Curious about how Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen differ when played on the Nintendo Switch systems? Read on to find out.
After 21 years, millions of fans can once again experience a one-of-a-kind journey through the Kanto region, thanks to Nintendo porting the classic Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen to Switch 1 and 2.
Surprisingly, despite these games being widely available on emulators, players still cannot get enough of the joy of experiencing them the way they were originally meant to be played on the Game Boy Advance.
If you already have the latest Nintendo Switch 2, or if you want to play something new on your old Switch 1, you might be having second thoughts on whether you should purchase Pokemon FireRed or LeafGreen at the eShop.
This post will give you all the insights we have so far about the games for the said platforms, so you can decide if those few bucks you’ll spend will be worth it.
Keep reading:
- 10 Best Pokemon Games for the Nintendo Switch
- All HM Locations in Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen
- How to Obtain All 3 Starter Pokemon in FireRed and LeafGreen
Is the Nintendo Switch version of Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen Different?
The short answer here is no, as long as we’re talking about the content of both games. The available Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen at the eShop are exactly the same copies as the ones released for the Game Boy Advance.
Regardless of what you’re playing, you’ll get the same region to explore, the same story, and the same version-exclusive Pokemon that you can capture in the wild.
Some players might assume that since the Nintendo Switch systems had larger screens than the Game Boy Advance, the pixel graphics of Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen would look stretched and unappealing.
However, after downloading and playing the games ourselves, that does not seem to be the case. In fact, it almost feels like you are playing on an enlarged version of the Game Boy Advance, especially with the Joy-Cons attached.
Playing on Switch vs. emulators
Now, if we make the question specific to comparing the Switch versions of Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen to emulators, there are a couple of obvious differences that you should expect.
For starters, if you’re used to playing the old Pokemon games on emulators, you’ll definitely feel the restrictions of playing Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen on a Switch device.
When playing Pokemon FireRed or LeafGreen on the Switch, the only way to save your progress is through the in-game save feature.
Unlike emulators that allow save states at any moment, even during battles or while attempting to catch a specific Pokemon, the Switch version only lets you save whenever you can access the in-game menu.
Also, if you want to go back to your last save point, you’ll need to exit the game, open it again, and go through the recap scenes of the things that you recently did. This is something that you don’t need to experience while playing the said games on an emulator.
Another major difference when playing the games on the Switch is the lack of cheat support. We will explain why cheats are not available in the Switch versions of Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen later, but the short answer is simple. You cannot use cheat codes in the Switch versions of the games.
Using Cheat Codes
Some people might manage to “cheat” their way into the games, such as taking advantage of the glitches like the Nugget Bridge glitch or using “tools” that you can only install on your Switch device if you did something that Nintendo won’t like and we don’t recommend.
We won’t be digging deeper into the details here, but you get the point.
Can You Trade Pokemon in FireRed and LeafGreen on Switch?
Trading is still an essential feature in Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen, so it remains available in the Nintendo Switch versions of the games. To obtain Pokemon that evolve through trading, such as Graveler and Haunter, you can use the local wireless option (Trade Center) on the second floor of any Pokemon Center.
If the Games Are the Same as the Original, Why Do People Still Play the Switch Versions?
The reason may vary for each person who buys the games. However, we believe that the release of the Switch ports of Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen appears to be part of The Pokemon Company’s strategy to build hype for the franchise’s 30th anniversary.
If you are a Pokemon fan who has loved the games since the early 2000s and already own a Switch 1 or Switch 2, you will likely want to take part in the celebration as well.
Some players might argue that the $20 price tag for each GBA title is a bit steep, but it is still much cheaper compared to the price of most games available on the Nintendo eShop.
Nostalgia likely plays a major role as well, since Pokemon appealed to many millennials who grew up playing the games as children.
The best reason we’re seeing, however, is the future compatibility of Pokemon HOME for both FireRed and LeafGreen. This means a lot for some players, since they can basically transfer some of their compatible Shiny Pokemon from FR/LG to Pokemon HOME and vice versa.
Generation 3 titles are known for having one of the most terrible odds of Shiny encounters in the series. Because of this, players would save a lot of effort if they could transfer a Shiny Charmander caught in Pokemon GO and use it in FireRed or LeafGreen instead.
Conclusion
With all the information above, you can now decide whether Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen are worth playing on the Nintendo Switch.
If you own a Switch 1 or 2, playing the Generation 3 games still makes sense, especially if you also have other Pokemon titles that support Pokemon HOME.
On the other hand, if you are used to playing on an emulator, the Switch versions may feel a bit restrictive. In that case, you can continue playing on your preferred platform and even take advantage of some Pokemon FireRed cheats available here at Pokecoders.
