Praise was given to the addition of the Battle Frontier and for fixing story elements from Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire.

Much of the game takes place in an overhead style; players' characters can move in four directions and can talk to other people on the overworld.

This can be accomplished either by using a Game Boy Advance Link Cable or by use of the wireless adapter that was bundled with FireRed and LeafGreen.

The players' characters are given a device early on called the PokéNav, which allows players to view the world map, check their Pokémon's contest stats, and make and receive phone calls with trainers that they have met with whom they can chat or plan a battle.

This also allows players to re-battle Gym Leaders, an ability not found in previous Pokémon games.

A man whom players encounter several times throughout the game will eventually allow them to access the Battle Frontier after beating the Pokémon League Champion.

The Japanese version features compatibility with the Nintendo e-Reader; however, this was cut for the English release due to its lack of success.

Players can choose between either a boy or girl, both of whom have been given new outfits with a green color scheme, and one of three Pokémon before they proceed from their hometown into the rest of the game's world.

Between the player's visit to the seventh and eighth gyms, both teams summon their respectively-sought legendary Pokémon with mystical orbs stolen from Mt.

Pyre; however, the Pokémon refuse to obey either team and begin fighting, which puts the world in a constantly switching state of droughts and heavy rainfalls.

[5][6] The player gains access to a battle with former Hoenn League Champion Steven Stone in Meteor Falls, who uses a powered-up version of his team in Ruby and Sapphire.

[8] The wireless adapter was bundled with Japanese copies of Emerald; this was removed from English versions of the game.

[10] A limited edition Game Boy Advance SP was released by Nintendo which featured a silhouette of the Pokémon Rayquaza.

[13] Players who brought their Game Boy Advance with a copy of Emerald and a wireless adapter to Booth 2029 of the 2005 Comic-Con International were given an in-game item called the Mystic Ticket which allows players the opportunity to capture Lugia and Ho-oh.

[14] Pokémon Emerald received generally positive reception and holds aggregate scores of 76/100 and 76.65% on Metacritic and GameRankings respectively.

[22] IGN's Craig Harris stated that while he was not enthused by Emerald, he admitted that it was a solid game and that it was the best version to get for people who hadn't played Ruby or Sapphire yet.

[23] GameSpot's Ryan Davis noted that it was a quality experience despite being similar to Ruby and Sapphire and that hardcore fans may appreciate its changes.

[19] Eurogamer's Corey Brotherson felt that it was a good game in its own right but was lacking in compelling additions.

[24] Nintendo Life's Laurie Blake performed a retroactive review of Emerald; she felt that the Pokémon games have aged well but still feel like they did in 1996.

[26] IGN's Audrey Drake praised the game for utilizing both of the villain groups and called it a "marked departure" from Ruby and Sapphire.

[30] Fellow 1UP.com editor Kat Bailey included it in her list of remakes that "left the originals in the dust".