#3. Pokemon FireRed/LeafGreen (GBA)
Back in 2003, when Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire originally released, they created a problem- not only were they incompatible with the existing Pokemon games at the time, but they also only had 200 of the 386 available Pokemon at the time. The biggest casualties were, of course, Pokemon from the previous two generation- those were gone, and with no real way to access them in Generation 3. Catching them all was a pipedream in this context.
But then along came Game Freak’s brilliant master plan- just a year later, they released Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen, remakes of Pokemon Red and Blue, the venerable Gameboy titles that had started it all not even a decade ago. Not only were the games a modernization of the classics with modern Pokemon mechanics, and a graphical and audio overhaul of the dated Gameboy games, but they also were incredibly faithful remakes, sticking to only the first 150 Pokemon until after the Pokemon League was defeated, before introducing the remaining Pokemon.
In the process, they highlighted the incredible game design of Pokemon Red and Blue, and also addressed most flaws that the games had, including their glitchiness, unfriendly UI, lack of post game (with one of the most extensive post games in series history, although still a step down from Gold and Silver), and of course, their dated presentation. The new graphics shone and were a perfect fix for classic Pokemon, although the soundtrack mixing mostly ruined the classic music with unnecessary embellishments.
In the end, they started the tradition of great remakes in the Pokemon series, and also presented one of the strongest showings the franchise had had in years, and what would be its strongest foot forward for years to come.
