Pokemon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire Reviews

Pokemon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire is ranked in the 86th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
Drew Leachman
Top Critic
8.5 / 10.0
Dec 2, 2014

Even with a more minimal story, Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire are still solid Pokémon games, and even very good turn-based RPGs. There's no denying the fact that these games require thought and strategy to beat, and there's always a ton of things to see and do in them. For Pokémon fans, of course you should pick this up. For people asking "will this get me into the series?" the answer is maybe.

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9 / 10.0
Nov 28, 2014

Far more than a simple remake, Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire returns players to the past, with all the new bells and whistles intact in this latest installment.

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Examiner
Top Critic
Nov 21, 2014

As I've said a number of times, this is Pokemon. You are more than likely getting what you expect from the game. With that said, the lack of the Battle Frontier and the removal of customization has left many fans scratching their heads. Game Freak has been notorious for adding great features one game and then removing them in the next. It was no different in ORAS, and as a result I docked the games a couple of points.

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Will Greenwald
Top Critic
Dec 15, 2014

Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire for the Nintendo 3DS update the classic Gen III Ruby/Sapphire games with 3D graphics and polished mechanics worthy of a modern Pokemon title.

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9 / 10.0
Nov 29, 2014

After only fourteen hours playing through Pokémon Alpha Sapphire, I was stunned to see the credits rolling down the screen. After all, the Hoenn region had always been my favorite, and I recalled spending at least thirty hours reaching the end of Emerald the last time I had played it. I figured that since I was tasked to review the newest Pokémon title, I would want to get the review out in a timely manner. As such, I sped through the game trying to get the review up as fast as possible. I was stalled in my mission, however, as after completing the game I began engaging in all the extra content hidden within the Generation III remakes. This is where the Pokémon games have always shined, and continue to shine: Not the content on the surface of the game, although that too is still incredibly addicting, but all the extra content layered underneath.

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9 / 10
Nov 18, 2014

Overall, Pokémon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire seem very similar to Pokémon X & Y, as you might expect, but the story and the environments you encounter feel – despite the fact that they are remakes – very fresh and unique. They're not an extensive upgrade from their other 3DS counterparts, but any Poké-fan who's played one of the series remakes in the past knows that expecting an enormous upgrade is a fool's errand. These titles should be considered as games that belong alongside X & Y, rather than successors. — they've successfully surpassed X & Y, however, by building on the tremendous features available on the 3DS and pushing new ideas such as the Soar ability. Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire are a must-buy for any Poké-fan, even if you already own X or Y.

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Ray Carsillo
Top Critic
8.5 / 10.0
Nov 18, 2014

New features like DexNav and the soar ability add just enough new gameplay elements to the classic Pokémon formula to help make this decade-old adventure feel new again.

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89%
Dec 19, 2014

Exceptional entries in the series that include some great new mechanics.

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8 / 10
Jan 4, 2015

Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire are solid additions to an already beloved franchise, and can be enjoyed by both longtime fans and newcomers alike. I do wish it had been slightly more challenging, however, as I often found myself over-leveled and smashing through gyms. Though the post-game content makes up for that by offering a wealth of activities to keep you interested. Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire has a little bit of something to offer everyone.

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8 / 10.0
Dec 9, 2014

These little quirks and irritants don't make it a bad game. It is, in fact, good. But without them, it could have been great.

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7 / 10
Dec 27, 2014

Game Freak takes Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire into the third dimension, but the remakes lack the polish to make them truly glimmer.

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4.1 / 5.0
Nov 24, 2014

Pokémon games have been around for almost two decades now, and whether it's an entirely new set of adventures or updated classics like Pokémon Alpha Sapphire and Omega Ruby, the core gameplay formula remains virtually untouched. More features are added to burst the seams of content, with extra activities from the originals carried over. Some may find much of them completely optional, but every Pokémon fan can find a way to lose dozens to hundreds of hours exploring the Hoenn region once again.

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NZGamer
Top Critic
9.6 / 10.0
Dec 2, 2014

They succeed, with soaring colours.

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4 / 5.0
Nov 25, 2014

Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire may not be perfect, but they're an exciting step forward for the long-running franchise.

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8 / 10.0
Dec 3, 2014

Much like the previous remakes; it separates itself from the rest of the games in the series, and has allowed the developers to truly experiment. It's not perfect - it's not even my favorite remake - but it is one of the distinguished Pokemon games that I have played in years.

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GBAtemp
Ryukouki
Top Critic
8.2 / 10.0
Nov 24, 2014

This game has a ton of strong points and few weaknesses, with one of the weaknesses possible to fix in the form of DLC. It's a very solid title that deserves to be purchased if you enjoyed the previous versions. For sure one of the better games of the franchise, and could well be THE definitive game of the series if Game Freak plays its cards right.

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7.1 / 10.0
Dec 26, 2014

Alpha Sapphire and Omega Ruby don't break the mold, but as remakes they improve the experience in every way.

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8 / 10.0
Jan 3, 2015

With its new features, Omega Ruby puts me in good spirits for what the next generation of Pokémon games will bring. It may be easier than past titles, but there are ways to make it a little more difficult if you prefer. A solid entry into the franchise.

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9 / 10.0
Nov 18, 2014

Many of the features, like Pokémon-Amie, return to the game, but they managed to make extra subtle tweaks in this remake. Locations and situations have been changed up, capturing monsters is delightfully tweaked with the sneak mechanic, and the pace of the adventure is nice and brisk. While getting Mega Stones is a chore and presentation is still somewhat inconsistent, Game Freak knows once again how to pull off a remake in style.

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Cubed3
Top Critic
9 / 10
Dec 22, 2014

Remaking one of the lesser appreciated entries to the Pokémon juggernaut could have been a risky endeavour, yet with adding all the improvements to the mainline games since to Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire makes even the preserved negatives of the originals seem smaller in hindsight. A worthy choice for people new to the series, yet providing enough new functionality for fans, as well, these jewels are worth preserving.

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