The early days of Pokemon are some of my most treasured gaming memories. It wasn’t just the creatures, the battles, or even the sense of discovery that made me fall in love with the series—but the journey itself. Going from town to town offered me an opportunity to chart my adventure the way I saw fit. Sometimes this meant training my team for the next gym battle, wandering a route for hidden secrets, or just simply filling my Pokedex. Those early games and first few adventures carry a sense of wonder that the newer games rarely capture.
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While I love all the early games, a major addition in Pokemon Ruby and Pokemon Sapphire changed how I played forever. Despite my joy of traveling from town to town, it sometimes felt slow. Pokemon’s Generation 3 introduced a new mechanic, that while not flashy, was probably the single biggest change in Pokemon history. The Running Shoes didn’t only speed up the game, but made each step more natural, exciting, and modern.
The Running Shoes Changed How Pokemon Was Played
The Running Shoes weren’t just an upgrade that provided convenience, but one that enhanced freedom. Suddenly, the act of traveling became less of a chore and more of an extension of exploration. The beginning of Pokemon Ruby and Pokemon Sapphire, and almost every other Pokemon game before it, felt like a drag, especially on replays. The slow walking speed when combined with having to backtrack numerous times are the perfect setup to the Running Shoes.
Many players will say that the Running Shoes aren’t the game-changer I believe they are because of the Bike, but they’re wrong. The Bike is acquired typically late to middle game and is limited on where you can use it. Indoors, caves, and even certain routes forbid you from using the Bike. The Running Shoes do not have this limitation. This item let you explore more freely and eliminated the dread of the long stretches between towns. I didn’t think much about it as a kid, but looking back, the Running Shoes taught me that sometimes the smallest tweaks open the door to the biggest adventures.
Why Small Changes Matter More Than Big Ones
The Pokemon series is one built on reinvention. Sometimes this means stepping back by removing mechanics, while others it means adding new ones. The Running Shoes have to be the best addition to the video games, and their staying power show this. Battling and catching change between games, but traveling and exploration are a core aspect of Pokemon. Thanks to the Running Shoes, players can interact with the world quicker, which opens up the door for other changes and gives players the time to appreciate everything the series has to offer.
Some may consider the Running Shoes to be little more than a gimmick. After all, many other games let you run and they don’t get the same celebration I’m giving a pair of shoes here. In a series where there are so many changes, this one small change shaped the future of the series, especially as Pokemon gets bigger and bigger. Sure, Dynamax, Mega Evolution, and Terastallizing are flashy and drastically change battles, but these gimmicks get dropped each new generation. In contrast, the ability to traverse the world easier has not gone away, and The Pokemon Company has only expanded on it.
Why The Running Shoes Are More Important Than Ever Today
Every Pokemon game gets bigger and bigger, with Pokemon Scarlet and Pokemon Violet being the biggest yet. Could you imagine having to walk throughout the open world slowly? It would be a nightmare. Thankfully, Game Freak has kept the ability to run, even if the Running Shoes are a built-in mechanic now. The pacing for these open world games is already off and would be even worse without the ability to run. Running isn’t just about speed and movement, but about matching the scale and scope of the world.
This old upgrade from Generation 3 keeps the excitement of adventure alive from the first town all the way to the Elite Four. Even in a game like Pokemon Legends: Z-A where the setting is a city, being able to quickly traverse the city keeps it from feeling stale as you bypass the same areas. If you had to walk through these over and over again, the monotony would drag down the experience.
The Pokemon series is constantly changing and evolving. I don’t always agree with these decisions, but the Running Shoes are one of the best additions even if it is a small one. It essentially set the foundation for Pokemon getting bigger and more expansive. This one quality-of-life change makes managing the game easier and shows that The Pokemon Company should lean into smaller changes even if they don’t appear to have a big impact at first.
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