One of the most popular RPG series of all time has officially expanded with the release of Pokémon Ruby and Pokémon Sapphire for Game Boy Advance. The next generation of Pokémon games is bigger, better, and more addictive than ever before. Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire feature an all-new storyline, awesome new Pokémon and the same great RPG gameplay that has made the series so successful.

Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire take place in an all-new region known as Hoenn. When the game starts, you get to decide to control either a boy or girl Pokémon Trainer. Whichever you choose, the storyline will be the same -- your goal is to set out in the world and become the world's greatest Pokémon Trainer.

During your quest you'll encounter many trials, including fierce battles with wild Pokémon and other Trainers. As you prove yourself in battle against Gym Leaders in the many cities scattered over Hoenn, you'll earn Gym Badges to prove your skill. Your ultimate goal is to defeat the Elite Four in the hallowed halls of the Pokémon League.

Defeating the Elite Four is just one aspect of your quest in Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire. You can also raise your Pokémon to perform in all-new Pokémon Contests -- best-of-show competitions designed to judge the condition of your best Pokémon. You can challenge your friends to Pokémon battles, try to collect every last Pokémon, and participate in a wide variety of side-quests. Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire deliver the intricate battle systems and rich storylines that hardcore RPG fans crave.

Team Magma and Team Aqua Two ecologically minded teams -- Team Magma and Team Aqua -- are at odds with each other in Hoenn. Which game you play -- Pokémon Ruby Version or Pokémon Sapphire Version -- determines which team puts their ecological beliefs into overdrive and pursues a plot to change the planet.

In Pokémon Ruby, Team Magma and their leader, Maxie, drive an insidious plot to increase the planet's landmass and thus create more land habitats for people and their Pokémon alike. In Pokémon Sapphire, Team Aqua is the scheming team. Its members and its leader, Archie, are plotting to raise sea levels throughout Hoenn. Their goal is to create more water habitats for Pokémon across the planet.

Two-on-Two Battles!

One of the coolest new additions to Pokémon Ruby and Pokémon Sapphire is the two-on-two battle system. Link up with three friends to battle in teams, or battle two Trainers at once as you travel through Hoenn. Since each Pokémon offers a unique combination of strengths and weaknesses, doubling the number that can battle at once adds a new level of strategy to Pokémon battles.

With the new two-on-two battle system, you need to build your team in new ways. The purpose of some new moves and abilities may seem puzzling at first, but their advantages become clear in two-on-two battles. For instance, the Lightning Rod ability draws an Electric-type attack away from one Pokémon and toward the other, who can withstand it much better. Be sure to pair your Pokémon with care to maximize their ability to work as a team.

Pokémon Contests

Pokémon Contests are a totally new feature in Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire. These special events are like best-of-show competitions for your prized Pokémon. At each Pokémon Contest, you compete against three Pokémon in five kinds of contests -- Cool, Beauty, Cute, Smart and Tough. Each contest type emphasizes certain Pokémon conditions, and each contest has four ranks -- Normal, Super, Hyper and Master -- that a Pokémon must pass through on its way to the top.

Your Pokémon shows its stuff by performing actions from its moves list. In the first part of judging, the judge reviews which Pokémon gets the most applause from the audience. The Pokémon with the strongest luster and relevant condition -- its Cool condition in a Cool Contest, for example -- will get the best applause.

Before you subject a Pokémon to judging, you must first create PokéBlocks to feed to your prized Pokémon. PokéBlocks are candy that increase the Conditions of your Pokémon. To create a PokéBlock, you have to gather Berries throughout Hoenn and use a machine called a Berry Blender to create a tasty PokéBlock. Certain PokéBlock flavors promote the growth of specific Pokémon conditions, so you'll want to collect the right berries before you start making PokéBlocks.

Using a new device called a Berry Blender is half the fun of participating in Pokémon Contests. At least two users must operate a Berry Blender to create a PokéBlock. You can blend with characters from the game, or recruit human players to link up and use the Berry Blender. After the Berry Blender starts spinning, hitting the A Button at the right time makes the blender accelerate, increasing the PokéBlock's quality level. When the blender stops, each user gets a PokéBlock.

New Pokémon

The region of Hoenn is home to dozens of Pokémon you've never seen before, along with some returning favorites as well. To collect them all, you'll need to explore every last nook and cranny of the region and trade with your friends. At the beginning of the game, you'll get to choose one of three new Pokémon to start your collection: Treecko, a Grass-type Pokémon; Torchic, a Fire-type Pokémon; and Mudkip, a Water-type Pokémon.

Multiplayer Action

What's better than collecting and training an awesome team of Pokémon? Using your killer team to beat up on your friends! With Game Boy Advance Game Link Cables, you can link up with your friends to trade Pokémon or see who has the strongest team. Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire feature some action-packed new ways to battle:

Single Battle (Two Players) - Veteran Pokémon Trainers will be familiar with this configuration. In this mode, up to six Pokémon on each side fight one on one.

Double Battle (Two Players) - In this mode, up to six Pokémon on each side fight two on two.

Multi Battle (Four Players) - In this mode four players, divided into teams of two, battle against each other. One person can use up to three Pokémon, and one team can use up to six Pokémon in total.

Pokémon Contest (Four Players) - When four players get together, you can all take part in a Pokémon Contest. Link-up Pokémon Contest are held only in Lilycove City, and you can select a competition category from Cool, Beauty, Cute, Smart or Tough.

Making PokéBlocks (Two to Four Players) - You can make PokéBlocks with your friends by using a Berry Blender. Try to make a high-level PokéBlock by working together!