Pokemon Ruby

Introduction: Pokémon Ruby is an official Game Boy Advance title released in 2002, co-launching the third generation of the series. The story is set in the Hoenn region, a large landmass with a significant focus on the sea and the primal conflict between the legendary Pokémon Groudon and Kyogre. The game uses a vibrant, colorful 2D sprite style with more detailed environments and character animations than its predecessors.

Gameplay & Mechanics: The player chooses one of three starter Pokémon: Treecko (Grass), Torchic (Fire), or Mudkip (Water). Its difficulty is considered standard for the series, though its late-game water routes can feel lengthy. It is not inherently Nuzlocke-friendly beyond the standard ruleset. Mechanically, it introduced Pokémon Abilities and Natures, which permanently affect a Pokémon's performance in battle. The Physical/Special split based on move type did not exist yet; instead, the category was determined by a move's elemental type. It features a day/night cycle, but time does not affect wild encounters or evolutions.

Key Features:

• Introduction of Double Battles as a core battle format, with specific Trainers and a dedicated Gym Leader using them.
• The PokéNav device, which includes the Match Call feature to re-battle Trainers and the AreaNav for tracking unseen Pokémon on routes.
• Secret Bases, which are customizable, private caves or tree hollows that can be decorated and linked with friends via the Game Link Cable.

This generation established many core mechanics that would define the series for years to come.