To start a new game in Alpha Sapphire, simply power on your Nintendo 3DS, select the Alpha Sapphire game icon from the home menu, and choose “New Game” on the title screen.
Eager to dive into the Hoenn region once more? Perhaps you’re wanting to experience the adventure with a different starter Pokémon, or simply want a fresh run. Learning how to start a new game in alpha sapphire can seem obvious, yet sometimes we need a quick reminder.
This guide will quickly show you just how to achieve that fresh start. We know you’re excited to get started on your journey. Let’s get you playing again quickly!
How to Start a New Game in Alpha Sapphire
Getting started in Pokémon Alpha Sapphire is super exciting! It’s like opening a brand-new box of your favorite toys, full of adventures waiting for you. But before you can dive into the world of Hoenn, you need to know how to start a fresh game. This might seem simple, but let’s go through each step to make sure you’re ready to become the best Pokémon Trainer ever!
Powering On Your 3DS or 2DS
First things first, make sure your Nintendo 3DS or 2DS is charged up. You don’t want your adventure to stop halfway through because the battery dies! Look for the power button – it’s usually on the right side of the bottom screen. Press it to turn your device on. Once it’s on, you’ll see the home screen with all your games.
Locating the Alpha Sapphire Game
Now, find your Pokémon Alpha Sapphire game icon. It might look like a blue Poké Ball with the game’s name. If you have the physical game card, make sure it’s inserted into the game slot on the side of your 3DS/2DS. If you bought the game digitally, it will appear as an icon on your home screen. Tap the icon, and get ready for the next step!
Navigating to the New Game Screen
Once you’ve tapped the game icon, the Pokémon Alpha Sapphire game will load. You’ll see a cool intro animation with the legendary Pokémon, Kyogre! Once that’s done, you’ll arrive at the main menu. Here, you’ll usually see a “Continue” option if you have a saved game. Since we want to start fresh, we need to look for the “New Game” option. This button is your ticket to a completely new journey. Use the touch screen or the circle pad to navigate to “New Game,” and then press the A button to choose it.
Beginning Your Adventure
Selecting “New Game” will whisk you away to the very beginning of your Pokémon journey. You will start with a short video. This video usually shows the world of Hoenn. Don’t skip it! It gives you a cool glimpse of what to expect. After the intro, you’ll be introduced to Professor Birch.
Meeting Professor Birch
Professor Birch is the local Pokémon expert in the Hoenn region. He’s usually in a bit of a pickle. He’ll ask you some important questions and you will have to choose your player name and your character’s gender.
Choosing Your Name and Appearance
Name: You get to pick the name that will be used throughout the game for your character. Think of a cool nickname or use your real name! This is how everyone in the game will know you.
Gender: You can choose whether to play as a boy or a girl character. This choice doesn’t change the storyline of the game, so pick whichever you like.
After you’ve picked your name and gender, Professor Birch will tell you a bit about the world of Pokémon.
Choosing Your Starter Pokémon
After the talk with Professor Birch, it is time to choose your first Pokémon! This is a very important decision, as this Pokémon will be with you during a big part of your journey. You will have three options to choose from: Treecko, Torchic, or Mudkip. Each of these has different strengths and weaknesses, so think about which Pokémon you want by your side.
Understanding Starter Pokémon
Here’s a little about each starter Pokémon:
- Treecko: A Grass-type Pokémon. It is fast and its attacks are strong against Water types.
- Torchic: A Fire-type Pokémon. Torchic is strong against Grass types.
- Mudkip: A Water-type Pokémon. It is strong against Fire types.
Think about how you like to play. If you like fast Pokémon that strike quickly, Treecko might be a good choice. If you want a fiery, hard-hitting Pokémon, Torchic is the one to go with. If you like to take your time and use a balanced Pokémon, Mudkip will do a great job! Your choice affects the overall experience, so choose the one that makes you most excited to play.
The First Battle
After picking your starter Pokémon, something unexpected happens. Professor Birch is in trouble again! He gets attacked by a wild Poochyena. You will need to use the Pokémon that you just selected and battle. This first battle is really simple and the game will walk you through it.
Your Journey Begins
After your first battle, you are officially on your way! You will start in your new house and you will explore your new town. This is where you will talk to the other townspeople. They will give you important tips and introduce you to some places you should see.
Exploring Littleroot Town
Littleroot Town is your home base. Here you will need to check your room, talk to your mom and meet your neighbor. This is the calm before the storm! You are about to start traveling and battling. Don’t forget to take a good look around!
Meeting Your Rival
Soon after you begin exploring, you’ll meet your rival! In Alpha Sapphire, this is usually May if you chose a boy character, or Brendan if you chose a girl character. They will also have a starter Pokémon. This meeting sets the stage for many battles throughout your adventure. You’ll need to battle them a few times in the story, so you’ll want to train your Pokémon and be ready.
Navigating the First Routes
Once you’ve explored Littleroot Town, you’ll start traveling on the routes leading from the town. Here’s what you need to do:
Catching Wild Pokémon
Routes are areas outside towns where you can find wild Pokémon. You can weaken them in battle and capture them using Poké Balls. Catching wild Pokémon is a big part of the game. The more Pokémon you catch, the stronger your team will be!
Battling Other Trainers
On the routes, you’ll also encounter other Pokémon Trainers. These trainers will challenge you to battles! Winning these battles helps you gain experience for your Pokémon, making them stronger. They’ll also give you a little money that can be used to buy important stuff!
Collecting Items
While exploring, keep an eye out for items. You’ll find them hiding in plain sight, such as in the ground, in trees or in the grass. Items can give you health back during battle or help improve your Pokémon. Always explore every corner to make sure you are not missing any important item!
Saving Your Game
Before you go any further, learn how to save your game. Losing your game progress can be sad. You need to make sure you save your game often!
Understanding Saving Options
You can save your game by pausing the game using the “Start” or “Pause” button. Then, select the save option and choose the file to save to. The game always saves to the most recent file, so just choose that one. The game will ask you if you are sure you want to save, choose “Yes” to confirm.
Why Saving is Important
Saving your progress means if you need to stop playing, you can continue from where you left off next time. If your battery dies unexpectedly or if you make a mistake, you can go back to your most recent save point. You must get used to saving your game!
Tips for New Players
Starting a new game can be both exciting and a little confusing. Here are a few tips to help new players:
- Talk to Everyone: Don’t skip talking to the characters in the game. They might give you important information. Also, they may give you free stuff.
- Explore Every Area: Walk into every corner of the area. Check every nook and cranny! This is where you find hidden items and meet unique Pokémon.
- Train Your Pokémon: Fight every wild Pokémon and challenge every trainer you see. This makes your Pokémon stronger and helps you throughout the game.
- Read the Dialogue: The characters often give instructions about what you need to do. Make sure to read all the dialogue.
- Have Fun!: Enjoy the game and explore the world of Hoenn at your own pace. Don’t worry about being the best; focus on learning and having fun.
The Importance of Choosing a Good Starter
Your first Pokémon is not just another team member; it’s your companion through a big adventure. You will go through some tough battles together, and you will overcome all obstacles together. So, choose a Pokémon you like and that fits your play style. Do you want to go with a fire breathing dinosaur? Or a little frog that likes water? Or maybe a strong, fast gecko?
How Starter Pokémon Affect the Game
The starter Pokémon you choose will have a significant effect on the early part of the game. If you go with a grass type starter, you will struggle against fire type Pokémon. But, if you go with a water type starter, you will have a big advantage in those situations. All starter Pokémon are great, and none of them is “the best”. Just choose the one that you think looks the coolest and you enjoy using more.
The Long-Term Impact
Your starter will evolve into very strong Pokémon. These Pokémon will usually be a key player in your battles during the main game. But in the end, it is important to find the Pokémon you like, regardless of their stats or abilities. Always remember to have fun.
Understanding the Types
The Pokémon world is all about different types of Pokémon. Types play a major part in battles. Knowing which type beats which type is a key to success.
The Main Types
Here are some of the types you will encounter often:
- Grass: Strong against Water, weak against Fire.
- Fire: Strong against Grass, weak against Water.
- Water: Strong against Fire, weak against Grass.
- Normal: Doesn’t have strong advantage or weakness against many types.
- Electric: Strong against Water, weak against Ground.
Learning Type Advantages
Learning type matchups can be confusing at first. But, the game will help you learn as you battle. Over time, you will become an expert and you will know which type is strong against another type.
Your First Gym Challenge
After you start traveling the routes and battle some trainers, it will be time for your first big challenge. Your first Gym Leader! Gyms are special places where you battle strong trainers and earn badges.
Preparing for Your First Gym
Gyms are usually themed around one type of Pokémon. So, it is important to prepare and train your Pokémon. You might need to go back to routes and train to become stronger. Do some wild battles and train hard to make your Pokémon the best they can be.
Earning Your First Badge
Beating a Gym Leader is a great achievement. You’ll earn a special badge, which is a sign of your victory! With each badge you earn, you become closer to your goal of becoming a Pokémon champion.
Starting a new game in Alpha Sapphire is a thrilling adventure. From choosing your name to selecting your starter Pokémon, every step is a chance to dive into the exciting world of Hoenn. Remember to explore, battle, catch Pokémon, and save your game often. Enjoy every step of your journey to become the best Pokémon Trainer!
You now know how to start a new game in Alpha Sapphire. By following these steps and tips, you will be a Pokémon Master in no time. Get ready to go on an amazing adventure!
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Final Thoughts
To start a new game, power on your Nintendo 3DS with the Alpha Sapphire cartridge inserted. On the main menu, select the game icon and press ‘A’. When prompted, confirm that you want to begin a new save file.
Your previous save must be overwritten. This action cannot be undone. After confirming, you begin your journey fresh. This outlines how to start a new game in alpha sapphire. Have fun with your adventure.



