Pokemon FireRed and Pokemon LeafGreen

 Review

Common Sense Media says

Revisit the original world of Pokemon.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

Kids say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that these are among few action-adventure games truly suited for younger players. If your kids are familiar with the original Pokemon Red and Blue games that were introduced by Game Boy in 1999, they'll find these more advanced versions of the game to their liking. However, younger players and those who haven't experienced Pokemon action will need extra time to work through the games' intricate details. Still, more features, awesome graphics, and an easy-to-navigate environment make FireRed and LeafGreen superior to the original versions.

  • Not applicable.
  • Because these are Pokemon games, you can expect to find many of the characters in the game that have made the Pokemon merchandise so popular.

What's it about?

POKEMON FIRERED AND POKEMON LEAFGREEN are both remakes of the original Pokemon Red and Blue games that were first introduced in 1999. The goal of the games is to build up a small army of Pokemon, which is done by meeting the many challenges that are presented throughout the games. As you get further into the games, the Pokemon gain abilities that will help you get through the later, more difficult stages. Your child will most likely need several hours of play before they build up enough Pokemon to get past the beginning stages of the games.


Is it any good?

 

While you'll find many of the same characters present in these newest versions, you'll also find many updates, including better graphics and single and multi-player modes. The games are great for younger players. For all but the very youngest players, these are easy games to pick up and play, even if you're not a Pokemon fan. Instead of fighting with swords or guns, players use cute and colorful Pokemon to do the fighting here.

Overall, these games are both winners for Nintendo and fans of Pokemon. They also have a high replay value, making them a worthy choice for your game library.


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What families can talk about

Families can talk about what makes playing these games fun. Is it frustrating to have to play to build up Pokemon?


This review was written by Chris Saunders
Adult
April 9, 2008
 
Revisit the Timeless Classic Again
I highly disagree with the reviewer when he says that this game is geared towards little kids - it's great for all ages. I had so much fun playing through this game when it first came out on my GameBoy Color, so it's a thrill to revisit this Nintendo classic. It's extremely addictive, and wireless play makes it even more so (you won't ever be able to go back to wires.) I think the graphics could be a little better, though - they're not bad, but compared to other GBA RPGs, they could use some inprovement Parents might want to know that while there is little to no violence in this game, there is a huge emphasis on gambling, which I'm surprised didn't go into the rating. This game is great - in fact, I'm gonna go play it right now.

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Teen, 18 years old
April 9, 2008
 
not as good as i expected, but...
this is pretty good. but whatever you do don't waste your money on buying a wireless adapter seperately for $20. my friend and i tried it when we both got the game and it could barely reach from my top floor to my basement(i have 3 stories). i mean why such a small range if you put a chat program in the game. you might as well walk to someone in person to talk to them if you can see them 50 feet away from you. but the gameplay is awesome. but i agree with that other review: the graphics could use some work. i can't believe i'm saying this but i think i didn't get my money's worth, i was half-excited for the wireless adapter and i was tricked with alot of others about that wireless adapter but the game is still good that's my main point.

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Teen, 18 years old
August 15, 2009
 
Amazing.
It was the first game boy advance I ever got. It's basically the classic enhanced with better graphics and some extra features. I love it. I can't say enough good things about it. Personally, I prefer Firered to Leafgreen.

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Teen, 17 years old
April 9, 2008
 
Cool And Addicting
Great, Loved It.... Teaches You Lots Of Things. Nothing Bad On It At All!

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Adult
April 9, 2008
 
OK with time limits
This game is OK, if you set some time limits on the kids play. Perhaps the greatest problem is the time lost to the game from activities with other people/activities which require more motion.

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Parent of 15 year old
October 11, 2009
 
perfect for 4+
ok

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Teen, 14 years old
February 24, 2011
 
One of the best Pokemon games to date.
I do have a bit of a bias toward this game, because it was my first venture into the world of Pokemon, and Nintendo made games. I first played this game when I was 6, and I picked up on the concept quite easily. This game blew my little 6 year old mind away. As far as GBA graphics go, they were very nice. Pokemon has a pick up and play nature, perfect for a handheld device. This game is a remake (or revamp) of Pokemon red and blue, the original games in the series. This game starts at the very beginning in Pallet Town, with all the original 151 pokemon catchable (well, except Mew). As a 6 year old to now I've logged about 70 hours into the game, but it took me nearly 30 to beat the main game because I wanted to see every nook and cranny of Kanto. Playing the game now, it takes me about 6 hours to beat. So, in short, if your child has a ds with a gba slot, get them this game.

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Teen, 15 years old
November 2, 2010
 
The perfect game for a junior pokemon fan
Pokemon FireRed was my first Pokemon game and it really got me interested in Pokemon. Also, I can't wait till Pokemon Black and White come out! I would recommend this to anyone at the minimum 6-7 years old.

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Teen, 14 years old
July 28, 2011
 
EMERALD is much better, and it's basically a combination of these two games.
My rating: E: mild cartoon violence

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Kid, 9 years old
July 6, 2011
 
GREAT!
Nothing Wrong, Just Some Violence, And THERE IS NO LANGUAGE BECAUSE THEY DO NOT TALK IN THIS GAME. NOR SEXUAL CONTENT.

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This review was written by Chris Saunders
Platforms:Game Boy Advance
Available online?Not available online
Genre:Action/Adventure
Developer:Nintendo
Release date:September 7, 2004
Price:$40
ESRB rating:E

This review was written by Chris Saunders

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About our rating system
ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.

 

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