SPOILERS! 2026 FireRed/LeafGreen Switch rerelease announced (standalone purchase)

[pika pal]

So the explanation for the price of the Gen 8 and 9 games going from $40-> $60 was being new releases on more advanced hardware that in theory give a better experience and tech capability.

What's the excuse for these emulated ports doubling in price from the previous ones Game Freak sold on an eShop?

More to the point, this doesn't offer anything significant in my honest opinion. The Switch duo already has a means to play through the entire Gen 1 Campaign via LGPE; All of the Pokemon are accessible with 2 games at most in Home Compatibility; Kanto mons are not uncommon with Go (it's actually a point of mockery in that community how often we revisit Kanto); GBA games aren't even hard to emulate on an average consumer computer if one was thinking of that (without endorsing it, this IS still an option re-releases have to account for); for the price these cost, there are significantly better games in the genre or otherwise available on a Steam sale.

So the market for this amounts to Switch 1 and 2 Owners who want to play Kanto again, don't have an old game of their own around, are willing to pay $20 for a digital port, and don't play on PC (whether for other Monster RPGs or the emulation competition). The fact that this half-hearted effort is the "preview" announcement before Pokemon Day either means they considered this throwaway (despite the constant consumer requests for accessibility on the old games) or genuinely think this would overshadow several other elements if it was announced in time with them (so little confidence in the spin-offs like Pokopia or Champions, and/or a hasty Gen 10 preview drop)

 

[Karxrida]

For starters, I initially projected this to be set at $30 U.S. a piece if these even happened at all.

$30 was the median price of GBA games when they were current. It would have been a ridiculous ripoff to resell them at that price, especially considering it sounds like there are minimal QoL.

The other reason is because I was comparing this when I wrote my first post to the Super Mario Galaxy ports which are $40 U.S. each and $70 for the bundle.

The Galaxy bundle was also an actual porting job with new textures, the slight alteration of a couple mechanics to compensate for the ability to play on a normal controller, and a significantly higher resolution than the originals. It was probably still way overpriced but at least effort was put into the bundle and it wasn't just a ROM dump.

I guess what I was trying to say was that this is a decent deal relative to what it could have been

This also could have been a two game bundle that only cost $10. Then it wouldn't feel like we're being ripped off as badly. Even though you can go on Steam and buy Fallout: New Vegas with all its DLC at that price.

GBA games aren't even hard to emulate on an average consumer computer if one was thinking of that (without endorsing it, this IS still an option re-releases have to account for)

afaik the GBA is one of the easiest consoles to emulate period. I have a distinct memory of seeing someone playing a Hoenn game on their iPod Touch (not even iPhone) during middle school/high school circa 2007-2009.

 

[Ironmage]

I probably would have been excited if this was coming out a couple years ago. Now, though, my Switch 1 has its battery failing from several years of me not owning a TV and I went Steam Deck over Switch 2 because of a lack of interest in the bigger games for the latter. It's clearly not trying to be a system seller, but the fact that it isn't one means I can't be bothered with it all that much.

 

[QuentinQuonce]

So this is finally happening.

Not that I'm planning on getting a Switch any time soon but the prospect of bringing your Pokemon all the way up from FRLG carts and then getting to send them "home" is... fucking cool, I gotta say. Wonder if the fact they'll be Home-compatible means there'll be another Pokedex completion challenge added on there... I could see Deoxys being the reward for a complete FRLG Kanto dex, and Jirachi the reward for a complete RSE Hoenn dex when RSE inevitably drop in the future. As Terimas noted above, Deoxys hasn't yet been Switch-native yet.

It'll be very funny if RSE are not also eventually released and your national dex is stuck as all of kanto + a light smattering of Johto + exactly two Hoenn Pokemon.

I was just thinking this, it's an amusing twist on the past. Though if they're compatible with Colosseum that'll be (nearly) all of the first 251 + a light smattering of Hoenn species.

I wonder how the Home connectivity handles Pokémon that you can't legally obtain in FRLG. If I obtain a Treecko in the game through either glitches or hacks, will Home reject it? Most likely yes, if I had to guess.

I doubt it tbh, the games have never had that level of sophistication in their legality checks. If something is illegal but in a passable way (for instance, a Pokemon obtained in one game but knowing an egg move it only gets in a later one) it's typically been able to pass through checks - certain illegal stuff can be transferred from Bank to Home.

Hope all the scrapped and time exclusive events are included like:
- Altering Cave having all the Johto Pokemon with adaptive changing encountering
- Navel Rock and other event places being unlocked to catch Ho-Oh, Lugia and Deoxys

First one probably not, second one fairly likely.

Not complaining because old pokémon games becoming more accessible is always a good thing but of all games why possibly the worst in the franchise? If it was one of the good ones I'd buy it but these two are getting a pass from me.

Do you even have to ask? We all know the answer...

K

A

N

T

O

 

[MoonlightRose]

Do you even have to ask? We all know the answer...

K

A

N

T

O

But why FireRed and LeafGreen over the actually good Kanto games though? Gen 1's jank and not having everything figured out gives it a charm that the remakes don't have.

 

[R_N]

I know FRLG isn't my favorite by any means (always felt a bit sterile) but are we really going to pretend the game is completely without merit or charm that people might like.

 

[QuentinQuonce]

But why FireRed and LeafGreen over the actually good Kanto games though? Gen 1's jank and not having everything figured out gives it a charm that the remakes don't have.

This is asked in the official Q&A and they waffle a bit about giving fans "the upgraded experience"

• We thought users will appreciate the ultimate versions of those original adventures, which add various features and upgrades to the contents of Pokémon Red Version and Pokémon Blue Version.

So, basically... I don't know. I guess because RGBY were already available more recently via the 3DS, so these are "newer" releases. And also because they're easier to make compatible with Home, I suppose.

 

[CodeFour]

It's hard playing the old games. The art is charming but some features like single use TM's really get in the way of enjoying it. It's not even just the twenty dollars I don't know if I even feel like playing the same story for the 50th time just to what? Send a bold natured, EV mess Charizard that knows cut and fire spin to home?

Online battles would have changed it. Sending to champions and having online gen 3 battles would certainly be interesting too.

Deoxys event wouldn't quite be enough.

I'll pass under our current understanding and encourage anyone that feels the same to do so also.

 

[Karxrida]

It's hard playing the old games. The art is charming but some features like single use TM's really get in the way of enjoying it.

People exaggerate how awful single-use TMs were. They were a perfectly valid game design decision in the context of a singleplayer adventure and were only a problem when trying to engage with postgame challenges or PVP. They even came back in SV and weren't an huge issue outside of the aforementioned PVP prep.

Plus some of the most important TMs like Flamethrower can be repurchased infinitely anyway.

It's not even just the twenty dollars I don't know if I even feel like playing the same story for the 50th time just to what? Send a bold natured, EV mess Charizard that knows cut and fire spin to home?

Outside of Cut how is this that much different from modern Pokémon? Like SV has the mints in the overworld but you cannot realistically optimize any Pokémon in an efficient manner until lategame or postgame anyway.

 

[doipy hooves]

It's hard playing the old games. The art is charming but some features like single use TM's really get in the way of enjoying it. It's not even just the twenty dollars I don't know if I even feel like playing the same story for the 50th time just to what? Send a bold natured, EV mess Charizard that knows cut and fire spin to home?

Um actually you would probably have to delete Cut before transferring to HOME if it's like Pal Park with its HM move restrictions.

 

[CodeFour]

People exaggerate how awful single-use TMs were. They were a perfectly valid game design decision in the context of a singleplayer adventure and were only a problem when trying to engage with postgame challenges or PVP. They even came back in SV and weren't an huge issue outside of the aforementioned PVP prep.

Plus some of the most important TMs like Flamethrower can be repurchased infinitely anyway.


Outside of Cut how is this that much different from modern Pokémon? Like SV has the mints in the overworld but you cannot realistically optimize any Pokémon in an efficient manner until lategame or postgame anyway.

I don't want to start like a back and forth on this. I feel like my opinion is valid and SV is different because it is new. The lack of super training from Gen 6 is always a complaint of mine but SV was fun-ish to play as a new game.

I would be happy if this was released under the subscription but this feels lazy and greedy.

 

[Yung Dramps]

Re-iterating a thing I said in the other thread: I'm hoping that the reason they revealed FRLG specificially a week early is because on Pokemon Day they'll show off a roadmap for further games to be released on the EShop over the next year or so. Something like...

-April-May: GSC and/or HGSS
-Summer: RSE and/or ORAS
-Winter: DPPt
-Q1 2027: BW1+2

If they did this by the end we would've approached something at least resembling acceptable access to the older games while being appropriate to celebrate the anniversary by touring from era to era over a year's time. Still subpar, honestly, but even this feels unreasonable to expect so I dunno

 

[Esserise]

Re-iterating a thing I said in the other thread: I'm hoping that the reason they revealed FRLG specificially a week early is because on Pokemon Day they'll show off a roadmap for further games to be released on the EShop over the next year or so. Something like...

-April-May: GSC and/or HGSS
-Summer: RSE and/or ORAS
-Winter: DPPt
-Q1 2027: BW1+2

If they did this by the end we would've approached something at least resembling acceptable access to the older games while being appropriate to celebrate the anniversary by touring from era to era over a year's time. Still subpar, honestly, but even this feels unreasonable to expect so I dunno

I imagine we probably will get Ruby & Sapphire (and then later Emerald), but I kinda feel like they might space them out over a few years like they did with Gens 1 and 2 on the 3DS:

27 February 2016 - RGBY
22 September 2017 - Gold & Silver
26 January 2018 - Crystal

Sure, they don’t have to do it like that… but let’s just say I’m managing my expectations, lol. I’d be surprised if they considered these things to be a high priority rather than just a little something to fill in the gaps between major main series releases.

As for the DS games getting released like this, personally I think that feels like a pipe dream. I’m not counting on that happening for a long time, if ever.

(I wonder if we’ll be able to glean anything about their plans from HOME datamining, you know like how Bank had two origin mark flags or whatever for the scrapped Z games and how there were enough flags for the Game Boy origin mark to accommodate all of the Gens 1 and 2 games? So even if there’s not a formal roadmap laid out, we may still get some (granted, subject-to-change) clues.)

 

[Mad Ram]

So this is why HOME support for L:ZA has been taking so long. Now I see. Least it would make sense. Rerelease the games with HOME compatibility and at the same time add it in for ZA too instead of two separate updates. If that doesn't happen though, this will look pretty silly.

 

[doipy hooves]

https://www.nintendo.com/us/whatsne...ing-to-nintendo-switch-in-multiple-languages/

Nintendo has put out an article claiming you can encounter the "original 151 Pokemon" in FRLG. Does anyone think Mew will be added to FRLG or is this just a misguided appeal to Kanto?

In these Nintendo Switch versions of the 2004 remakes of the first Pokémon games Pokémon Red and Pokémon Green (originally released in Japan in 1996), players can encounter the games’ original 151 Pokémon. Enjoy the classic soundtrack and turn-based gameplay, and meet-up familiar faces like Brock, Misty, Professor Oak and Giovanni! These classic Game Boy Advance RPGs feature all of the updates introduced during the Game Boy Advance era, including abilities, natures, weather conditions, held items and the ability to select your player character’s gender. Nintendo Switch players can also now link up with friends via local co-op² without the need to use a Game Link Cable like you did in 2004!

Also the ability to select your gender was introduced in Crystal smh.

EDIT: And also weather and held items were introduced in Gen 2 as a whole. Nintendo.com really blundered here.

 

[ScraftyIsTheBest]

Nintendo has put out an article claiming you can encounter the "original 151 Pokemon" in FRLG. Does anyone think Mew will be added to FRLG or is this just a misguided appeal to Kanto?

I wouldn't rule out the possibility of Mew being distributed via Mystery Gift, since that's how mythicals are usually distributed

 

[Mad Ram]

I won't rule out some special method to obtain it. They did add the GS ball into Crystal VC after all. I'd be cautious though since it could just be a marketing flub.

 

[Castersvarog]

Gonna be honest, I’m not super impressed.
I am just not willing to pay $30 bucks for a 2003 gba game when there are both much bigger, much better, and/or cheaper games available.
If it had online multiplayer, sure I’d be interested because it would be neat. But as it is, nah

 

[tentaghost]

Plus some of the most important TMs like Flamethrower can be repurchased infinitely anyway.

I mean at that point you may as well make them infinite use.

Edit: as for my feelings on the matter,
As fire red was the first pokemon game ive ever played, its nice to see it getting released, just purely out of nostalgia but im not gonna bother with these, im already kinda iffy on pokemon nowadays (mostly through how the games are designed) and i already have wayy too many rpgs that im playing right now so adding a game as slow as gen 3 into the mix is not happening, if i wanna play fire red again i have plenty of other options.

 

[bdt2002]

Random question about Deoxys for Pokémon HOME for no one in particular. Do Deoxys’s Formes get treated separately or as a combined unit in this? Hypothetically speaking, a Deoxys transferred from FireRed to HOME should always be Attack Forme, and Defense Forme for LeafGreen players. I don’t know if this is a big nothing burger or if it actually means something, but what I do know is that Psycho Boost will be back in the game files between this and Shadow Lugia post-purification more than likely.

 

[R_N]

Random question about Deoxys for Pokémon HOME for no one in particular. Do Deoxys’s Formes get treated separately or as a combined unit in this? Hypothetically speaking, a Deoxys transferred from FireRed to HOME should always be Attack Forme, and Defense Forme for LeafGreen players. I don’t know if this is a big nothing burger or if it actually means something, but what I do know is that Psycho Boost will be back in the game files between this and Shadow Lugia post-purification more than likely.

Deoxys retains its form when placed into Home. iirc it retained its form when taken to Pal Park as well.
Anyway Deoxys is in both BDSP and SV, with Psycho Boost in tow so it's a bit irrelevant.

 

[bdt2002]

Deoxys retains its form when placed into Home. iirc it retained its form when taken to Pal Park as well.
Anyway Deoxys is in both BDSP and SV, with Psycho Boost in tow so it's a bit irrelevant.

Ah. Gotcha. I was wondering if we’ll get Psycho Boost Lugia back primarily, but I guess Deoxys itself wouldn’t be related to this. “Purification moves” are treated similarly to event exclusives, after all. For some reason I falsely thought Psycho Boost got Dexited (I likely was thinking of Legends Z-A by accident knowing all of the Hoenn stuff going on in that DLC) which is where my confusion here came from.

 

[Nickeljorn]

Also the ability to select your gender was introduced in Crystal smh.

EDIT: And also weather and held items were introduced in Gen 2 as a whole. Nintendo.com really blundered here.

I feel like they were trying to say "in between the original games and the remakes" which would include both II and III but couldn't word it in a way that wouldn't lead to a run on sentence (because if they just said after the original games came out people would assume they added stuff like the physical special split)

I wouldn't rule out the possibility of Mew being distributed via Mystery Gift, since that's how mythicals are usually distributed

Mew got a Virtual Console Mystery Gift distribution in Japan when the VC versions of RGBY came out

 

[R_N]

Ah. Gotcha. I was wondering if we’ll get Psycho Boost Lugia back primarily, but I guess Deoxys itself wouldn’t be related to this. “Purification moves” are treated similarly to event exclusives, after all. For some reason I falsely thought Psycho Boost got Dexited (I likely was thinking of Legends Z-A by accident knowing all of the Hoenn stuff going on in that DLC) which is where my confusion here came from.

In general, if they wanted Lugia to still have Psycho Boost, they would have either given it as maybe a level up move in SWSH (Deoxys wasn't in the game and Psycho Boost was disabled, which is probably what you were thinking of) or SV (BDSP we'll give a pass on since there were very minimal moevset tweeks)

Not every purification move made the cut. I vaguely recall looking into this before, and it came across more like the ones that did were more coincidental. It's likely Lugia will never get the move again and they want Deoxys to be the only user of it.

We saw something similar with Heart Swap. It used to be on both Manaphy and Magearna (by level, not event), but Manaphy wasn't in SWSH and they purposely disabled + removed it from Magearna and it didn't get it back in SV (or Z-A but tbf not only is Manaphy not there, judging by L:A it wouldn't be there either).

 

[Esserise]

Mew got a Virtual Console Mystery Gift distribution in Japan when the VC versions of RGBY came out

Oh right, I forgot about that. So they can still do Mystery Gift distributions for these games… I’d been wondering about that. I guess in that case we can’t rule out the possibility that the Mystic and Aurora Tickets might just be given out as plain old Wi-Fi events?