Finally playing the older Pokemon games

[LetalisK]

So recently my gf and I got Pokemon Black and White and played them together. We loved the games so we're going to get the previous games(though we're not going before Generation 3).

1. I was just curious if there were games or generations I should stay away from. For instance, I'm unsure about FireRed/LeafGreen

2. For Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald, if we get it, should we stick with just getting the complimentary games(ie I would get Ruby and she'd get Sapphire) or does Emerald add enough that we should both just get Emerald?

3. Same as 2, but in reference to Diamond/Pearl/Platinum.

4. Is there any benefit to playing the previous games in a different order than they were released to get the most out of them or something? Or does that not matter?

5. Any other advice is greatly appreciated.

 

[Drakmeire]

Anything before Ruby and Sapphire may be difficult and feel extremely slow, any games after that are pretty much the same pacing as Black and White, but to play gen 1 Fire red/ Leaf green are a very good idea.

 

[Pat728]

Gen 3 is not "the older pokemon games". I would argue that gen 3 is the worst in the series as far as the single player experience goes. Play red/blue or gold/silver if you really want to play the old ones. They're the best in the series. If you still want to play gen 3 I'd reccomend the third version(emerald) although it's not that big of a deal. For gen 4 you should definately play platinum though.

 

[neonsword13-ops]

1.There is no terrible Pokemon game. You can never go wrong with the first region. It's the original, after all.

2.Ruby and Saphire can get you most of the pokemon in that region. (I think all) Emerald just changes up the story and allows you to capture both legendarys from the original versions.

3. Me and a friend were able to complete the pokedex with opposite versions of the game, without Platnium. Platnium just has some minor adjustments and introduces a new puzzle world. I didn't play all the way through due to bordum. (Because I did before with Diamond.)

4.No, but starting with the first can give you an advantage with pokemon from the next generation and their evolved forms.

5.The Pokemon series is great. Buy all of them if you can. You can't go wrong with any. (Yes, even the gamecube ones.)

*SAYS THE GUY WITH THE JAPANESE BATTLE MONSTER AVATAR*

 

[spartan231490]

So recently my gf and I got Pokemon Black and White and played them together. We loved the games so we're going to get the previous games(though we're not going before Generation 3).

1. I was just curious if there were games or generations I should stay away from. For instance, I'm unsure about FireRed/LeafGreen

2. For Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald, if we get it, should we stick with just getting the complimentary games(ie I would get Ruby and she'd get Sapphire) or does Emerald add enough that we should both just get Emerald?

3. Same as 2, but in reference to Diamond/Pearl/Platinum.

4. Is there any benefit to playing the previous games in a different order than they were released to get the most out of them or something? Or does that not matter?

5. Any other advice is greatly appreciated.

I strongly advise you go back to gen 2. It's the only gen that allows you to play more than one continent, but that's just me. Crystal is the only pokemon game I even play anymore.

 

[S29 Afterlife]

1. All honesty, I think you should stay away from the first generation. It may have been fun, but since you've played PKM Black/ White first, the pacing in that may seem a little slow, and the battles a little too hard.

2. I think both of you should get Emerald. It's just better.

3. Platinum confused me to a point where i just put it down and never played it again. I dunno if it'll do the same for you two.

4. I suggest playing Silver/Gold/Crystal then Emerald. Then, if you can, Play FR/LG. Those games were amazing when i played them, and any pokemon fan should really pick them up if they haven't play it.

5. Pokemon Yellow is a fun game, but it may seem REALLY repetative. I suggest buying that ONLY if you really get into Pokemon.

 

[fletch_talon]

So recently my gf and I got Pokemon Black and White and played them together. We loved the games so we're going to get the previous games(though we're not going before Generation 3).

1. I was just curious if there were games or generations I should stay away from. For instance, I'm unsure about FireRed/LeafGreen

2. For Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald, if we get it, should we stick with just getting the complimentary games(ie I would get Ruby and she'd get Sapphire) or does Emerald add enough that we should both just get Emerald?

3. Same as 2, but in reference to Diamond/Pearl/Platinum.

1. Depending on your tolerance for older games/graphics, it may pay to play Fire Red/Leaf Green rather than the originals. Same with Heart Gold/Soul Silver. Definitely play them though, Gold/Silver were awesome and the DS versions improved on that.

2. I'd play Emerald. Ruby/Sapphire have an interesting story surrounding their legendaries, but you only get one or the other. Emerald has you dealing with both by tying in the third legendary that was just a bonus in the other games.

3. Same as 2. You deal with both legendaries I believe and the the story is expandedto deal with a third, even adding a new area.
Also if you can get your hands on promo items/pokemon ranger games/cheats then you can get new forms of Giratina and Shaymin which alter their stats.

 

[MostlyHarmless]

They're all brilliant and deliciously addicting.


That being said, Generation 3 is the lacking of the series, but it's still good.

Play FireRed/LeafGreen if you want the classics, then play HeartGold/SoulSilver.

Just follow the series along the path.

 

[Aris Khandr]

I'm trying to play through Emerald now. I say "trying" because I've got all of the badges, but my party is only in the 40s, so I have to do a lot of level grinding to hit the Elite Four, and I find it hard to work up the desire to do so. Still, the game was a lot of fun.

 

[Saelune]

FireRed and LeafGreen are improved versions of Red and Blue, which were the best games of the series. I reccomend them.

 

[ManimalR]

I found the third generation to be the best games in the series, especialy FireRed and LeafGreen.

HeartGold and SoulSilver were also very good as they just improved upon gold/silver/crystal

Wouldn't bother with diamond/pearl/platinum, I thought they were mind numbingly dull

 

[BlackLurker]

Good for avoiding Generation 1 and 2. The remakes are good, since you can still import the Pokemon into future games, but yeah, unless you really wanna play Pokemon Stadium or something, I don't see the need to go that far back.

As I said, the remakes of the previous games are actually pretty darn good. All of them are, but none of them are really bad or anything. If you got the money for them all, I definitely recommend the remakes.

If you both are playing, sharing Pokemon and completing the dex together and having fun, you're better off with Ruby/Sapphire and Diamond/Pearl over Emerald and Platinum. They add extra bonuses and such to the single player experience, though, including entire new maps to stomp around in, but for two players playing together, combining the basic edditions together puts you on a level playing field and such.

If you have the technology for it (origonal DS / DS Lite), I'd recommend Fire Red and Leaf Green first, so you can import those pokemon into the future versions, and keep all your awesome mons together. After that, either Diamond and Pearl or Heart Gold and Soul Silver, then the other, and then have your entire family of creatures in Black and White. Ultimately, though, the choice is yours, and ultimately just try to have fun with it.