About the Game
Pokémon Emerald is a role-playing game where the player must explore the Hoenn region, catch and train Pokémon, and defeat powerful trainers to become the Pokémon Champion. The game was developed by Game Freak and originally released for the Game Boy Advance in 2005. It is now available through various Nintendo platforms and emulators. The game’s target audience includes fans of adventure and strategy games, and players who enjoy collecting and battling creatures. The game is also for those who enjoy immersive, story-driven experiences and nostalgic gameplay.
“How does the game invite the player to care about the world through its narrative and/or formal elements?”
Pokémon Emerald invites players to care about the world of Pokémon through the embedded narrative and the objective of the game.
Taking a closer look at the embedded narrative, we see a variety of supporting characters in this world that help the player feel immersed. According to the article “the Psychology of World Building” by Gabriela Pereira, she writes, “The supporting cast also plays a part because they influence your main character and that character’s journey.” One example of this notion is Professor Birch. In the image below, when the player opens up the game, Birch explains the world and what a pokemon is in the embedded text (see image below). He also is the one who gives the player the Pokédex, a tool that will assist the player on their journey. Likewise, some other supporting characters include May and Wally, who will be the player’s rivals/friends. This drives the aesthetic of competition and fellowship, creating the player’s experience of fun and immersion. Another tool this game leverages is the third person limited point of view. This is because this POV gives the player a sense of discovery as they explore this creative world. Additionally, since the story unfolds only through the protagonist’s eyes, the player naturally identifies with them. Even though the character doesn’t speak, the player’s actions drive the narrative. For example, the player chooses their starter, which pokemon to catch, and how they battle. These actions foster emotional investment.
In regards to formal elements, the objective of this game is to catch and train Pokémon, and defeat powerful trainers to become the Pokémon Champion (the outcome). The narrative elements as seen are intertwined with the objective and outcome. But looking at how they invite the player, we see that the objective and outcome themselves create a strong emotional connection to the world. For example, catching and training Pokémon, encourages the player to develop bonds with individual Pokémon. These Pokémon aren’t just tools for victory, they become the player’s companions, making each gym badge (milestone towards the outcome) feel meaningful. Pokemon drive the aesthetic of fellowship. Similarly, the goal of becoming the Pokémon Champion gives players a long-term purpose, while also encouraging them to explore the entire world/region. Ultimately, unfolding the story that is embedded in this game. Further, this structured yet open-ended goal allows the player to become deeply invested in the world of Hoenn, through engaging with different trainers, different routes, and different Pokémon.
Professor Birch
May, the player’s Rival and Friend
Choosing a starter
Ethics: Personalization of Character
An aspect of this game that can be improved is the personalization of the protagonists, specifically being more open-minded. I noticed that when a player is choosing gender for this game, there are only two options—”BOY” or “GIRL” (see image below). One way to improve the inclusivity of this game could be to let the player customize the character completely without ever asking this question directly. For example, the player could be given a blank character and choose every aspect for those who want to. To offset the players who don’t enjoy customizing their characters, there could be a default one already created, which could look like having a more male-presenting character and a more female-presenting character. Similarly, there could be an option to change the skin tone of the character, which could increase the connection to the playable character. This could be difficult to execute, but if done well, could really personalize the experience of Pokémon.
