As the "definitive" version of Generation II, Crystal introduced several firsts:

Introduced Kris , the first female protagonist option in the series.

The first game where Pokémon have short animations when entering battle.

The X button can be used as a substitute for the Start button to open the menu, though Virtual Console "Restore Points" (save states) are notably not supported for this specific title to prevent cloning glitches. Core Game Features (Crystal Enhancements)

The original Link Cable requirements are replaced with 3DS wireless communication , allowing for Link Trades and Link Battles with other 3DS Virtual Console versions of Gold, Silver, and Crystal.

It is fully compatible with Pokémon Bank (via Poké Transporter), allowing you to move your Johto Pokémon to modern games like Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon .