Pokémon ORAS on 3DS, magnificent 3D remake of Ruby/Sapphire. Hoenn revisited with Mega-Evolutions and Soaring. The Groudon/Kyogre story in its definitive version. An exemplary remake.
Your verdict
Category
RPG4 players7+
Description
A trainer explores the Hoenn region recreated in 3D and faces Team Aqua in this enriched remake of Pokémon Sapphire. Published by The Pokémon Company, released in Europe in November 2014. Mega Evolutions, Primal Kyogre legendary, new exclusive Mega Evolutions, DexNav to track species. Translated version including Korean.
Pokemon Alpha Sapphire review
4/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Striking"
MAX
Music
★★★★★
"Legendary"
3/5
Story
★★★★★
"Solid"
Lovingly re-orchestrating the Hoenn themes, this remake brings marine and heroic melodies back to life with a striking emotion. The richer arrangements elevate the crossing of the routes and the clash with rival teams. This nostalgic, polished reworking fulfils trainers who grew up with the region.
Gameplay
"Excellent"
Fun
"From the very first minutes"
Addictiveness
"Obsessive"
Revisiting the Hoenn region by catching, raising and evolving your team reignites the iconic collection loop, now enhanced with aerial exploration and Mega Evolutions. Completing the Pokédex and fine-tuning your battles extend things endlessly. The storyline is familiar, but this generous remake and the hunt for Pokémon keep a tenacious grip.
Difficulty
"Balanced"
Lifespan
"Massive"
Exploring a Hoenn region rebuilt in 3D revives a classic enriched with Mega Evolutions and a vast seafaring endgame. The ample main quest, completing the Pokédex and post-adventure challenges hold you for long hours. That generous remake, true to the series' collecting spirit, offers a lifespan dear to trainers.
Technical info
💾1,5 GB📅21/11/2014
Published by Nintendo
Pokemon Alpha Sapphire (3DS) price, value & rarity
The Japanese Rev 2 of Alpha Sapphire is the final build harmonised with the international versions. The domestic sleeve keeps the original Game Freak illustration with more restrained Japanese packaging than the Western variants. A reference piece for an Alpha Sapphire aligned with the multilingual Asian release, already including the Chinese and Korean builds.
Better with friends
A dazzling remake of a cult adventure, opening its trades and remote battles to link trainers around their patiently raised teams. The competition plays out in tactical duels, while mutual aid runs through trades that complete each other's Pokédex. Filling out your collection often needs a partner, but it's precisely that bond that turns two playthroughs into a shared adventure.
A questionable morality
The whole universe rests on a routine you never question while playing: you catch wild creatures, lock them inside little balls, then send them to fight in your place so you can become the best. Sold as a grand tale of friendship, the adventure mostly comes down to collecting living beings and making them brawl, which raises a smile in hindsight.
Is Pokemon Alpha Sapphire still worth playing in 2026?
Released in 2014 on 3DS, Game Freak's project is the remake of the 2002 Ruby and Sapphire entries, reinventing the Hoenn region with the series' modern tools. The three dimensional engine, Mega Evolution and Soaring on Latias or Latios to fly freely over the region breathe welcome freshness into a classic adventure of capture and turn based strategy. The post story content and the online functions flesh out the whole. The overall easiness and a sometimes rigid faithfulness divide. A generous and warm remake, recommended for those nostalgic about Hoenn and for fans of capture RPGs.
