>>50517711I consider RS to be one game. Catching Kyogre is basically an equivalent experience to catching Groudon. While I would prefer being able to do both like in GSC, I'm not missing out on much by it not being like that. My dream ROM hack is one that combines both versions into one complete version, with a toggle in the Settings changing the game to Version A Mode or Version B Mode. For Ruby Mode and Sapphire Mode, the changes would amount to altering the title screen, the encounter tables, and having two sets of event flags for Magma and Aqua so you could see both (practically identical) perspectives. The only real benefit is being able to complete the Pokédex as a single player. But it's like how Growlithe and Vulpix are identical experiences between Red and Green. The fact that Pokémon games are so easy to beat makes the majority of them feel interchangeable when using them, leading to their value coming from your unique experiences with them.
Right now, a single-player run of Ruby or Sapphire with no outside help or glitches leads to a Pokédex completion rating of
>Ruby: 177>Sapphire: 178With the discrepancy being having to choose between Wigglytuff or Delcatty in Ruby since there's a single Moon Stone, while Sapphire can get as many as you want since wild Lunatone can hold them. Meanwhile, Bellossom is the only Sun Stone evolution in RS so it doesn't matter that there's only one Sun Stone in Sapphire.
Red and Green single-player runs under the same conditions cap at 124, Gold and Silver at 199, and Diamond and Pearl around 380. But I at least find version-exclusives to be somewhat interesting in the sense that they exist as counterparts and are likely meant to be traded for their counterpart since they're almost always found at the same points in the game. Event Pokémon with actual in-game events and locations are also far more memorable than simple distributions or injecting.
