from the start and choosing which evolution it evolves into makes it much easier to build a team around it instead of being locked into Espeon and Umbreon. Colosseum. Shadow Lugia is also such a great box art legendary for the game that I can't believe I was sleeping on the game when it originally came out. Thank you, I appreciate it Pokemon XD Much more so now than I likely would have as a kid, and it makes me want to revisit other games that I bounced around as a kid.

systems

issued

September 7, 2004

ESRB

Everyone 10+ / Mild fantasy violence, simulated gambling

Multiplayer

Online multiplayer

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