Pokémon Box: Ruby and Sapphire[a] or simply Pokémon Box[b], is a spin-off Pokémon game for the GameCube, bundled with a GameCube – Game Boy Advance link cable and a 59-block Memory Card.[1] It was released in Japan on May 30, 2003, and in North America on July 12, 2004,[2] but only through the New York Pokémon Center and its online store.[1]
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|---|---|
 Logo of Pokémon Box: Ruby and Sapphire. | |
| Developer(s) | Nintendo EAD Game Freak |
| Publisher(s) | |
| Director(s) | Tatsuya Hishida Kenta Usui Junichi Masuda |
| Producer(s) |
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| Series | Pokémon |
| Platform(s) | GameCube |
| Release | |
| Genre(s) | Role-playing |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
The game was released in some parts of Europe as Pokémon Memory Magic due to translation problems[3] and Europeans could only get the game by using points from Nintendo of Europe's loyalty program or by buying the Pokémon Colosseum Mega Pack.[4]
Gameplay
editThe game is essentially a storage system for the Game Boy Advance Pokémon games that allow players to trade and store Pokémon that they have caught in Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, FireRed and LeafGreen onto a GameCube memory card.[5][6] Players can then organize and interact with their Pokémon on the GameCube, such as allowing them to breed. Unique Pokémon can also be acquired. Another feature allows Ruby and Sapphire to be played on the television via the GameCube – Game Boy Advance link cable. Options such as taking screenshots of the game are available in this mode.[7] Another addition is the "Showcase", where players can create and display game pieces of Pokémon.[8]
Reception
editNintendo referred to the game as "the most exclusive Pokémon software ever offered to North American Pokémon fans,"[9] but it was considered to be unnecessary by some publications. [10]
Craig Harris of IGN gave the game a rating of 5/10, praising the interface, which makes the organization of Pokémon much easier as compared to the Game Boy Advance interface, as well as the emulator which allows Ruby and Sapphire to be played on the GameCube. He also stated that the game was a good deal due to the inclusion of a memory card and link cable. However, Harris criticized the "Showcase" as "entirely unnecessary and completely out of place", and said that overall the game lacked much to do. He wrote, "It's targeted specifically for the truly die-hard Pokemon fan, but it requires so many specific elements to actually be useful to anyone."[8] Allgame gave the game three and a half out of five stars.
It later became one of the rarest games for the GameCube, with copies selling for thousands of dollars on eBay. [11]
References
edit- ^ a b Harris, Craig (July 20, 2004). "IGN: Pokemon Box: Ruby and Sapphire Preview". IGN. News Corporation. Archived from the original on April 3, 2012. Retrieved September 28, 2008.
- ^ Harris, Craig (2004-06-08). "Pokemon Box Coming Stateside". IGN. Archived from the original on May 13, 2024. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
- ^ Tim (September 28, 2008). "N-Europe: News: Pokémon Name Change". N-Europe. Archived from the original on September 25, 2011. Retrieved February 15, 2009.
- ^ Boyd, Ashley (May 15, 2004). "N-Europe: News: Pokémon Box Gets Starring Role". N-Europe. Archived from the original on October 2, 2011. Retrieved September 28, 2008.
- ^ "Pokémon Box E3 2003 Preshow Report". GameSpot. Archived from the original on June 29, 2022. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
- ^ "Pokémon Box Ruby and Sapphire Impressions". GameSpot. Archived from the original on June 29, 2022. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
- ^ "Pokémon Box Ruby and Sapphire Impressions". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. July 10, 2003. Archived from the original on November 6, 2012. Retrieved September 28, 2008.
- ^ a b Harris, Craig (July 23, 2004). "IGN: Pokemon Box: Ruby and Sapphire Review". IGN. News Corporation. Archived from the original on December 5, 2011. Retrieved September 28, 2008.
- ^ a b Marriott, Scott Alan. "Pokémon Box > Overview". Allgame. Macrovision Corporation. Archived from the original on January 2, 2010. Retrieved September 28, 2008.
- ^ "Pokemon Box: Ruby and Sapphire Reviews". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on October 11, 2012. Retrieved September 28, 2008.
- ^ Kapron, Nicola Jean (2022-02-11). "Pokemon Box: Ruby and Sapphire is One of the Most Expensive GameCube Games on eBay". Game Rant. Retrieved 2025-01-01.