Parents can lag behind their children in their video-game consumption. A combination of a sentimental connection to games of yore and a dwindling amount of free time for their hobby often results in the kids playing new games first.
Even for a series as long standing as Pokémon, many parents simply don’t get what all the fuss is about. With Pokémon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire coming soon and a UK demo version already up for grabs via this very site, we wanted to put the theory to the test and at the same time catch one dad up with the world of Pokémon.
Our test subject started from zero in terms of Pokémon knowledge but by the end of the 30 minute demo was pretty much on board with what makes the series so enjoyable.
Maybe this was the carefully crafted demo itself — or the retro styling of this Game Boy Advance remake — either way Pokémon proved itself more than just for kids.
The demo takes you through a starting choice of Pokémon of Combusken, Grovyle and Marshtomp, before leading you into single and double battles. Along the way you'll go hunting for a mysterious mega-evolving Pokémon to add to our collection and find out what our own starter Pokémon looks like in his own Mega Evolution.
Providing that families find these demos in the eShop it seems that they are an ideal way to introduce a wider audience to the joys of games they may have missed.
Comments 28
@arronishere Groudon and Kyogre as long lost twins trying to reunite their parents?
This is basically the first time I played a Pokemon game and it confirmed what I always thought: It's not for me.
Also, the frame rate with 3D enabled is terrible! And the graphics aren't even that good, nor is the 3D effect.
I liked the demo, but i thought it was a bit weird xD idk why really.
@KTT Be that as it may. The demo definitely didn't convince me to buy a Pokemon game ;(
As someone who introduced his kids to gaming and has been playing since Pong came out (does Pong count as gaming?) I just cant imagine ever getting into Pokemon. As a big JRPG fan I never even played the Suikeden series b/c I didn't want over 100 playable characters, 6-8 is good, anything over a dozen is unneccassary. Still havent played Ni No Kuni - bought it cause it looks great - but still havent played it.
Im glad to see a demo, all games should have demos b/c we live in a digital download age, but I dont imagine a lot of adult converts with this one. My guess is this demo is for people who have already played the originals so may not be interested but they want to hook them with the new engine. (Not that 2 million people who bought MH4 didnt also buy MH4G day 1 but I still think thats the demos intent.)
I played the demo and thoght it was done on the quick and was probabl the worst Pokemon gameplay. Then I played it again and it was a completely new mission. Then I played a few more times and each one was in a different area against different trainers.
Apparently there is 10 different missions, so I recommend eep o playing it until ou get to the actual end of the demo before deciding whther it is for you.
@MadAdam81 Except that the whole demo gets repetitive very quickly. The first mission is about getting Mega Glalie and this mission is the most well-made one (at least compared to others). Then there are just three types of missions that repeat.
1. Defeat all trainers in an area.
2. Find certain Pokémon in tall grass.
3. Defeat one trainer.
Then you can just walk around Mossdeep City, but there is almost nothing to do there - just few NPCs and all buildings are closed.
I found the demo pretty frustrating, showing me all these buildings, including a gym was bad enough but you aren't able to catch anything unscripted and any xp keeps getting reset every time. Also the bite size missions just do not match the series...
If that is not bad enough the enemies you face don't challenge you and the 3d effect is the least exciting use I have seen in any game designed for the 3ds.
Bob is an awful girls' name.
Boy, let me tell you - I'm certain that kids really care about framerates and the quality of 3D effects, until they're jaded.
Even though I'm in my early 30s, I couldn't care less about graphics. I just want games that are FTP - "Fun To Play."
If the games are fun, who cares whether or not they have the greatest graphics in the world? Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy games from the 80s and 90s certainly weren't graphical masterpieces, but that made them no less fun.
Get a grip.
@mjhopkins81 Yeah, what he said!
It wont let me put in my email address because it says I don't live in the UK even though I live in Ireland...
@The_Human_Toad Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland? ^_^
Pokemon Ruby on the GBA was my favourite of the Pokemon series. I never was addicted to the video games that much and over time i played them less and less. My son on the other hand got into them via Pokemon X & Y on the 3DS and it was nice that we both applied for a code each and got to play the demo. Obviously for him its another 'fresh' pokemon adventure for him to get stuck into, and for me its a nice familier game to play. The Demo got me excited enough to consider picking up one of the games when my son will very likely want to buy one. I have been concerned about the the frame rate dips and pauses between loading transitions sometimes, but I imagine this is purely down to the fact I have a huge SD card in my 3DS and the transfer speed isnt as good as what it would be on an actual retail cartridge.
So thanks once again Nintendolife for demo codes, and although it may not seem like everyones cup of tea considering some of the posts on here, there is one father and son team that is glad of the opportunity to play this demo. Thanks
I loved the demo, the 3D effect, the mega evolution !!!
I've never played a Pokemon game. Maybe I'll give it a try if they bring it on GBA Wii U VC.
how do you get the demo
@OneBagTravel Republic of Ireland
They really should go back to calling it Pocket Monsters, cause the word Pokemon sounds childish, while Pocket Monters sounds more universal.. could boost sales
I'm so glad it's not just me, thinking the demo was badly made. I could go on about it but to sum it up, it offers little entertaining exclusive content, has no interesting lore and the missions are poorly paced, repetitive and unoriginal. A couple of nice references, but overall it's pretty sloppy and lazily made.
The demo was pretty par for the course of what I would expect a Pokémon demo to be. I don't think it's a very good introduction to Pokémon though. The early game content of each game serves as a better intro, of course.
The demo'd graphics were pretty sloppy but i guess thats fairly normal considering its a demo. BUT! I hope that the final game has better graphics.
iv been playing pokemon since, pokemon red, back in 1996.
how do i get a download code for the demo for pokemon alpha ruby and omega ruby?
If you're in the UK, apply on Nintendolife.com (use the search function). If you're in the US, go to pokemon.com , register on the site, and sign up to receive the newsletter before October 22nd.
If you live anywhere else, check Serebii.net here: http://www.serebii.net/omegarubyalphasapphire/demo.shtml for details.
@The_Human_Toad you might have chose the wrong country I live in Ireland it let me do it
I got kind of annoyed when I couldn't just get the demo from the 3DS eshop Because I thought demos were supposed to get people to buy the game not a challenge to see who could obtain it.
But I am kind of glad I got it as you can transfer prizes from the demo to the full game.
@Fafnirchaos07 You are forgetting "Pocket monster" can be used as a sexual innuendo, which they avoided in the first place.
@HADAA LOL I just got it... wow
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