Hands on Impressions with Pokemon ORAS Special Demo
It’s amazing how much buzz and excitement a series like Pokémon can generate with just a demo. With Pokémon fans in Europe already enjoying the special demo, trainers in the U.S. who signed up for the Pokémon Trainer Club newsletter by the 20th of October will be able to download the demo today.
The demo allows fans the chance to catch a Glalie with its mega stone, and be able to transfer it to the full version of the game upon its release. Items obtained through completing the demo only scenarios can also be sent to the full game in the same way.
Having spent some time playing the demo, my excitement for the game’s release has been rekindled. Players will get the chance to revisit MossDeep City, and although you cannot enter any buildings, seeing MossDeep in the new 3D style feels familiar, yet fresh at the same time. Completing missions in the demo will also populate the island with familiar characters that are sure to bring back nostalgia.
The demo lets you battle with all three of the starter Pokémon’s evolutions, so you can find out which Mega-Evolved starter is your favorite. The special demo mission introduces us to two new Admins for Team Aqua and Magma, and Nintendo has hinted at more of these story driven scenarios to be available to trainers who play the demo everyday.
While this Demo is merely a tease of what to
expect from the full game, I get the impression Game Freak is trying to deliver a remake with a touch of unexpected surprises for veterans to the series. For those who may have missed out on getting a demo code from the Trainer Club Newsletter, fret not! Nintendo has stated on their website that there will be multiple ways to acquire a download code including:
• Codes will be distributed at select cinema locations nationwide from Nov. 7–Nov. 13 (while supplies last).
• Check with your local retailer during the holidays to find out about special demo code giveaways (while supplies last).
• Get a code with your purchase of the new Pokémon Art Academy game (out Oct. 24) when you buy from Nintendo eShop on your Nintendo 3DS or 2DS system.
• You’ll also get a code with your purchase of one of two classic Pokémon games coming to the Virtual Console service on Nintendo eShop: the Pokémon Puzzle Challenge game (out Nov. 6) or the Pokémon Trading Card Game (out Nov. 13). You’ll find your free demo code on your eShop receipt (download codes available while supplies last).
• Codes will be emailed the week of Oct. 31 to select Nintendo customers with Nintendo Network IDs who have signed up to receive promotional emails from Nintendo.
• Codes will also be distributed during the holiday mall tour from Nov. 24‒Dec. 21 at 16 different locations throughout the nation. Talk to a staff member to try out Pokémon Omega Ruby, Pokémon Alpha Sapphire or any of the featured Nintendo 3DS games to receive two codes—one for you, and one for a friend (while supplies last). Check back soon for a list of tour locations.
So there you have it Poké fans! If you’ve played the demo, what do you think of it? Which Starter will you pick when the game launches this November 21st? Let us know in the comments!
October 21, 2014
I signed up for the newsletter on the 18 but still haven’t got it yet. Has anybody else gotten the newsletter?
October 21, 2014
We are currently using the newsletter to dispatch news regarding our magazine, PNM. We are looking at other ways to utilize our newsletter and you should expect to see them more often in the future. We appreciate your concern about the newsletter and hope you enjoy the other content that we provide. For any other questions or concerns, feel free to contact us at magazine@purenintendo.com.
October 21, 2014
I was talking about the pokemon club newsletter. I am wondering if I didn’t sign up right or if it pokemon just hasn’t sent the email yet.
October 21, 2014
Haha. That’s too funny. Sorry, I didn’t sign up for the newsletter so I’m not sure if they’ve sent one out yet.
October 21, 2014
Never mind, I just got it.